Latest news with #SRSeries
CNN
06-05-2025
- Business
- CNN
Is this the future of flying? An FAA-certified airplane that can land on its own
Hagerstown, Maryland CNN — While passenger anxieties may be experiencing an uptick, one new design aboard a small aircraft is attempting to change the future of flying when it comes to safety. And it comes with just the push of one button. Aircraft manufacturer Cirrus is launching the first Federal Aviation Administration-approved autonomous safety system in a single-engine piston airplane. It's called, 'Safe Return,' and it is a shiny red button in the plane maker's SR Series G7+. Cirrus first certified Safe Return in its larger and more expensive Vision Jet in August 2020. CNN got a first-hand look at the Cirrus technology and how the planes are able to land themselves. How can a plane land on its own? The way it works is simple. Takeoff is the same – passengers feel the roar of the engine as the plane is maneuvered by the pilot to the runway swiftly and cautiously. In the air, it has features just like a regular plane. But, say there was a problem with the pilot. Now, Safe Return can step in. It comes in the form of a red button that sits overhead, closest to the passengers in the back. One press of the button, and the plane will route itself to the closest and most available runway. It entirely takes control of the airplane. 'The first thing it does is it makes a decision,' said Ben Kowalski, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Cirrus Aircraft, in an interview with CNN. 'There's an algorithm that decides: 'Where should we go? What it's doing is it's making a choice, almost just like a pilot would.' There's a 10-second grace window, should the emergency button be hit on accident, when the pilot is able to disconnect it. The aircraft's integrated flight decks have everything it needs to make the landing: it'll interpret the fuel state, weather, wind and more. Air traffic controllers will also be alerted that the aircraft is having an emergency, and passengers are also able to communicate with controllers, should they need to. Ivy McIver is the executive director of the SR Series product line at Cirrus Aircraft. She also is a pilot and flew the Cirrus plane demonstrated for CNN. 'The first time I did (an activation of Safe Return), it was sort of one of those things where on one side it was hard to give up control, but on the other side I felt so confident in the system because I had been part of the certification process and part of the flight testing that it really was just to watch the magic of engineering at work,' McIver said. It all comes together when the plane touches down, right in the center of the runway, and comes to a stop with no one touching the controls. Where might a Cirrus plane be used? Cirrus, founded in 1984, calls itself a leader in 'personal aviation.' 'We believe aviation makes the world better,' Kowalski said. 'We're biased, rightfully so, because we build airplanes, but we see the people that are buying and using our airplanes…, the vast majority put them into service for their business, to grow their business.' While some may utilize a Cirrus plane for their own personal use, mostly, the company's customers are business owners that can make use of the plane to lessen costs elsewhere. They aren't the typical 'aviation geek' type. 'The vast majority of people who are buying Cirruses in our space, they're not professional pilots,' he said. 'They're flying a couple times a week, maybe, so we're constantly creating a flight deck and a user interface, things that make it easier and safer and simpler to fly.' The company created its own Cirrus Airframe Parachute System – the first FAA-certified whole-airframe parachute safety system included as standard equipment on its planes. It allows the entire aircraft to float to the ground in case of emergency. The future for Cirrus is simple: introduce more people to the world of aviation and make them feel comfortable with it. 'What we've actually done is take an airframe powered by a power plant that's not digitally controlled or not controlled by a computer, an airframe that is kind of the entry point of aviation,' McIver explained. 'People are learning how to fly in this plane, and we are producing over 600 of these a year.' 600 a year that will now have a shiny red button onboard. '(Aviation) makes people more productive and are able to do more,' Kowalski said. 'I think we'll see this convergence in the future of as air as technologies for the airplanes keep improving, just like this.' CNN's Pete Muntean contributed to this report.
