There are roughly 1,500 NBAA CAMs in the world. Here's what separates the pilots who earn it from the ones who never hear about it. I've been sitting on this idea for a while, and it's time to bring it to the Lab. I want to run a structured CAM prep workshop right here in this community. Before I share the format, I want to tell you why it matters. The NBAA Certified Aviation Manager designation is the only credential in business aviation that says: this person understands the full picture. Not just the aircraft. The operations. The regulations. The business decisions. The safety culture. The leadership requirements that make a flight department actually work at a high level. I earned mine years ago. It changed how I thought about my role. Not because the exam was hard, although it is. Because the preparation forced me to think like a manager of the operation, not just a pilot in it. That shift is irreversible once it happens. In business aviation, the people running flight departments and influencing decisions at the executive level are mostly CAMs or they're working with CAMs. It is not a box-checking credential. It is a signal to every operator, every chief pilot, and every Director of Aviation you will ever work for, that you have done the work to think beyond the left seat. If you have been considering it and never knew where to start, or started and stalled, or didn't know there was a community willing to work through it with you, I want to change that. I am building something here. Stay tuned. Who in the community has their CAM, is working toward it, or has been curious about it? Drop it below. This will shape what we build together.

Hey everyone! I've been getting questions about how to setup note taking and in depth study of systems best. Join me Saturday at 0900 EST for an hour workshop and Q&A where I will share all my tips and tricks on this! Check the calendar or use the link below! https://www.skool.com/live/dZPWVq9hhG5 Hoping to see you there! Jean

Under intense pressure or high mental workload, the human brain naturally transitions from analytical reasoning to intuitive, habit-based processing. This shift occurs because System 2's cognitive capacity is strictly limited, causing the brain to rely on System 1 shortcuts to conserve energy and manage stress. While this intuitive "recognition-primed" approach allows experts to act quickly by matching scenarios to past experiences, it also exposes them to various cognitive biases that can warp risk assessment and decision-making. To combat these vulnerabilities, organisations in high-stakes fields like aviation, medicine, and fire services implement structured frameworks such as crew resource management and stress exposure training. These strategies aim to bolster metacognition and ensure that critical information is communicated even when mental resources are depleted. Ultimately, understanding the biological and psychological effects of stress allows professionals to design more robust procedures that account for the unavoidable limitations of the human mind during emergencies.

I recently picked up the book "Learning How to Learn" to help my daughter tackle her math homework, and it provides an incredibly comprehensive framework for mastering complex subjects. The book breaks down the biological mechanics of how the brain absorbs information, introducing a dual-mode thinking model that alternates between intense, concentrated focus and a relaxed, creative "diffuse" state. We've started applying practical, evidence-based strategies like the Pomodoro Technique and active recall to build lasting neural connections, alongside spaced repetition and interleaving to ensure long-term retention. These methods actively prevent the "illusion of competence" that comes from passive reading. The material also highlights how fundamental physical lifestyle factors, including quality sleep, regular exercise, and a healthy diet, are to overall cognitive performance. It essentially empowers you to become a "learning scientist," systematically applying tools that are just as effective for professional development and instructional design as they are for middle-school math.

You can land in a 30-knot crosswind, but can you handle a hard conversation with your FO without getting defensive? Come find out - if you dare! Flight school taught you systems, procedures, regulations. No one taught you how to lead when your identity is on the line. Most leadership training teaches you how to act. This one asks who you actually are when the pressure is on and no one is watching. Leadership Essentials: Leadership from the Inside Out is a 10-module self-assessment series built for aviators — covering identity, communication, conflict, and crew resilience. No scripts. No frameworks to perform. Just honest work that changes how you fly with people. Start with a TL;DR. It takes two minutes. The rest is up to you.