Cirrus Aircraft News

Today Cirrus Aircraft announced the availability of Perspective ESP, a revolutionary safety and flight stability augmentation system by Garmin that will be available on Cirrus SR-Series Aircraft for new orders scheduled for Fall 2010 delivery. The key feature for Perspective ESP is that the system operates when the Garmin GFC 700 autopilot has been disengaged, that is when hand-flying. Perspective ESP operates in the background and if the pilot becomes incapacitated, disoriented or distracted, the system uses the digital autopilot servos and sensors to detect and help correct unsafe flight conditions. After it senses things are back to normal, it goes back into the background. Similar systems of this sophistication and capability were previously available only the world’s most advanced and most expensive ‘fly-by-wire’ business and military jets.

ESP Brochure.pdf (4.63 mb)

Pat Waddick, Cirrus Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer commented, “At Cirrus Aircraft, enhancing flight safety is the most fundamental driver of the design of our aircraft and of every business decision we make. Since the beginning Cirrus has provided the most complete array of active and passive safety systems and features in general aviation. Our multi-layered approach to safety includes a cuffed wing, built-in roll cage, side yoke, 26G seats, airbag seatbelts, the ‘blue level button’ and of course the game-changing whole airframe parachute system CAPS^TM just to name a few of the innovations that put pilot and passenger safety first. We believe that Perspective ESP is not just the next safety feature and pilot benefit in that list, but instead an enhancement as important as the parachute itself. That’s why we have worked closely with Garmin to be the first and to date only airplane in our class to offer it.”

Waddick continued, “The safety benefits of Perspective ESP are profound. Loss of control is the number one cause of flying accidents. Now with Perspective ESP, pilot workload is further reduced as you have all the power and capability of the most advanced cockpit in general aviation to actively monitor and safeguard against unusual airspeeds and attitudes, entry into stalls/spins, or the onset of other potentially unsafe flight situations. Not only will ESP alert you to the severity of the situation, but it can also provide active feedback and ‘soft’ flight control inputs to recover the plane back to normal flight. It is truly an order of magnitude advance in technology for the GA cockpit.”

Key components and features of the Perspective ESP system are:

• Enhances safety by providing electronic stability and protection for aircraft being hand-flown
• Activates whenever the airplane exceeds one or more flight parameters
• Uses autopilot servos and sensors, yet operates when the autopilot is turned off
• Helps correct excessive pitch attitude, roll attitude, or airspeed 
• ESP augments pilot vigilance: Assists, but does not take control
• Can be overridden by the pilot at any time
• Increases corrective pressure as exceedances move beyond safe limits
• Gently returns the aircraft to stable, straight-and-level flight
• Operates unobtrusively and simulates aircraft’s natural flight stability
• Can be temporarily turned off for training or flights where extreme maneuvering is anticipated.

Effective immediately, Perspective ESP is available - at no additional charge - on all Cirrus Aircraft ordered with the Garmin GFC700 autopilot and the Cirrus Perspective by Garmin avionics suite by September 30, 2010. Final certification is currently underway with system installation via a software update anticipated in Fall 2010 for aircraft ordered today.

For more information visit cirrusaircraft.com or visit the Cirrus Aircraft display at EAA AirVenture 2010 and speak with a company representative.

Today Cirrus Aircraft announced a range of new software upgrades to its innovative Cirrus Perspective by Garmin avionics suite, adding even more functionality and ease of use to the most capable cockpit in GA today.

Jon Dauplaise, Cirrus Vice President of Domestic Sales, noted the importance of the new features. “The Cirrus Perspective by Garmin cockpit is already the most intuitive, feature-rich, and pilot-friendly avionics system available in GA. Class-leading innovations include the largest 12” PFD and MFD screens, 3-D synthetic vision (SynVis), alphanumeric keypad for data entry, the ‘blue level’ button for enhanced pilot and passenger safety, GFC700 digital autopilot and digital flight control servos, integrated Flight Into Known Icing system capability and more.”

Dauplaise continued, “As advanced as the current Perspective system is, we have listened to our owners and operators and today have a new set of features and benefits to add to Perspective that offer even more capability, further pilot workload reduction and simplified operation. The Cirrus and Garmin engineering teams continue to impress us with these new features that leverage the unique and powerful integrated systems and technology of the Perspective platform.”

