Originally Posted by
Ewfflyer
I absolutely agree with the 500+hrs before Glass/Autopilot. These make lazy pilots!!!!!!!
I hope that's not what I turn into. I'm going to work hard to not allow that to happen.
Originally Posted by
Ewfflyer
I'm not saying they aren't great at reducing workload etc... But realistically it's more for the guys that fly for a living that need all the hlep they can get. You're goal is to fly for enjoyment, and the challenge, AP's do all the dirty work for you!
The enjoyment is really key, here. I could do a fractional [netjets, flightoptions, etc.] program and just be done with it, but I love airplanes and aerospace. So, now that I am able to get back to flying, I want to integrate it into my lifestyle in such a way that is meaningful and beneficial to my business and my personal life. The only way I can do that, is to both own and operate - as opposed to just have it done for me - that's no fun, or not nearly as fun as doing it yourself.
Originally Posted by
Ewfflyer
Just curious though, are they even delivering the SJ30 or certified? I thought that was a back-burner project right now.
Over 200+ orders since before the 80% buy-in of Emivest Aerospace into Sino Swearingen. Financial problems and a very difficult FAA certification process slowed the project down in years past, coupled to prevailing economic boom/bust cycles with the current recession being the worst in the program's history. Sino Swearingen was never the largest aircraft maker in the world and they brought a brand new design to market that transforms or creates a new market niche. Not an easy thing to do in any business, let alone the airplane business. The aircraft is already certified and is ready for single pilot and RVSM operations, as well. That combined with its performance capabilities, make it a relatively unmatched platform in its weight class at the same price range.
The new capital injection from Emivest will enable the ramp-up of the delivery process which has been delayed for quite some time. I hope to be in the slot for 2011/2012. If I can get it earlier, I will. Just because I have it, does not mean I have to fly it myself. I could do something similar to what others including yourself have mentioned here. Go to the company run specific SJ training with a qualified surrogate/mentor/instructor pilot together, then have that same person fly left seat as "instructor/mentor" pilot having PIC responsibilities, as I get some real-world familiarity with the SJ as I continue to build my 1,500 to 2,000 PIC hours in the high-performance twin.
Something like that would seem to provide for a smooth transition from the high-performance twin category into SJ as PIC, no?