System Detects And Corrects Unsafe Flight Conditions Even When Hand-Flying

A new safety and flight stability augmentation system from Garmin will be available on Cirrus SR-Series Aircraft for new orders scheduled for Fall 2010 delivery. Cirrus announced the move Sunday just before the opening of AirVenture 2010. The key feature for the Perspective ESP system is that it operates when the Garmin GFC 700 autopilot has been disengaged. So when you're hand-flying, Perspective ESP operates in the background. 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. 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 CAPSTM 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.

FMI: www.cirrusaircraft.com