The very first flight.
What was 1999 really like — one leased An-24, a small office in Sharjah — before any of it felt certain?
A personal invitation · for Roman
The stories
behind the skies.
Roman, the world sees the aircraft. I'm curious about the person, the decisions, and the remarkable journey behind them. I'd love to sit down and hear your story.
- ◆ 60–75 minutes
- ◆ Relaxed, unscripted
- ◆ At your convenience
Since 1999,
looking up.A story that deserves to be told
747looking up.A story that deserves to be told
Exclusively for Roman
01 / A note from me
Hi Roman,
I'm Avtar.
A personal invitation, not a mass email. Here's why I'd love this conversation.
I run Primero Charter Services, a private aviation charter business in India. So when I came across your journey with Aquiline International, it genuinely caught my attention.
What interests me isn't simply the scale of the business today. It's how it began: in 1999, with a single leased Antonov An-24 and a small office in Sharjah — and a vision that grew into more than two decades of cargo and humanitarian aviation, Boeing 747s included.
Then there are the missions. The 747 that flew cheetahs from Namibia to India in 2022. The relief flights. I can only imagine the pressure, and the decisions, behind moments like those.
That's exactly why I started this podcast — thoughtful conversations with people who've actually built something. What worked, what didn't, the risks taken, and the lessons that never make it into a LinkedIn post.
No PR script. No sales pitch. Just an honest conversation about the journey. And as someone working in aviation myself, it's one I'd be particularly excited to have.
— AvatarFounder, Primero Charter Services · Podcast host
I'm less interested in the numbers behind a success story.
I'm interested in the person and the decisions behind it.
the podcast
02 / What I'd love to explore
Not a Q&A.
A real conversation.
A few chapters of your journey that fascinate me. We'd follow wherever the conversation takes us.
The big bets.
What does it take to commit to aircraft like the Boeing 747 when the outcome is never guaranteed?
Flights with purpose.
From flying cheetahs to India to moving humanitarian cargo — which missions stayed with you long after landing?
Behind the founder.
What have 25+ years in aviation taught you about leadership, resilience, ambition — and yourself?
No rehearsed answers needed. The interesting parts are usually the unexpected ones.
Missions beyond the runway03 / More than business
Some flights
carry more
than cargo.
In 2022, an Aquiline Boeing 747 carried cheetahs from Namibia to India — part of the first intercontinental relocation of its kind. Add years of humanitarian and relief cargo, and you see how aviation can leave a mark far beyond the runway.
I'd love to understand what those moments meant to you — not just how they were executed.
About the cheetah mission ↗04 / A glimpse of the series
Conversations So Far
Conversations across entrepreneurship, leadership, personal growth, and the decisions that shape extraordinary lives.
Being present
Perspective, presence, and making each day matter.
Building a business
Ideas, practical tools, and the entrepreneurial journey.
Building real trust
The human connections at the heart of business.
Emotions & perspective
A thoughtful conversation about everyday happiness.
Better conversations
Communication, understanding, and navigating difficult moments.
Business & opportunity
Exploring the financial side of building a business.
Previous guests
Vlad
An open conversation about business and the experiences that shape us.
Keith
Beyond the surface: ideas, difficult choices, and lessons worth sharing.
A seat in the conversation
The podcast experience
Good microphones. Thoughtful questions. And the space to let a real conversation unfold.
05 / The experience
Easy to join.
Worth the time.
You'll be giving me about an hour. My aim is for it to feel less like an interview and more like the conversation you enjoy after the cameras are off.
Step 01One comfortable conversation
About 60–75 minutes. Riverside (remote) — or in person, by agreement.
Step 02Thoughtful, researched questions
I'll do the homework. You just turn up as yourself — no script or preparation deck required.
Step 03Stories that travel further
A full-length edited episode, plus short highlight clips so the best moments reach more people.
Step 04No fee. No pitch. No hidden agenda.
Just a genuine invitation to share lessons that could matter to the next generation of builders.
06 / Your invitation
Shall we make this conversation happen?
No need to find a time just yet. If this sounds interesting, we'll coordinate everything around your availability.
Looking forward to hearing the story behind the skies. — Avatar