Published by Tom Thinnes on Wed, Jun 26, 2013
The first time I stepped into the cockpit of the Cirrus SR 20, I was a bit intimidated. Where I was accustomed to seeing the familiar six-pack instrument cluster, two flat-paneled screens occupied the space. The area where my radio knobs should have been was now a full keyboard. It felt as though I hopped into the cockpit of a spaceship, not an aircraft. The past decade has been a remarkable time for aviation with the implementation of new aircraft technologies maximizing performance and utility, as well as ease of operation.
When people think of an aircraft cockpit, they envision two things. The first is that of a typical airliner – one that you may have briefly seen while walking in or out of a commercial flight. This version has what seems like thousands of switches, dials, gauges, levers, buttons, knobs, handles, needles, etc. The vision leaves you amazed at the skill required to operate all of that machinery but wondering how pilots know what they are doing. The other vision is usually the instrumentation of an old-style aircraft; with fewer instruments than a car, a stick, and a throttle.
These two cockpits have dominated the aircraft environment since the beginning of aviation, but this has changed with the advent of technologically advanced aircraft. Designers and engineers have started to place greater importance on the efficiency, ergonomics, and safety of each flight, beginning with the aircraft. The Cirrus SR20 is a prime example of the effective implementation of these concepts, and showcases the superb performance generated from these new technologies.
One of the most remarkable features of the Cirrus SR20 is the use of composite materials. Until recently, aircraft structures were made two ways. The first method involved constructing a metal or wood frame, then stretching glue-covered fabric over the body. The second method involved creating an aluminum airframe by bending and twisting metal into the shape of the plane. However, in the past decade, engineers discovered a better method. By combining different materials of various strengths, they are able to make a new substance, called composites, which are much stronger and lighter than conventional materials. These composite materials are advantageous to aircraft designers because they have a high strength to weight ratio, and are much easier to form into aerodynamically efficient shapes. The benefit: aircraft are now lighter, faster, and overall more efficient. The Cirrus SR20, similar to many recreational boats, is comprised primarily of fiberglass, and provides students a training aircraft with outstanding performance.
Another cutting edge technology utilized in the Cirrus SR20 is an advanced avionics suite, the Avidyne Integra Release 9. Instead of the typical analog instrument panel found in most small aircraft, the Cirrus SR20 employs a glass panel, which in simpler terms is a computer monitor which displays all flight information. The gauges have been replaced by two screens, the primary flight display, and the multi-function display. These screens depict things like flight, navigation, systems information, traffic and terrain alerts using the Skywatch Collision Avoidance System, airport information, and flight plans. In addition, the glass panel is also linked to a Flight Management System, similar to the system used by most airlines. This system allows pilots to quickly input information for the flight using a full QWERTY keyboard. Western Michigan University is one of the two collegiate aviation programs in the nation to offer this tool. The combination of these new technologies increases pilot situational awareness and creates a user-friendly environment for the crew.
Personally, I was a bit skeptical of training in the Cirrus SR20 coming into Western Michigan University as a flight student. As most of my friends would agree, I generally am not the biggest fan of new technology. I still have a flip-phone, my car has manual everything, I still use an atlas, and the idea of an aircraft being smarter than me was a bit daunting. However, after several flights, I realized why everyone is raving about these new, advanced aircraft tools. I was quite impressed at how easy the “computer” was to operate, and just how much more confident and aware I was during my training. Also, since the beginning of my training, I have seen the inside of several airliner and corporate cockpits; each time I was surprised at how similar they are to the Avidyne R9 and Cirrus SR20. This dual package of the Cirrus SR20 with the R9 provides students an opportunity to train on equipment that is very similar to the type used by most of the companies they will be working for in the future.
Andrew Marvin
Aviation Flight Science
Western Michigan University
College of Aviation