Real Estate Developer’s Cirrus SR22T Is a Time Machine

BROUGHT TO YOU BY CIRRUS

Eric Guster is a man who values family and the freedom to navigate business and leisure with minimal constraints. As a real estate developer and lawyer, his Cirrus SR22T is the perfect asset to give him back time without compromise.

“I never knew it was possible,” Guster said. “Aviation was mysterious to me. I didn’t know I could learn how to fly and own my own aircraft.”

From the start of his interest in aviation, Guster knew a Cirrus was the aircraft he wanted due to safety features and cabin comfort. The Cirrus Configurator, he said, was helpful in leading him to the exact model he wanted. 

“Cirrus is a very safe aircraft, first of all,” said Guster, who is an instrument rated pilot.

For him, safety is paramount, but it goes hand in hand with the comfort that the Cirrus aircraft product line is renowned for.

Cirrus aircraft are known for their innovative safety systems including features such as the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS), a revolutionary whole airframe parachute safety system that has redefined personal aviation. To date, Cirrus is the only aircraft manufacturer offering this safety system as standard equipment on all aircraft.

Guster also appreciates the Blue Level Button, a feature he said is important during critical phases of flight.

“I haven’t used the Blue Level Button during a flight, but I did during instrument training,” he said.

This feature allows pilots or passengers who encounter unusual flight attitudes to easily return the aircraft to level flight with a single touch of the button, which offers added peace of mind.

“Those features in the background are invaluable because they offer redundancies if something unexpected were to occur,” Guster said. “The safety features sell themselves. What happens if the pilot is incapacitated or an emergency arises? You have several options including CAPS and autoleveling ability. My wife could almost land the aircraft at this point since she knows how to slow us down, autolevel, contact ATC, and use CAPS if necessary.”

While Cirrus’ unique safety features are what attracted Guster to an SR22T, it’s the time savings and business efficiency that changed his life. Since he acquired his Cirrus, what would otherwise be draining travel schedules in his work as a real estate developer and lawyer are now opportunities for productivity and family time. 

“In business, it’s a time machine,” Guster said. “I can leave Birmingham and go to two sites in different cities and be home for dinner.”

The ability to quickly travel distances that would otherwise demand overnight stays translates into significant time savings and lets him maximize every minute.

Guster said his SR22T has given him an option that saves time. That’s a top priority for him, especially with three young children.

“For my children, this is their taxi to Disney,” he said, adding that the aircraft has practically become an extension of home life to his family. “We eat dinner together every day, and while expanding my business to different states, we are still able to continue doing that due to our Cirrus aircraft.”

The aircraft transforms daunting travel into a series of quick, manageable flights, such as a swift three-hour trip to Disney, a journey that would otherwise take 12 hours by car.

The intuitive nature of the Cirrus Perspective Touch was one system that helped Guster sell the idea of flying to his wife. Features like fuel calculations and flight management systems offer significant advantages for both pilots and passengers because they provide real-time data in a user-friendly format. 

“The aircraft can calculate the fuel and time left in the air, and that info is always available in a simplified display for my family, eliminating anxiety and giving passengers better awareness when in flight,” he said.

These systems ensure that pilots like Guster can always meet requirements (such as maintaining a comfortable fuel reserve) without additional stress or guesswork.

“My personal minimum is at least 20 gallons at landing in case I need to divert last-minute,” he said. 

Guster’s journey into aviation began with the goal of work flexibility and family presence. He said he was initially influenced by a friend who owned a Cirrus and demonstrated how flying could expand his reach without sacrificing time at home. 

“I was never involved in aviation prior to owning this aircraft, but I saw how my friend could work around the country without having to stay overnight anywhere,” Guster said. “That piqued my interest because I wanted to expand my business but didn’t want to be away from my small children and expecting wife.” 

The Cirrus has expanded Guster’s capabilities and added to family adventures, he said, giving them the opportunity to casually fly to destinations over the weekend.

“My wife was a little nervous,” Guster said. “Once we did our first flight from Birmingham to KRYY for brunch, she was hooked. Now we’re flying twice a month as a family. It makes the world so much smaller.”

Guster said the comfortable ride of his SR22T makes it feel like his family is in their SUV.

“The kids fit well, and you don’t feel tired when you land like you do with other planes,” he said. “It’s not like a church pew.”

Flying remains a demanding endeavor that requires extensive training and knowledge across numerous domains such as weather and physics. Guster flies once or twice a week to maintain proficiency.

However, Guster’s experience with Cirrus demonstrates that the combination of innovative safety features and reliable performance can make flying a manageable, confidence-inspiring experience for people without a background in aviation. The thorough training that accompanies pilot certification, along with the technological advancements provided by the Cirrus aircraft, significantly eases the inherent challenges of aviation, Guster said.

Ultimately, owning a Cirrus has redefined Guster’s professional and personal life. It shrinks travel times and increases quality time with family, all the while keeping the expansive potential of aviation fully integrated into the fabric of his everyday life.

“Flying is a tough thing to learn how to do and is a highly skilled endeavor,” he said. “However, I enjoy my time with my Cirrus and don’t regret one part of it.”

Connect with Eric Guster for more insights and updates. Follow him on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube at @ericguster, and on Facebook at facebook.com/ericguster.

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