Summary
- The NBAA’s CAM program checks that aviation managers have proficient skills in leadership, HR, operations, maintenance, and business management.
- CAMs must showcase commitment to excellence and leadership to be recognized as industry leaders.
- The certification process involves experience, education points, recommendations, and passing a comprehensive exam.
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is a professional association and lobbying group for private business aviation. It was formed in 1947 and is a non-profit entity based in Washington DC, US. The NBAA organizes conferences and seminars for its members and supports business aviation as a whole.
The NBAA’s mission is to foster an environment that allows business aviation to thrive in the US and around the world. The Certified Manager program was first introduced in 2003 with a decade prior spent in preparing the program. Let’s look at what the program is and what it involves.
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Mission and objectives
The Certified Aviation Manager(CAM) program takes the NBAA mission a step further in identifying and training aviation managers who represent the ‘gold standard’ of leadership in the business aviation community. The program’s mission is to certify the future of business aviation through the use of the program and present candidates who are committed leaders who provide excellence.
The CAM program designed by the NBAA recognizes qualified professionals within the industry to lead flight departments for companies that use business aircraft. The program helps candidates prepare for their future careers in aviation management. It also helps to improve the individual’s knowledge and qualifications in leadership roles and allows them to be recognized as a business aviation professional.
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What do you learn?
The CAM certification program acknowledges professionals who wish to develop themselves further and grow in their roles whilst raising the industry standards to the very highest level. Through continuous study and then examination, knowledge and experience of the following five areas are tested:
- Leadership: company vision, ethics, mentoring, and innovation.
- Human resources: staffing, compensation, training, and human factors.
- Operations: planning flights, safety management, compliance, and operational security.
- Aircraft Maintenance and Facilities Services: aircraft and hangar maintenance and security.
- Business Management: department structure, financial processes, and social responsibility.
Commitment and excellence
Certified Aviation Managers must be committed to excellence in their careers and show leadership qualities while also enabling others to share their expertise. Employers, passengers, crew, peers and business leaders can all take an interest in a certified aviation manager as the NBAA has recognized their achievements and that they are worthy of certification. It also protects the best interests of stakeholders in business aviation. Through this program, CAMs can meet the highest standards in the industry and be successful aviation managers running their own department.
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The benefits of being a CAM
The first major benefit of the CAM program is that you become a recognized leader in business aviation. It is a program that recognizes individuals in the industry and provides them with a plan of continuous training and professional development throughout their careers. Added to that they will gain the NBAA network of industry professionals.
An aviation manager can be a:
- Maintenance Manager
- Operations Manager
- Director of Aviation
- Fleet Manager
- Flight Administration Officer
- Head of Training
- Safety Manager
Third-party review
The certification process is objective and is a third-party review of company standards to best protect the interests of business aviation management. The program demonstrates that an individual can lead a department successfully with extensive study and preparation. The Certifying Aviation Manager Governing Board aims to raise the standards of aviation managers in business aviation and reviews every application.
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First steps to apply
Before applying for the program, the individual must have at least two years of experience and meet the qualifications through a points system. The CAM application considers a combination of education, development, licensing and experience. Taking part in professional development courses in the program, participating in study groups and classes and attending conferences all help the individual to earn extra points.
One hundred points are needed for the application. Two recommendation letters from prior employers are also expected, along with a fee. The application can remain in the system for two years whilst more points are accrued. There is also a six-month program, ‘Six Months To CAM,’ that provides an individual with a solid study plan for six months but in a time-efficient manner, especially useful if working full-time.
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The examination
The study guide should be reviewed thoroughly before taking the final examination. References and study materials are available in the NBAA professional development program and more points can be earned through taking courses. The CAM exam has 175 multiple-choice questions, and you have three and a half hours in which to sit it. The questions are based on the five core areas listed previously.
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After certification
Once gained, the Certified Aviation Manager certification requires that four points be added during a 36-month period, so it is renewed every three years. This ensures that the manager stays current with the industry and maintains the high standards that NBAA requests in business aviation.
The CAM re-certification award for tenure recognizes CAMs for their commitment and consistency to the industry. It has awards at standard, silver, and gold levels with unbroken re-certification. Since its conception, over 400 aviation professionals have completed the NBAA Certified Aviation Manager program.