Cirrus Flight Instruction - Platinum CSIP

Flight Instructor Greg West: ATP/CFII/MEI/Cirrus Platinum CSIP

Greg West
Cirrus Platinum CSIP / ATP / CFII / MEI
408.538.5316
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Cirrus Generation 6 Does Not Disappoint

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Cirrus Generation 6 Does Not Disappoint

The Cirrus SR-22 G6 is the latest and best ever from Cirrus. In addition to the luxuries and useful features of its predecessors, Generation 6 brings Perspective+ FMS with a QWERTY keyboard, high speed processors (10x faster than legacy G1000), Bluetooth connectivity, improved door closure and incredible exterior lighting. Cirrus G6 delivers an aviation experience that is the pinnacle of innovation, quality, and safety. Read more on the Cirrus Aircraft website.

Fly with Greg in a rental Cirrus SR22 G6 at Palo Alto or San Carlos.

Interested in buying? Arrange for a demonstration flight.

My SR22-G2 Path to ADS-B with the L-3 Lynx NGT9000+

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My SR22-G2 Path to ADS-B with the L-3 Lynx NGT9000+

I provide flight training in all models of Cirrus. The one I own is a 2004 SR22-G2 with Avidyne and Garmin 430W avionics. I fly in congested airspace (San Francisco Bay Area) and becoming ADS-B compliant well ahead of the 2020 deadline has been on my mind. Additionally, I am not equipped with XM weather, so ADS-B in (FIS-B) to provide in-flight weather is an attractive idea.

I settled on the L-3 Communications Lynx NGT9000+. This would get me ADS-B Out compliant, transmit 1090ES (even though this SR22 doesn’t go to the flight levels, I wanted it for Canada/Mexico), and weather in the cockpit. It also would replace my Skywatch (TRC497) which I know are expensive to repair so I wanted to unload mine before it failed.


Jet Center Medford (Oregon) did the job:
– remove GTX 327
– remove Skywatch
– install NGT 9000+ at top of stack
– re-order the rest of the stack

With Skywatch removed, the plane gained several pounds of useful load. I was cautioned that the audio panel might have to go to the bottom if the 55X couldn’t fit there… but it worked out fine and I’m happy with the stack order. I sold the GTX327 transponder and Skywatch (TRC497) on eBay, got around $900 for each unit.

If you have an SR22 with Avidyne and the GTX327 transponder, I found this to be a great solution and I’m happy with the performance of the Lynx. Message me with any questions.

 

FAA Adopting New Safety Philosophy

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FAA Adopting New Safety Philosophy

The FAA in June adopted a national policy notice instructing agency personnel to correct simple mistakes arising from a lack of understanding or diminished piloting skills through training and education rather than enforcement action. It is unclear if those changes are being broadly implemented in the field.

That’s the overwhelming skepticism among pilots and journalists alike… I got that opening paragraph from an article in Flying Magazine.

But I’m happy to report that the initiative is apparently real.  I’m on the FAA Safety Team in the San Jose region, and I was recently asked by the FSDO (Flight Standards District Office) to conduct some remedial training as a result of this new program.

A pilot deviation was issued by ATC at Monterey (KMRY) to a pilot who violated a taxi clearance.  The FSDO investigator found the airman to be apologetic, cooperative, and willing to undergo training in lieu of a certificate action (what pilot wouldn’t?!).   I was paired with him and provided ground and flight training (with emphasis on airport diagrams, taxi operations).  Upon completion, a quick note back to the FSDO was all it took to erase the deviation completely from the airman’s file.

Sounds like a great program.  So remember, if you ever find yourself in trouble and on the phone with the FSDO: be cooperative, apologetic, and ask for training.  It might just get you off the hook.

 

 

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