LD Aviation Podcast

In this episode, Lindsay Dyer talks with Ralph Vasami, CEO of Universal Aviation. They explore his unique journey of starting as a high school intern for Universal Aviation ... later to become the CEO! They touch on what creates strong company culture, tech innovations and industry changes, as well as future trends. Ralph brings up a solid point: passenger experience matters in the aviation field....

In this episode, Lindsay Dyer talks with Sheryl Barden, CEO of Aviation Personnel International (API). Together, they cover Sheryl's extensive involvement in the aviation industry and what led her to API. Sheryl gives advice to those who are just entering the aviation field, as well as tips on what makes great leaders. Company culture, toxicity, red flags, and considerations are all explored t...

In this episode, Lindsay Dyer talks with Jack Parrish, President and Founder of Parrish Aviation, a Part 141 flight school with campuses in both Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Jack shares the road to launching the business, as well as the mindset shifts he needed to make as a CEO of his company. They discuss certification, scaling, pricing, and company culture. With one-on-one orientation and acces...

In this episode, Lindsay Dyer speaks with Kelly Carrillo on truly going above and beyond with regards to professionalism and safety within aviation. As a corporate flight attendant, Kelly shares her mindset on preparing for every flight, reviewing safety, and adding small touches that leave a big impact. The discussion continues with her involvement in FA Club and NorCalBAA in support of the large...

In this episode, Lindsay Dyer speaks with James 'Jim' Lara and Steve Brechter from Gray Stone Aviation. Return guests to the podcast, today's discussion centers around really honing the value of flight departments beyond getting individuals from point A to point B. They cover discussing value propositions, transactional versus strategic scheduling, and much more! Gray Stone Advisors: https://www.g...

In this episode, Lindsay Dyer speaks with Kristi Ivey and Phil Derner, Regional Directors with the National Business Aviation Association. They share how they ended up in their roles and what the job entails before really diving into the member experience with NBAA. Their passion for making a change within the aviation field is clear. Kristi and Phil cover why your voice matters, how to get involv...

In this episode, Lindsay Dyer speaks with JJ Madison, author of YIKES! 100 Smart Pilots and the Dumb Things They Did Yet Lived to Tell About ‘Em. JJ shares how he got involved in aviation, the importance of mentorship and support, and the focus of his writing. They cover the benefits of NASA reports and how pilots can learn from mistakes. Most importantly, JJ is using his book to pay it forward th...

In this episode, Lindsay Dyer speaks with Tyler Flagg, CEO of Flying Company. Aiming to bringing greater transparency, efficiency, and reliability to pilot staffing, Flying Company is a platform built to streamline how flight departments find, evaluate, hire, and pay professional pilots. They address many of the pain points involved in the process and how Flying Company aims to alleviate the entir...

In this episode of the LD Aviation Podcast, host Lindsay Dyer talks with Mark Melby, an aviation entrepreneur and the creator of Aloft Evermore. Mark shares what is really happening behind the scenes of aircraft maintenance and why so many flight departments struggle with planning, communication, and understanding true downtime. His experience across maintenance, operations, and aviation business...

In this episode of the LD Aviation Podcast, host Lindsay Dyer talks with Nate Ehlers, an airline pilot, former C17 instructor, and founder of Backseat Pilot. Nate shares his story of starting on the ramp, moving into the cockpit, and eventually building a business that helps the next generation of flight instructors and students. His journey shows how hard work, curiosity, and saying yes to opport...

In this episode of the LD Aviation Podcast, host Lindsay Dyer sits down with Dr. Jason Starke to discuss how private and corporate aviation are redefining safety in 2025. From leadership accountability to human factors and fatigue management, Dr. Starke shares how operators can move beyond compliance to create proactive, people-first safety cultures that last. This episode dives into what truly dr...

In this episode, host Lindsay Dyer sits down with Robyn Carpenter of Portside to explore how technology is transforming the way flight departments operate. Robyn brings more than 25 years of experience, starting in Taco Bell’s flight department and now helping aviation leaders leverage data and software to stay efficient, compliant, and valuable. She shares how platforms like PFM, BART, Avianis, F...

In this episode of the LD Aviation Podcast, host Lindsay Dyer sits down with Jim Lara and Steve Brechtor of Gray Stone Advisors to tackle one of business aviation’s toughest challenges: why so many Part 91 flight departments are shutting down. From misaligned corporate priorities to failing to prove value with data, they uncover the real reasons behind closures and share the leadership strategies...

