1.1 Background

The introduction of the very light jet into the general aviation community will mark the beginning of a new era in personal and business air travel. Applying what the industry has learned from the past, an extraordinary training process must be developed to ensure an orderly and safe transition for those who become owners or operators of this new generation of aircraft.

Traditionally, training has been conducted with the objective of passing the necessary Practical Test Standards (PTS) without regard to obtaining proficiency.With the advent of nextgeneration very light jet aircraft, potential candidates will come from varied levels of experience ranging from the relatively inexperienced to the veteran professional aviator. It is imperative that all candidates successfully completing VLJ training demonstrate a level of proficiency and operational knowledge beyond that required to merely “pass the checkride.” As a result, the concept of a mentor pilot is an integral part of the guidance contained within this document. Operators of very light jets are urged to utilize the resources of a mentor pilot program until such time that they have acquired the necessary skills and proficiency for safe operation in all flight regimes.

Part of the challenge in developing these guidelines is defining what should be taught and how proficiency should be measured To address this need, the NBAA Safety Committee formed a VLJ Working Group to formulate training guidelines.

In order to establish the necessary curriculum and criteria, input was received and reviewed from the following in order to ensure completeness:

• NBAA Safety Committee
• FAA/Industry
• Training Standards
• Adam Aircraft
• Cessna Aircraft Company
• Eclipse Aviation
• Insurance underwriters
• Training providers

The final product reflects a compilation of identified areas of greatest risk associated with transitioning into VLJs and how best to mitigate these risks with an appropriate training curriculum.

Very light jets will prove to be a dynamic force in the aviation community with the potential for thousands being delivered over the next decade. Safety is paramount and all stakeholders agree that training must be thorough and properly conducted in order to maintain the exemplary safety record of the industry and to ensure the viability of the product. It is with this in mind that these guidelines are offered.