Independence Aviation Named Best In Flight Training By Cirrus

Englewood, Colorado -- Independence Aviation LLC (IA), based at Centennial Airport (KAPA) in Englewood, Colorado, has received the first-ever "Cirrus Training Center of the Year" award by Cirrus Aircraft, an international leader in general aviation.

The honor was bestowed at the Cirrus CX Symposium in Knoxville, Tennessee, where aviation trainers affiliated with Cirrus Aircraft met with company leaders to discuss the future of private aviation. Cirrus has training centers nationwide in virtually every state. Cirrus certification is contingent on meeting and maintaining stringent private-aviation standards, including innovative and advanced performance targets and the application of smart electronic and safety technologies.

In addition, the Training Centers must subscribe to and demonstrate Cirrus' profound passion for safer airplanes, safer pilots and safer skies, said Bob Stedman, co-founder and President of IA. "To be singled out as the premier example of these standards is an honor," he said.

IA provides Cirrus training programs in concert with its own custom slate of ongoing educational modules and pilot mentoring. All IA training programs are available at both Centennial Airport (KAPA), the company's headquarters location, and at Rocky Mountain Metro Airport (KBJC) in Broomfield, Colorado, where the company has a satellite operation.

"From IA's founding in 2007, we have recognized Cirrus Aircraft as the future of single-engine general aviation success," Stedman added. "They've produced the safest, most innovative aircraft available to take people places in comfort and safety. It's nice to be recognized for our efforts to further this mission." Stedman said that while Cirrus Aircraft emphasizes recurrent pilot training because of its enormous, documented impact on the proficiency and safety of pilots, they also recognize that private-aviation pilots face challenges finding the time for training sessions. To remedy this, the company has developed a unique suite of flight training materials including more than 50 tablet-friendly interactive courses and modules adaptable to the stages of individual pilots in their aviation journeys.

"Nothing can replace hands-on cockpit training," said Stedman, "but thanks to Cirrus, we now have smarter and more efficient ways to combine cockpit time and tablet sessions to keep private pilots up to speed."

In addition to the top training-center award, IA managers including Stedman, General Manager Rhett Kamm and Chuck Gensler, IA co-founder and Chief Flight Instructor Emeritus, were treated to a flight in the VisionJet, Cirrus' recently-certified single-engine personal jet. "It was a thrill to be at the controls of this game-changing aircraft for the first time," said Stedman.

About Independence Aviation

Independence Aviation (IA) provides aircraft rentals, aviation instruction and pilot mentoring programs, plus aircraft and hangar management. Founded in 2007 by two veteran Certified Flight Instructors, the firm is guided by a philosophy that relationship-based flight instruction produces superior private pilots. Key elements of IA's approach are to teach students in airplanes they'd be willing to fly cross-country, and mentor them as they evolve to aircraft that fly faster and higher. All IA planes are used for instruction and rentals to qualified pilots. The entire fleet is equipped with modern avionics and current databases, and each aircraft is impeccably maintained in both mechanical operations and appearance.