Key components of the Cirrus Perspective by Garmin software upgrade include:

• Underspeed Protection on the Autopilot: If currently selected mode will result in unsafe low speeds, the autopilot will depart the selected vertical flight path and maintain one that preserves stall margin 
• Coupled Go-Around: The autopilot will not disconnect at go around but instead will preserve stall margin if insufficient power or performance are available, i.e. the Underspeed Protection mode above. 
• Hypoxia Check/Automated Descent Mode (ADM):  Hypoxia recognition and automated altitude step-down recovery in the case of an unresponsive pilot
• FMS User Interface changes: Simplified navigation in the flight plan page 
• Metar Flags on MFD Map and FPL page 
• “Banana Bar” for selected altitude intercept: Depiction on the MFD of the current decent or climb rate where on the altitude selected will be intercepted
• Flight Plan Profile View on MFD: Display of terrain, obstacles and winds aloft within ±3500’ of aircraft altitude.

This latest software upgrade of the Cirrus Perspective by Garmin avionics system- when ordered with the Garmin GFC700 autopilot – is included on orders placed today.  Final certification is currently underway with system installation via a software update anticipated in Fall 2010. Current owners of Cirrus Perspective by Garmin equipped SR-Series aircraft can also upgrade their systems at that time.

For more information visit cirrusaircraft.com or visit the Cirrus Aircraft display at EAA AirVenture and speak with a company representative.

Kicking off the eighth annual meeting of the Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association, today Cirrus Aircraft introduced the SR22T, the newest member of the SR22 family of composite piston aircraft. The SR22 series is the world’s best-selling four-seat airplane for eight years in a row.

The key feature in the new SR22T is the availability of the Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) twin-turbocharged TSIO-550-K engine. This engine installation was co-developed via a unique partnership between engineers at TCM and Cirrus Aircraft and is not currently available in any other production aircraft.

Commenting on the SR22T’s development, Cirrus Aircraft Executive Vice President, Pat Waddick praised both the partnership and the airplane’s performance. “Thinking forward, sometimes years forward, is a hallmark of Cirrus Aircraft. In addition to a quieter operation, lower weight, a smoother ride and many other refinements, the new SR22T offers Cirrus customers a high performance, twin turbo-charged option with the additional benefit of greater future fuel flexibility.” 

Starting with the latest generation SR22 airframe, design improvements for SR22T include the unique installation of the TSIO-550-K engine fully backed by a TCM factory warranty, smoother and lighter nose landing gear and a redesigned cowl with dedicated induction inlets and exit air louvers for improved cooling. The SR22T also features new environmental control system hardware that supports up to 50 degrees of additional cabin heating capability at all altitudes. Finally, all SR22T standard and customer optional systems – flight into known icing, environmental systems, charts, weather, including engine operations, and more – integrate seamlessly with the Cirrus Perspective by Garmin™ cockpit.

Performance is also upgraded in SR22T.  Notable enhancements include improved takeoff and climb, quieter takeoff and climb noise levels, higher useful load and better deceleration from high-speed. 

Waddick added, “With the introduction of the new SR22T model, Cirrus continues to offer the SR22 Turbo with the twin turbo-normalized “Tornado Alley Turbo” STC.  Depending on a customer’s personal priorities and preferences, Cirrus offers a choice of either aircraft with essentially equal performance.”

Commenting on flying the second production SR22T from the U.S. to Europe nonstop just 10 days ago, Cirrus France Director Regis Masson praised the new airplane’s performance and capabilities. “I have just crossed the North Atlantic from Duluth to Paris in a new SR22T in 22 hours. It climbs like a rocket to 25,000 feet and a few times I had to reduce power for others to keep up. The airplane runs like a Swiss clock … it delivers on everything it promises and more!”

The SR22T carries a base price of $475,000 and is well-equipped at $525,900. Orders can be placed immediately as SR22T production is well underway with first customer deliveries on June 21 at company headquarters in Duluth, Minnesota. 

Learn more about the SR22T.

In comments to employees, customers and suppliers, President and CEO Brent Wouters today said the company was seeing signs of a strengthening market for aircraft sales. He noted that a number of key business measurements suggested stronger performance in 2010 than previously anticipated. 

"We are seeing solid signs that suggest this year could be better - potentially much better - than many are thinking," Wouters said. "Our first-quarter sales are on pace with the results for Q1 2008, a year where we delivered 550 new airplanes. When you couple that level of sales performance with a greatly improved business that – because of our successful restructuring – has cut our breakeven point to less than half its 2008 level, 2010 is on track to be much better than expected. We’re pleased with the momentum we’re seeing on the sales side, particularly in institutional sales where our focus has already begun to show results such as the 16-airplane order for flight training at Purdue University. We see many more new fleet opportunities on the horizon." 