In this episode of the LD Aviation Podcast, host Lindsay Dyer sits down with Valerie Smith, a commercial pilot, certified flight instructor, and dispatcher dedicated to advancing aviation safety. Valerie brings her unique perspective to real-world case studies, showing how proper oversight can prevent tragedies in Part 135 operations. • Valerie Smith – Pilot, instructor, and aviation safety advoca...

In this episode of the LD Aviation Podcast, host Lindsay Dyer sits down with Greg Linton, an aviation leader with years of experience in flight operations and team development. Greg opens up about his journey of growth, resilience, and leadership, sharing what it really takes to build strong teams and lead with purpose in the demanding world of aviation. • Greg Linton: Aviation professional and le...

In this episode of the LD Aviation Podcast, host Lindsay Dyer sits down with Michelle James, a passionate aviator, mentor, and changemaker whose journey into aviation is equal parts inspiring and transformative. From overcoming early fears to finding purpose in the skies, Michelle shares how mindset, representation, and community helped shape her path. • Michelle James: Pilot, mentor, and advocate...

In this episode of the LD Aviation Podcast, host Lindsay Dyer sits down with Destiny Carpenter, a private aviation leader with 7+ years of experience navigating the high-stakes world of executive travel. Destiny shares what it takes to build client relationships that go the distance, cultivate trust in luxury aviation, and consistently deliver top-tier service in a demanding and ever-changing indu...

✈️ When it comes to flight safety, the greatest threat may be the one you never saw coming. In this high-impact episode of the LD Aviation Podcast , host Lindsay Dyer sits down with Kristopher Cannon, founder of Aviation Secure, to unpack the unseen vulnerabilities in business aviation—and what flight departments can do right now to close the gap. From crews getting drugged abroad to luxury brandi...

✈️ Behind every safe flight, there’s a scheduler making it happen. In this powerful episode of the LD Aviation Podcast, host Lindsay Dyer sits down with Don Chupp, CEO of Fireside Partners, to uncover the often-overlooked but critical role of schedulers in aviation safety and emergency response. From real-life crisis stories to practical strategies for improving resilience, Don shares nearly two d...

✈️ Welcome back to the LD Aviation Podcast, where we go behind the scenes of business aviation. In this episode, host Lindsay Dyer is joined by Alejandro Galioto and Caroline Novak, two customer service pros from the aviation insurance world, to explore what it really takes to protect high-value aircraft — and serve the high-stakes clients who fly them. Whether you manage a 135 charter operation o...

💼 In this powerhouse episode of LD Aviation Podcast, host Lindsay Dyer sits down with the dynamic mother-daughter duo Paula & Amanda Kraft, the women behind Tastefully Yours Catering, Airware, and DaVinci In-Flight Training Institute. ✈️ From starting in aviation catering by accident to becoming leaders in training, innovation, and sustainability — this episode uncovers how passion, resilienc...

🛫 Can you run a world-class flight department from your kitchen counter? YES. In this powerhouse episode of the LD Aviation Podcast, Lindsay Dyer is joined by aviation leaders Nathan Winkle, Carrie Wicht, and Renee Skiles to dive into the real-world challenges, solutions, and lessons learned from managing business aviation remotely. 💡 Whether you're a pilot, dispatcher, scheduler, or aviation di...

✈️ In this episode of LD Aviation, we talk with Luis Rodriguez — a rising private pilot with over 200 hours PIC time, an instrument rating, and a story that proves passion + persistence > privilege. 💼 From ramp work at SheltAir to receiving the NBAA IOC 2025 scholarship, Luis is on a mission to take his career (and community) to new heights — all while repping the Latino Pilots Association, vo...

✈️ In this episode of the LD Aviation Podcast, host Lindsay Dyer dives deep into the often-overlooked world of private aviation catering with two of the industry’s best:🍽️ Jonathan Bird, veteran provider from Galley Gourmet, brings 22+ years of expertise from the kitchen to the cabin.👨‍✈️ Alexander Fernandez, seasoned aviation pro, gives insights from the consumer side, dealing directly with flig...

Lindsay from LD Aviation dives into how to successfully lead remote flight operations with three experts from Planet Nine Private Air: Brian Walker – Manager of Training and aviation leadership coach Justin Carwile – Director of Customer Service and logistics guru Kate Mihailović – Sales Manager and champion of transparent communication Together, they unravel the key leadership skills, communicati...