Last year I reached my goal of landing in all 48 continental United States in my Turbo Cirrus SR22 Aircraft.  It was truly an incredible journey flying coast to coast across our great country, but something was missing.  That something was Alaska and Hawaii – the final two states I need to visit to complete my expanded goal of landing in every state, not just those in the continental US.  I’m thrilled to announce I’ve decided to go for it!  Life’s too short to sit on the sidelines, so this summer I’ll be flying from Florida to Alaska.  The flight will take 36 hours round-trip and cover roughly 6,600 miles.  After departing Anchorage, I’ll sit back and relax as a passenger going across the Pacific to Hawaii to pick up another Cirrus in Maui.  The following day will be filled with a magnificent flight enjoying the sights of the Hawaiian islands from above… and of course, my final landing to complete my 50 state adventure!  Stay tuned for more updates as I make this goal a reality in just a few short months.

I literally spend hundreds of hours a year in the cockpit of my Turbo Cirrus SR22 Aircraft, so using a good quiet headset makes my frequent flights even more enjoyable.  I’ve always really liked my Bose Aviation X headsets which I purchased with my first Cirrus SR22 Aircraft – they were revolutionary, adapting world-class noise cancelling technology that wasn’t available in prior headsets I’ve owned.  Little did I know, there was an even better, quieter, more comfortable headset in my future…

Recently at an industry event, some great friends presented me with a surprise gift that was just perfect:  Not only one, but TWO pairs of Bose A20 Aviation Headsets!  Wow!  I literally turned red in the face with the shock of receiving such an extraordinary gift.  I was so appreciative that I could barely even express my thanks and gratitude in words.  Even though I had already flown many hours that day, I practically wanted to race back to the airport to try them out that very moment.  Needless to say, I absolutely loved the gift and am very thankful for their generosity!

As I climbed into the cockpit of my Cirrus to begin my journey back to Orlando several days later, I put on my new Bose A20 headset for the first time.  It fit like a glove!  They’ve re-designed the spring mechanism so the headset feels like it’s floating on your head, rather than the clamping feeling of my prior Bose X headset.  The ear cushions were also noticeably more comfortable, which have also been re-designed and are slightly larger to cover your entire ear.  The new headset felt great, but just how much better was it than my prior Bose X headset?  Once I leveled off at a safe altitude, I decided to do some real-world testing.  I plugged my prior Bose X headset into one intercom jack, while my new Bose A20 headset was plugged into another jack.  I swapped back and fourth between the headsets throughout my journey.  The noise reduction difference was amazing!  Bose has really raised the bar with noise cancelling technology that’s beyond what I even thought was possible.  Even though I’ve always thought my Bose X headset was great, my new Bose A20 headset blows it away in terms of noise reduction and comfort.

Aside from the many improvements I’ve already mentioned, there are also some additional noteworthy features which have been integrated into the new Bose A20 headset.  The first is Bluetooth technology which allows the headset to be paired with a Bluetooth enabled cellphone such as an iPhone.  Of course you’re not going to be using your phone at altitude, but the Bluetooth connectivity allows for you to have a crystal clear telephone conversation through your headset while on the ground.  This is especially useful when calling for clearances at uncontrolled airports where radio communications are poor or non-existent.  An additional notable feature is the inclusion of an auxiliary input port which runs directly into the headset itself.  This allows you to hook up an iPhone, iPod, or other device to route music and/or other audio directly into your headset without disturbing other passengers.  There’s even a user selectable switch that allows the pilot to select whether the auxiliary input audio is muted or continues playing during times when activity occurs on the aircraft radio.  Bose truly thought of everything when they created these headsets!