"The credit for this improved outlook goes to our employees, our suppliers and all our partners who are helping us find success by making deliberate and significant progress in every area of the enterprise. While much work remains to be done, by pulling together, the Cirrus community is overcoming the economic headwinds and helping us quickly and quietly grow a very strong company."

Additional highlights:

• In Q1 2010, aircraft deliveries are trending well above the same period for 2009 and on par with 2008. Nearly 30 new customer aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in March 2010 alone. 
• March 2010 deliveries included the first two aircraft of 16 total for flight training at Purdue University's Department of Aviation Technology, with remaining deliveries to take place in Q2 and Q3 2010.
• Cirrus has more orders confirmed for both April and May of this year than the company had for the same period in either of the past two years.
• Cirrus Certified, the pre-owned aircraft division at Cirrus, is also seeing sales return to 2008 levels. Used Cirrus aircraft prices are showing the strongest signs of stabilization in 24 months.
• Increased global expansion in 2009 is paying significant dividends for Cirrus in 2010 as economies around the world recover at different rates. Year-to-date, total new aircraft deliveries are evenly split between the U.S. and export markets.
• In January and February, the company received more than 25 new production reservations for its Cirrus Vision personal jet.
• Business restructuring milestones include reducing inventory by more than 75%, reducing long-term liabilities by more than 20% and reducing annual fixed costs by over 50%.
• The company continues to innovate in its marketing efforts with a new global partnership with RedBull Air Race, one of the most dynamic and well-known aviation-related brands in the world.
• Flight Into Known Icing (FIKI) capability and further enhancements to Cirrus Perspective By Garmin™ avionics in 2009 helped the SR22 grow its market share to more than 60%.
• Again in 2009 - the 7th year in a row - the Cirrus SR22 is the world's best-selling 4-place airplane.

About Cirrus Aircraft
Cirrus Aircraft, a member of the global portfolio of Arcapita companies, is a recognized leader in personal aviation aircraft. Its popular SR20, SR22 and TURBO composite airplanes incorporate innovative and advanced performance and safety technologies, including the unique Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS™). As of early 2010, total time on the worldwide Cirrus Aircraft SR-series fleet surpassed 3.4 million hours with 19 CAPS deployments resulting in 36 lives saved. The Cirrus Aircraft Vision Jet, with nearly 500 positions reserved to date, will provide a new personal and regional business transportation solution - the 'personal jet'. Cirrus has a direct sales force in North America and sales centers in more than 40 countries around the world. For additional information on Cirrus Aircraft and its products please visit: www.cirrusaircraft.com

Cirrus Aircraft Maintains Share Leadership Position in Third Quarter
 
On November 4, 2009 the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) released the industry’s third quarter shipment and billings summary. Fluctuations continue in the general aviation new aircraft market yet Cirrus Aircraft maintained its strong share position with SR20, SR22 and TURBO. Through the first nine months of 2009, piston-powered GA airplane shipments stood at 679 units while total GA shipments were 1,587. Both figures represent significant declines from the same period last year.  

Overall Market Remains Contracted – Optimism Heading into Fourth Quarter

“In the third quarter, we continued to see the periodic variability in new aircraft sales that has been with us for the last 12 to 15 months. Obviously, the overall market remains quite contracted compared to several previous years” said Todd Simmons, Vice President of Marketing at Cirrus. “There were some notable bright spots in the figures for Cirrus.”   

GAMA Data Third Quarter 2009 Highlights and Notable Items: 

• In Q309, Cirrus shipped 68 aircraft. Through the end of Q309, Cirrus has shipped 189 total aircraft year-to-date. 
• As of Q309, for all Single Engine Piston Aircraft - Tricycle Gear, Cirrus Aircraft has 32 percent market share, representing a share increase in every quarter of 2009. In this category, this is Cirrus Aircraft’s highest market share position to date. 
• Through 3Q09 versus the same period a year ago, Cirrus Aircraft shipments are 3.5 percentage points ahead of the overall piston aircraft delivery rate. 
• Cirrus Aircraft maintained its market share leadership of nearly 60 percent through Q3’09 for all SR22 comparable aircraft.¹ 
• As of Q309, the Cirrus Aircraft SR22 (normally aspirated and TURBO) remains the best-selling model of SEP airplane for the seventh year in a row.  
• While not reported in GAMA data, sales of pre-owned Cirrus Aircraft through Cirrus Certifiedä – the Cirrus Aircraft pre-owned sales division – continue at a brisk pace. Through Q309, Cirrus Certified increased sales 51 percent versus the same three-quarter period in 2008. A total of 118 pre-owned Cirrus transactions had been conducted through the end of 3Q09, representing 40 more aircraft sales than through the same period than in 2008. 
   

