From Corporate Flight Attendant to Aviation Entrepreneur: Kelly Carrillo Is Building What She Wished Existed.

When we think about the people responsible for a safe flight, pilots, mechanics, and air traffic controllers usually come to mind.

But there's another part of the crew whose work we don't hear nearly enough about.

Flight attendants.

I've always had tremendous respect for what they do, especially in business aviation, where many work independently across different aircraft and flight departments.

So I was interested in hearing from Kelly Carrillo, who has spent nine years as a corporate flight attendant and is now taking her experience in some unexpected directions.

She's launching a technology platform called PROLOCKD and preparing to become president of the Northern California Business Aviation Association in 2027.

What interested me most was how her years of work led to both opportunities.

Kelly's aviation career actually began with flying lessons in a Piper Tomahawk.

She wanted to become a pilot, but when flight training became too expensive, she found another way into aviation as a corporate flight attendant.

That early experience gave her an appreciation for checklists, aircraft systems, and preparation.

Today, as an independent contractor, Kelly works across different business jets. Before each assignment, she reviews safety procedures, checks emergency equipment, and familiarizes herself with the aircraft.

Most passengers never see this side of the job.

This is especially important in business aviation, where aircraft, operators, and training requirements can vary.

One concern Kelly raised was lithium battery fires.

According to the FAA, 97 lithium battery incidents involving smoke, fire, or extreme heat were reported on aircraft in 2025.

That's roughly one reported incident every four days.

Kelly also described training in realistic cabin simulators, practicing responses to smoke, fires, and emergency evacuations.

As a pilot, I appreciated her emphasis on hands-on training.

We spend years developing the knowledge and muscle memory to respond to situations we hope never happen.

That same preparation matters just as much in the cabin.

This past summer, I spent a great deal of time learning about entrepreneurship and innovation in aviation.

One idea from the case studies stayed with me.

Some of the most practical innovations come from people who understand a problem firsthand.

Kelly's story reminded me of that.

For nine years, she's managed the challenges of working independently, communicating her availability, maintaining relationships with schedulers, and finding her next assignment.

Along the way, she developed a system that made the process easier.

Eventually, she realized it could help others, too.

So she built PROLOCKD, a technology platform that connects contract pilots, flight attendants, and other aviation professionals with flight departments and hiring managers.

The platform allows contractors to share their availability, maintain professional profiles, and connect with potential clients. For hiring managers, it helps them identify available crew and manage professional connections.

Entrepreneurship includes a concept called user innovation, where people develop solutions to challenges they've experienced themselves.

Kelly is a great example.

We often associate innovation in aviation with new aircraft, advanced technology, or major breakthroughs.

Sometimes it begins with someone finding a better way to do the work they know best.

Kelly's commitment to bringing people together extends beyond her new business.

Through FA Club, she organizes gatherings where aviation professionals can exchange ideas, discuss safety, and build relationships.

And in 2027, she'll become president of the Northern California Business Aviation Association.

That's a significant milestone, not just for Kelly, but for the flight attendant community.

Kelly shared that she will be the first flight attendant to lead a regional aviation association. The role gives her an opportunity to bring cabin crew perspectives into broader conversations about aviation safety, workforce development, and the industry's future.

It's an interesting progression for someone who originally entered aviation hoping to become a pilot.

During our conversation, Kelly talked about wanting flight attendants to be recognized for their safety responsibilities and the experience they bring to the industry.

She also wants more people to see opportunities for themselves beyond their current roles.

That stayed with me.

After nine seasons at AVIATE, I've learned that leadership in aviation doesn't follow a single path.

Some people come through the flight deck. Others through engineering, maintenance, operations, or the cabin.

Each brings a different understanding of the industry.

And I think those perspectives add real value to the conversations and decisions that shape aviation's future.

As we wrapped up, I asked Kelly the question I'm asking every guest this season:

What are you building toward?

Her answer came back to safety and community.

She wants to bring people together, share knowledge, and create opportunities for others to grow.

What I appreciated about Kelly's story is that her next chapter isn't disconnected from the work she's spent nine years doing.

It's growing directly out of it.

And it made me think about how many other people in aviation have ideas, experience, and perspectives that could help move our industry forward if given the opportunity.

My full conversation with Kelly Carrillo is now available on AVIATE with Shaesta.

Kelly has shared an exclusive PROLOCKD handout for AVIATE listeners, which I've shared below.

It explains how the platform works for contractors and hiring managers and includes a special offer for our audience.

My conversation with Kelly Carrillo is now available on AVIATE with Shaesta.

Watch or listen to the full episode below:

Until next time,
Shaesta