Chile Poses Interesting Challenges For Pilots
Sometimes, stories have a way of falling into your lap...
especially at shows like AirVenture. While talking with Alan
Klapmeier Monday morning in front of the Cirrus booth, his Chilean
Service Center sales representative wandered over and introduced
himself.
For Alexander Kaufmann, AirVenture is an awesome display of
American general aviation interests and its worldwide influence.
Kaufmann has been the lone sales representative for Chile and the
nearby countries since early 2007.
His background is becoming more common these days, having worked
with antique and classic cars. His family has been heavily involved
with Mercedes restorations for many years. He started his flying
training in gliders, and loves gliding in the Andes at flight
levels. Now both Kaufmann and his father love flying the Cirrus
models, especially the SR22 GTS Turbo.
Demographically, Chile has a population of 16 million people,
with roughly 12,000-13,000 licensed pilots and 8,000 current
pilots. Geographically, Chile borders Argentina, Bolivia and Peru,
with the Pacific Ocean to the west. The country is 2880 miles long
but only 265 miles wide at its widest point. The Andes Mountains
run the length of the country and a minimum altitude of 12,500 feet
is needed to top them. Most crossings occur in the 14,000 to
15,000-foot range. The layout of the country just begs for the use
of aircraft for maximum utility.
General aviation aircraft number roughly 2000, most of which are
quite old. Most flight schools are still using Piper Tomahawks as
their primary trainers. In years past, there are generally only
seven to 10 planes imported annually, 80% of which are older
models.
Predictably, Kaufmann feels the SRS is the perfect new primary
trainer for the region. The SR20 and SR22 can be the next step, as
Kaufmann feels the market is there for a fresh, fast design with
advanced electronics. He says there is no defined flight school
that allows pilots to upgrade from a commercial pilot to an airline
pilot rating, so the better prepared they are in their primary
instruction, the better chance they have to advance.
So far, the Chilean Service Center has sold five Cirrus SR20 and
SR22s, two SRS sport planes, and has two jet positions
reserved.
Brazil, according to Kaufmann, has already sold 100 Cirrus
aircraft from late 2006 to March of 2008, with several jet
positions reserved. As popular as the Cirrus models are here in the
US, they're becoming just as popular below the equator.