While I was excited to write this review immediately after I first started using my new headsets, I purposefully waited until now to do so.  I wanted to get plenty of real-world experience to make a solid determination of their quality and effectiveness before hastily proclaiming their greatness.  I went about doing my business – taking my phenomenal Turbo Cirrus SR22 Aircraft on trip after trip, working to grow my business, as I’ve done for the past several years.  I flew short legs, I flew long legs, and I flew everything in-between.  I flew completely across the country, over the heights of the Rocky Mountains to the depths of sea level in Louisiana.  Needless to say, in a very short period of time, I was able to log many hours of flight time in real-world conditions using my new headsets.  The verdict?  I’m sure it’s quiet clear by now, but just in case you missed it, they’re amazing!  I fly the best single engine aircraft in the world – the Turbo Cirrus SR22 Aircraft – I can now confidently say that it’s equipped with the best headsets in the world – my new Bose A20 Aviation Headsets.

I’d like to once again thank my good friends who surprised and delighted me in such an wonderful way.  My new headsets were the perfect gift which I’ll enjoy using for many years to come as I continue my journey soaring through the blue skies above.

Better comfort, better clarity, better noise cancellation, better features, better everything, my new Bose A20 Aviation Headsets are simply FANTASTIC!

More than 20 years ago, I took my first trip to Aspen.  It’s a magical place where everyday life feels like a distant place, like you’re experiencing living in a bubble a million miles away.  It’s a place where fantasy is reality, where everything is perfect and life is good.  At the start of my first visit, I vividly remember sitting in my airline seat feeling the rush of the steep descent over the mountain ridge into the valley for landing.  Each year, I would return to Aspen, always looking forward to the landing experience signaling the start of an amazing visit.  Roughly 15 years ago, I began flying a small Cessna 152.  From the first moment I stepped into the cockpit, I always dreamed of landing in Aspen with me at the controls.  I eventually was able to purchase a 172SP and later, a normally aspirated Cirrus SR22 aircraft.  The Aspen dream was still alive and well, but I simply didn’t feel comfortable doing any sort of actual mountain flying.

At the end of 2009, the opportunity presented itself for me to purchase a new Turbo Cirrus SR22 Aircraft for my business.  My current Cirrus was phenomenal in every way, but I still found myself only flying in the Eastern half of the US.  I imagined what additional doors could be opened for my business if only I could fly in mountainous terrain with confidence – the entire US would be within my reach to fly myself, better serve my customers and grow my business.  I took delivery of a shiny new red and white Cirrus with a state-of-the-art Garmin Perspective avionics suite.  The plane was loaded with every feature available, notably for the sake of this story, a synthetic vision system with an impressive terrain avoidance system.  These systems would prove to be especially useful in the mountainous terrain where I desired to fly.

I knew that mountain flying was inherently dangerous.  As a flat-lander pilot, I would never imagine taking on the challenge of mountain flying without solid instruction.  I turned to the helpful community members from the Cirrus Owners & Pilot’s Association (COPA) for their recommendations.  Within minutes, numerous members responded and indicated their top choice for world class mountain training was Independence Aviation based at Denver’s Centennial Airport (KAPA).  I spoke with Chuck and Bob who were both very friendly and worked with my schedule to ensure proper training time was allocated.  A few days later, I was receiving my first taste of mountain flight training with Chuck as we begun ground training.  He dispensed an impressively vast amount of knowledge which had been accrued through his many years of experience.  Early the next morning, we met at the Centennial Airport for my first actual flight into the Rocky Mountains with me at the controls.

As we departed Denver, I knew my flying life was about to change.  We activated the on-board oxygen system almost immediately after departure, which was unusual compared to my normal flying routine.  I’ve used oxygen systems in the past, but rarely for long periods of time at high altitudes where we’d be flying that day.  As we crossed over the front range of the Rocky Mountains, my eyes practically bulged out of their sockets as I glared in awe at the beautiful sight ahead.  I realized I was really doing this, I was finally flying the Rocky Mountains.  We flew for another half hour and soon were approaching our first stop… Aspen, Colorado!

