21.FIVE - Professional Pilots Podcast

You've spent your flying career building a retirement account, but will you be healthy enough to enjoy it? Dylan and Max sit down with Dr. Gregory Charlop, founder of Buckhead Longevity, to explore how professional pilots can protect their health, extend their active retirement years, and prepare for life after the cockpit. From cardiovascular risk, strength training, sleep, and nutrition on the road to GLP-1 medications, experimental peptides, and the latest developments in longevity medicine, this episode looks at the side of retirement planning that rarely gets discussed. Find out why planning for retirement should involve a lot more than your 401(k).
Learn more about Dr. Gregory Charlop and Buckhead Longevity
Show Notes
0:00 Intro
2:46 Proactive Longevity
12:16 Working Specifically with Pilots
21:56 Go-go, Slow-go, and No-go Retirement
29:18 Healthy 40-year-old Pilot
40:22 Considerations in Your 60s
46:02 Peptides, GLP-1s, and Future of Health
Our Sponsors
Tim Pope, CFP® — Tim is both a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and a pilot. His practice specializes in aviation professionals and aviation 401k plans, helping clients pursue their financial goals by defining them, optimizing resources, and monitoring progress. Click here to learn more. Also check out The Pilot's Portfolio Podcast.
Advanced Aircrew Academy — Enables flight operations to fulfill their training needs in the most efficient and affordable way—anywhere, at any time. They provide high-quality training for professional pilots, flight attendants, flight coordinators, maintenance, and line service teams, all delivered via a world-class online system. Click here to learn more.
Raven Careers — Helping your career take flight. Raven Careers supports professional pilots with resume prep, interview strategy, and long-term career planning. Whether you're a CFI eyeing your first regional, a captain debating your upgrade path, or a legacy hopeful refining your application, their one-on-one coaching and insider knowledge give you a real advantage. Click here to learn more.
The AirComp Calculator™ is business aviation's only online compensation analysis system. It can provide precise compensation ranges for 14 business aviation positions in six aircraft classes at over 50 locations throughout the United States in seconds. Click here to learn more.
Vaerus Jet Sales — Vaerus means right, true, and real. Buy or sell an aircraft the right way, with a true partner to make your dream of flight real. Connect with Brooks at Vaerus Jet Sales or learn more about their DC-3 Referral Program.
Harvey Watt — Offers the only true Loss of Medical License Insurance available to individuals and small groups. Because Harvey Watt manages most airlines' plans, they can assist you in identifying the right coverage to supplement your airline's plan. Many buy coverage to supplement the loss of retirement benefits while grounded. Click here to learn more.
VSL ACE Guide — Your all-in-one pilot training resource. Includes the most up-to-date Airman Certification Standards (ACS) and Practical Test Standards (PTS) for Private, Instrument, Commercial, ATP, CFI, and CFII. 21.Five listeners get a discount on the guide—click here to learn more.
ProPilotWorld.com — The premier information and networking resource for professional pilots. Click here to learn more.
 
Feedback & Contact
Have feedback, suggestions, or a great aviation story to share? Email us at info@21fivepodcast.com. Check out our Instagram feed @21FivePodcast for more great content (and our collection of aviation license plates).
The statements made in this show are our own opinions and do not reflect, nor were they under any direction of any of our employers.

