We know you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to which aircraft to train in. Other flight schools may have their favourite but it’s clear to us why Cirrus aircraft, the best-selling piston aircraft in the world for 21 consecutive years, should be your training plane of choice. 

Just like choosing your next car, not every aircraft brand gives the same performance and drive experience. So, here are our top 5 reasons why learning to fly in a Cirrus aircraft is the obvious choice for every pilot in making. 

Reason 1: Superior Comfort

When you first sit in a Cirrus the comfort and quality of the cockpit, ergonomically designed around the pilot’s natural movements, can’t be missed. Seats are designed for long-lasting comfort and the cockpit’s expert noise insulation means you’re in for a pleasantly quiet flight. 

Thanks to the recessed instrument panel and side stick rather than a traditional yoke arrangement space in front of the pilots feels vast. That means plenty of space for charts, knee boards, and in-flight moving around. The rear seats are also very spacious and comfortable, with indispensable USB charging points and drinks holders. So, whether you’re flying for business or have family sitting-in during your flight training, everybody feels like they’ve got the best seat in the house. 

Cirrus craft are also fully air conditioned so gone are the days of having to taxi with the doors open to prevent passing out from heat exhaustion!

All of this clever thinking produces a clean and comfortable setting for high-quality teaching and learning.

Reason 2: Travel at Speed

The PPL flight training syllabus [link to our PPL training page] is based on a minimum flight time rather than distance travelled, so you might think that the speed of your training aircraft quite frankly doesn’t matter.

But at Echelon Air we believe learning to fly is all about where your licence will take you once you’ve passed the test. With amazing places waiting to be explored you’ll get there faster by Cirrus, freeing up far more time for unforgettable escapes, overseas lunches and impressive scenic routes. 

Keen to open eyes and change mindsets, showing just what’s possible with Cirrus, we often make trips to other destinations part of our lessons, even early on in training. 

Reason 3: Very Safe Hands

Cirrus aircraft are designed with safety front and centre across all features. We’re talking bevelled firewalls, a roll-cage, 26G impact seats, ESP, and the auto-pilot level mode that shows an expert eye for detail on safety. 

Plus, Cirrus are the only planes to deploy a rocket-propelled parachute system that lowers the entire airplane safely back to terra firma and gives pilots and passengers the ultimate failsafe when the very worst happens. CAPS, the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System, is accessible from all on-board seats, and is the ultimate example of what makes Cirrus safety a cut above.  

Reason 4: Advanced Avionics

Cirrus leads the way when it comes to incorporating new technologies. With a fully digital cockpit that looks more suited to the flight deck of a private jet than a GA training aircraft, Cirrus allows the PPL standard syllabus [link to PPL training page] to be offered at a whole new level.

All this tech gives amazing in-flight experiences and when you learn it from day one it quickly feels the norm. Fully equipped for IFR flying, progressing from your PPL to an IR (instrument rating) feels very natural and the Cirrus IFR-equipped system means never feeling overly restricted by unpredictable British weather. 

We make the best use of all our instructors being instrument qualified. So, it’s not uncommon for us to fly through low-level cloud to conduct training in the clear skies above, before flying home with ILS (instrument landing system) fully operational for a safe, legal return to base.

And remember with avionics like this, if the day comes when you want to fly something even bigger and faster you have solid foundations to rely on.

Reason 5: Well-equipped for bigger things

Flying Cirrus is as much about the future as the now, if you want larger planes to feature at some point in your flying journey. Thanks to its advanced and high-performance features already mentioned, plus so many more that would make this a top 100 reasons to train in Cirrus rather than top 5, you have much to gain from Cirrus being the most advanced SEP (Single Engine Piston) aircraft in the air currently.

We’re finding it increasingly typical for existing students to return to us wishing to move into the world of private jet or turbo-prop aircraft after their PPL. And, thanks to their existing exposure to high performance aircraft training, they find it’s an easy transition to make.

So many reasons make Cirrus a fantastic training machine and when you know aircraft like we do the points of difference are easy to spot.

So, we leave you with this final thought.

To fly the best, fly Cirrus.