As we approached the ridge next to Aspen, I was excited, nervous, cautious, you name an emotion, I felt it that moment.  Although emotions ran like a raging river through my mind, it’s also important to note that I felt very safe with a very experienced mountain aviator by my side.  As my Cirrus soared quickly across the ridge and we began our descent into the valley, I finally heard those magical words I had waited so long to hear… “Cirrus November 225 Hotel Lima, Aspen Tower, Cleared to Land”.  The descent was steep, even steeper than I had ever experienced flying commercially.  Chuck reassured me I was on the right path and doing just fine the entire time.  He has a very calm demeanor which allowed me to relax, yet also perform at my finest as he guided me through the approach.  As we descended into the valley, the amazing view of the mountain walls filled my windows which was so foreign to anything I had ever experienced in all my years of flying.  As I continued the approach, I listened with eager anticipation waiting for my Garmin Perspective system to verbally announced the 500 foot altitude call out.  Soon, the Garmin call out roared through my headset and my face lit up with a giant smile knowing we were so close.  I crossed the road on my short final approach into the airport.  My moment of glory was becoming a reality.  Moments later, the wheels of my Cirrus SR22 were gently touching down at Aspen Airport for the first time ever with me at the controls.  I wanted to dance, to cheer, to proclaim to the world I did it!  I had landed at one of the most challenging mountain airports in the country… Aspen, Colorado!

Since that first landing mountain airport landing, I’ve done more mountain training and have loved every second of it.  I promised myself I wouldn’t even dare attempt landing at any mountain airport without an instructor until I was completely confident in my own abilities.  In addition to the actual mountain flying instruction, I also did a lot of reading, most notably Sparky Imeson’s Mountain Flying Bible which I highly recommend.  I eventually gained enough knowledge and experience where I finally felt comfortable flying myself into mountain airports, including most notably, Aspen Airport.

As we fast forward to today, I’m now an avid mountain flyer and get to fly the Rocky Mountains frequently.  Whenever I fly the Rockies, I feel like a freshly minted pilot, feeling the “magical feeling” of flight as I glide above such incredible terrain.  Learning to fly in such an unforgiving environment has made me an even better, safer pilot.  It’s taught me to hone my skills and pay even closer attention to external effects such as winds, weather, and icing – not only in the mountains, but everywhere that I fly.  In case you missed it, I recently landed my Turbo Cirrus SR22 Aircraft in all 48 lower continental United States and can certainly testify that my mountain flight training and experience helped to make that possible.  I now routinely make coast-to-coast business trips to visit customers in all regions of the country, including many mountainous areas.  Even when I’m simply flying over the mountains such as on a recent trip between San Francisco and Denver, I have a sense of confidence knowing that if I need to land at a mountain airport, I’m capable of doing so – I’m prepared for the challenge, my aircraft is properly equipped for the challenge, and I can accomplish the landing safely.

If you’re even remotely thinking of learning to fly in the mountains, do it!  I can say without an ounce of hesitation that it’s the most beautiful and most satisfying flying experience anywhere in the country.  If you’re headed out West, also be sure to visit the great folks at XJet FBO located at Centennial Airport (KAPA) in Denver.  I visit them frequently and have always had phenomenal experiences before making my journey into the mountains or towards the Western states beyond.

Aspen, Colorado.  Magic, memories, bright sunshiny days, sparkle filled moonlit skies, a perfect utopian city nestled into the most beautiful mountain valley in America.  It’s also the place where I live life to the fullest, experiencing my Aspen Dreams:  Flying the Rocky Mountains.

General aviation taxes.  They’re collected each time I fly.  From the moment I start the engine of my Turbo Cirrus SR22 Aircraft until the moment the blades stop spinning, taxes are being collected via the use of an aviation fuel tax.  If I fly a long trip where I’m likely going to be using more air traffic services, I burn more fuel, and therefore I pay more taxes.  If I make a quick hop to see a customer closer to home, I’ll likely use less air traffic services, burn less fuel, and therefore I pay less.  Simple.  Effective.  Proven.  It’s perhaps the most brilliant fair tax in effect today by our federal government.

What disturbs me is the recent proposal by the Obama administration to implement a new type of user fee which would negatively affect the general aviation community.  The proposal calls for a $100 fee to be paid for each business flight.  That means whether I’m flying to Miami or Memphis, I’d pay the same fee.  This simply makes no sense since there’s no correlation between my actual aircraft usage and the amount of revenue collected.  To make matters even worse, a whole new bureaucracy would need to be created (and paid for) simply to collect these new “use taxes.”  This is a bad solution to a problem that’s already been solved.  The current system isn’t broken, so let’s quit trying to fix it.