Max returns from Gulfstream recurrent training with surprisingly few complaints—except for the QRH—while Dylan reports from NBAA-BACE, where the flashy new SyberJet is promising some pretty wild innovations. Plus, Max takes the Cub quail hunting in the Arizona backcountry, only to discover that thunderstorms, muddy airstrips, and an epic covey of birds make for quite the adventure. In the Mailbag, we tackle a serious question about an arrest, alcohol concerns, and navigating the FAA medical and HIMS process, before lightening things up with regional airline commuting horror stories and ski recommendations. Finally, in Flight Advice, we help a 550-hour pilot with Challenger SIC experience figure out how to build time, network, and break into that elusive first flying job.
Show Notes
0:00 Intro
1:51 Fall Training Rant
16:19 NBAA-BACE
26:14 Max's Musings: A New Adventure
32:20 Aviation News
37:29 Reviews & Comments
41:20 Mailbag
57:13 Flight Advice
Our Sponsors
Tim Pope, CFP® — Tim is both a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and a pilot. His practice specializes in aviation professionals and aviation 401k plans, helping clients pursue their financial goals by defining them, optimizing resources, and monitoring progress. Click here to learn more. Also check out The Pilot's Portfolio Podcast.
Advanced Aircrew Academy — Enables flight operations to fulfill their training needs in the most efficient and affordable way—anywhere, at any time. They provide high-quality training for professional pilots, flight attendants, flight coordinators, maintenance, and line service teams, all delivered via a world-class online system. Click here to learn more.
Raven Careers — Helping your career take flight. Raven Careers supports professional pilots with resume prep, interview strategy, and long-term career planning. Whether you're a CFI eyeing your first regional, a captain debating your upgrade path, or a legacy hopeful refining your application, their one-on-one coaching and insider knowledge give you a real advantage. Click here to learn more.
The AirComp Calculator™ is business aviation's only online compensation analysis system. It can provide precise compensation ranges for 14 business aviation positions in six aircraft classes at over 50 locations throughout the United States in seconds. Click here to learn more.
Vaerus Jet Sales — Vaerus means right, true, and real. Buy or sell an aircraft the right way, with a true partner to make your dream of flight real. Connect with Brooks at Vaerus Jet Sales or learn more about their DC-3 Referral Program.
Harvey Watt — Offers the only true Loss of Medical License Insurance available to individuals and small groups. Because Harvey Watt manages most airlines' plans, they can assist you in identifying the right coverage to supplement your airline's plan. Many buy coverage to supplement the loss of retirement benefits while grounded. Click here to learn more.
VSL ACE Guide — Your all-in-one pilot training resource. Includes the most up-to-date Airman Certification Standards (ACS) and Practical Test Standards (PTS) for Private, Instrument, Commercial, ATP, CFI, and CFII. 21.Five listeners get a discount on the guide—click here to learn more.
ProPilotWorld.com — The premier information and networking resource for professional pilots. Click here to learn more.
 
Feedback & Contact
Have feedback, suggestions, or a great aviation story to share? Email us at info@21fivepodcast.com. Check out our Instagram feed @21FivePodcast for more great content (and our collection of aviation license plates).
The statements made in this show are our own opinions and do not reflect, nor were they under any direction of any of our employers.

Dylan recovers from the orthopedic nightmare of flying Frontier, while Max discovers the ultimate FO jackpot: getting paired with a check airman and paid to stay home. The guys also talk NBAA distractions, pilot uniform crimes, and some surprisingly useful sleep tips. In the Mailbag, they tackle trust and communication in pilot relationships, the value of a CFII, and whether a 700-hour pilot can break into part-time contract flying. In Flight Advice, a military pilot faces a big decision: stay in two extra years for a Global 6500 type rating with minimal flight time, or get out and start building a civilian aviation career.
Show Notes
0:00 Intro
4:02 Max's Musings & NBAA-BACE
10:29 Aviation News & Pilot Fashion
19:22 Protocols for Sleep
23:58 Comments & Reviews
31:58 Mailbag
49:03 Flight Advice
Our Sponsors
Tim Pope, CFP® — Tim is both a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and a pilot. His practice specializes in aviation professionals and aviation 401k plans, helping clients pursue their financial goals by defining them, optimizing resources, and monitoring progress. Click here to learn more. Also check out The Pilot's Portfolio Podcast.
Advanced Aircrew Academy — Enables flight operations to fulfill their training needs in the most efficient and affordable way—anywhere, at any time. They provide high-quality training for professional pilots, flight attendants, flight coordinators, maintenance, and line service teams, all delivered via a world-class online system. Click here to learn more.
Raven Careers — Helping your career take flight. Raven Careers supports professional pilots with resume prep, interview strategy, and long-term career planning. Whether you're a CFI eyeing your first regional, a captain debating your upgrade path, or a legacy hopeful refining your application, their one-on-one coaching and insider knowledge give you a real advantage. Click here to learn more.
The AirComp Calculator™ is business aviation's only online compensation analysis system. It can provide precise compensation ranges for 14 business aviation positions in six aircraft classes at over 50 locations throughout the United States in seconds. Click here to learn more.
Vaerus Jet Sales — Vaerus means right, true, and real. Buy or sell an aircraft the right way, with a true partner to make your dream of flight real. Connect with Brooks at Vaerus Jet Sales or learn more about their DC-3 Referral Program.
Harvey Watt — Offers the only true Loss of Medical License Insurance available to individuals and small groups. Because Harvey Watt manages most airlines' plans, they can assist you in identifying the right coverage to supplement your airline's plan. Many buy coverage to supplement the loss of retirement benefits while grounded. Click here to learn more.
VSL ACE Guide — Your all-in-one pilot training resource. Includes the most up-to-date Airman Certification Standards (ACS) and Practical Test Standards (PTS) for Private, Instrument, Commercial, ATP, CFI, and CFII. 21.Five listeners get a discount on the guide—click here to learn more.
ProPilotWorld.com — The premier information and networking resource for professional pilots. Click here to learn more.
 
