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ric Guster, a real‑estate developer and attorney, prizes family time and the ability to move between work and home with minimal friction. His Cirrus SR22T has become the vehicle that delivers that freedom.
From the moment he first learned about aviation, Guster knew a Cirrus was the aircraft he wanted. The Cirrus Configurator guided him to the exact model, and the aircraft’s reputation for safety and cabin comfort sealed the decision. “Cirrus is a very safe aircraft,” he says, noting that as an instrument‑rated pilot, safety is his top priority.
The SR22T’s safety suite is a major draw. The Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) is standard on every Cirrus model, offering a whole‑airframe parachute that can bring the plane down safely in an emergency. The Blue Level Button, which Guster used during instrument training, allows pilots or passengers to return the aircraft to level flight with a single touch—an invaluable feature during critical phases. Autoleveling and the ability to deploy CAPS give pilots and even a passenger‑trained wife multiple options if the pilot becomes incapacitated. “Those features in the background are invaluable because they offer redundancies if something unexpected were to occur,” Guster explains.
Beyond safety, the SR22T saves time. Guster can leave Birmingham, visit two sites in different cities, and be home for dinner—something that would normally require overnight stays. For his three young children, the aircraft is “their taxi to Disney,” turning a 12‑hour car trip into a three‑hour flight. The plane has become an extension of the family’s home life, allowing them to eat dinner together every night even while he expands his business across states.
The Cirrus Perspective Touch is intuitive and helped Guster convince his wife to fly. Real‑time fuel calculations and flight‑management data are displayed in a simplified format, reducing anxiety for passengers and ensuring the pilot meets fuel reserve requirements. Guster’s personal minimum is a 20‑gallon reserve at landing to allow for last‑minute diversions.
Guster’s interest in aviation began with a friend who owned a Cirrus and demonstrated how flying could expand his reach without sacrificing time at home. “I saw how my friend could work around the country without staying overnight,” he recalls. That curiosity led to his first flight from Birmingham to KRYY for brunch, after which his wife was hooked. Now the family flies twice a month, making the world feel smaller and more accessible.
The SR22T’s comfortable ride makes the experience feel like traveling in an SUV rather than a cramped aircraft. “The kids fit well, and you don’t feel tired when you land like you do with other planes,” Guster says.
Flying remains demanding, requiring extensive training in weather, physics, and more. Guster flies once or twice a week to maintain proficiency, but the combination of Cirrus’s safety features and reliable performance makes the process manageable and confidence‑building for someone without a prior aviation background.
Owning a Cirrus has reshaped Guster’s professional and personal life. It shrinks travel times, increases quality family moments, and keeps the expansive possibilities of aviation integrated into his daily routine. “Flying is a tough thing to learn and a highly skilled endeavor,” he admits, “but I enjoy my time with my Cirrus and don’t regret one part of it.”
