In November 2006, Alan Klapmeier, CEO of Cirrus Design, sent an almost-unprecedented letter to all owners of Cirrus SR20 and SR22 aircraft. The letter came on the heels of a string of fatal accidents in Cirrus aircraft in adverse weather conditions. In his letter, Klapmeier reminded owners, “Cirrus offers several tools to help reduce 288
Cirrus Training
In November 2006, Alan Klapmeier, CEO of Cirrus Design, sent an almost-unprecedented letter to all owners of Cirrus SR20 and SR22 aircraft. The letter came on the heels of a string of fatal accidents in Cirrus aircraft in adverse weather conditions.
Key Takeaways:
- By 2006, Cirrus aircraft had a significantly higher rate of severe and fatal accidents, particularly in adverse weather conditions and involving pilots with low time-in-type, compared to similar-mission aircraft.
- This trend was largely attributed to a "new breed of pilot" attracted by marketing emphasizing comfort, capability, and the ballistic parachute, often leading to overestimating their skills and the aircraft's all-weather suitability.
- In response, Cirrus Design and the Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) developed extensive training programs (CSIP, CPPP, Critical Decision Making) focused on systems management, proficiency, and critical judgment to enhance pilot safety.
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