Beyond the unfair nature of the proposed user fees, I think it’s also important to note the negative effect these fees will have on our economy.  Take for instance my own company’s use of our general aviation aircraft.  We use our Turbo Cirrus SR22 to visit customers throughout the country.  It allows us to visit multiple customers in a single day, often turning three days of travel into one.  We’re able to see more customers, make more sales, grow our business, hire more employees, and better serve our customers so they can grow their businesses.  It’s a win-win scenario for everyone involved.  Our Cirrus has allowed my small business to grow which has a positive effect on the economy.  If these new user fees are enacted, it will mean a substantial increase in costs to our company.  This will stifle our growth, thereby stifling our contribution to our community and to the economy.  Our company isn’t unique, there are thousands of others just like us throughout the country who rely on general aviation which will be harmed by this proposal.  This proposal is simply bad for general aviation, bad for business and bad for our economy.

I recently spoke with Pete Combs, host of the National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA) Flight Plan Podcast series, to voice my concerns.  He wrote a great article explaining the numerous flaws of the new user fee proposal, along with an audio interview which includes excerpts from our conversation.

You can read a full article, Industry United in Thwarting Latest User Fee Threat by clicking here.   At the bottom of the article there’s the full audio portion of the interview.  I’ve also included a link directly to the audio interview here for your convenience.

Read the Full Article at the NBAA Site:  Industry United in Thwarting Latest User Fee Threat
Listen to the Full Audio Interview:  Listen Now

Click the image above or click here for a larger version version of my flight map.

I’ve recently landed my Turbo Cirrus SR22 Aircraft in all 48 lower United States which was quite an amazing adventure.  Along the way I attended countless business meetings, conferences and events… and I had an absolutely incredible time every step of the way!  There is simply no better, safer, or more comfortable way to travel and see the country than from a state-of-the-art general aviation aircraft.  Those of you who’ve followed my progression from a rookie pilot who did touch-and-goes on the weekends to an avid coast-to-coast flyer have likely heard me ask the rhetorical question, “Where can you find a product that changes your life?  That truly changes every aspect of what you do and who you are?”.  It’s an easy thing to come up with a memorable catchphrase, yet it’s another thing entirely to actually experience the benefits of it.  The Cirrus Aircraft is that product and it truly is phenomenal!  There’s no doubt in my mind if it weren’t for this airplane I would have never been able to see so many amazing sights or accomplish so many great things throughout the country.  I’ve built stronger relationships by being face-to-face with my customers and suppliers, grown my business significantly, lived a better and more fulfilling personal life and have had the pleasure of waking up each morning loving what I do.  It truly feel like I’m living a dream each and every time I take to the skies and experience the joy of flight!

I captured my journey in photographs along the way which I’ve put into the collage you see above.  I tried to incorporate unique elements into a number of the states from the images taken from high above in my Cirrus.  Feel free to explore the large version and you’ll likely recognize a few spots.  You can view various photo sizes of my flight map below (an original 61mb high resolution version is also available upon request):

Small (63k)
Medium (338k)
Large (7.6mb)

While this has been an great adventure, the most spectacular part of it all is I get to visit many of these places again and again, each time being just as magnificent as the last.  Thank you to all of my customers, suppliers, family, friends and co-workers who have been with me along the way.  Without you, and without the wonderful people at Cirrus Aircraft, my spectacular maintenance team at Air Orlando Maintenance, the great folks at NBAA and AOPA who work tirelessly to represent the positive impact of general aviation, and the friendly faces at Showalter Flying Service who always welcome me home with a smile after each of my journeys, none of this would have been possible.  I’m certainly very grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given and cherish every memory made along the way.

Now that the CAIGA-Cirrus merger is complete, I’m very optimistic that the production schedule for the new Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet will get a big boost.  I’m currently #75 in line for delivery once production begins and I couldn’t be more excited.  They already have a test aircraft in operation which is stunning, both in appearance and performance.  This aircraft is a game-changer – providing a true owner flown personal jet at with an operating envelope that’s well suited for this environment.  My current Turbo Cirrus SR22 has been an incredible asset to my business and I have no doubt the Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet will help to take it to even greater heights – and get there even faster than ever!

