A wise person once made the statement that if your smile is bigger on Friday than it is on Monday, it's time to find a new job. Big smiles on Monday aren't that common, but neither is tonight's guest, Al Palicki, General Manager for Signature Flight Support, at Chicago Executive Airport. Al tells us he feels like he hasn't had a day of work in the 40 years he's been coming to the airport.
Brandon and Marc sat down with Al, to talk about how his journey got started and the path he took to get to where he is today. In addition to learning about Al, the crew also delved into FBO operations, including the constraints, strategies, and philosophies Al brings to the job. What Brandon and Marc learned, is that in addition to rules that ensure a safe and customer first experience, it still comes down to the people and the culture created by an organization's leadership. We're interested to hear your thoughts, so please share them with the rest of the SimpleFlight Facebook and Instagram Community @simpleflightradio Thanks for being a part of the SimpleFlight Family!!!
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The speed at which September arrived is indicative of the whirlwind summer the SimpleFlight crew experienced. Our tight schedules impacted the quantity of shows, but quality remained high. As we planned for the upcoming months it was clear that available free time for Al, was limited at best. For that reason, Al has decided to step away from SimpleFlight to focus on his many responsibilities at work and at home.
Marc and Joby sat down to create a short list of potential co-hosts. One of the first names on their respective list, was Brandon Anderson. Brandon, a former guest of the show, brings all the attributes our audience wants, starting with a passion for aviation. We're excited to have him join the crew. WELCOME BRANDON! There is so much more, as you will hear listening to this week's episode of SimpleFlight radio. In addition to learning about Brandon's background, the conversation touched on philosophical topics, like personal minimums. We're interested to hear your perspective on the items discussed. As always, we love hearing from you and ask you share your ideas with the entire SimpleFlight Facebook and Instagram community @simpleflightradio Thanks for being a part of the SimpleFlight Family!! 
Oshkosh 2019 is in the books!!! It was a record breaking event, with many noteworthy outcomes that are sure to fuel an exciting year in aviation. One item we like, is that OSH represents the anniversary of our first show, 7 YEARS AGO!!!
We can't think of a better way to kick off Season 8, than with a repeat guest and a SimpleFlight favorite, Boldmethod!!! Boldmethod (boldmethod.com) co-founders, Aleks Udris and Colin Cutler, join Al and Marc to give all of us a peek behind the scenes of the brand they've built and the life they lead. There are lots of surprises related to the time and effort required to get to the end result. What isn't surprising is the quality, energy, and insight they bring to all their followers. With this episode, whether you are familiar with Boldmethod or not, you're going to learn something you didn't know. We enjoyed the discussion and hope you do too. As always, we love hearing from you and ask you share your ideas with the entire SimpleFlight Facebook and Instagram community @simpleflightradio Thanks for being a part of the SimpleFlight Family!! 
For some of us, our aviation dream started with a goal to earn a private pilot certificate. On this week's SimpleFlight Radio episode, you'll meet Andrew Holmes, whose dream was to buy a jet, but knew that the process must start with him learning to fly, and to do so with dedication, patience, and no short-cuts.
What Andrew learned during his training, is that flying is a skill that is acquired through practice. What Al and Marc learned about Andrew, is that he is someone who is dedicated to being a safe pilot and brings a significant respect for the learning process, and it goes without saying that if Andrew sets a goal, he will achieve it. With this episode, our goal for you, is to have you ask yourself the question, "Why Not Me?" As always, we love hearing from you and ask you share your ideas with the entire SimpleFlight Facebook and Instagram community @simpleflightradio Thanks for being a part of the SimpleFlight Family!! 
Sometimes getting to sporting events is quite the hassle, often taking multiple days to enjoy a 3 hour game. Well now, the game has changed.
Listen in to this week's episode of SimpleFlight Radio as Marc and Al sit down with Todd Rubin, of Big Game Air (biggameair.com). Todd and his business partner wanted to go see a college football game and for reasons you'll hear, had to do so via a business jet. Finding others that could help pay for the flight turned out to be an easy task, which gave them the idea of making a business out of getting people to sports venues. But it is so much more. Todd understood the travel was only a small piece of the puzzle. Listen in and learn how this "accidental entrepreneur" put it all together to create an Experience! As always, we love hearing from you and ask you share your ideas with the entire SimpleFlight Facebook and Instagram community @simpleflightradio Thanks for being a part of the SimpleFlight Family!! 
