Is it possible to do your Private Pilot License (JAR-PPL) in a Cirrus aircraft straightaway?

Question

I've been looking at some flying schools but it seems like you can only do like a conversion training to Cirrus after you get PPL in the "basic" aircraft (not TAA/Technologically Advanced Aircraft like Cirrus). Is there any specific reason why you can't train in a Cirrus from scratch? Many thanks!

Answer 1

no regulatory reason, but insurance companies have more say so than the reg writers in these matters.  FBO's do not train using a Cirrus because the insurance would sky rocket.   If you buy one your self, few insurance companies will provide converage at any price until you have accumulated a fair amount of time in type.  That means not soloing until you have perhaps 200+ hours.

Answer 2

In the US at least, there are no regulations stating what type of aircraft you have to do your initial private pilot's license in.  I met someone who got their private in a King Air (twin turboprop).  Some schools won't let you do your initial training in a Cirrus because it is a high performance aircraft and they feel an inexperienced pilot is better off in a Cessna 172 or something like that (that's debatable).  There's also the fact that a Cirrus is a very expensive airplane and they don't want a new student damaging it during their solo flights.

Doing your PPL training in a cirrus will be more expensive.  At one flight school near me, the price to rent an SR-22 is more than double what it is to rent a new Cessna 172.

I don't think learning on something like a C-172 should be required.  Yes, a Cirrus has advanced avionics, but anybody who grew up using computers should have no trouble adapting.

Answer 3

If you got enough money you can learn in the space shuttle if you want.  Out here in the Bay Area I've heard of a few people who've bought Cirruses and hired a CFI to teach them from scratch.  So yes, it is possible to do your PPL training in a Cirrus(in the U.S.).  I wouldn't do it but if money is not an issue then go for it.

www.wvfc.org

http://www.advantage-aviation.com/learn_...

http://www.lightningranch.net/centraltex...