In this episode of All Fire No Smoke, Dragon Lady Merryl Tengesdal sits down with CFI and business jet pilot, and entrepreneur Amber Brierly for a wide-ranging conversation about aviation, community, and the fundamentals of flying — recorded in the unique setting of a Falcon 7X cabin (because why not?)

Amber shares her journey from growing up in New Zealand to becoming a U.S. citizen and building a career in business aviation and general aviation. Together, Merryl and Amber explore the challenges of transitioning between different aircraft types, the critical importance of stick-and-rudder skills in the age of automation, and what it takes to navigate unconscious bias and find your confidence in the cockpit.

This episode is both a technical and emotional look at what it means to fly — and why community, mentorship, and emotional intelligence are as vital as flight hours.

Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts. All episodes are recorded with permission.

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