Cirrus Aircraft a Smart Investment 

In publishing 3Q09 delivery data, GAMA Chairman Pete Bunce noted the importance of GA to successful businesses. “A recently released study shows the powerful connection between well-run companies and those that use business aviation. For example, Business Week magazine’s 2009 25 Best Customer Service Companies and the Corporate Responsibility Officer’s list of 2009 100 Best Corporate Citizens, both show that 90 percent of the identified S&P 500 companies are business aircraft users. For many small, medium and regional businesses, Cirrus Aircraft is providing safe, economical and efficient transportation solutions for owners and executives that previously relied solely on the airlines, larger turbine aircraft or automobile transportation for business travel.  Pete Agur, Jr. author of The Compelling Case for Business Aviation in the October 2009 issue of Business and Commercial Aviation noted the significance of high performance singles to small businesses in a companion study: The Economic Case for High Performance Single-Engine Piston Business Aircraft. Agur concludes, “The results of the analysis are dramatically clear. The economic benefit of using a high performance single-engine piston airplane for regional travel is compelling”.

Read entire article:  The Even More Compelling Case Agur.pdf (907.62 kb)

Cirrus Aircraft are an even stronger corporate transportation tool than previously with new product offerings and features, most notably Flight Into Known Icing protection for SR22 and TURBO models.  

Looking Ahead 

Approaching year-end, Cirrus sees early signs of recovery in both the traditional owner-flown market as well as in segments where previously Cirrus has been a quieter player - the regional and small businesses segments noted above.  Simmons concluded, “Our product enhancements for new aircraft, robust activity in our pre-owned business, and price discipline in both new and used markets are making a real difference. The latest GAMA numbers show it. Generous depreciation rules for 2009 domestically, the expiration of the VAT exemption in Europe at year-end and a recovering overall economy have the fourth quarter shaping up as the strongest quarter of 2009 for both orders and deliveries at Cirrus.”    

GAMA is an international trade association headquartered in Washington, DC representing 67 of the world's leading manufacturers of general aviation aircraft, engines, avionics and related equipment. GAMA's members also operate fleets of aircraft, fixed based operations, and pilot training and maintenance training facilities. For additional information, visit GAMA’s website.

Read More: GAMA Third Quarter Shipments 

Visit Cirrus Aircraft's website.

1  SR22/Turbo comparable aircraft includes the following four-seat aircraft:  182T Skylane, T182T Turbo Skylane, 350 Corvalis, 400 Corvalis TT, SR22, M20R Ovation, M20TN Acclaim.

Cirrus Aircraft today announced that Avidyne's Entegra Release 9 integrated flight deck system is now available from Cirrus as an option on selected new SR20 and SR22 aircraft. 

"Cirrus and Avidyne launched the glass flight deck revolution back in 2003. Today, we are making Entegra Release 9 available as a post production option on new aircraft to meet the needs of those customers desiring the next generation Avidyne avionics platform," said Cirrus CEO, Brent Wouters.

"Cirrus has consistently been the industry leader in bringing safety-enhancing innovations to general aviation-from the parachute to the first all-glass flight deck for GA-and we are excited to have our Entegra Release 9 system added as a factory option at Cirrus," said Avidyne President Dan Schwinn. "There are over 4,000 Entegra-equipped Cirrus aircraft and prospective owners now have the option of moving up to a brand new SR20 or SR22 with Entegra Release 9."
 
About Entegra Release 9
With its fully-modular architecture, Entegra Release 9 represents the next generation of Avidyne integrated flight deck systems for general aviation aircraft. The Entegra Release 9 includes high-resolution IFD5000 displays, dual Air Data and Attitude Heading Reference Systems (ADAHRS), dual-redundant FMS900w systems with a QWERTY keypad, next-generation fully-digital 16-watt VHF NAV/COM radios, and dual WAAS/RNP-capable GPS receivers. Release 9's innovative Page & Tab user interface makes accessing data simple. Designed with a fully-redundant architecture, each IFD5000 is fully capable of performing the functions of the other. With Entegra Release 9, Avidyne has developed a truly integrated system that is specifically designed to eliminate complexity, reduce head-down time, provide a whole new level of redundancy, and dramatically enhance safety.

Pricing and Availability
Cirrus is accepting orders now for new Cirrus aircraft with Entegra Release 9 as a build-to-order aircraft, with a nominal lead time of around 12 weeks. For pricing and ordering information, including installation details, contact Cirrus Aircraft at http://www.cirrusaircraft.com/.

