Cirrus has a new ‘Perspective’ on SR22-G3 instrument panel

By Stephen Pope

May 21, 2008
Aircraft, Avionics

Cirrus Design yesterday announced it has partnered with Garmin on a “high-end” cockpit upgrade for the SR22-G3 called Cirrus Perspective. Featuring Garmin’s G1000 synthetic-vision technology, GFC700 autopilot and a control panel designed specially for the Cirrus piston-single, the Perspective cockpit will be available to buyers starting on June 3 at a price of $48,000.

Cirrus chairman and CEO Alan Klapmeier said he expects most SR22 buyers to opt for the Garmin cockpit at first, but noted that the standard Avidyne Entegra avionics systems will continue to be offered. “I anticipate near 100-percent uptake for the Cirrus Perspective cockpit early on,” he said, “but economics will dictate that some will choose the Avidyne system” after the initial deliveries of Perspective-equipped airplanes.

Klapmeier admitted he has never been a big fan of the G1000 avionics system, but he noted “this isn’t G1000, it’s Perspective.” He said Cirrus and Garmin worked together for more than two years to incorporate changes he wanted in the system.
The result of the partnership is a cockpit featuring large, 12-inch displays, dual AHRS and new autopilot logic and features. One of the notable additions is a blue button on the autopilot control panel marked LVL. Pushing this button immediately brings the airplane into a straight and level attitude, allowing a confused pilot to assess his situational awareness, Klapmeier said.

Garmin’s synthetic-vision system (SVS) adds a 3-D view of the world to the displays, along with traffic targets that grow larger as they get closer and highway-in-the-sky navigation cues in the form of “flying rectangles.” Said Klapmeier, “This system doesn’t tell you anything you didn’t know before, it’s just easier to interpret all the information.” SVS, he noted, “is the natural way of looking at the world. Years from now people are going to ask why it wasn’t always this way.”

The Cirrus version of Garmin’s popular avionics system includes a new control panel positioned below the displays near the power lever. It includes heading, altitude-select and course knobs along with autopilot controls and a full keyboard.
The benefit of having dual solid-state AHRS, Klapmeier noted, is that it allows the system to self-align and restart while in flight, preventing any single component failure that would force the pilot to have to revert to hand flying the airplane at a critical time.

Other features of the Cirrus Perspective system include dual integrated radios that provide ILS and WAAS LPV approach capability; 16-watt, 8.33-kHz channel spacing VHF com radios; GTX 32 mode-C transponder; a go-around button on the throttle that automatically disconnects the autopilot and activates the missed approach segment; class-B terrain awareness and warning system; and Garmin’s SafeTaxi, FliteCharts and ChartView software. Cirrus Perspective models also include a new environmental control system, yaw damper, seats and paint schemes.

Klapmeier said SR20 models will continue to be offered only with the Avidyne Entegra system. No decisions have been made about the avionics for Cirrus’ single-engine personal jet, due to make its first flight soon. The prototype has the SmartDeck suite from L-3 Avionics Systems, but Klapmeier said Cirrus is also evaluating the Garmin and Avidyne alternatives. He also said no decision has been made about the avionics for the Cirrus SRS, a light sport airplane based on the Polaris Fk14 built in Germany, although he said low cost and high capability are attributes Cirrus wants for the model.    

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