WORKING WEEK
flightglobal.com 3-9 March 2020 | Flight International | 45
Safety will be critical in future point-to-point systems, argues BroomLooking after corporate jet setters
Having fulfilled various roles in the business and general aviation industry, Andrew Broom is now chief
executive of the US-based Citation Jet Pilots Association and CJP Safety and Education Foundation
WORK EXPERIENCE ANDREW BROOM
Can work be difficult?
I see every day as a challenge,
but in a good way. Challenges
help you to learn and grow.
Where there are differences of
opinion, my approach includes
deep analysis of all sides of the
issue and then recommending
solutions based on all of the
data. I am not one to jump to
conclusions.
What do you dream of?
I often daydream about how we
can enhance the safety and
efficiency of our airborne
transportation system through
smaller jet aircraft having a
much bigger role. There is no
doubt that a true on-demand,
point-to-point system is in our
future, but we need to ensure
that it has an equivalent level of
safety as the major air carriers.
Ten years ago that looked like
small owner-flown twinjet
aircraft. Now it is looking like
the longer-term future will
incorporate automated
technology. I am an aviation
geek and love this industry.
There have been many diver-
sions or alternative paths, but I
have been fortunate to always be
working in positions aligned
with my passion. ■What attracted you to aviation?
In middle school, my brother
took me to an air show in Fort
Worth, Texas. This started my
dream of becoming a pilot. While
in high school, my father showed
me Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University (ERAU) and I was
hooked. I was the first from my
school to go to ERAU, and was so
excited about learning to fly
while completing a Bachelor of
Science degree. I had a great ex-
perience and give a lot of credit
to ERAU for my career success.
What was your first aviation job?
I actually worked at ERAU while
completing my MBA. I ran the
career services department and
was also an adjunct faculty mem-
ber teaching pilot career plan-
ning and interview techniques.
We set up all of the co-operative
programmes that really helped
shape their futures. After ERAU,
I moved to Washington DC to
work for the General Aviation
Manufacturers Association
under then president Ed Bolen.
He was, and continues to be, a
great mentor for various career
decisions. I then went to a new
start-up jet manufacturer, Eclipse
Aviation, to become one of its
early salesmen. After a short stint
in sales, I was asked to lead pub-
lic relations that included media
relations and events. This is
where I cut my teeth in market-
ing and was able to learn from
some of the best and brightest
from the technology industry.
After Eclipse, I was asked to take
on a similar role at the new
Hawker Beechcraft, which had
become a private company and
needed help. I then went to the
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Asso-
ciation (AOPA) as its vice-
president of communications
and outreach, where I led the
General Aviation Serves America
campaign and the annual AOPA
Aviation Summit, among other
activities. After three years,
Honda Aircraft recruited me to
lead all of its global marketing
and corporate communications
for the new HondaJet.
How did the Citation Jet Pilots
Association find you?
Through ERAU and my general
aviation background I was recom-
mended for its open position. My
daily duties revolve around our
growing membership and work-
ing with partners who offer prod-
ucts and services for Citation op-erators. We have an annual
convention, regional events, very
active online forums, a large re-
pository of Citation-specific docu-
ments, and tremendous partners,
including Textron Aviation. Ad-
ditionally, CJP has a deep com-
mitment to safety by providing
tools and enrichment training for
our members and the aviation
community as a whole. Last year
we launched the CJP Safety and
Education Foundation. On an an-
nual basis we have a large
convention for membership that
moves to different locations. We
plan well in advance for the event
that includes over 100 Citations
flying in and three days of pro-
gramming. We have a great team
and an amazing volunteer board
that help with the event and make
it memorable.If you would like to feature in
Working Week, or you know
someone who would, email
your pitch to kate.sarsfield@
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