Page 38 - June 2015 Volume 19 Number 6

This customer is fairly new to aviation, having attained his private ticket in the last two years. Before the ink was dry on his instrument ticket, he bought a new glass-panel light piston aircraft and began racking up hours with zeal.
As part of our counseling, we worked with this customer develop a transition plan to help him prepare for his eventual move to a light jet. Then he got the siren song from this late model Citation Mustang. We worked through what a move to this aircraft would require, in terms of training, experience, insurance and pilot mentoring, in order to fly the new jet single-pilot. Then we compared it to his transition plan. Guess what? The original plan made more sense than ever.
At the end of the day, our customer made the decision to move into a single-engine turboprop to gain turbine and high-altitude operating experience. It also will allow him to continue to amass more experience operating in the IFR system. Not only was this the smart move and resulted in more reasonable insurance premiums and training requirements, it fits perfectly with his transition plan that will lead him to flying a light jet in 18 months. He recently said he’s relieved that he followed the plan, as he’s found the single-engine turboprop is the right fit at this moment in his flying career.
As opposed to pursuing the shortest distance between two points or the lowest cost, put your focus on the
smartest strategy. Listen, plan, and ask a lot of questions of whomever you assemble as your transition team. Dedicating the required time and resources to the endeavor will not only ensure that you reach your goals efficiently, it will add deep satisfaction that you are operating at the highest levels of safety, proficiency and professionalism.
Plan the work, and work the plan. I
Tim White is CEO and owner of Kansas Aircraft Corporation, an aircraft sales organization headquartered in the Kansas City area. Kansas Aircraft offers a menu of owner-pilot services, including aircraft acquisition, factory purchase, acceptance and delivery, and mentor pilot training and services. A 25-year business aviation veteran, Tim enjoyed a successful sales leadership career at Cessna Aircraft Company where he served as Senior Vice President, Sales for the Americas. In 2012, Tim joined Bombardier Aerospace in a sales leadership role for the Global, Challenger and Learjet product lines, providing him experience in the heavy jet market sector. He is an active multi-engine/ instrument pilot and holds a Citation CJ2 type rating. Contact Tim at (913) 782-8212 or tim@kansasaircraft.com
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36 • TWIN & TURBINE
JUNE 2015