Cirrus Aircraft has launched VisionAir, a new ownership program for the Vision Jet.
Designed as a turnkey program, VisionAir includes everything needed to own, operate, and manage a Vision Jet, according to company officials, who note the 200th Vision Jet was delivered in July 2020.
“Our mission is to make personal aviation more accessible,” said Zean Nielsen, Cirrus Aircraft’s Chief Executive Officer. “Now, more than ever, people are looking for alternative ways to travel, with the added assurance of safety and privacy.”
The new program provides “a direct pathway to complete ownership” that allows “customers to enjoy all of the benefits of personal aviation while we take care of the details,” he added.
VisionAir includes an on-demand professional pilot, concierge services, complete maintenance coverage, aircraft management oversight and storage, as well as options for insurance coverage and referrals for professional tax advice.
“VisionAir is the latest innovation as we continue to define personal aviation,” said Nielsen. “Now, new Vision Jet owners can simply arrive and fly.”
VisionAir is available at Cirrus Aircraft’s newest factory-direct facility, Cirrus Aircraft McKinney (KTKI), located in the Dallas Metroplex area. Additional locations will be available soon, company officials said.
How is this not acting as an operator at some point? Where will the pilots come from? Will they be briefed on the Terms and Conditions or contract or god forbid “at will” with the owner? Do they work for Cirrus? When the “Owner” wants his/her pilot to conduct a mission in their airplane, for instance, to pick up a friend in another city without the owner on board, explain how that is not being brokered through Cirrus if Cirrus supplies the pilot network. What does the certificate say? Does Cirrus set that up? Cirrus is scraping by some very black and white regs by offering this, and doing so very publicly. Hoping its not sourced through their 142 program (in Nashville, I believe?) I have met 2 owners already who were scolded for dry leasing their aircraft for this purpose, Cirrus Jet or not. When the FAA gets back in the office post COVID, might be worth keeping an eye on. Or maybe I can start offering “private carriage” in my C337 :)! Hmmmm, follow the money (or desperate need for it…). Wondering what crowd will stick to Delta Diamond status for 250k a year in 1st class rather than this management challenge. Also, The SF50 does not show a CAMP on the FAA website. Are they doing 100 hours? Hoping they are showing owners the actual impact of that. Cirrus service center here in Seattle Area is weeks if not months out, let alone takes weeks to complete a 100 hour in the VJ. Same tail number is still on jacks since mid July. Thinking the end user (buyer) might be in for a ride here, and at risk for things not entirely explained by the provider (Cirrus). For the non pilot purchaser, education will be needed to stay inside the lines. For the pilots, speak carefully during a ramp check when the “purpose of flight” question is asked, and don’t show a pay stub with Cirrus printed on it.
~Tim W.
CIrrus provides factory pilots for all their planes. All their pilots are also CSIPS. So their status is trainer, not charter pilot. YOU are always the PIC in your plane.
So are they calling flying an owner for 300 hours a year in their airplane with owner not sitting at a pilot station “training”? Can you see where this water gets muddy? There’s 91, 135, 91k/others, clearly defined. In part 91, anyone qualified can fly you in your airplane. No prob. Until a third party becomes the broker of pilot service is the question I’m asking. Does a factory part 142 sim instructor do the flying? Or is there another pool of pro pilots that work for cirrus? Does cirrus even have to be qualified to broker that if they fill what could be called a “dry lease”?