I already have a licence – how long will a Challenger checkout take?
Whether you have 100 hours in Cessnas or 10,000 hours as a Concorde captain, you should get a proper checkout in every new type of aircraft you fly. The Challenger is more docile and easier to fly than most planes, however it does have its own personality. Thorough conversion training typically takes from one to ten hours depending on the pilot’s adaptability as well as their past experience, not just in total hours but also in types of aircraft flown. The most obvious difference between Challengers and Cessnas (and the Concorde) is the use of the rudder. Pilots of general aviation aircraft and airliners are accustomed to very little rudder usage. Their feet must be re-educated when they convert to ultralights, taildraggers, aerobatic airplanes, gliders and other aircraft with more dynamic handling characteristics. One Challenger personality trait is the high thrust line which causes the nose to ease down when you apply power. This is identical to aircraft such as the Lake Amphibian an