Pilots and Avgeeks share a special bond which can usually be described in one word.... Passion. In today's world, it's not uncommon to find pilots that are making their way back into the sky after an extended hiatus. What is less common is to come across a pilot that after being "bitten" by the flying bug, immersed himself into the journey that included earning his private and instrument ticket, the purchase of a plane, and taking trips that previously were only dreams. That's when the story makes a 180 degree turn. Because in this case, the pilot voluntarily decided it was time to walk away.
Listen in to this week's episode of SimpleFlight Radio as Marc and Al sit down with Kirke Machon, a Chicago-based GA pilot that embarked on and completed a journey that most only dream about. And once the dream was complete, had the strength and conviction to walk away. We found the discussion empowering and uplifting. We hope you do as well. As always, we love hearing from you and ask you share your ideas with the entire SimpleFlight Facebook and Instagram community @simpleflightradio Thanks for being a part of the SimpleFlight Family!!! 
We often think of airports as just pieces of concrete, maybe a control tower, and a place to land. Its easy to forget about the people behind the scenes putting their best foot forward to make your airport run!
This week, we sit down with Jamie Abbott, the Executive Director at our home airport - Chicago Executive (KPWK). Jamie has some incredible stories on how he and his team work hard to keep the airport safe, valuable to the community, and make a home for your favorite Aviation Podcast, SimpleFlight Radio! As always, we love hearing from you and ask you share your ideas with the entire SimpleFlight Facebook and Instagram community @simpleflightradio 
Ask most pilots, and they will tell you that learning to fly was one of the most rewarding and challenging things they have done in life. And while similarities exist, each pilot's journey is unique. Something that can be depended on are the many challenges that will be faced throughout the training process. This week's episode of SimpleFlight Radio has Marc and Al talking with Kseniya Polinsky, a friend of the show, who recently earned her Private Pilot certificate. Like all of us, Kseniya, had to answer the questions of how to go about getting started, finding a school, a CFI, and establishing a timeline that made sense for her, while life around her continued to change. Kseniya's story serves as a reminder that the path is not always straight, but it is within the student's ultimate control. The crew enjoyed hearing about her strategies for understanding and navigating both the human and technical factors that come into play during the process. Of course, establishing, and when necessary, reestablishing momentum is a topic we can all identify with. We hope you you enjoy the conversation as much as we did. As always, we love hearing from you and ask you share your ideas with the entire SimpleFlight Facebook and Instagram community @simpleflightradio Thanks for being a part of the SimpleFlight Family!!! 
It's a surprise to no one that the most common conversations in aviation, center on people and planes. And why not... it makes for great hangar flying. This week, Al and Marc were reminded of another very important aspect of aviation... The Airport. We're not talking about the runways, but how the airport serves as a hub for bringing people and planes together. Airports have personalities that are born out of the stories and the people who make them happen. This week, the SimpleFlight crew visited a shining example of the perfection that happens when it all comes together.
Poplar Grove Airport (C77) is a very special place. It's not because of chance, but rather the owners of the airport, Steve and Tina Thomas, designed it that way. They built a culture years ago, which they protect, strengthen, and live 7 x 24 x 365. After a tour of the field, which was too short for their liking, the guys had a chance to sit down with Steve and Tina and talk about how they make the magic happen. When you listen to this week's show, you may hear about a flight school, a maintenance shop, a museum, and an air-park, but what you'll feel and think about is the history, the passion, and a very special community. You can read about Poplar Grove on their website:(www.poplargroveairmotive.com), but if you ever in the Midwest, drop by C77 and say hi to Steve and Tina (and the dogs). You may never want to leave. As always, we love hearing from you and ask you share your ideas with the entire SimpleFlight Facebook and Instagram community @simpleflightradio Thanks for being a part of the SimpleFlight Family!!! 
Ask a pilot, which is their favorite plane, and they may answer with a plane they've never flown before. We know that sometimes an airplane "speaks" to a person. It may be the history, the sound, the performance, or maybe it's because of it's lines and appearance. LIN 2010, Cirrus continued its streak of innovations by introducing the Xi appearance option. It gave owners the option of making their plane a truly personal "one of a kind" experience.
Chris Custer, Lead Xi Designer for Cirrus Aircraft, joins the SimpleFlight crew in this week's episode to discuss the program from the designer's point of view. This includes the challenge of working with an owner to help them vocalize and translate their vision into a reality that takes the ownership experience to a higher level. Chris' passion for design, combined with the pride he takes in helping customers navigate the many decisions they must make, comes through with "flying colors" in the discussion. We hope you enjoy Chris' story as much as Marc and Al did. As always, we love hearing from you and ask you share your ideas with the entire SimpleFlight Facebook and Instagram community @simpleflightradio Thanks for being a part of the SimpleFlight Family!!! 
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