You have been trying to reach the CEO for months, only to be rebuffed by their administrative assistant. A sale to this potential client could make or break your quarter. But it’s going nowhere. Finally, you get through. The CEO has little time for you until you mention the word “airplane.” You have one and can be at the local airport tomorrow morning. Or would this afternoon after work be better? Perhaps we could take a short flight to see what your plant looks like from the air.
It’s our secret weapon. And we have all used it.
During my business career, we often dropped in on prospects with our 1960s vintage Sabreliner. Back in the day, the Saberliner made a real impression at the airport with its thunderous turbojet engines. In small towns, folks would show up at the local airport just to see a jet land. And who was there to meet us?
The customer we wanted to see.
Imagine the CEO of an airplane manufacturer who decides to get his jet type rating so he can speak the language of his customers – what a brilliant idea.
Meet Ron Draper, CEO of Textron Aviation.
I met Ron recently in Wichita, Kansas, to find out how and why a guy running a multibillion-dollar business would invest the time and effort to become certified to fly his own Citation product.
“I just felt I needed to get closer to the people operating our products,” Ron said. “I wanted to better understand their needs and challenges.”
Ron was already a helicopter pilot from his Army days with over 1,000 hours in the Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk. Ironically, the slowdown in flying activity during COVID provided him the opportunity to start from scratch in the Textron Aviation Employees Flying Club. First in the Cessna 172, then earning his commercial in the Skylane 182 and Turbo Stationair 206 – and finally in the Beechcraft Baron for his multi-engine rating.
But getting a type rating in a Citation CJ3+ is no walk in the park. It’s several weeks of intense ground school and simulator training, followed by a multi-hour oral exam and check ride – all while running a worldwide business that’s pretty intense in itself.
“Living in the same town as the FlightSafety simulator made it more challenging because I tried to manage the business and learn to fly to ATP standards at the same time. In hindsight, I probably should have focused all my attention on the type rating,” said Draper.
I agree. My most stressful type rating was the Falcon 50, where I dashed from the office to the simulator for 20 days and almost never recovered.
But after weeks of very early morning training, Ron passed with flying colors. You may see him at your favorite airport with a huge grin on his face.
Fly safe.
A video discussion with Ron Draper about his CJ3+ type rating experience can be found on the Textron Aviation YouTube channel.