Feedback & Contact
Have feedback, suggestions, or a great aviation story to share? Email us at info@21fivepodcast.com. Check out our Instagram feed @21FivePodcast for more great content (and our collection of aviation license plates).
The statements made in this show are our own opinions and do not reflect, nor were they under any direction of any of our employers.

Doug Taylor, Co-Founder and CEO of Avtopia, joins Dylan and Max to pull back the curtain on aircraft maintenance, AOG headaches, and what mechanics wish pilots understood about keeping airplanes flying. With 35 years of maintenance experience, Doug shares practical insights on writing better squawks, working with maintenance teams, navigating parts shortages, and avoiding the mistakes that make an already stressful AOG even worse. From MELs and elusive "cannot duplicate" discrepancies to Gulfstream maintenance nightmares, the A&P shortage, and AI-powered troubleshooting, the conversation covers plenty of familiar territory for anyone who's ever watched a perfectly good trip unravel at the service center. Join us for an entertaining look at the other side of aviation maintenance, and subscribe to 21.Five for more conversations from the professional pilot world.
 

Show Notes
0:00 Intro & Doug's Background
5:17 Maintenance Tech Disparity
18:00 Tips for Write-ups & Pictures
27:49 Avoiding "Cannot Duplicate…"
35:44 Pilot & Maintenance Experience
39:56 Handling an AOG
56:51 Parts Landscape
1:08:30 Resources for Managers
1:17:01 Technology & AI Impacts
1:24:37 Avtopia & Final Thoughts
Our Sponsors
Tim Pope, CFP® — Tim is both a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and a pilot. His practice specializes in aviation professionals and aviation 401k plans, helping clients pursue their financial goals by defining them, optimizing resources, and monitoring progress. Click here to learn more. Also check out The Pilot's Portfolio Podcast.
Advanced Aircrew Academy — Enables flight operations to fulfill their training needs in the most efficient and affordable way—anywhere, at any time. They provide high-quality training for professional pilots, flight attendants, flight coordinators, maintenance, and line service teams, all delivered via a world-class online system. Click here to learn more.
Raven Careers — Helping your career take flight. Raven Careers supports professional pilots with resume prep, interview strategy, and long-term career planning. Whether you're a CFI eyeing your first regional, a captain debating your upgrade path, or a legacy hopeful refining your application, their one-on-one coaching and insider knowledge give you a real advantage. Click here to learn more.
The AirComp Calculator™ is business aviation's only online compensation analysis system. It can provide precise compensation ranges for 14 business aviation positions in six aircraft classes at over 50 locations throughout the United States in seconds. Click here to learn more.
Vaerus Jet Sales — Vaerus means right, true, and real. Buy or sell an aircraft the right way, with a true partner to make your dream of flight real. Connect with Brooks at Vaerus Jet Sales or learn more about their DC-3 Referral Program.
Harvey Watt — Offers the only true Loss of Medical License Insurance available to individuals and small groups. Because Harvey Watt manages most airlines' plans, they can assist you in identifying the right coverage to supplement your airline's plan. Many buy coverage to supplement the loss of retirement benefits while grounded. Click here to learn more.
VSL ACE Guide — Your all-in-one pilot training resource. Includes the most up-to-date Airman Certification Standards (ACS) and Practical Test Standards (PTS) for Private, Instrument, Commercial, ATP, CFI, and CFII. 21.Five listeners get a discount on the guide—click here to learn more.
ProPilotWorld.com — The premier information and networking resource for professional pilots. Click here to learn more.
 
