The Citation Jet Pilots Association met in Colorado Springs, Colorado, this past September, and I went to see what it was all about. With a recently purchased 19-year-old CJ1 in our hangar, we finally qualified for membership. Going required a certain suspension of skepticism on my part. I am not a natural joiner of groups. You will not find a membership in a golf club, yacht club nor country club anywhere in my life’s logbook. I am naturally allergic to homogeneity and preternaturally drawn to diversity when it comes to friends. I also worried that our airplane would leave us at the back of the pack. When one note described the dress code as “country club casual,” I took a deep breath.
Gear Up: A Gathering of Citations
Key Takeaways:
- The author, initially skeptical of joining the Citation Jet Pilots Association (CJP), found the convention to be a welcoming, well-organized, and valuable experience that exceeded expectations despite their "older" jet.
- The convention, the largest in CJP's history, placed a strong emphasis on aviation safety, featuring presentations from FAA officials, Textron Aviation's CEO, former astronauts, and NetJets, covering operational best practices, accident analysis, and practical maintenance insights.
- CJP has evolved from what some perceived as a "rich guy's club" into a robust safety organization and a strong community for diverse, self-made pilots, raising significant funds for scholarships and safety initiatives.
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