Every five years the CAM program domains are updated through a job analysis to ensure the CAM objectives remain relevant and comprehensive. The CAM program domains below were adopted in 2024 and will be reflected in CAM exams starting Dec. 1, 2024.

If you will be taking the CAM exam before Dec. 1, 2024, review the CAM Program Domains that were adopted in 2018.

The CAM Program comprises five domains:

The CAM exam includes questions in each of the five domains.

Exam applicants are encouraged to review and study all five domains and their detailed itemizations, which are provided in this section. The five domains are separated into tasks; each task is further divided into knowledge and skill statements. Each knowledge and skill statement focuses on a measurable aspect of the required task.

Applicants familiar with the information covered by the knowledge and skill statements in each task of the five domains should be well prepared for the CAM exam, because every question on the exam is directly linked to one of the knowledge or skill factors within the five domains.


Domain I: Business Management

This domain covers issues related to financial matters of the aviation department, to include contracting, goal setting, asset management, confidentiality and community relations (22 percent of the exam; 33 items).

(BM1) Objective 1: Communicate the strategic value of business aviation.

a. Delineate the unique capabilities of business aviation to achieve company goals

b. Use appropriate communication techniques and tools to convey message of value to stakeholders

(BM2) Determine the aircraft ownership, utilization, and operational structure.

a. Recognize applicable civil aviation authority rules and regulations

b. Recognize applicable international, federal, state, and local tax implications

c. Utilize best practices for developing, reviewing, and implementing policies and strategies

d. Identify applications of emerging technologies and innovations

(BM3) Objective 3: Manage budgeting and financial processes.

a. Manage the aviation department budget based on accounting principles, reports, and components

b. Integrate the aviation department budget with the organizational budget and financial systems

c. Recognize applicable regulatory requirements (e.g., Sarbanes-Oxley, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act [FCPA])

d. Apply internal controls and audits within the department

(BM4) Objective 4: Manage aviation department processes in accordance with strategic, operational, and tactical goals.

a. Identify necessary elements and strategies for implementation

b. Utilize data for goal and business plan achievement

c. Identify required modifications to tactical plans

d. Employ techniques to measure and promote service excellence

(BM5) Objective 5: Implement procedures to safeguard information and intellectual property.

a. Comply with privacy and confidentiality requirements/regulations

b. Apply policies and procedures for document retention and data governance

c. Identify legal requirements and protections governing intellectual property and proprietary information

(BM6) Objective 6: Utilize methods to optimize aviation department asset management.

a. Conduct travel analysis

b. Identify the principles of cost-benefit analysis

c. Report on use of assets

d. Identify principles of a comprehensive asset utilization audit

e. Utilize business resources

f. Identify applicable contract terms, conditions, and clauses

g. Integrate supply chain resources

(BM7) Objective 7: Manage in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.

a. Employ strategies to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organization

b. Foster community engagement and relationships

c. Engage with local/regional aviation groups and airport communities

d. Assess operational sustainability

e. Manage sustainability strategies

f. Comply with reporting regulations and requirements

(BM8) Objective 8: Identify, develop and describe steps to implement an organizational risk management strategy.

a. Recognize basic risk management principles

b. Identify and categorize specific risks potentially facing an organization with respect to the aviation function

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Domain II: Human Resources

This domain covers issues related to staffing, training, performance, compensation, human factors and compliance with Human Resources (HR) requirements (19 percent of the exam; 28 items).

(HR1) Objective 1: Determine staffing needs.

a. Identify optimum staffing levels and worker classifications

b. Identify methods, resources, and qualification requirements to assess workload activity

c. Identify roles and responsibilities for positions

d. Utilize succession planning strategies

(HR2) Objective 2: Manage job-related training.

a. Comply with international, federal, state, and local regulatory requirements

b. Comply with company requirements

c. Manage non-regulatory training needs

d. Manage training record retention and tracking requirements

(HR3) Objective 3: Employ strategies for recruitment.

a. Implement strategies for recruiting personnel

b. Determine screening, interviewing, and selection criteria

c. Employ strategies to mitigate bias in the hiring process

(HR4) Objective 4: Manage employee performance reviews.

a. Recognize performance indicators based on job description, organization/individual goals, and other applicable criteria

b. Compare employee achievement results to defined performance indicators

c. Conduct employee performance review

d. Implement follow-up plan

(HR5) Objective 5: Utilize best practices to retain and attract employees.

a. Determine methods to promote a culture that leads to retention within the organization

b. Recommend policies on equitable compensation and benefits

c. Comply with applicable federal, state, and local employment regulations

d. Use benchmarking when selecting total compensation

e. Implement compensation elements

f. Manage the new employee orientation program

(HR6) Objective 6: Recognize employee performance.

a. Employ strategies to advance equity among team members

b. Apply the organization’s employee reward and disciplinary programs

c. Communicate performance expectations and outcomes/results to employees

(HR7) Objective 7: Ensure compliance with HR regulatory requirements and organization policies.

a. Comply with applicable federal, state, and local regulations

b. Manage employees in accordance with discrimination, harassment, violence, and substance use policies

c. Manage employee compliance with organization policies

d. Ensure training on organization policies

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Domain III: Leadership

This domain covers issues related to vision, strategic planning, team building, decision-making, communication and currency with professional knowledge (21 percent of the exam; 32 items).

