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The
onset of the VLJ market is upon us. What is a Very Light
Jet? It’s a small business jet that weighs less than
10,000 pounds. It is certified under FAR 23 Regulations and
requires only one pilot. Typically the VLJ will carry four
passengers and two pilots. Some VLJ’s that are currently
undergoing certification and expected to be delivered in
the next year are the Eclipse 500, Cessna Mustang, Adam 700,
Embraer Phenom and the Spectrum 33. Why the popularity and
manufacture interest in such a jet? VLJ’s have been
touted as everything from the low time pilot’s dream
to the flying taxi cab. They will allow cheap access to some
hundreds of airports in the United States not currently available
to the flying public. They are supposed to make flying cheap
and fast. In addition, they are being marketed to owner pilots.
This stems from the desire of owner pilots wanting to fly
something faster and more impressive than a Beech Baron or
a Cessna 421. VLJs are sold as an inexpensive and fast alternative
for both low & high time pilots.
Advertisements
for the Cessna Citation first appeared in the late 1960’s. There was going to be 800 new “JET
PORTS” in the United States. True to its word, Cessna
backed up the ad. Citations fly out of almost every airfield
in the United States. The combination of the owner pilot and
the VLJ is a unique and opportune time for many in the aviation
industry. The training market included. Salespeople in the
VLJ market have done a great job of marketing these jets. Perhaps
too good of a job. Training providers and insurance companies
will pick up where the salesman left off. That is, provide
the pieces of the puzzle that are missing. A strong training
program, that includes much commitment on the part of the owner
will be the norm in a new industry. Mentoring programs, where
the owner pilot flies with a seasoned professional for a number
of hours before being allowed to fly on their own will be required.
These programs are a plus for everyone involved in the equation.
The owner pilot gets a good dose of real “in aircraft” training
from a professional that will leave the student with more than
just flight time. Effective habits and procedures can be taught
with a strong retention rate due to a realistic training environment.
Insurance companies will understand and appreciate the experience
brought to the cockpit by the professional pilot. Training
providers are allowed to teach “hands on.” A technique
that has been lacking in the recent past with the big training
facilities.
Some
owner pilots have already put deposits on VLJs, just waiting
for their delivery date. Insurance companies will be very
demanding of these prospective jet pilots, with little or
no turbine
time. What can an owner pilot do to prepare himself for the
arrival of his own VLJ? If you are an owner pilot who is
looking to relieve some of the insurance requirements that
will be
required when your aircraft arrives, there are certain boxes
that you can check to make this transition smoother. The
insurance companies are going to want to see some motivation
on your
part. Insurance companies have always looked at an insured’s
attitude towards training. If you were to acquire a type rating
and show an interest in recurrent training before your plane
arrives, the insurance companies would find this invaluable.
A second in command type rating would also prove valuable and
save money on your insurance. Anything an owner pilot can do
to show a desire to learn and progress in the turbine training
environment will pay big dividends when the VLJ arrives. If
you are interested in finding out more about a mentoring program
that will provide you will valuable flight time, while flying
with a pro pilot, look no further and call Jet Aeronautical.
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