Ten-Year Service Requirement On CAPS Systems

Cirrus Aircraft has been preparing for the upcoming 10-year service requirements on the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) to ensure the overhaul process was defined, and so that owners could meet the requirements through a timely, organized and established process.

The following items are part of the process:

• ATF licensing logistics (and similar entities outside of the US)
• Shipping and hazardous materials logistics
• Cirrus training on repack process allows expertise and ensures additional supply source and timeliness of supply
• Testing of G1 and G2 aircraft styles to establish/validate the process and determine expected labor times
• Life limit data analysis to support possible life limit extension of different components
• CAPS Qualified Authorized Service Centers

Knowing the delivery dates of the aircraft sold in 2000 and the expected month of service should determine the 2010 CAPS 10-year overhaul schedule, however, the actual replacement schedules do not exactly match the expected schedule. There are instances of owners performing the CAPS overhaul service early. There are also instances of aircraft that are overdue for the CAPS 10-year overhaul requirements. Cirrus encourages owners to validate their Time Limited Parts replacement schedules. The CAPS (parachute/rocket) information can be found in the front pages of your original airframe logbook.

Additionally, the Cirrus Authorized Service Network has been preparing to support the initial and increasing need for the 10-year CAPS service requirements. CAPS is uniquely specialized and therefore requires a qualified service center to have an ATF license, specific curriculum for training, a qualified storage magazine and the ability to ship and receive hazardous materials. An Airframe and Powerplant license alone is not sufficient credentials for performing maintenance on the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System.

Cirrus Aircraft provides assistance through the paperwork and qualification process to assist its Authorized Service Centers preparing to support this program. There are currently 24 service centers approved in the US and four outside of the US. The current list of CAPS qualified Authorized Service Centers is available from Cirrus. This network will be growing rapidly to support field requirements, and at this time, there are an additional nine service centers pursuing the CAPS qualification process.

Initial kit pricing was set at $9,385.00 for an overhauled exchange parachute and new rocket along with a few other kit parts. Line-cutters are not included in the overhaul kit as they have up to six years in-service life, which does not align with the rest of the CAPS components. Approximately 30 hours of labor are required to complete the removal and replacement of the CAPS components on G1 style aircraft. On G2, and subsequent aircraft, the installation is expected to be fewer than 20 hours of labor since the replacement can be accomplished from the cabin with no need to paint.

Due to process expansion of its in-house capabilities, Cirrus says a kit price reduction to $8,682.00 is effective immediately. For owners who have completed the service requirements at original pricing, the company is coordinating a $703.00 coupon good toward merchandise at the Cirrus Connection Store or part purchases with your Cirrus Authorized Service Center.

In addition to the overhauled exchange parachutes currently available, there is now an option to purchase a new parachute for $13,182.00. All prices reflect a core exchange.

Cirrus Aircraft was integrally involved with the development of the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System by participating in the rocket and parachute testing. Over the last year, the company has been establishing parachute packing capabilities at the Cirrus worldwide headquarters in Duluth, MN, and are now packing new parachutes for production and overhauling parachutes for current owners. The same established supplier is still being used to make the parachute, however, Cirrus personnel are now trained by the master rigger who developed the CAPS parachute pack.

Cirrus Aircraft now owns the rocket design and produces rockets and igniters under guidance of the CAPS rocket designer. Additionally, they have begun operating the facility where CAPS rockets were designed and have been produced for over a decade. All efforts have been coordinated with the appropriate experts and businesses to ensure consistency and quality of the products.

These kit components are specialized and time-limited and, therefore, will not be in stock at any of the CAPS qualified Authorized Service Centers at this time. Cirrus is requesting a 4-week notice of the scheduled date to have the overhaul service performed.

FMI: www.cirrusaircraft.com