(L1) Objective 1: Facilitate the strategic direction of the aviation department.

a. Recognize the elements of the overall organization vision, mission and/or values statements

b. Manage the aviation department vision, mission and/or values statements

c. Align the aviation department with the overall organization vision, mission and/or values statements

d. Identify components of goal setting

e. Develop department goals

f. Evaluate goal performance

(L2) Objective 2: Exercise effective leadership.

a. Recognize leadership theories

b. Apply motivational theories and techniques

c. Apply mentoring strategies

d. Recognize sources of expertise within the department, organization, and industry

e. Assemble teams and manage group dynamics

f. Demonstrate the ability to manage diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organization

g. Facilitate a Just Culture and champion engagement and psychological safety

h. Recognize ethical standards

i. Recognize principles of emotional intelligence

j. Employ strategies to increase professional expertise

(L3) Objective 3: Employ change management principles.

a. Recognize changes in the business climate and organization business plan

b. Advocate for change to evolve the aviation department

c. Formulate plans to manage the aviation department through a crisis

d. Manage a network of support contacts

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Domain IV: Aircraft Maintenance

This domain covers issues related to aircraft, spares, supplies and systems. (17 percent of the exam; 25 items).

(AM1) Objective 1: Manage a system of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for maintenance operations.

a. Manage aviation department maintenance SOPs

b. Develop procedures to identify and manage risk for specific job tasks

c. Audit procedures for relevance and compliance

(AM2) Objective 2: Manage aircraft maintenance in accordance with regulations and manufacturer’s specifications.

a. Comply with applicable regulatory requirements and documents

b. Determine appropriate airworthiness program

c. Comply with manufacturer’s specifications and standard practices

d. Manage technical data

e. Identify components of a tool control program

(AM3) Objective 3: Maintain cabin information systems.

a. Manage expectations of stakeholders

b. Identify relevant regulations, security protocols, and guidelines

c. Manage the training on the operational capabilities of the equipment and aircraft limitations

(AM4) Objective 4: Maintain availability of spares and supplies.

a. Maintain inventory levels and control procedures

b. Manage contract aircraft/engine maintenance and parts programs

c. Maintain applicable aircraft maintenance documents and records

d. Employ methods for shipping, receiving, and storage of materials within regulations and guidelines

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Domain V: Operations

This domain covers issues related to the operations management of aircraft to ensure safe, secure, and efficient service (21 percent of the exam; 32 items).

(OPS1) Objective 1: Manage a set of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) documents.

a. Validate applicable topics and sources of information

b. Implement SOP documents with stakeholder support

c. Audit operational results for compliance with SOP

d. Revise SOP documents as needed

(OPS2) Objective 2: Implement procedures to conduct safe and efficient flights.

a. Manage practices to optimize aircraft and crew resources

b. Prepare trip plan and related documents

c. Explain operational control designation for the leg(s)

d. Apply company policies for trip plan

e. Manage known or potential special needs of passengers and crew

f. Employ flight scheduling resources to maintain trip, passenger, aircraft availability, and crew records

g. Designate pilot-in-command (PIC) authority to commence and conduct flight

h. Employ strategies to ensure the safe storage and handling of food and cabin service items

(OPS3) Objective 3: Manage an effective record-keeping system.

a. Identify the information needed to report on applicable tax requirements

b. Manage record-keeping and reporting systems

c. Evaluate the record-keeping system for intended results

(OPS4) Objective 4: Develop emergency response plans (ERPs).

a. Identify elements of an aviation ERP

b. Integrate organization and department procedures

c. Employ strategies for developing and implementing ERPs

d. Employ strategies to test and validate ERPs

e. Revise ERP

(OPS5) Objective 5: Develop and implement a Safety Management System (SMS).

a. Identify regulatory requirements related to SMS

b. Identify methods to implement an SMS

c. Apply the components of an SMS

d. Recognize safety reporting system tools

(OPS6) Objective 6: Recognize requirements to operate within the National Airspace System (NAS) and international Flight Information Regions (FIR).

a. Recognize Traffic Flow Management (TFM) principles

b. Apply strategies to effectively integrate with airspace constraints to minimize operational impact

c. Utilize principles for operations in domestic and international airspace

(OPS7) Objective 7: Apply procedures to conduct operations in a secure manner.

a. Identify applicable regulatory security programs

b. Manage organizational security procedures

c. Employ risk management procedures

d. Recognize security issues unique to international travel

(OPS8) Objective 8: Employ principles of Human Factors (HF).

a. Employ components of Threat and Error Management (TEM)

b. Identify the effect of ergonomic design in the work environment

c. Recognize signs and causes of degraded human performance

d. Recognize how physical and mental health affects performance

(OPS9) Objective 9: Apply procedures to provide a safe and secure facility.

a. Manage facility security

b. Communicate hazards, associated risks, and appropriate mitigation techniques

c. Identify strategies for training the facility security procedures

d. Comply with regulations and guidelines for tracking and maintaining emergency equipment

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