Chairman’s Update
Celebrating 10 Years
by Kirk Samuelson
The CJP Annual Convention is almost here, and we could not be more pleased with how everything is coming together for our special 10th anniversary year. We are seeing a record number (and impressive lineup) of speakers, exhibitors and attendees. In fact, we are already having to request extra rooms to accommodate such a large number of registrants – over 100 Citations are expected to fly into the San Antonio Airport (SAT) for this event. And to help kick things off, there will be a fun surprise during the Welcome Reception on Wednesday evening…I won’t give it away!
As a reminder, some of the special highlights this year include the Safety Standdown, talks by Sean D. Tucker and Charlie Precourt, the annual auction/concert and partner company updates. The Safety Standdown will include an in-depth review of accidents/incidents and a panel discussion with highly qualified Citation instructor pilots and mentors. It will be led by Charlie Precourt and include participation by Textron Aviation, Neil Singer, David Miller, Greg Feith, Dr. David Strahle and others.
Attendees will also hear the latest and greatest news from a wide array of CJP partners including Textron Aviation, FlightSafety International, Garmin, TRU Simulation + Training, Rockwell Collins, Williams International and Pratt & Whitney Canada. Moreover, several of these partners will participate in assorted breakout sessions regarding Citation operations, avionics and engines. These sessions are an excellent opportunity for CJP members to share and discuss personal experiences all while receiving guidance and learning from one another.
This is not only a “cannot miss” event for Citation pilots, but their companions as well. CJP companions will have numerous activities at their disposal such as the popular companion flight training courses hosted by jetAVIVA, a wine blending competition and the Companions Lounge which offers yoga, massage and painting. And in case you missed it, some exciting news just recently announced: companions will also be treated to a private concert by country singer and Grammy Award-winner Maren Morris. She will perform on Thursday afternoon during the same timeframe as the Safety Standdown. This is in addition to the private concert occurring during CJP’s annual auction, featuring music superstar Dierks Bentley. A big thank you to Textron Aviation for coordinating both of these exciting performances.
We are also proud to share that there has been a strong turnout of participants and applicants related to the CJP Gold Standard Safety Award. These folks will be recognized at the convention for going above and beyond minimum Citation currency requirements to complete enhanced training programs. If you have yet to attend a Gold Standard training session this year, or wish to attend another, be sure to take a look at the events page for additional seminars.
All in all, it is truly remarkable how far CJP has come since the first gathering in 2009. I have attended each convention and am so proud of the organization’s progression in addressing our core mission of helping likeminded Citation owners operate their aircraft in a safe, professional and efficient manner – all while fostering lasting friendships. I look forward to seeing all of you in San Antonio very soon.