2009 Cirrus SR22
(continued) 
The goals of the EVS in the SR22 are very modest. Unlike the conformal displays on a head-up display system, the EVS on the SR22 is a so-called head-down system and is displayed on the MFD. It's intended not for flying reference but simply for advisory purposes. EVS is not shown on the PFD. And unlike HUDs, the EVS in the SR22 isn't meant to give pilots any credit towards lower minimums. It's just a tool to help you see a little more outside the window under certain conditions.
In this case, the best use for the EVS is arguably to see better at night or in low light situations, when you can see a great deal more through the sensor than with the naked eye. The display is shown on the aux page on the Garmin MFD in either windowed or full screen mode. Like everybody else, I like the full screen view, though I wish it were easier to pull it up.
It was a fairly bright cloudy day when I flew with the EVS, and its benefit to us on that day was minimal. On our ILS approach to San Antonio we broke out at around 600 feet agl, and the visibility below the overcast was several miles, so there was little more to see there. We were able to see the landing environment a few seconds earlier on the EVS than with our eyes, but I don't think it would have made a difference between being able to land or not. Plus, you have to factor in the inadvisability of adjusting your scan to take in the MFD while in the middle of flying a low approach.
Still, the image quality was good, a little grainy with the mist we were flying in, but it had much better contrast than I'd expected. And combining the infrared and the visible spectrum was remarkably effective, mostly because the runway lights showed up bright and clear. That would be a huge benefit on a visual approach at night, especially on dark nights and into black holes.
Potential buyers who want an extra edge in their instrument flying and especially those who fly a lot at night would be smart to look into EVS. The system is a $14,900 option.
New Styling Options and More
When it comes to putting new technology in the cockpit, Cirrus is clearly an industry leader, and its customers love the gadgets. But Cirrus knows that its owners care about style, too, and it has consistently given them interiors that draw attention to the quality and ramp appeal of the ride.
The latest, which Cirrus calls the X-Edition, is striking. Check out the pictures to see for yourself. The seats are done in Alcanterra leather with available contrasting stitching; there are carbon fiber accents throughout, both on the interior and exterior; and you can get suede headliners and other panels, too. These new interior and exterior trim options add $14,850 to the price tag, and a distinctive two-tone paint scheme adds another $5,900. If history is any indication, these options will be popular with many Cirrus buyers, who historically check off every box before bringing their new airplane home.
New Maintenance Plan
For decades, owners of business aircraft have been able to predict their maintenance costs precisely because of the existence of engine and overall maintenance plans for them, such as Rolls Royce's popular Power by the Hour plan. Now Cirrus has such a plan, which it calls CMX, and just like the 'chute, it's good for the whole airplane.
For a sign-up fee of $2,900 for the SR20 and $3,900 for the SR22, owners of 2009 Cirrus airplanes can enroll in the program and pay between $31 and $37 per hour in 100-hour increments, depending on the model, for maintenance. The customer supplies the fluids; everything else is Cirrus' responsibility. The plans are a no-brainer for business aircraft operators because they allow you to precisely predict the costs of ownership. Do the plans sometimes wind up costing more than the maintenance would have? You bet. But the big advantage is that they protect you from catastrophically high repair bills.
A few years ago, after Cirrus introduced the GTS, I wondered what it would do for an encore. How could it possibly tweak its already highly evolved four-seat piston single any more? The answers, I now know, were turbocharging, air conditioning, known ice, synthetic vision, enhanced vision, an incredible new avionics suite with dual channel digital autopilot, new interior choices, new training and service packages, and more.
For more information about the 2009 Cirrus SR20 and SR22, including pricing, options and other details, visit cirrusdesign.com.
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