The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has congratulated Cook Flight Operations' Doug Rock for becoming the 1,000th Certified Aviation Manager (CAM), a landmark achievement for a training programme that has become the gold standard for leadership development in business aviation.

“The CAM programme exemplifies NBAA's commitment to supporting our community's growth in an increasingly complex and competitive environment,” says NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “Reaching our 1,000th CAM certification milestone is recognition from our industry and business aviation professionals that CAM is a credential that delivers success, both for the recipients and their organisations.”

Created by NBAA in 2003, CAM is a comprehensive training programme that identifies and certifies professionals, with a focus on five subject areas: leadership, human resources, operations, aircraft maintenance and business management. CAM certificate holders are acknowledged throughout the business aviation community as professionals who demonstrate expertise in aviation management and are committed to continuous development and higher standards of practice.

“After 20 years as a corporate pilot, I was at the point in my career where I wanted to have a broader understanding of this dynamic industry so I could make more informed decisions,” comments Rock. “I wanted to gain a deep understanding of the whole industry, from operations to maintenance to leadership and safety, and the CAM programme allowed me to connect every one of those dots. I am a better pilot because of CAM, and my career options have broadened because of the leadership skills I've learned from the CAM programme.”

NBAA's Six Months to CAM course was critical to Rock's pre-exam preparation, he noted. “Six Months to CAM gave me the structure to focus on what really mattered, and the weekly calls, the constant engagement from NBAA and the guest speakers provided a pathway that fully prepared me for the exam, all at a pace that worked with my work schedule and personal responsibilities.”

The CAM credential provides a clear standard for preparation and achievement in aviation management. The CAM programme is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies and is the first programme in the aviation industry to receive this recognition.

The CAM exam is available throughout the year in a computer-based testing format. To be eligible for the exam, participants must be pre-qualified and approved through a formal application process.

The CAM programme has been approved as a US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) License and Certification site. Veterans who have tested to become CAMs since 2014, may apply for GI Bill education benefits and receive reimbursement of the CAM examination fee.