For more information on Avidyne Entegra Release 9, go to http://www.release9.com/. 

Cirrus Aircraft today named Patrick Carroll to the post of Divisional Director Middle East and Asia. As Cirrus currently delivers aircraft in more than 50 countries around the world, Carroll brings key experience and market knowledge to the Cirrus Aircraft corporate strategy of overall broader market presence and penetration into Middle Eastern and Asian markets.

Prior to Cirrus, Patrick held senior sales and marketing positions at BAE Systems, Airbus, EADS and other companies as their representative in Asia. He has specific experience in the Middle East, particularly in the area of government, institutional and special-use aircraft sales. Holding an electronics degree from London South Bank University,  Patrick is an active pilot who has flown more than 1000 hours in Asia. He is an FAA commercial pilot with multi-engine and instrument ratings and is a Certified Flight Instructor. Additionally he holds pilot licenses in Japan, China and the Philippines.

Ian Bentley, Cirrus’ Vice President and Managing Director for International Sales, welcomed the addition of Carroll to the Cirrus team, “Aircraft buyers throughout the Middle East and Asia can now have the same direct access to Cirrus enjoyed by their counterparts in other parts of the world.”

In accepting the appointment to this position Patrick commented, “I am pleased to join the team of professionals in Cirrus and be working to expand Cirrus’ business throughout the Middle East and in Asia, looking particularly at Fleet Sales. The Middle East and Asia are an especially challenging and dynamic market with many countries keen to upgrade their training fleets. Cirrus aircraft provide advance flight symbology and moving maps similar to the latest commercial jet and military aircraft.”

Today Cirrus Aircraft  announced a maximum initial price of $1.39 million USD for owners of current production reservations for its single-engine Vision Personal Jet. This price will be for a Vision Jet delivered in a very well-equipped configuration analogous to the current GTS model in the best-selling SR22 piston family of airplanes from Cirrus Aircraft.

"Cirrus is uniquely positioned to understand materials costs and the costs of manufacturing of the Vision Jet by way of our experience in building and delivering nearly 5,000 SR20 and SR22 aircraft," said Cirrus Aircraft President and CEO Brent Wouters. "With our pricing announcement today, we have rewarded those who partnered with us since the beginning of the Vision Jet development program by creating substantial and immediate value in their production position reservations. At the same time, Vision Jet pricing for new reservations is equally compelling given the revolutionary performance and capability demonstrated by the V1 flight test aircraft to date."

For customers reserving a Vision Jet production position between now and December 31, 2009 with a non-refundable $100,000 deposit, the maximum purchase price for a Vision Jet will be $1.55 million. Beginning January 1, 2010, a new Vision Jet production position reservation will be secured with a non-refundable $50,000 deposit with a maximum purchase price of $1.72 million. All prices are in 2009 dollars.

Wouters concluded, "Our commitment to the Vision Jet is absolute and unequivocal. Cirrus has the personnel, leadership and conviction to bring the Vision Jet to serial production as quickly as possible. Others share our view as several third parties have expressed an interest in investing in Cirrus Aircraft and the Vision Jet program specifically. While only time will tell whether those inquiries are fruitful, we will keep the program moving forward with internal resources in the meantime. This same incremental funding approach brought the SR20, and later, the SR22 aircraft to market and out of that effort was born the best-selling four-place piston airplane for now seven years running."

Cirrus Aircraft announced Lotus Air Corporation (Cirrus Japan), as the newest international Cirrus Sales Center.  Lotus Air will partner with Hirata Gakuen Kobe Air Center, Kobe Airport, Tokyo Japan, to serve as the sales and distribution center for Cirrus Japan.  READ full press release issued today.

L-R.  1) First Japanese Registered Cirrus SR22 - JA22KY.  2) Cirrus SR22 and Ferrari shown at the grand opening of the Kobe Air Center

L-R.  1) Hirata Gakuen Kobe Air Center.  2) Shiro Hirata, chairman of Hirata Gakuen, opening the new Kobe Air Center

Cirrus Aircraft and Aerospace Products International, Inc. (“API”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Aviation Services Inc. (FAVS.PK) and a leading supplier of innovative distribution and supply chain services for the aviation industry, signed a multi-year exclusive logistics services agreement to support Cirrus owners, operators and service centers worldwide. This preferred services agreement marks a key initial milestone in Cirrus Aircraft’s “Cirrus Experience” initiative to achieve world-class customer service and support through the complete lifecycle of the aircraft ownership experience. 

READ the entire Press Release issued today.