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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Transition Training for Used Cirrus Purchases

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Transition Training for Used Cirrus Purchases

Avidyne Cirrus PanelAs prices of used Cirrus aircraft make them affordable to more owners, resist the temptation to treat a Cirrus as just another low-wing single-engine piston airplane.  It’s not.  The high-performance flight characteristics are outstanding, but come with some caveats.  The avionics are also superb, but pilots need to know how the pieces work together and what to do when something weird happens.

The most recent fatal accident in a Cirrus involved a pilot new to the model who had recently purchased a used airplane.  Some indications suggest that he declined transition training.  Back in 2011, several of those fatal accidents involved pilots who lacked transition training to fly a Cirrus.

Cirrus_red_carpetThe Cirrus Owners & Pilots Association (COPA) recommends that any Cirrus pilot undergo a rigorous transition training program.  Some insurance companies require it, for good reason.  All Cirrus Standardized Instructors can adapt the transition training syllabus to individual needs.  We believe that it pays off.

Read the full safety article on this and other timely topics in COPA Magazine, May/June 2015 issue.

Greg West (the author of this website), is a Platinum CSIP (Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot) in the San Jose / San Francisco Bay Area, and owns a 2004 SR22-G2 with Avidyne avionics.  If you’re considering a similarly-equipped Cirrus, contact Greg today for pre-purchase consulting & evaluation, nationwide delivery, and expert transition training.

 

 

 

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Garmin 430 Card Programming Made Easy

Garmin 430
Garmin 430 and 430W data cards: the left card is for monthly NavData from Jeppesen, and the right card is for obstacle and terrain databases from Garmin.

Programming your Garmin 430 or Garmin 430W Obstacle and Terrain data card is a different process from using Jeppesen Skybound for the NavData.

Garmin 430 and Garmin 430W data cards
Garmin 430 and Garmin 430W data cards

Jeppesen Skybound card programmer is used for programming monthly NavData into the card in the left slot.  This database is required to be current for IFR flight.

The Obstacle and Terrain databases are stored on the card in the right slot. These databases must be purchased directly from Garmin, and programmed with Garmin’s proprietary card programmer (“USB Aviation Data Card Programmer”) – the Jeppesen Skybound programmer will not work.

In addition to the high cost of the Garmin card programmer, the task can be tedious – Windows installation problems, data card serial number problems and snafus with Unlock Codes, etc.

Garmin USB Aviation Database Card Programmer "for hire"
Garmin USB Aviation Database Card Programmer

The Obstacle and Terrain databases are not required for IFR flight, but it’s a good idea to update these cards periodically so that you’ve got current data. Aircraft with two Garmin 430 or Garmin 430W radios will need to buy each database twice.

Costs:  Expect to pay your Avionics shop their regular shop rate (e.g. $90 per hour) to perform the updates for you… it will take about an hour.  The databases cost $50-100 each depending on the geographical area you choose.

 

Cirrus Autopilot Management Mastery Is Often Overlooked

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Cirrus Autopilot Management Mastery Is Often Overlooked

ap_mgtSometimes overlooked in value during transition training is the Autopilot Management task.  This task is part of every transition training syllabus and equals in importance to stick and rudder skills.  While flying in IMC or other high workload situations autopilot management mastery is a must in any Cirrus pilot’s toolbox.  A special thanks to COPA, especially Trip Taylor, for the Command and Control presentation.  The presentation focused on autopilot management strategies,  levels of automation and practical applications of using autopilots effectively.  During transition or recurrent training CSIPs should test their students decision making and autopilot management mastery by crafting scenarios that may force the pilot to revert to varying levels of automation.

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