About CJP
CJP History, Growth and Mission Statement
The Citation Jet Pilots, Inc. owner pilot association was founded in 2008 by John Hayes and Tracy Forrest, with an initial board of directors that included Stuart Fred, Ronnie Morgan and David Fetter. The purpose of CJP set forth in its organizational documents was to “promote and represent the interests of Members who are owners and pilots of all series of Citation jet powered aircraft” and this purpose remains CJP’s core today. What began as a small community of new jet owner operators sharing common interests and concerns about their aircraft has evolved into one of the most influential and respected associations of aircraft owner operators in the world. With more than 1,300 members, 900 aircraft, a separate 501(C)(3) Safety and Education Foundation along with OEM and vendor partners lead by Textron Aviation (TM), CJP is the premier owner pilot association for jet aircraft in the world.
Member Benefits & Partnerships
Founded by owners for the benefit of owners, CJP represents the entire range of the Citation line, including the earliest 500-series aircraft that revolutionized the light business jet industry; the Mustang, one of the most popular very light jets in use today; the immensely popular CJ line that offers an unparalleled blend of comfort, practicality, and efficiency; up through the Citation X, the fastest business jet available. As Textron (TM) single-pilot jet aircraft, Premier jets are also part of the CJP community.
Today, CJP offers the best value proposition to its members through a multitude of benefits, top-tier social and working events which provide opportunities to exchange ideas and interact. For example, the CJP Safety and Education Foundation’s safety content which includes model specific Standard Operating Practices, What Good Looks Like educational videos and Gold Standard Safety Awards lead the way in aviation safety for jet owner operators. CJP’s annual convention sets the standard for in-person engagement and interaction with fellow members and the partner community. CJP’s advocacy committee works with partners to identify, investigate and resolve fleetwide issues. In addition, CJP’s active online forum is available for members to ask questions, share insights, and gain wisdom from others, all in the spirit of operating and maintaining their Citations and Premiers safely and economically.
Members also benefit from unlimited access to the Russ Meyer Library. Unveiled initially in 2015, it is the largest online repository of curated articles addressing the entire scope of Citation history and operational aspects, including a growing selection of training and maintenance materials that provide pilot reports for each Citation aircraft series.
One of CJP’s most important roles is as a conduit between owners and companies that provide support to the Citation and Premier fleet. Thanks to CJP’s relationships with the tiered valued Partner companies, like our Platinum + Partner, Textron Aviation™, and Platinun Partners: Class A Insurance, Collins Aerospace, Garmin, FlightSafety International, and Tamarack Aerospace Group, – members have strong advocacy in CJP and may also take advantage of significant savings offered by these valued partners for a number of services and products essential to operating a Citation or Premier.
Events, Mission & Core Pillars
CJP’s most important Partner, of course, is Textron Aviation™ – and the Cessna Citation manufacturer has supported CJP since its inception. Today, Textron Aviation™ is a CJP Platinum Plus Sponsor that actively participates in every major CJP event and two non-voting seats on CJP’s board of directors. This relationship also provides an open channel of communication among CJP members, Textron Aviation™ management and their colleagues such as engineers and service center professionals who keep the fleet flying.
In March 2009, CJP held its first formal, two-day gathering of Citation owners in Carlsbad, CA. In the years since, CJP’s annual convention has grown into a multi-day event featuring an unparalleled combination of educational and social opportunities. Each year, the convention has continued to grow in popularity, due in large part to the excellent line-up of guest speakers, seminars, Partner and vendor displays. A full slate of educational seminars covers a wide gamut of topics, from engine care, to training strategies to avionics tips and techniques. A Safety Stand Down has been added to the agenda in recent years. The ever-popular Companion training program teaches non-pilot spouses and partners the basics of airmanship and radio communication. CJP has worked with Platinum Partner FlightSafety to develop a simulator-based emergency in aircraft companion training course now available to CJP members and their significant other.
In addition to CJP’s annual convention, the association also holds multiple regional events each year, bringing Citation and Premier owners together, face-to-face, in unique venues. The regional events typically include Citation-specific educational sessions, as well as plenty of time for members to exchange ideas and insights about operating their aircraft all while enjoying fellowship and activities in picturesque locales.
Although CJP has grown from its start-up roots into a full-fledged and widely-respected owner-operator community, featuring a multitude of benefits and top-tier events, its core mission remains unchanged: to help like-minded owner-pilots operate their aircraft in a safe, professional, and efficient manner, while also fostering new friendships. This mission is captured in the four pillars of our formal statement:
- Learning, Safety and Best Practices
- Interaction
- Advocacy
- Aviation Community Services
Whether you are a Citation or Premier owner-pilot, a prospective owner, or have a business that helps support this jet aircraft community, you are welcome to join this exclusive organization. Please click “More Info” below to learn more about our organization and how to join.
