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Bryan Air

Bryan Air

Written by: by Bryan Roseveare
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 Boardroom decisions land on your flight deck. We translate them first. But that's only half the conversation.The aviation industry talks endlessly about pay, type ratings, and seniority. We talk about what actually matters can you earn a decent living, fly a well-maintained aircraft, and still be home enough to watch your kids grow up? Bryan Air delivers straight-talking analysis on the business of aviation, career strategy, and the reality of life on the line. We break down executive moves, economic forces, and industry shifts so you see what's coming before it hits the crew briefing. And we go where most aviation media won't into the mental health pressures that come with long days, awkward hours, contracts far from home, and the quiet weight that men in this industry carry but rarely talk about. Hosted by Bryan Roseveare and Ryan Parrock. South African honesty. No corporate spin. No fluff. Just clarity on the business, the career, and the life. 250+ episodes | Listeners in 40+ countries | #1 Management Podcast in South AfricaBryan Roseveare © Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • He Couldn't Afford to Come Home: The Pilot Career Trap Nobody Talks About (+ 2026 Hiring Breakdown)

    He Couldn't Afford to Come Home: The Pilot Career Trap Nobody Talks About (+ 2026 Hiring Breakdown)
    Feb 27 2026
    🎙️ EPISODE SNAPSHOT Welcome to The Bryan Air Podcast. Boardroom decisions land on your flight deck — we translate them first. This is The Bryan Air Debrief, where we break down airline strategy, economic forces, and the business moves shaping your career. No corporate spin. Just the intelligence pilots actually need. A colleague sat across from Bryan in a sim briefing and told him the truth: he'd been stuck on an overseas contract he couldn't afford to leave, and it cost him his marriage. That conversation sparked this episode. We've mapped the 2026 first officer hiring landscape — Emirates, Etihad, Qatar, Riyadh Air, Flydubai, Cathay, EVA Air, and more — breaking down entry requirements, salary packages, type-rating pathways, training bonds, and the lifestyle trade-offs nobody puts in the recruitment brochure. There's a downloadable research sheet in the show notes with direct links to every airline's career portal. Before you chase the money or follow your mates, make sure the move fits the life you're actually trying to build. In this episode of The Bryan Air Podcast, Bryan Roseveare and Ryan Parrock break down 2026 first officer hiring requirements, salaries, and lifestyle trade-offs at Emirates, Etihad, Qatar, Riyadh Air, Flydubai, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Air Hong Kong, and other Gulf and Asia-Pacific airlines. 📋 EPISODE RESOURCES 📊 2026 FO Opportunities Research Sheet (Requirements, Salaries & Direct Career Portal Links) → https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14FHXZz_RLo6TH2aCYP1b3sjnnZDxTkW0/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=106581127461569103524&rtpof=true&sd=true ☕ Pilots Fuel (South African pilot-founded pour-over coffee for the flight deck) → https://www.instagram.com/pilots_fuel/ ⏱️ TIME-STAMPED FLIGHT PLAN 00:00 Podcast Intro 00:26 The 2026 Pilot Market: The Most Dynamic in a Decade 01:09 Research Sheet Disclaimer — Download the Excel in the Show Notes 02:42 The Story That Sparked This Episode: A Contract That Cost a Marriage 05:07 Career Strategy: Why Your Next Move Defines Your Next Decade 06:12 Gulf Hiring Hotspots — Where South African Pilots Are Looking First 06:37 Emirates B777 & A380/A350 FO Requirements: The Currency Trap 10:14 Etihad A321 & Widebody Options: Frozen ATPL Accepted 12:44 Qatar Airways: 3,500-Hour Minimum and Why Recency Is Everything 14:27 Riyadh Air: The New Kid on the Block and Why Early Movers Win 16:46 Flydubai Pathways: Training Bonds, Salary Ranges & the Emirates Flow-Up 19:27 Asia-Pacific Shift: Post-COVID Rebuilding and Expat Opportunities 19:44 Cathay Pacific Reality: Still Viable, But Not What It Used to Be 22:08 Air Hong Kong A330 Freighter: The Cargo Lifestyle at USD 140k 23:59 EVA Air Taiwan: The Stepping Stone to Heavy Metal 26:10 Air Macau & Stepping Stone Strategy: Building Hours for the Big Move 27:54 China Southern Reality Check: Captains Only, No FO Progression 29:13 Singapore Airlines: Low Entry Hours But Applications Currently Closed 30:33 Local Options: SA Airline Salary Jumps, Lift Global & SAA Lifestyle 34:00 Pilots Fuel: South African Pilot-Founded Pour-Over Coffee for the Flight Deck 38:54 SA Express Final Chapter: Liquidation, Unpaid Debts & Don't Let the State Take Your Money 41:37 News Roundup: LATAM Rejected Takeoff at 174 Knots, Myanmar Drone Strike, Munich Overnight Chaos 46:51 FAA Merit-Based Hiring Rule: Experience and Skill Over Everything 49:12 SuperBru Launch, Predictions & Prizes 💼 FEATURED DIGITAL PRODUCTS ✈️ Kaizen and the Art of Command & The Kaizen Command AI Mentor Leadership under pressure. Clear thinking. Calm execution. A practical framework for pilots and professionals who want to sharpen judgment and improve their command presence. The full product suite includes the *Kaizen and the Art of Command* course, micro-lessons, downloadable briefings, and the Kaizen Command AI Mentor. 👉 Get All Products Here (Course, AI Mentor, and more) → https://stan.store/bryanair ❤️ A NOTE TO OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Your support genuinely keeps this show airborne. Every contribution helps us improve the podcast, upgrade our gear, and create more value for the aviation community. Thank you — we're incredibly grateful for every single supporter. 👉 Join the Patreon Crew → https://www.patreon.com/bryanair 🎧 LINKS 🌐 Bryan's Website → https://www.bryanroseveare.com/ ⭐ All Digital Products (Courses & AI Mentor) → https://stan.store/bryanair ✈️ Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@BryanAirPodcast ❤️ Join the Patreon Crew → https://www.patreon.com/bryanair
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    50 mins
  • FlySafair Isn't SAA 3.0 — Why the Harith Deal Could Be a Massive Win for Everyone

