The Corporate Jet Investor Podcast

Hosted by Corporate Jet Investor

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Episodes

114

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Welcome to the Corporate Jet Investor Podcast where we bring together some of our friends and colleagues from across the world of business aviation. Hosted by Alasdair Whyte and brought to you by the team at Corporate Jet Investor. Winner of best digital offering in the 2020 Aerospace Media Awards. Connect with us at www.corporatejetinvestor.com Producers: Olivia Leaning and Louisa Whyte

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60 recent

June 12, 202638 min

CJI Podcast #40: James Chitty | Talon Air | 'Everyday I speak to the captain of an industry'

In our latest episode we welcome James Chitty, CEO and partner at Talon Air. Chitty has been in the aviation business for nearly two decades. He founded PlaneClear in 2008 and led it through to 2016 before partnering with Apollo Jets and then taking on the role of CEO at Talon Air following its acquisition in 2018. Three years later, Vista acquired a minority stake in Talon before Chitty, and his chief operating officer Nicholas Piazza led a buyout which officially closed on Jan 2nd this year. Chitty discusses his time in business aviation, what is new now the company is independent, his leadership style and what he requires of his team, challenges faced by the industry and much more besides.

June 5, 202652 min

CJI Podcast #39: Mike Mikolay | Mikolay Jet Group | “Having the ability to say no is critical"

Mike Mikolay, founder of Mikolay Jets, has been selling aircraft for almost 30 years. He started as an intern at Beechcraft, helped launch Guardian Jet and then started his own advisory firm two-and-a-half years ago.Mike shares the highs and lows of going independent, why saying no to the wrong clients early on was critical, and how a long-time client's candid nudge gave him the push to finally do it. He also discusses the current seller's market, where near-new inventory remains scarce and demand shows no signs of cooling.Mike talks about building a personal board of directors, creating an in-house internship programme for his own kids, a cycling accident that forced him to reassess risk, and why patience is the most underrated skill in aircraft acquisition.

May 29, 202652 min

CJI Podcast #38: Emily Deaton | JetAVIVA |“Is it the right person, not just for the market, but for the team? Can we build a brand around them?”

Emily Deaton, jetAVIVA, is CEO of one of the world’s largest aircraft brokers. But rather than getting involved in individual transactions, she leads of team of aircraft-type specialists. In this podcast, she explains why jetAVIVA uses this approach, how it makes hiring the right person harder and why customers benefit from it.She also discusses how jetAVIVA launched and why they want to grow slowly.

May 15, 202646 min

CJI Podcast #37: Florent Venturini | Ellipse Aviation | Brokerage should not be a "one-off transaction"

In our latest episode we are joined by Florent Venturini, co-founder and managing partner of Ellipse Aviation.Venturini explains how he and his partner Pierre-Emmanuel de Tailly’s combined experience at Dassault, Textron and Gulfstream led them to create a brokerage focused on long-term ownership care, not just one-off transactions. Launched in December 2025, Venturini details Ellipse’s three differentiators: deep technical expertise, and innovation – including a free AI-powered valuation tool and EllipseShield, a buyer-side AOG charter protection programme. Venturini discusses today’s fragmented pre-owned market, where ultra-long-range jets remain scarce while other segments have softened. He also advises first-time buyers to avoid overbuying and to prioritise mission fit and operating economics. Plus much more besides.

May 8, 202644 min

CJI Podcast #36: Johnny Foster | OGARAJETS | "I bought and sold 12 aircraft in the time it took to close the ESOP"

Johnny Foster returns for a second appearance to discuss a major milestone for OGARAJETS: the transition to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). After exploring private equity and other exit routes, Jonny chose the ESOP model to preserve the culture and legacy he and his father have built over 46 years. Some 30% of the company has now been transferred into a trust for employees, with more shares to follow over time. He also shares the team's emotional — and ultimately celebratory — reaction to the surprise announcement.On the wider market, Johnny is bullish on late-model aircraft through 2030, while flagging older legacy platforms as the segment carrying the most risk. He also hints at future growth through acquisitions, made more attractive by the significant tax advantages the ESOP structure provides.Thanks for coming back on again Johnny!

