The Business Jet Market: Challenges, Opportunities & The Leap into Entrepreneurship w/Mike Mikolay

2024 was a solid year for business aviation, and 2025 looks even better. But let’s be real—owning, operating, and maintaining private jets is more complex (and costly) than ever. We all know about the ongoing pilot shortages and talent retention struggles, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Aircraft acquisition hurdles Rising maintenance costs & longer lead times Increasing regulatory & environmental pressures In today’s market, being a jet broker isn’t enough—you need to be a true advisor who understands the entire ownership lifecycle. That’s exactly what Michael Mikolay set out to do when he launched Mikolay Jet Group. In this episode of The Aerospace Executive Podcast , we dig into: - The transition from W2 security to entrepreneurship - How to navigate rising operational costs - What business jet buyers need to know right now - How to turn a transactional deal into a long-term asset partnership Tune in for a deep dive into the future of business aviation and what it takes to succeed in this dynamic market. I sell time, I’m giving somebody an asset that moves them from point A to point B in the furtherance of their business. -Michael Mikolay Guest Bio Michael Mikolay is the Founder and CEO of Mikolay Jet Group LLC. In the complex arena of buying and selling business aircraft, Mikolay Jet Group is your trusted, hands-on partner. Leveraging their deep industry relationships on their behalf, they place their clients’ interests first. With clear communication and swift action, Mikolay Jet Group brings order to each transaction and ensures a hassle-free, successful outcome every time. Website: https://www.mikolayjet.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@MikolayJet https://www.linkedin.com/company/mikolayjet https://www.threads.net/mikolayjet https://www.facebook.com/mikolayjet https://www.instagram.com/mikolayjet https://www.twitter.com/mikolayjet About Your Host Craig Picken is an Executive Recruiter, writer, speaker and ICF Trained Executive Coach. He is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives in the aviation and aerospace industry. His clients include premier OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing/financial organizations, and Maintenance/Repair/Overhaul (MRO) providers and since 2008, he has personally concluded more than 400 executive-level searches in a variety of disciplines. Craig is the ONLY industry executive recruiter who has professionally flown airplanes, sold airplanes, and successfully run a P&L in the aviation industry. His professional career started with a passion for airplanes. After eight years’ experience as a decorated Naval Flight Officer – with more than 100 combat missions, 2,000 hours of flight time, and 325 aircraft carrier landings – Craig sought challenges in business aviation, where he spent more than 7 years in sales with both Gulfstream Aircraft and Bombardier Business Aircraft. Craig is also a sought-after industry speaker who has presented at Corporate Jet Investor, International Aviation Women’s Association, and SOCAL Aviation Association. For more aerospace industry news & commentary: https://craigpicken.com/insights/ . To learn more about Craig Picken, visit https://craigpicken.com/ . Check out this episode on our website , Apple Podcasts , or Spotify , and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more people. Thank you!