Business Wire
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Wire
Cirrus Announces SR Series G7+ Featuring Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland
DULUTH, Minn. & KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cirrus (Cirrus Aircraft Ltd.) today announced the new SR Series G7+ featuring Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland by Garmin®, the world's first FAA-approved autonomous emergency landing system in a single-engine piston aircraft. With the integration of this technology, anyone in the cabin can activate Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland with the touch of a button in the event of an emergency, commanding the aircraft to navigate to a suitable nearby airport and land autonomously. This advancement in aviation safety provides pilots and passengers of the world's best-selling high-performance single-engine piston aircraft with an automated emergency landing option in the event of pilot incapacitation or a similar in-flight emergency. Cirrus is currently delivering the SR Series G7+ with Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland. The SR Series G7+ introduces more new features, including Automatic Database Updates enabled by Cirrus IQ PRO™ for pilot convenience, Runway Occupancy Awareness for safety and Smart Pitot Heat powered by the Perspective Touch+™ flight deck for reduced pilot workload. Together, these features combined with Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland and the company's signature Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®), bring to market the SR Series G7+, a robust aircraft embedded with advanced technology, automation and safety innovations. 'We're excited to introduce the SR Series G7+, the aircraft that anyone can land in the event of an emergency with the touch of a single button,' said Zean Nielsen, Chief Executive Officer of Cirrus. 'As the largest personal aircraft manufacturer in the world, delivering approximately 600 SR Series aircraft per year, the addition of Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland on a single-engine piston aircraft brings technology previously only available on larger turbine and turboprop aircraft to a greater number of pilots, spouses and their passengers for added peace of mind. The SR Series G7+ launch, along with our expanding ecosystem and Cirrus IQ™ platform, underscores our commitment to safety and relentless pursuit of innovation.' Cirrus has historically led the industry in making safety innovations such as the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®) and now Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland as standard equipment. With over 10,000 SR Series aircraft manufactured and 17 million flight hours accumulated since 1999, Cirrus continues to grow the industry and invent solutions that make flying safer and more approachable. Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland The Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland system uses a combination of advanced sensors, sophisticated algorithms and automated flight control systems to enable the aircraft to autonomously land safely without pilot input. With a single push of a button, the system takes control of the aircraft, communicates with air traffic control, navigates to the nearest suitable airport while avoiding terrain and adverse weather, autonomously lands the aircraft bringing it to a complete stop, shuts down the engine and stops the propeller so that passengers can exit the aircraft safely. Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland Activation: Straightforward Activation: In the event of an emergency, the pilot or passengers can activate the system with a simple push of a button, which is centrally positioned in the aircraft's cabin ceiling, initiating Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland. Advanced Algorithms: The system is powered by sophisticated onboard sensors and algorithms that adapt to changing conditions and enable navigation through the airspace, calculate runway parameters, and detect real-time weather and terrain. Fully Automated Flight Control: Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland autonomously controls the autopilot and engine to fly the aircraft and execute a safe landing sequence. Air Traffic Control: The system continuously communicates with air traffic control during the flight and automatically switches to different frequencies as the aircraft travels to the most suitable airport. Passenger Experience: Passengers are kept informed with straightforward information on the flight displays, including airport destination, arrival time, and remaining fuel. Next steps are also clearly communicated over headsets. Passengers can press the 'Talk' button on the flight display to speak directly to air traffic control. Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland can be activated both manually and automatically. Anyone in the cabin can activate Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland at the press of a button. If a pilot is alone or those in the cabin are unable to activate it manually, Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland is designed to activate automatically if the system determines that the pilot is flying erratically or is unresponsive. Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland can be disconnected by pressing the autopilot disconnect button at any time the pilot decides. Additional SR Series G7+ Features With the SR Series G7+, Automatic Database Updates powered by Cirrus IQ PRO™ are now available through a subscription in the Cirrus IQ™ app for connected aircraft owners. Automatic Database Updates allow owners to receive automatic avionics database updates via Wi-Fi or LTE to ensure the most current and accurate data for navigation. These updates can occur while the aircraft is powered off and the owner is away from the aircraft. When the aircraft is powered up, essential databases are automatically synchronized across compatible avionics. Runway Occupancy Awareness leverages ADS-B traffic data to predict and alert pilots of potential runway incursions from nearby airborne aircraft or other aircraft on or approaching the runway. Visual and aural alerts are provided on the pilot's primary flight display and 3D SafeTaxi™ map to maximize situational awareness, a safety feature that is especially useful at busy airports. Smart Pitot Heat is enabled by systems integration through Perspective Touch+™ to reduce pilot workload and automate the flying experience. The system performs a self-test before every flight and