The Aviation Director Role Has Changed, Most Leaders Haven't w/ Steve Brechter

Flight Department Show · Apr 16, 2026 · 41m

Flight departments are no longer operating in the environment they were built for.

It used to be a CEO-aligned function.

Now it's often pushed deeper into the organization. Reporting to leaders who may not even use the aircraft, competing for budget, and forced to justify its existence like any other business unit.

At the same time, the expectations placed on aviation directors have expanded dramatically. The problem? Most were never developed for that role.

When we began shaping The Business Aviation Book: Leading Operational Excellence, it became clear that before you can teach operational…