Cirrus anticipated glass cockpits and designed the Cirrus SR20/SR22 family of aircraft around them – years before they existed in practice.
Older aircraft, or those without this anticipation, tend to have a large “slab” of an instrument panel to accomodate all the dedicated equipment needed in those days. This shows up today with oddly placed backup equipment or having to use equipment inconveniently located – out of the pilots convenient reach and vision. It also affects visibility over the instument panel.
Today’s Cirrus Perspective™ (by Garmin) cockpit is the standard by which others are measured but Cirrus cockpits have always offered exceptional capability and value – and followed the same key principles.
Cirrus and Garmin
The centerpiece of the Cirrus cockpit has always been Garmin GPS equipment. Cirrus and Garmin have worked together since the ubiquitous GNS430 (now superceded) was first introduced into the Cirrus SR20 in 1999.
Cirrus Perspective also has Garmin GPS at its heart. And Garmin audio panel and transponder have always completed the CNS (Communication, Navigation and Surveillance) suite.
That’s why it is Cirrus Perspective™ by Garmin.
Key elements of a Cirrus cockpit are:
- Low glareshield for forward visibility.
- Screens at arms length for best visibility.
- Primary (and backup) flight instruments directly in front of you.
- The center of the airplane has a large-screen MFD (multi-function display) for moving map, engine details, checklists, approach plates and other such information.
- Flight planning, autopilot, etc. is below the MFD (your work area) but at eye-level. No looking down – which risks disorientation.
- Your right hand falls naturally to operate throttle and the inevitable knobs, buttons and switches.
- Full-size backup instruments directly below the primary instruments (where applicable).
- Ancilliary items (air conditioning, iPhone plugs, etc.) out of your way. Or offered as remote controls for use by passengers.
