Bas de Bruijn

Bas serves as a strategic advisor at Clay Lacy Aviation, where he partners with corporate and private flight departments to elevate the role of business aviation as a driver of human performance and organizational resilience. As a current international Gulfstream captain (previously for a Fortune 50 company), he brings a rare combination of operational expertise and executive insight to the evolving challenges of modern aviation leadership. He began flying at age 14, and has experience in a wide variety of business aircraft types and models.

His recent research, published in the Journal of Air Transport Management, reframes corporate aviation not as a luxury, but as a strategic resource that preserves executive energy, enhances well-being, and supports purpose-driven performance. At Clay Lacy, Bas advises clients on aligning aviation operations with broader organizational goals and helping boards understand the ROI of aviation through a human capital lens. His approach is grounded in safety, service and operational excellence, with a clear-eyed focus on the people at the center of every mission.