Below is a quick video showing off this beautiful aircraft.  Soon it will be more than a vision, it will be a reality…

I truly believe that every day I fly my Cirrus Aircraft is a perfect day.  Before I go into the details of my most recent adventure, I’ll start out by sharing the flights that got me to one of the most perfect days of flying ever.

I started in Orlando on Sunday afternoon and headed towards Mississippi.  It was a nice sunny day in Orlando when I left, but quickly turned gray as I approached the Florida border.  A line of storms was pushing through the area which later in the week would become the chaotic storm to hit the Sun ‘n Fun event in Lakeland.  Using the onboard XM weather radar and data feeds on the Garmin Perspective unit, I was able to get a clear view of the challenge ahead.  I considered numerous alternatives to my destination and was able to plot a course that would keep me out of harms way.  Just prior to returning to Orlando on my previous trip, I had been flying extensively throughout Texas so my bird was quite dirty.  I hoped that perhaps I’d get a quick bath along the way to clean it up with some light rain… that didn’t happen though which was actually a very good thing.  I managed to use the vast number of onboard resources on the Garmin system to successfully navigate around the inclement weather and arrive at my destination in Mississippi without so much as a drop of rain hitting the windscreen.  The next leg of my flight took me to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area for a smooth night landing and a safe taxi to the FBO with the assistance of the SafeTaxi system as well as the onboard Enhanced Vision System (EVS) that literally allows you to see in the dark.  The following day took me to Albuquerque, New Mexico.  It was a thrill to be given a landing clearance at 10,000 feet as I passed over the mountain ridge just prior to a steep approach into the airport.  I continued towards Phoenix, Arizona for a conference I was chairing which went off without a hitch.  Upon leaving Phoenix several days later, my final leg westbound was to San Diego, California.  I recently saw a special on TV noting that San Diego is one of the most difficult airports to land at in the United States so I was certainly prepared for an A-game approach.  This time I was given a landing clearance at 12,000 feet… the interesting part is the airport elevation is only 17 feet!  It was a busy, fast decent integrating with the airline traffic, but I was happy to be flying an aircraft that could handle this sort of challenge without a moment of hesitation.  I even received instructions to slow down by final approach as I was gaining on a 737 approaching the field, always a fun radio call for a small aircraft.  As a side note, the control tower allowed me to sidestep the approach for wake turbulence which I appreciated since it kept me in my safety comfort zone.  It continually amazes me how this aircraft is capable of landing at very small backwoods fields, yet can equally hold its own with the “big boys” and not slow down traffic at major international airports.  I was on the ball, ready for a challenging approach… which I kept waiting for… and waiting for… then my wheels made the soft screech onto the runway.  The challenge simply never came to fruition.  The airport approach was quite honestly a piece of cake.  I realize it was much more than pilot skill (although for my own ego purposes, I’d like to think that wasn’t the case).  The reality however is that the Cirrus is just so intuitive to fly and the information presented on the Garmin Perspective system is so solid, that flying an approach which is described as a challenging one is actually quite simple and straightforward.  I arrived safely after flying completely across the country and was looking forward to enjoying the warm Southern California weather.

