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Cirrus Vision Jet certified with Garmin Autoland

Cirrus becomes third GA manufacturer to incorporate emergency system

The Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet became the third general aviation aircraft model to be certified with a Garmin International Inc. automatic landing system that allows the jet to land itself safely in the event of pilot incapacitation.

The Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet became the third general aviation aircraft model to be certified with a Garmin International Inc. automatic landing system. Photo by Chris Rose.

FAA certification of the Safe Return autoland technology was announced shortly after the Minnesota- and Tennessee-based airplane manufacturer delivered the 200th whole-airplane parachute-equipped V-tail jet.

In a news release, Cirrus said the autoland activation button is “purposefully located on the ceiling” for easy access by a passenger if a pilot becomes incapacitated. It can be enabled shortly after takeoff and can transform the single-engine jet “into an autonomous vehicle” that communicates with air traffic control, displays status updates to passengers, and navigates to the nearest suitable airport for a landing.

Cirrus Aircraft Chief Executive Officer Zean Nielsen said the Safe Return system makes “personal aviation more accessible” while “taking the next step towards autonomous flight.”

The Cirrus certification followed shortly behind a similar setup installed in the Daher TBM 940 single-engine pressurized turboprop, which in July became the second aircraft equipped with Garmin Autoland. Daher Aircraft Division Senior Vice President Nicolas Chabbert called the HomeSafe automatic landing system “a game-changing step that expands flight safety.”

In May, Piper Aircraft’s M600/SLS became the first GA airplane ever certified with an automatic landing system, which the company calls HALO. AOPA Editor in Chief Tom Haines was impressed with the Garmin Autonomi technology when he flew a Piper M600 single-engine pressurized turboprop outfitted with the lifesaving technology and witnessed a hands-off landing demonstration.

When activated, the system steers an airplane to the nearest suitable airport while squawking 7700 on the transponder, briefs passengers through multifunction displays, makes radio calls, times the flare based on available weather and runway data, brings the aircraft to a stop, and shuts down the engine—all without human intervention.

Garmin previously noted that versions of the automatic landing safety system technology are in development for other GA aircraft models.

David Tulis
David Tulis
Senior Photographer
Senior Photographer David Tulis joined AOPA in 2015 and is a private pilot with single-engine land and sea ratings and a tailwheel endorsement. He is also a certificated remote pilot and co-host of the award-wining AOPA Hangar Talk podcast. David enjoys vintage aircraft and photography.
Topics: Technology, Jet, Aircraft Systems

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