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 as a new member, found the Citation Jet Pilots Association (CJP) convention to be a well-organized, welcoming event where like-minded pilots, rather than just wealthy individuals, gathered.
- The convention, CJP's largest yet, featured key updates from Textron Aviation and the FAA, and addressed major member concerns including Citation jet history, maintenance, safety, efficiency, and insurance costs.
- A significant focus was placed on flight safety, with dedicated stand-downs, discussions on real-world incidents like pitch-trim runaway, and data-driven insights from NetJets on common operational issues.
- The event fostered a strong community, raising $700,000 for staff, safety initiatives, and scholarships, reflecting the organization's evolution from a "rich guy's club" to a dedicated safety and educational body.
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