Cirrus Aircraft News

From AOPA Online:  Little did AOPA member Michael Graves know that taking time out of his Super Bowl party preparations to help a coworker would land him with the surprise of a lifetime: AOPA’s 2010 Sweepstakes Let’s Go Flying Cirrus SR22.

Congratulations from Cirrus Aircraft, Michael!

Read the full story here.

Cirrus Aircraft, a leading personal airplane manufacturer, and Red Bull Air Race announced today a global partnership for the 2010 World Championship at an exclusive event in Santa Monica, California. At Red Bull Air Race events around the world in 2010, guests will have the unique opportunity to experience Cirrus Aircraft, the world's best-selling four-place, single-engine piston airplane. Guests attending the races in either the Race Club or the High Flyers Lounge will have special access to both the SR22 series of piston aircraft, as well as the upcoming Cirrus Vision 'personal jet.'

In his comments to several hundred at the Santa Monica event, Cirrus Aircraft CEO Brent Wouters noted, "The Red Bull Air Race World Championship represents a passion for precision and performance in aviation. These same attributes are shared by the employees of Cirrus Aircraft, and thousands of Cirrus owners and pilots around the world. We are proud to join this world-class event in 2010 and bring together air race fans, pilots and a new generation of aviators for a season of the most exciting, skillful and technical aerial competition in all of flying." 

Wouters added, "The Red Bull Air Races and its select global venues are a spectacular aviation experience. These locations showcase the unique lifestyle of convenience, comfort and access Cirrus owners enjoy around the world. At Cirrus, we proudly redefine personal transportation as 'Flying 2.0', and because of our shared passion, we are excited to partner in the worldwide aviation phenomenon that is the Red Bull Air Race."

Red Bull Air Race CEO Bernd Loidl noted the synergy of the new partnership. “We are pleased to welcome Cirrus Aircraft on board as a partner of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship. As one of the leading and most innovative aircraft manufacturers in the world, Cirrus is constantly pushing the boundaries in the development and design of premium aircraft. This together with their passion for flying and focus on excellence provides a perfect synergy with the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.”

Cirrus Aircraft and Red Bull Air Race: World Class Lifestyle Meets World Class Racing.

Visit: http://www.cirrusaircraft.com/airrace/

Cirrus Aircraft can be seen today through Sunday in the Changi Exhibition Centre at the Singapore Airshow. The first four days are exclusively for trade attendees while the final two weekend days are open to the public.

The Singapore Airshow is the biggest aerospace and defense exhibition in Asia. This international biennial event serves as a global marketplace and networking powerhouse for the world aviation community. Among this year’s features is the Green Pavilion, a dedicated showcase of innovations and green initiatives reflecting the rising global interest and need for environmental sustainability; and Business Forums, a series of regional forums providing insights into business opportunities in the key markets of China, India, and the Middle East.

Learn more about the Singapore Airshow

Leader in Personal Aviation Aircraft Welcomes Key Training and Research Partner at Historic University

Cirrus Aircraft announced today the sale of 16 of its 2010 SR20 model aircraft to Purdue University’s Department of Aviation Technology. The 600 students currently enrolled in the Purdue program will utilize the new Cirrus fleet daily to obtain hands-on flying experience, earn a private pilot certificate, instrument rating and ultimately a commercial type rating.

"Purdue's choice of Cirrus Aircraft for its training and research programs speaks to its commitment to the best available combination of technology, safety and capability in general aviation,” said Cirrus CEO Brent Wouters.  “We, at Cirrus, are very pleased that an institution of Purdue’s global academic and research stature has chosen to partner with us.  The new Purdue fleet is just the latest example of an institutional customer choosing Cirrus as its training platform for many of the same reasons that have made Cirrus the most desired airplane in personal aviation."

Purdue University conducted a rigorous evaluation process before selecting the aircraft it would use to continue the program’s advancement in training the nation’s future pilots. After careful consideration of operating cost, safety, flight characteristics, research capability and proposals from other manufacturers, the university chose the Cirrus SR20.  With a whole airframe parachute recovery system as standard equipment, Cirrus is an ideal choice because of its safety features and outstanding safety record.  The new SR20's will provide recruiting benefits as well given the natural progression of avionics commonality and flight characteristics leading up to the Embraer Phenom 100, also a part of Purdue's state-of-the-art fleet of training and research aircraft.