For many pilots, just simply the opportunity to fly across the country in a small aircraft would be an amazing experience (and it was!).  In reality, this was only part of the adventure and I hadn’t even begun to experience the magic of my “perfect day of flying” quite yet.  After visiting the city, I took the quick car ride from downtown back over to San Diego International Airport.  After completing my preflight, I embarked upon the next leg of my journey which would ultimately lead to this post.  There was a slight delay departing due to the airplane congestion leaving San Diego with only one runway, but I was quite happy as I rolled past the over packed airliners lined up on the alternate taxiway to begin my trip.  I spent my time waiting in line for a departure just like those airliners, but I knew that was the only line I’d be standing in that day since I had the freedom of owning a Cirrus under my wing.  My departure was smooth and took me up the coast of Southern California which was a beautiful sight.  Soon, I was passing over the first mountain range and into Arizona which was amazing to see depicted perfectly on my synthetic vision display.  I donned my oxygen and soon continued my climb to 17,000 feet to take advantage of strong tailwinds.  Like most pilots flying out west, the usual concern is rising terrain.  In this case however, already being high above it all, my eyes were focused on the descending terrain ahead as I flew directly towards the Grand Canyon.  I finally approached the rim of what is truly one of the most magnificent sights to view from the sky.  I coasted smoothly along as I mentally absorbed the work of art known as the Grand Canyon below (I was on an IFR flight plan to ensure I wouldn’t break any overflight restrictions).  It was truly an amazing sight that I encourage all pilots of see at least once during their flying career.  While the sight of the Grand Canyon was incredible, my eyes were now once again focused on the in-flight resources to get a better picture of the weather that I’d encounter further along on my journey.  I realized there was a slight layer of clouds at 17,000 feet so opted to climb up to 19,000 feet.  My Turbo Cirrus climbed effortlessly to gain an additional 2,000 feet.  Just when I thought this day of flying couldn’t get any better, I approached the Rocky Mountains.  Wow, this sight was the equivalent of viewing the most picturesque postcard I’ve ever seen and multiplying it by a thousand.   I looked through relevant weather information I had been taught during my mountain flying instruction to ensure that I’d be well clear of wind currents which could cause an uneasy ride.  As another side note, I highly recommend taking a mountain flying class from a qualified instructor prior to flying in this sort of environment which will make you a much better and safer pilot.  Confident the journey could be completed safely, I continued soaring high above the majestic snow covered Rockies.  My face was beginning to practically hurt, not from the oxygen mask, but rather from the huge smile stretching from cheek to cheek which nothing in the world could have wiped away at that moment.  Soon, my journey would conclude with a smooth landing at Centennial Airport in Denver, Colorado.  This truly was an absolutely a perfect day of flying!

I spoke with my father later that day and he remarked how difficult it is to be out on the road traveling for business.  I agreed that I’ve visited way too many hotels in the recent days and weeks, but that the actual traveling part was even more pleasurable than ever.  After all, my day was hard to beat at any price.  In a single day, I had soared above the coastline of Southern California, flown over multiple states with varying terrain, had the privilege of seeing the incredible sight of the Grand Canyon from the air, and soared over snow covered mountain tops in Utah and Colorado.  The entire trip took only roughly three hours.  This was accomplished due to the phenomenal performance of my Cirrus Aircraft which safely and quickly allowed me to climb into the flight levels to take advantage of a 62 knot tailwind.

My Cirrus Aircraft has truly has changed every aspect of what I do and who I am as a person.  It’s a phenomenal aircraft that has changed my life in more ways than I could ever express in a lifetime of blog postings.  On this particular day, it led to an amazing adventure filled with memories of an absolute perfect day of flying!

I’ve had the honor of being a featured customer in another Cirrus Aircraft video called “Airwaves”.  Cirrus Aircraft has changed the aviation industry by developing the most technologically advanced general aviation airplanes in the world. They’ve balanced their customer’s needs among speed, comfort and safety while developing great looking airplanes. This video showcases Cirrus’ Innovation, Safety, Cockpit, Customers, and Future. Cirrus is the best, they build the best, and the best is yet to come.  This is a phenomenal video which I hope that you’ll enjoy watching!

As many of your know, I currently own and fly a Cirrus SR22 airplane.  This is an amazing aircraft that’s been an invaluable asset to my business.  Several months ago, Cirrus Aircraft gave me the opportunity to take part in a video presentation they were developing to introduce a concept called Flying 2.0 which is about changing the way you travel.  It’s about flying on your schedule, not on some crazy airline’s schedule.  It’s about making more time to do the things that you enjoy in life.  It’s about freedom, flexibility, and getting more done in a day to help your business succeed.  It was truly an honor to be able to be a part of this video and to share with others how much this aircraft has changed my life.  I hope that you enjoy the video!