May 7, 20261 hr 1 min

CJI Town Hall #73: Continuing the value added to the transaction process

Sponsored by Mesinger Jet Sales In this Town Hall, we will piggyback on the last edition and take the value discussion to the Legal, Management, and Insurance areas of the transaction. In our January edition, we focused on the brokerage side of the transaction, welcoming Mike Dwyer from Guardian Jet and Chad Anderson from Jetcraft. We also delved into the maintenance side of the transaction, welcoming Mike Minchow from Duncan Aviation.As we stressed in the last edition, the costs across the different segments of the transaction shape the final value. We will continue in this edition to provide the right questions to ask the providers and help you listen for the right answers.Jay Mesinger is the CEO and Founder of Mesinger Jet SalesShawn McAteer, Director, Business Developmen at Jet AviationDavid Mayer, Aviation Attorney with Shackelford LawLance Toland, Founder at Lance Toland Associates Ltd

April 23, 20261 hr 5 min

CJI Podcast #35 | Dan Drohan | Solairus | A living legend

Dan Drohan, founder and CEO of Solairus, shares his remarkable journey from aviation enthusiast to building a leading aircraft management company. In this episode, he discusses Solairus' unique entrepreneurial culture, the challenges of scaling a business in the aviation industry, and his personal evolution as a leader. Listen here for insider insights into the private aviation sector and discover what it takes to build a thriving business from the ground up.Thank you Dan!

April 16, 20261 hr 2 min

CJI Podcast #34 | Jason Middleton | Silver Air Private Jets | "You've got to live, breathe and bleed it"

In this episode, we are joined by Jason Middleton, CEO and founder of Silver Air Private Jets. A former elite triathlete turned pilot, Middleton brings an "all-in" mentality to aviation. He shares how Silver Air survived the 2008 financial crisis through relentless focus, and why he prioritises specialisation over vertical integration.Middleton is a vocal critic of unregulated charter brokers, advocating for operator-level safety standards. He launched Flight Club to give clients transparency and control, a move driving over $100m in annual revenue. During Covid, he kept all staff on payroll, reinforcing his people-first culture. Middleton also emphasises stepping away from the office – whether surfing or hunting – to solve problems creatively.The conversation touches on leadership lessons, regulatory challenges, global operational risks, the importance of staying connected to the flight deck as a hands-on CEO and much more besides.

April 6, 202652 min

CJI Podcast #33 | Stephen McCullough | Bombardier | "I love what I do"

Stephen McCullough, Executive Vice President of Engineering, Product Development and Bombardier Defence, shares his deep passion for aviation and the sheer thrill of bringing aircraft like the record-breaking Global 8000 to life.With more than 36 years at Bombardier, Stephen offers a rare insider’s look into the high-stakes world of elite aircraft development - from pushing the boundaries of speed and performance to delivering unforgettable customer experiences. Driven by relentless engineering excellence and bold innovation, he’s one of the key minds behind some of the most exciting advancements in modern business aviation.Sharp, insightful, and genuinely enthusiastic about the future of flight, Stephen is exactly the kind of leader who makes us excited about where business aviation is heading next.

April 1, 20261 hr 4 min

CJI Town Hall #72: Choosing the right aircraft for your mission | Textron Aviation

Welcome to another CJI Town Hall.This edition, kindly sponsored by Textron Aviation, will be exploring how customers should go about choosing the right aircraft for their respective missions. We have a great line up of speakers including:Duncan van de Velde, Vice President Aircraft Sales, Textron AviationBob Gibbs, VP Special Missions Global Sales, Textron AviationDave Connor, CEO, RVL GroupKindly Sponsored by Textron Aviation