automatically turns on or off in flight depending on outside air temperatures, making it one less system to manage. Cirrus Safety Innovation Philosophy Cirrus has a long history of revolutionizing aviation safety and remains steadfast in its mission to continuously innovate, remove barriers of entry and invite more people to experience Personal Aviation™ with safety and peace of mind built into every aircraft. From advancing avionics systems to exploring autonomous flight, Cirrus is committed to manufacturing aircraft that not only meet today's needs but also anticipate tomorrow's challenges. By adding the Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland system to the SR Series G7+, Cirrus is helping to ensure that pilots and their passengers can travel with a greater sense of security, knowing that if there is an in-flight emergency, their aircraft has the capability to respond autonomously. To learn more about the SR Series G7+ with Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland, please visit About Cirrus Cirrus is the recognized global leader in Personal Aviation™ and the maker of the best-selling SR Series piston aircraft and the Vision Jet®, the world's first single-engine Personal Jet™, and the recipient of the Robert J. Collier Trophy. Founded in 1984, the company has redefined aviation performance, comfort and safety with innovations like the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®) – the first FAA-certified whole-airframe parachute safety system included as standard equipment on an aircraft. To date, worldwide flight time on Cirrus aircraft is 18 million hours, and 270 people have returned home safely to their families as a result of the inclusion of CAPS as a standard feature on all Cirrus aircraft. The company has seven locations in the United States, including Duluth, Minnesota; Grand Forks, North Dakota; Greater Dallas, Texas; Greater Phoenix, Arizona; Greater Orlando, Florida; Knoxville, Tennessee and Benton Harbor, Michigan. Learn more at
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cirrus Launches All-New Cirrus IQ™ App with IQ PRO™ Premium Subscription
DULUTH, Minn. & KNOXVILLE, Tenn., March 31, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cirrus (Cirrus Aircraft Ltd), the recognized global leader in Personal Aviation™ and the manufacturer of the best-selling SR Series piston aircraft and the Vision Jet®, today announced the release of the new iOS Cirrus IQ™ app for digital aircraft management. The upgraded Cirrus IQ app has a sleek new user interface and a streamlined user experience for faster and smoother app navigation. Owners can simplify their aircraft ownership experience by pairing their connected Cirrus aircraft to the IQ app to check aircraft status such as fuel, fluids, battery health and flight hours through their iPhone or the all-new My Hangar online portal. With the new Cirrus IQ PRO™ premium subscription plan, owners can access even more insight into their aircraft and receive real-time status updates, manage inspections and maintenance, review flight summaries and approach score in BETA, and export flight data. The Cirrus IQ PRO subscription creates a robust service for efficient aircraft management and increased information accessibility by consolidating other apps into one integrated solution. "As part of the Cirrus initiative to distill the complexities of aircraft ownership and management, the introduction of Cirrus IQ PRO empowers aircraft owners with a comprehensive solution that integrates aircraft status, flight summaries, approach score, maintenance tracking and more—all in one place," said Zean Nielsen, Chief Executive Officer of Cirrus. "Cirrus IQ PRO is a powerful new tool that builds upon the company's commitment to enhancing the digital user experience and improving pilot safety, performance and convenience." New Cirrus IQ PRO features for owners: Remote Aircraft Sync & Real-Time Status: Remotely query aircraft to receive real-time notifications and stay informed about aircraft health, maintenance and operations such as fluid levels and inspections. Flight Summary with Passenger Manifest & Flight Purpose: Owners can review flight insights, categorize flight purpose for business or personal use, add passenger information and review any caution or warning messages that occurred in flight. Data Export: Flight details may be exported and shared for business accounting purposes, and aircraft flight data may be exported and used in third-party flight debriefing tools such as FlySto. Approach Score BETA: Currently available in BETA test, the Approach Score is a feature designed to gain clearer insights on stabilized approach criteria for each landing with objective data to ensure continuous pilot improvement and safety. Inspection Manager: Digitally track and manage inspections from one location. All required inspections and life-limited parts for the SR Series and Vision Jet may now be tracked with Cirrus IQ PRO. Tech Publications: Access all historical publications through the Tech Publications feature, including the ability to filter specific categories and receive instant notifications when Service Bulletins or Service Advisories for an aircraft are published. Connected Cirrus aircraft owners can download the Cirrus IQ app today or access it through My Hangar at A free trial of Cirrus IQ PRO is currently available through December 31, 2025, with subscriptions becoming available in January 2026. To learn more about the Cirrus IQ and Cirrus IQ PRO, visit About Cirrus Cirrus is the recognized global leader in personal aviation and the maker of the best-selling SR Series piston aircraft and the Vision Jet®, the world's first single-engine Personal Jet™, and the recipient of the Robert J. Collier Trophy. Founded in 1984, the company has redefined aviation performance, comfort and safety with innovations like the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®) – the first FAA-certified whole-airframe parachute safety system included as standard equipment on an aircraft. To date, worldwide flight time on Cirrus aircraft is 18 million hours, and 270 people have returned home safely to their families as a result of the inclusion of CAPS as a standard feature on all Cirrus aircraft. The company has seven locations in the United States, including Duluth, Minnesota; Grand Forks, North Dakota; Greater Dallas, Texas; Greater Phoenix, Arizona; and Greater Orlando, Florida; Knoxville, Tennessee and Benton Harbor, Michigan. Learn more at View source version on Contacts Media Contact Nadia HaidarPR Manager, CirrusNhaidar@ Sign in to access your portfolio
