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Ralph Merhi,

A conversation I’ve been looking forward to sharing

Published about 2 months ago • 2 min read

I’ve been looking forward to sharing this episode for a while.

My guest this time is Myles Corey, founder of SPAERO, but there’s another reason this conversation means a little more to me: Myles is building something I care about and respect deeply.

That could have made this an easy conversation about products. It wasn’t.

Instead, we ended up talking about the aviation industry we’ve both spent years working inside—what’s changed, what really hasn’t, and why procurement can still feel incredibly fragmented despite all the technology surrounding it.

At one point Myles said something that perfectly framed the problem:

“The human being, being the buyer, is effectively the API layer.”

Think about that.

ERP. OEM portals. Supplier portals. Listing services. Marketplaces. Email. AI. All digital, yet somebody still has to carry the transaction from one place to the next.

And then factor in that hot new AI but that comes with a warning because,

"If you need AI to fix your broken workflow, you don’t have a workflow."

That doesn’t mean AI isn’t valuable.

Quite the opposite.

But there’s a difference between applying intelligence where judgment, ambiguity or context is required and spending tokens to compensate for steps that should’ve been connected deterministically in the first place.

From there we got into interoperability, AOG procurement, the proper role of AI, open systems, supplier performance, and a philosophy behind what Myles is building that I really like:

Connect. Don’t replace.

We also went somewhere much more personal.

Myles talked about becoming a father and realizing that the big milestones we notice are usually just dozens of smaller wins accumulating quietly in the background. A new integration. A new customer. Twenty clicks becoming two. One step after another.

I like that part a lot.

This wasn’t really an interview as much as two people who’ve lived different sides of the same industry comparing notes about where aviation technology should go next.

I enjoyed it tremendously, and I think you will too.

Watch the new Skybound Ops episode here:

video preview​

https://youtu.be/3dA8S8QgoZk

If something in the conversation hits home, send me a note. I’d genuinely love to hear your take.

Ralph Merhi

CEO | ERP.Aero

Host | Skybound Ops

About Myles Corey

​Myles Corey has spent roughly 16 years in aviation, with much of that experience rooted in aircraft parts, sourcing, procurement, and the day-to-day realities of the aviation supply chain. He is the founder of SPAERO, where his focus is on improving procurement architecture through structured, connected workflows rather than simply adding more disconnected technology. His philosophy is straightforward: structure before automation, transparency before scale. He brings an operator’s perspective to technology because he has lived the problems he is now trying to solve.

About Ralph Merhi

​Ralph Merhi is the CEO of ERP.Aero and host of Skybound Ops, where he brings together aviation operators, founders, technology leaders, and industry voices for practical conversations about how aviation actually works. His perspective is shaped by more than two decades in the aviation aftermarket and by working directly with suppliers, distributors, MROs, and technology teams. He is focused on simplifying operations, improving workflow, and using automation and AI where they create real operational value. On Skybound Ops, the goal is simple: get past the surface and talk honestly about the systems, decisions, and people shaping the future of aviation.

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Ralph Merhi,

CEO @ERP.ero

Practical insights for aviation suppliers, distributors, brokers, and manufacturers who refuse to settle for inefficiency. I believe in cutting through the noise—delivering real strategies to make things better. No fluff, no wasted time, just the knowledge, both business and personal, and tools to help you succeed. If you want my newsletter, drop your email below 👇 or feel free to look as much as you want.

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