You’ve vetted the aircraft. You’ve seen the badge. You think you're covered.

But what if the biggest threat to your safety isn’t mechanical — it’s organizational?

In this episode, Dan sits down with Al Mann, Director of Safety at Flyhouse and former VP of Safety at Wheels Up, to break open the hidden flaws in how private aviation defines — and often misrepresents — safety.

Al doesn’t just manage risk. He challenges the way operators, clients, and even regulators think about it. From the illusion of audit-based reassurance to why “safety is our top priority” is often just a marketing line, this conversation lifts the curtain on an industry overdue for change.

Inside the episode:

✦ What FAA’s Part 5 SMS really means for private flyers and owners

✦ Why most audits fail to capture actual risk — and what to ask instead

✦ The myth that smaller operators can’t afford real safety programs

✦ What makes a culture of safety (hint: it’s not a checklist)

✦ The question every charter client should be asking — and the answer that separates safe from scary

If you own an aircraft, manage one, or fly on someone else’s dime — this is the episode you can’t afford to miss.

🔧 Sponsored by:

• Charter Flight Support — Private aviation’s only coverage that protects you from mechanical delays. charterflightsupport.com

• Video Valet — 1.2M+ shows, films, and magazines without the Wi-Fi struggle. Mention Iron Bird to get one custom iPad free. videovalet.io

✈️ The Iron Bird Podcast is your back-pocket guide to flying smarter. For charter clients, aircraft owners, and crew who care about what happens behind the cockpit door.