Cirrus Aircraft is showcasing a pair of Vision Jets at the static display, as it seeks to raise awareness of the single-engine jet and the Cirrus brand in the corporate and commercial aviation community.
The Vision Jet was awarded US certification at BACE 2016 and entered service in December. To date the Duluth, Minnesota-based airframer has delivered 150 examples – the majority to US-based owners. A second iteration of the Williams International FJ33-5A-powered aircraft was introduced earlier this year featuring a Garmin 3000-based Perspective Touch+ avionics suite, an autothrottle and increased connectivity through Flight Stream 510 compatibility. Deliveries began in July.
Max Kingsley-Jones/FlightGlobal
“We have had tremendous success with the Vision Jet,” says Matt Bergwall, director of the Vision Jet product line. “Our orderbook stands at almost 500 units, and while Cirrus is well established within the owner-flyer community, the brand is less well known in the corporate and charter markets.”
So far 5% of the in-service fleet are for corporate customers, with many companies choosing the Vision Jet to complement their larger business jets. “Often executives don’t need a midsize or large-cabin aircraft on journeys of up to 500nm (925km) where only a couple of executives are travelling,” says Bergwall. “The Vision Jet is far more cost efficient.”
Bergwall says owners are increasingly looking to earn revenue from their aircraft by making them available for charter. “Around 5% of the Vision Jet fleet operate under Part 135 today, but we expect this number to climb as more operators look to add the Vision Jet to their line-up.”
Cirrus plans to deliver 80 Vision Jets in 2019 and reach full production of 100 aircraft per year in 2020. “The US market has until now accounted for 85% of the annual production, but that will drop to around 75% from next year as our international deliveries pick up pace,” says Bergwall.
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