What does it take to go from teaching students in a Cessna to flying a Challenger 300 business jet across the United States and internationally?

In this episode of Flight Tales, host Ryan Owens sits down with Brennan Gouaux, a Challenger 300 First Officer, to discuss the realities of corporate aviation, crew resource management, international flying, and what it's really like operating a high-performance business jet.

Brennan shares what surprised him most after leaving the flight instructor world, how professional flight crews communicate, why Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) matter, and the lessons every pilot should learn before transitioning into multi-crew operations.

They also dive into international flying, including trips to Panama, working with international handlers, customs, language barriers, challenging airspace, and how flying outside the United States is very different from domestic operations.

• Transitioning from CFI to Challenger 300 pilot
• Corporate aviation vs airline flying
• Crew Resource Management (CRM) explained
• How First Officers support captains
• Why SOPs make flying safer
• Captain upgrades and Part 135 requirements
• International business jet operations
• Flying to Panama and international customs
• Flight planning outside the U.S.
• Language barriers and ATC communication
• Why handlers are essential overseas
• Life as a corporate jet pilot
• The importance of speaking up in the cockpit
• Lessons every pilot can apply to become safer

Whether you're a student pilot, flight instructor, aspiring corporate pilot, or simply fascinated by aviation, this conversation provides an inside look at professional flight operations and the teamwork that keeps every flight safe.

In this episode: