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Cirrus Rethinks Approach to Transition Training

Pilots who come to Cirrus' headquarters in Duluth, Minnesota, for transition training spend time in the simulator, honing their reflexes to deal with emergency scenarios that require deployment of the full-airframe parachute. Jim Koepnick
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Following a high fatal accident rate in 2012, Cirrus Aircraft revamped its pilot training with the "Cirrus Approach" program, emphasizing flight technique, emergency procedures, and particularly, the critical use of the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS).
  • The comprehensive training addresses the issue of pilots not deploying CAPS in emergencies by integrating its use into every training flight and dedicated simulator sessions, teaching pilots to pull the chute in hopeless situations.
  • As a result of this rigorous program, which includes online courses, simulator time, and real-world flying in challenging conditions, Cirrus's fatal accident rate has dramatically improved to less than half the industry average.
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Specialized flight training has long been part of the typical transition process for pilots moving up to ever-faster and more capable airplanes. A rash of fatal SR22 crashes in 2012, however, forced Cirrus Aircraft to go back to the drawing board and completely rethink its approach to training.

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