Guest: Casey Miller, Founder & President, Latitude 33 Aviation
Host: Dan Harris, Iron Bird Partners Podcast
Some people enter aviation through spreadsheets. Casey Miller was raised in the cockpit.
In this episode, Dan Harris talks with Latitude 33’s founder and president, Casey Miller — a pilot, entrepreneur, and operator who turned a side hustle into one of the most respected charter and management companies in the western U.S.
Casey shares how he went from flying freight out of El Paso for $18,000 a year to managing a fleet of 35 aircraft across the West Coast — all without outside capital, acquisition shortcuts, or hypergrowth tactics. The conversation pulls back the curtain on what slow, intentional success really looks like in private aviation.
In this episode:
✦ Why Latitude 33 has never taken on debt — and why that matters
✦ The difference between managing aircraft and managing expectations
✦ When growing too fast puts your certificate (and culture) at risk
✦ Why Casey avoids brokering trips he can’t personally vouch for
✦ The tech bottlenecks holding the industry back (and how AI might help)
✦ How pilot pools, owner expectations, and safety culture intersect
✦ The bonus depreciation wave — and what it really means for charter
Whether you're an aircraft owner, a charter client, or building your own operation — this is a real-world playbook on how to grow in aviation without compromising what matters.
🔧 Sponsored by:
Charter Flight Support — The only backup coverage that protects you when a mechanical stops your trip. charterflightsupport.com
Video Valet — Elevate your inflight experience with 1.2M+ movies and magazines—no Wi-Fi required. Mention Iron Bird to get a free custom iPad. videovalet.io
✈️ The Iron Bird Partners Podcast brings high-level conversations from inside the cockpit, boardroom, and hangar.
Explore more episodes at: flyironbird.com
