I was wondering about any Canadian Owners who have experienced any problems or hidden costs in buying a Cirrus and bringing to Canada. As well how is the support for any parts/replacement needed. Just for info only!!
Many thanks for any info provided.
P.S By the way I think Cirrus is probably the most foreword thinking aircraft manufacture out there so far.
Dan
First off, let me say that the Cirrus is an outstanding airplane!
We are based in Toronto at Buttonville and have owned an SR 22 with PFD, TKS Skywatch etc since May of 2003.
The GST and PST are factors to consider depending on your intended ownership structure.
Aircraft registration, airworthiness etc are non issues.
The aircraft has been much more expensive to maintain than we thought it would be despite it being relatively snag free. Warranty resolution is rarely accomplished wiithout negotiation and extra charges over and above what Cirrus will credit/allow the Service Center to accomplish the work.
Cirrus still has not recognized the implications of parts shipping to and from Canada. They will not pay for anything other than ground shipping which takes UPS at least 10 days to get to Canada. You will pay for all shipping, brokerage and taxes even if your palne was delivered with defects and they are being remedied in Canada the day you bring the plane home.
For example:
Should your PFD fail under warranty the new unit will be shipped with a value of almost C$50,000! You WILL pay the $7,000 in taxes upon importation and will have to fight to get the money back if you do.
We are still out some $2,000+ in such unnecessary taxes and shipping costs when an electrical problem continued to be misdiagnosed and we were shipped an unneeded expensive new alternator (US$2,500 IIRC) and Master Control Unit etc.
Our Service Center (Leggat Aviation) has been trying to resolve these transborder issues with Cirrus but progress is slow.
Cirrus specific airframe parts are not generally stocked in Canada so you will wait and pay for parts when you need them. Our experience with Cirrus parts people has been very good though. To a person they all will go the extra mile to get you flying again and as soon as possible. They have gone against company policy to help us out in the past and came in on Saturday to ship parts out via Fedex when we were in an Air Rally.
Like I said, to a person Cirrus employees are just fantastic.
The plane is great!
But yes, we have some problems with parts specific to the border.
Anything else let me know.
I’m a Canadian owner of a Centennial SR22. Yesterday I picked up my plane after it’s first annual. I can only say that my experience with the plane as well as with Cirrus is as good as I could wish it to be. It’s been one awesome year. I love this plane and I feel that whatever it costs, it’s worth every penny. If I’ve needed anything from the factory my service center in Brandon, MB ordered it and as far as I know it was always here the next day. I don’t recall ever being billed for freight.
If you want to call me, my number is (204) 746-2122. I live in Manitoba. Also check out my hangar camera at www.westernskyaviation.com
Jack Maendel Centennial SR22 C-GBCD
In reply to:
I’m a Canadian owner of a Centennial SR22. Yesterday I picked up my plane after it’s first annual. I can only say that my experience with the plane as well as with Cirrus is as good as I could wish it to be. It’s been one awesome year. I love this plane and I feel that whatever it costs, it’s worth every penny. If I’ve needed anything from the factory my service center in Brandon, MB ordered it and as far as I know it was always here the next day. I don’t recall ever being billed for freight.
If you want to call me, my number is (204) 746-2122. I live in Manitoba. Also check out my hangar camera at www.westernskyaviation.com
Jack Maendel Centennial SR22 C-GBCD
Thank you for the quick responses. I think I have read just about everything about the Cirrus. Speaking of which I went to your site and saw your photo’s (even tried the Cam thing…very neat) . Unless I am mistaken (which I am from time to time) Your centennial does not have the TKS ICE system. Can that be retrofitted?
Thanks again for your responses
Dan mason
Oh my goodness! I gotta go see. Someone musta switched planes with me cuz my plane sure had TKS. If it didn’t, then I have to find out where all the stuff went that I poured into the tank.
Enough messing with you, yes it has everything Cirrus could put on it at the time.
Jack