    FlySafair Isn't SAA 3.0 — Why the Harith Deal Could Be a Massive Win for Everyone
    Feb 17 2026
    🎙️ EPISODE SNAPSHOT

    Welcome to The Bryan Air Podcast. Boardroom decisions land on your flight deck — we translate them first.

    This is The Bryan Air Debrief, where we break down airline strategy, economic forces, and the business moves shaping your career. No corporate spin. Just the intelligence pilots actually need.

    We let the FlySafair–Harith deal simmer over the weekend — and our take has shifted. Strip away the emotion, the Springbok flyovers, and the scars from state-owned failures, and what you're left with is a business deal that could unlock serious upside for both sides. Harith picks up one of the most remarkable airline growth stories on the continent, and FlySafair resolves its foreign ownership headache while potentially gaining a capital partner ready to invest. A standout viewer comment breaks down why the PIC isn't the government — and why this deal deserves to be judged on its own merits, not on the baggage of Mango or SA Express. So is FlySafair about to become SAA 3.0? We don't think so — and here's why.

    In this midweek episode of The Bryan Air Podcast, Bryan Roseveare and Ryan Parrock revisit the FlySafair–Harith acquisition, discuss the difference between state-linked and state-owned entities, and explain why the deal could be a win-win for South African aviation.

    ⏱️ TIME-STAMPED FLIGHT PLAN

    00:00 Welcome to the Bryan Air Podcast (Midweek Check-In)

    00:25 500 New Subscribers in Days — Thank You & Why It Matters for a Niche Channel

    01:41 Revisiting the FlySafair–Harith Deal: What Changed After Letting It Simmer

    02:31 Business vs Emotion: Why South Africans Take This Deal Personally

    02:59 The Win-Win Breakdown: What Harith Gets & What FlySafair Gains

    06:50 Brand Pride, Springbok Flyovers & Why State-Linked Skepticism Runs Deep

    09:04 The Comment That Reframed Everything: PIC Independence & Judging the Deal on Merit

    10:13 Is FlySafair Becoming SAA 3.0? Why That Comparison Doesn't Hold Up

    13:02 Superbru F1 League Update: Nearly 20 Members & Why F1 Fits an Aviation Pod

    15:45 Wrap-Up: Share Your Take — Even If You Think We're Wrong

    💼 FEATURED DIGITAL PRODUCTS

    ✈️ Kaizen and the Art of Command & The Kaizen Command AI Mentor Leadership under pressure. Clear thinking. Calm execution. A practical framework for pilots and professionals who want to sharpen judgment and improve their command presence. The full product suite includes the Kaizen and the Art of Command course, micro-lessons, downloadable briefings, and the Kaizen Command AI Mentor.

    👉 Get All Products Here (Course, AI Mentor, and more) → https://stan.store/bryanair

    ❤️ A NOTE TO OUR PATREON COMMUNITY

    Your support genuinely keeps this show airborne. Every contribution helps us improve the podcast, upgrade our gear, and create more value for the aviation community. Thank you — we're incredibly grateful for every single supporter.

