Page 38 - Volume 15 Number 1

NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION • focus
NBAA’s CAM Credential a Step Toward Leadership in Any Field
With difficult economic conditions making By establishing a broad knowledge base, the
competition tougher for aviation jobs,
more professionals are pursuing NBAA’s Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) credential to set themselves apart. The community of CAMs across the country has grown to nearly 150, comprising professionals from many different disciplines and backgrounds.
“One third of current CAMs work outside of a traditional flight department,” said Jay Evans, NBAA director, operations, “Many at Part 135 operations, FBOs, fractional ownership companies, universities and even government agencies. We’ve seen many CAMs advance to leadership positions after earning their credential.”
The CAM credential is valued by owner/ operators and small business owners as well as larger organizations. The aircraft charter and management company Desert Jet has three CAMs on staff and was founded by pilot Denise Wilson, who decided to earn a CAM after starting her own business.
“As a small business, you’re always looking for ways to differentiate yourself,” said Wilson, who is president and chief pilot of Desert Jet. “Many people who are looking to start their own flight department come to us because we have three CAMs. The credential shows that we have skills outside the cockpit. We understand the business side and we can teach you how to manage maintenance efficiently.”
Aviation careers require a commitment to professional development, and today aviation professionals are constantly renewing and advancing their training. CAMs often cite earning their credential as important to broadening their knowledge.
“With a CAM you gain skills that you can’t learn in a simulator,” said Wilson. “It elevates you from being more than just a pilot. It shows you can run a business.”
CAM prepares professionals in any discipline for the next stage in their career.
Diverse Network a Forum for Knowledge Sharing
Pilots make up just over half of current CAMs; many others come from a maintenance background and several are scheduler/dispatchers, industry consultants and sales professionals. While the community is diverse, they are unified by their knowledge and experience.
“Three qualities seem to cut across the whole CAM community,” said NBAA’s Steve Brown, senior vice president, operations & administration, “They have demonstrated the highest degree of technical competence, especially beyond their own area of expertise; they can manage people effectively; and they have the ability to innovate, finding new and more productive ways to run the enterprise.”
The foundation of the CAM program is formal training and testing, but the strongest aspect of the program are the CAMs themselves.
“There’s a network of CAMs that have a broad range of experiences,” said Brown. “So for example, when one CAM is buying or selling a specific model of airplane, or flying to a foreign country for the first time, chances are there’s another CAM who has experience they can rely on to eliminate 80 percent of the learning curve.”
That network of CAMs is spread across dozens of states and many CAMs are eager to bring peers into their community.
“The people who have become CAMs seem to be uniquely committed to mentoring,” said Brown. “They’ve taken the Exam, they know the value of the credential, and they’re happy to share their time and knowledge.”
For more information on earning the CAM credential, visit http://www.nbaa.org/cam.
36 • ­TWIN & TURBINE JANUARY 2011