Pilot and co's broadcast was self-congratulatory (7)
I believe the answer is:
aircrew
'pilot and co's' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'broadcast was self-congratulatory' is the wordplay.
'broadcast' becomes 'air' (to air on TV).
'was self-congratulatory' becomes 'crew' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'air'+'crew'='AIRCREW'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for aircrew that I've seen before include "Plane's operators" , "Pilot, co-pilot, etc" , "Plane's staff" , "Rice war? (anag)" , "Pilot and assistants" .)