Cirrus Reveals FAA-Approved Plane that Can Land on its Own

Photo Credits: Cirrus

Aircraft manufacturer Cirrus recently revealed a new system called Safe Return. When integrated with the aircraft, this system, at the push of a button, will take control of the aircraft and route it to the closest and most available runway. 

Cirrus recently received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to use this system on a single-engine piston aircraft. They have integrated the system with their SR Series G7+. Cirrus first certified Safe Return in its larger and more expensive Vision Jet in August 2020. 

There is little to no change in the plane's take-off and how it operates mid-flight. Safe Return is a feature that is designed to be used in situations where there may be a problem with the pilot. It is a red button that sits overhead, closest to the passengers in the back. 

Ben Kowalski, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Cirrus Aircraft, talked about the concept of the system. "The first thing it does is it makes a decision. There’s an algorithm that decides: ‘Where should we go?’ What it’s doing is it’s making a choice, almost just like a pilot would." 

Should the button be hit by accident, there is about a 10-second-long grace window where the pilot can disconnect it. When the Safe Return system is engaged, ATC personnel will also be alerted that the aircraft is having an emergency, and passengers are also able to communicate with controllers, should they need to.  

This system, while in its infancy, when advanced and developed further, can change the future of aircraft take-off and landing.