Feedback & Contact
Have feedback, suggestions, or a great aviation story to share? Email us at info@21fivepodcast.com. Check out our Instagram feed @21FivePodcast for more great content (and our collection of aviation license plates).
The statements made in this show are our own opinions and do not reflect, nor were they under any direction of any of our employers.

Max goes back to basics in recurrent training, Ted checks in from his increasingly fortified garage, and the guys dig into the FAA's move away from single-pilot exemptions on legacy Citations. The Mailbag keeps the pilot-marriage conversation going with listener strategies for trust, communication, and life on the road. For Flight Advice, Ben asks how to consolidate paper, Garmin Pilot, and MyFlightbook records before starting his first Part 135/fractional flying job, leading to a discussion about owning your data, backups, and keeping a clean interview-ready logbook. 
Show Notes
0:00 Intro
3:34 Captain Stabbing
5:36 Special Phone Call
22:01 FAA News
31:26 SR-71 Rumor
36:20 Reviews & Comments
38:17 Mailbag
52:06 Flight Advice
Our Sponsors
Tim Pope, CFP® — Tim is both a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and a pilot. His practice specializes in aviation professionals and aviation 401k plans, helping clients pursue their financial goals by defining them, optimizing resources, and monitoring progress. Click here to learn more. Also check out The Pilot's Portfolio Podcast.
Advanced Aircrew Academy — Enables flight operations to fulfill their training needs in the most efficient and affordable way—anywhere, at any time. They provide high-quality training for professional pilots, flight attendants, flight coordinators, maintenance, and line service teams, all delivered via a world-class online system. Click here to learn more.
Raven Careers — Helping your career take flight. Raven Careers supports professional pilots with resume prep, interview strategy, and long-term career planning. Whether you're a CFI eyeing your first regional, a captain debating your upgrade path, or a legacy hopeful refining your application, their one-on-one coaching and insider knowledge give you a real advantage. Click here to learn more.
The AirComp Calculator™ is business aviation's only online compensation analysis system. It can provide precise compensation ranges for 14 business aviation positions in six aircraft classes at over 50 locations throughout the United States in seconds. Click here to learn more.
Vaerus Jet Sales — Vaerus means right, true, and real. Buy or sell an aircraft the right way, with a true partner to make your dream of flight real. Connect with Brooks at Vaerus Jet Sales or learn more about their DC-3 Referral Program.
Harvey Watt — Offers the only true Loss of Medical License Insurance available to individuals and small groups. Because Harvey Watt manages most airlines' plans, they can assist you in identifying the right coverage to supplement your airline's plan. Many buy coverage to supplement the loss of retirement benefits while grounded. Click here to learn more.
VSL ACE Guide — Your all-in-one pilot training resource. Includes the most up-to-date Airman Certification Standards (ACS) and Practical Test Standards (PTS) for Private, Instrument, Commercial, ATP, CFI, and CFII. 21.Five listeners get a discount on the guide—click here to learn more.
ProPilotWorld.com — The premier information and networking resource for professional pilots. Click here to learn more.
 
Feedback & Contact
Have feedback, suggestions, or a great aviation story to share? Email us at info@21fivepodcast.com. Check out our Instagram feed @21FivePodcast for more great content (and our collection of aviation license plates).
The statements made in this show are our own opinions and do not reflect, nor were they under any direction of any of our employers.