Here are some questions from operators regarding training in a CJ vs other Citation Jets.

You Want to Fly Jets - what Jet Type Rating Should You Get First? Here is the opinion of Rich Pickett of Personal Wings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTkKN9ZaAtE

QUESTION: “The Citation Encore we own has a Honeywell Primus 1000 flight deck with upgraded Garmin 750's. In your opinion will there be enough similarities between the CJ flight deck and what our Encore has to get a pilot familiar with the aircraft systems in the Encore?”

Obviously the Encore is a total different ‘type rating’, a CE-500 vs. CE-525, although the Encore is way more advanced and upgraded compared to ‘legacy’ CE-500 models from as early as the mid-1970s. 

A short 3-day introduction course leading to the SIC type rating cannot possibly cover all the differences between all the Citation models and myriad of post-manufacture avionics additions and optional modifications in the years that follow.  

Similar to Boeing and Douglas aircraft, over the years the Citation ‘family’ has retained many of the same basic systems and philosophies from older to new models. Why mess with things that work and already certified, by ‘reinventing the wheel.’ 

Obviously, the CJ family does NOT have reversers. Instead the earlier CJ models had thrust attenuators.  Later they abandoned the attenuators in favor of FADEC and a two-speed idle system instead. This is an example of things totally different, or has been eliminated over periods of time and technological advancement. 

However, the ‘core’ of most of the systems remains similar in nature, although some of the limits & ‘numbers’ change as they progressed.

Compare the Citation Encore flight deck to that of the CJ. The basic ‘layout’ of the cockpit remains similar, as does most of the operating controls (placement, shapes & operational characteristics). 

Specifically, in MY aircraft, please see the Flight Deck photos here.

N525LA was designed around the Collins Pro-Line 21 system, and a Universal UNS-1 FMS. It has since been re-configured with a twin-pack of Garmin GTN-750 navigators, and elimination of the both original radio stack and the UNS-1.

Complexity for the SIC candidate has been diminished as much as possible.  This airplane remains configured with a single PFD on the left, and a much lesser complicated ‘six-pack’ instrument cluster on the right. 

As stated on the web-site FAQ page:  “The focus of this class is on the knowledge and skills to obtain your SIC type rating, not on using specific avionics.”

There are nearly 2,400 CJs that have been manufactured.  I do NOT spend large amounts of time focusing on the automation and navigational systems, because of time constraints and because of the myriad of variances of avionics suites that may exist in any other airplane you might operate.

With the exception of the Citation X, that was the first to blow the roof off upgrades and new technology, and perhaps today’s Citation Longitude, the majority of the over 8,000 Citations that have been built continue to retain elements of systems that are core on the CJ series and inherited from models preceding. 

In addition, checklist design & philosophy, performance determination & graphs, Master Caution/Warning systems, Emergency/Abnormal procedures and flight profiles have retained a certain ‘similarity’ over the years. 

QUESTION: “Is there ‘value’ to getting one’s feet wet in a first-time Citation jet model different from another Citation that might later be operated?”

The answer remains an elusive one that might be debated from a variety of angles.

After achieving more than 100 type ratings in a variety of airplanes and helicopters, I can attest that knowledge gained from training in any one particular manufacture’s model made any transition to another member of their family much more enjoyable, easier and virtually assured success.

I can also report on success stories involving two ladies from one of my SIC type rating classes. One was hired to fly a ‘variety’ of Citation models with an operator on the East Coast. Although she had absolutely no ‘track-record’ of hours accumulated in any Citation, she was hired based solely on her demonstrated ‘familiarity’ by holding a single SIC type rating acquired in the CJ. The other is now a PIC type-rated CRJ pilot for a regional airline who credits her success to knowledge gained by having attended this course.

QUESTION: “If I achieve the SIC type rating as a Private pilot, will that privilege remain valid as I progress and upgrade my pilot certificate?”

Answer: YES! Even if you acquire the SIC type-rating as a Private Pilot, that rating remains on your certificate as you upgrade to either the Commercial or ATP certificates. The SIC type privileges advance with you as you acquire higher certificate privileges. Once acquired, you do NOT have to repeat FAR 61.55 proficiency on any SIC type rating as you progress toward more advanced certifications, either Commercial Pilot or ATP.

Here’s hoping that having shared my thoughts ‘may’ have provided you with a glimmer of information used to shape your election.

Memphis CHEERS and many THANKS………….