Offers Training, Rental, Management Of Cirrus Aircraft

Doug Stewart of North Egremont, (MA) is starting what could be something big. Working with the SkyVentures Group based in Red Hook (NY), he's launching DSFI SkyVentures, an aircraft training, rental and management company based on the Cirrus SR series aircraft.

Stewart, a Master Certificated Flight Instructor (MCFI), Gold Seal Instructor, and FAA Designated Pilot Examiner has been selected as the 2004 National Certificated Instructor of the Year by the National General Aviation Awards Committee in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He is best known as the creator of the "East Coast IFR Experience" and "’Narly New England IFR," two confidence and skill building extended IFR (instrument flight rules) training courses. He is also well known throughout New England for the numerous safety seminars that he has developed, produced and presented, including "Flying the New York VFR Corridor" for which he was recognized as the Safety Counselor of the Year in 2001 by the Windsor Locks FSDO (Flight Standards District Office).

Based at Columbia County Airport, New York (1B1) and beginning in June 2004, DSFI SkyVentures will offer certificated pilots training in and rental of a 2004 fully-loaded three blade propeller Cirrus SR20 aircraft, featuring an all "glass" cockpit with an Avidyne FlightMax EX5000C MFD (multi-function display), SkyWatch Traffic Information and WX-500 Stormscope. The company provides pilots with two Cirrus training formats: (1) 1B1 Cirrus Transition Training, and for those beyond a short trip to Columbia County Airport, White Glove (on-site) Cirrus Transition Training, and (2) branded and customized two- and three-day Cirrus VFR (visual flight rules) excursions, featuring destinations in the US northeastern and mid-Atlantic states as well as southern Canada. All training courses are conducted by a CSIP (Cirrus Standardized Instructor Program) instructor using a scenario-based teaching method and include all materials, manuals and software required. Pilots, after completing Cirrus transition training and a "checkride" with Stewart, are eligible to rent the Cirrus SR20 on an hourly and daily basis. DSFI SkyVentures will also assist pilots in creating personalized training courses, with an emphasis on the aviation topic of their choice which may include, for example, radio communications at towered and non-towered airports, precision and non-precision instrument approaches and operation of GPS under VFR.

For those pilots seeking their instrument rating instead of Cirrus transition training, DSFI SkyVentures’s Cirrus SR20 equipped with an Avidyne FlightMax Entegra PFD (primary flight display) and a S-TEC 55X autopilot with altitude preselect, together with two Garmin GNS-430 IFR GPS units, represents the ultimate instrument training machine. Currently rated instrument pilots, on the other hand, upon completion of Cirrus transition training, may graduate to fully experiencing the Cirrus SR20’s IFR capabilities by embarking with Stewart on one of his highly acclaimed IFR training expeditions.

In addition to pilot training and aircraft rental, DSFI SkyVentures offers non-pilots demonstration (Cirrus familiarization) and scenic flights in the US northeast, including the Hudson Valley and Berkshires regions as well as down the Hudson River corridor to New York City, around the Statute of Liberty and beyond, subject to applicable FAA regulations. Scenic and demonstration flights are available as gift certificates. 

Services which DSFI SkyVentures plans to offer in the near future, through its affiliate DSFI SkyManagement, include aircraft consulting and management services for Cirrus and non-Cirrus owners and pilots, including implementation of aircraft maintenance programs and provision of regulatory and insurance compliance services.

FMI: www.skyventuresgroup.com