    👉 Join the Patreon Crew → https://www.patreon.com/bryanair

    🎧 LINKS

    🌐 Bryan's Website → https://www.bryanroseveare.com/ ⭐ All Digital Products (Courses & AI Mentor) → https://stan.store/bryanair ✈️ Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@BryanAirPodcast ❤️ Join the Patreon Crew → https://www.patreon.com/bryanair

    #AviationPodcast #BryanAir #FlySafair #AirlineStrategy #PilotLife
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    17 mins
  • South Africa's Fastest-Growing Airline Just Got a State-Linked Buyer — Here's What It Means

    South Africa's Fastest-Growing Airline Just Got a State-Linked Buyer — Here's What It Means
    Feb 14 2026
    🎙️ EPISODE SNAPSHOT

    Welcome to The Bryan Air Podcast. Boardroom decisions land on your flight deck — we translate them first.

    This is The Bryan Air Debrief, where we break down airline strategy, economic forces, and the business moves shaping your career. No corporate spin. Just the intelligence pilots actually need.

    Harith Partners just signed a full acquisition of FlySafair. We break down what it means for market dominance, the air service licensing question everyone's asking, and whether "business as usual" can survive a shift this big. Plus — American pilots are revolting against management, the EU got caught in a Qatar Airways bribery scandal, and Bryan's heading to Singapore to speak at the IATA World Data Symposium.

    In this episode of The Bryan Air Podcast, Bryan Roseveare and Ryan Parrock analyse the Harith Partners acquisition of FlySafair, state ownership implications for South African aviation, American Airlines pilot unrest, the EU-Qatar Airways open skies scandal, Saudi Arabia's 150-aircraft order, Air Asia's A321XLR long-haul plans, and the launch of The Training Standard podcast.

    ⏱️ TIME-STAMPED FLIGHT PLAN

    00:00 Introduction: South Africa's Private Airline Shakeup, Pilot Revolts, and EU Bribery

    00:16 FlySafair Acquired: The Deal That Rocked South African Aviation

    00:58 Quick Favour: Subscribe to Keep This Show Airborne

    01:46 Inside the Harith Partners Deal: Who's Buying and Why It Matters

    02:55 The PIC Angle: Does This Make FlySafair a State-Owned Airline?

    05:05 Crew Concerns: "I've Seen This Movie Before"

    13:20 Market Dominance: 60%+ of Domestic Seats and Now State-Backed

    18:13 American Airlines Pilots Lose Faith in Management

    19:49 EU-Qatar Airways Open Skies Scandal: Free Business Class Flights and an Anti-Fraud Investigation

    20:50 Saudi Arabia Eyes 150+ Boeing and Airbus Jets

    21:40 Singapore Air Show Closes with 125,000 Attendees and Record Deals

    22:19 Announcement: Bryan Speaking at the IATA World Data Symposium in Singapore

    24:09 Live Show from Singapore: How to Join Us

    26:33 Air Asia's A321XLR Long-Haul Gamble — and the Toilet Problem

    28:02 British Airways' New Electronic Meal Ordering App

    29:17 Elon Musk Pivots from Mars to a Moon City in Under 10 Years

    31:15 Announcement: The Training Standard — A New Podcast on CBTA and EBT

    37:03 Captain's Announcement: The Bryan Air F1 Super Brew Prediction Group

    39:34 Final Thoughts: Share This with Your Crew

    📢 MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

    🌍 IATA World Data Symposium (Singapore, April 2025) → https://bit.ly/3ZBjwqO

    🎙️ The Training Standard Podcast (CBTA & EBT with Bryan & Cedric) → https://open.spotify.com/show/6EQjTi2ZJYf4KkKhFrIIaM?si=8664d03e47084d89

    🏎️ Join the Bryan Air F1 Superbru Competition → https://www.superbru.com/f1/pool.php?p=13157379

    💼 FEATURED DIGITAL PRODUCTS

    ✈️ Kaizen and the Art of Command & The Kaizen Command AI Mentor Leadership under pressure. Clear thinking. Calm execution. A practical framework for pilots and professionals who want to sharpen judgment and improve their command presence. The full product suite includes the Kaizen and the Art of Command course, micro-lessons, downloadable briefings, and the Kaizen Command AI Mentor.

    👉 Get All Products Here (Course, AI Mentor, and more) → https://stan.store/bryanair

    ❤️ A NOTE TO OUR PATREON COMMUNITY

    Your support genuinely keeps this show airborne. Every contribution helps us improve the podcast, upgrade our gear, and create more value for the aviation community. Thank you — we're incredibly grateful for every single supporter.

    👉 Join the Patreon Crew → https://www.patreon.com/bryanair

    🎧 LINKS

    🌐 Bryan's Website → https://www.bryanroseveare.com/ ⭐ All Digital Products (Courses & AI Mentor) → https://stan.store/bryanair ✈️ Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@BryanAirPodcast ❤️ Join the Patreon Crew → https://www.patreon.com/bryanair

    #AviationPodcast #BryanAir #FlySafair #SouthAfricanAviation #AirlineStrategy
    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
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