"The collaboration between Purdue University and Cirrus Aircraft launches a new era of next-generation collegiate aviation education.  In approving the acquisition, University Trustees and officials noted the necessity for Purdue to maintain a globally preeminent aviation technology program" said Dr. Brent D. Bowen, Professor and Head of the Department of Aviation Technology at Purdue University.  "Our investment in Cirrus and the resulting technologies will provide us with data acquisition and flight training capability never before possible and allow us to advance aviation education to a new level."

Each SR20 is equipped with the Cirrus Perspective by Garmin™ avionics platform, Alaka'i Technologies data recorders and Garmin GDL-90 receivers to support ongoing research projects.  The first Cirrus SR20 deliveries will take place in March of this year with the last of the 16 aircraft scheduled to arrive on campus in July, replacing the University’s current fleet of Piper Warriors.

Follow the journey of Max Haynes, Aviation Photographer, as he chronicles his journey of learning to fly through the wonderful "FLOG", a.k.a. Flight Log.  Max has partnered with Twin Cities Aviation to train in a Cirrus SR20 and using a Full Motion Flight Training simulator.

Follow Max's "FLOG"

Featured today on Aero News TV, see Cirrus Chairman of the Board, Dale Klapmeier, explain key insurance policy changes implemented as a result of the unique Cirrus safety feature, the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS^TM).

In this feature, Greg Sterling, Vice President and Division Manager of LAD, one of the companies to change their insurance policy, explained the decision by stating, “In the interest of aviation safety, we want to eliminate any chance that a pilot might hesitate in deploying the recovery parachute in an emergency because of insurance or financial implications.”

See the feature here.

Cirrus Aircraft and the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS^TM) is featured as part of the Discovery Science channel's "How Do They Do It" series.  Watch the program here.

Cirrus is proud to announce the Cirrus TURBO with Cirrus Known Ice Protection is Aero-News.net's Airplane of the Year for 2009!

Unparalleled in its performance, capability and luxury, the TURBO is both our flagship and the thoroughbred of the Cirrus stable.  Add to it the league-leading capability of Cirrus Known Ice Protection - a weeping-wing, anti-ice system certified for legal and safe Flight Into Known Icing Conditions (FIKI) and you have the most capable aircraft available - only from Cirrus Aircraft.

Cirrus Aircraft would like to wish all our friends around the world a very Happy New Year!

Click here to see where 2010 has already arrived.

MEMORANDUM

To:     All Employees
From: Brent Wouters, President & CEO
Date:  December 22, 2009
Re:     Happy Holidays

I want to personally wish all Cirrus employees a Merry Christmas and a very happy holiday season. Especially at this time of year I am well aware of the tremendous effort and sacrifices made by each of you and your families. We are truly thankful for your efforts. We will work diligently every day to achieve results that allow us to restore your sacrifices and reward our employees in the coming year. My thoughts are also with former Cirrus employees and their loved ones. Their presence and contributions are missed.

Because of your efforts, we have achieved an extraordinary turnaround at Cirrus. Late 2008 and 2009 involved many surprises and challenges yet our financial condition is strong today and continues to improve. More importantly, we have captured increased market share this year by improving our marketing and sales efforts both in the U.S. and around the world. Equally important, we have continued our investment in product innovation and our highest priority, the SF50 Vision Jet.

We are positioned well for 2010. While the coming year may not be easy and may present new challenges as the economy finds its foundation and strengthens, I know that our culture of innovation and resilience will help us adapt to any circumstance that we face. We have adjusted well to current lower airplane production, yet many large sales opportunities are in the works. I am optimistic about our prospects to win these sales opportunities, and I am confident with our current position if these take longer than expected to materialize.

You may have seen the stories about discussions we are having with the City of Grand Forks or Duluth. As is often the case, the media missed the most important reason for my recent visits to both: I was there to tell them personally that our business is strong and we are ready to work out a resolution to any past due amounts ‐ that's good news. You need not worry as Cirrus can and will meet all its obligations to our partners.

In closing, last week I received a note from a prospective airplane buyer after touring our plant, saying “The Cirrus factory was impressive to say the least. Both [my wife] and I have had the chance over the last 6 years to tour many manufacturing facilities and without a doubt the Cirrus facility shines above the rest. The friendly employees, the cleanliness and the overall energy throughout the building says quite a bit about your product and the way Cirrus conducts business.”

As you take a well deserved break, be reassured of our strength as we build on our great progress toward a very prosperous year in 2010.

Again, I wish you and yours peace and a very Merry Christmas.