The Cirrus Vision Pilots and Owners (VPO) community offers an open and direct communication channel to the company and the growing body of aviators who fly the Vision Jet.
Launched just after the Vision Jet entered the market in 2016, the VPO community was designed to help new owners and pilots transition to the jet as seamlessly as possible. As the Vision Jet has matured, VPO has become a driving force that increases flight safety and serves a conduit for product and service improvements.
The benefits start with an exclusive web portal for position holders and owners to access. Once inside, users can find detailed information and updates on the VPO program, as well as a direct connection to Cirrus’ team of Vision Jet experts via a web forum. In addition to the forum, there are more than 300 articles and 45 resources on the site, including exclusive videos that address a wide range of piloting and ownership topics.
Dale Huffstetler, Community Manager for the VPO program, points to the advantages of an operators’ group directly connected to the aircraft manufacturer. As a member of the core Cirrus team, Huffstetler can provide real-time feedback to owners and work solutions in a way that a third-party owners group may take more time to coordinate—especially when it comes to service items, flight safety, product improvements and factory-direct training.
He’s been there from the beginning, launching VPO right after the Vision Jet achieved type certification. “We didn't want to sell the aircraft and just say ‘good luck’ to our owners—particularly with a new airframe. We knew we could directly improve the ownership experience and impact flight safety in a proactive way that no one had ever done before.”
Evolution to Safety
As the Cirrus aircraft fleet has grown, VPO has adjusted its mission as well. “It's evolved to focus on a lot of safety initiatives,” says Huffstetler, as owners and operators seek to both maximize the utility of their Vision Jet and maintain the exemplary safety record.
“We create a lot of content,” he continues. “We have hundreds of articles on our exclusive website, and we produce videos specifically for our Vision Jet owners. Sometimes it's a straightforward topic like tire inspection, or more complex scenarios related to flying the aircraft. Others are focused on helping an aircraft position holder prepare for ownership. Since we are so close to the fleet, we can react and respond quickly when we see trends.”
The advantages appear in real-time. “Because we work on a daily basis with Air Safety, Engineering, Flight Training, and Customer Support, we receive information and can quickly synthesize that for our owners. And it’s a really beautiful thing when the owners share something with us. We are always learning from them. In several cases, we’ve improved the fielded aircraft and customer support because of this feedback,” says Huffstetler.
Pilots can also tap into resources in digital formats, including pdfs, such as aircraft flight manuals, Garmin pilot information manuals and aircraft care instructions. Access through the portal ensures that the owner and operators always have the latest updates and guidance.
A Global Community
While VPO continues to grow its online community with pertinent information that can be accessed from anywhere in the world, the community also hosts global in-person events.
VPO events range from social gatherings, regional training events, and complimentary in-aircraft flight training to the large gathering of VPO members called ConVerge. Held every 18 months, ConVerge brings owners, pilots and aircraft position holders together with Cirrus executives to learn the latest in Vision Jet flying and ownership. Owners hear from vendors, engineers, flight instructors and aviation thought leaders. Cirrus also provides sessions and social gatherings for Vision Jet owner and operator’s favorite passengers.
Future gatherings will not only focus on safety, training and camaraderie, but also trips through the Cirrus Life Adventure Series which leverages the Vision Jet to explore new terrain, airports and sharpen flying skillset. The Cirrus Life Adventure Series curates special journeys, tapping into unforgettable experiences in places only a Vision Jet can take you.