Photos: Transition Training at Cirrus Headquarters

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Cirrus Aircraft has taken a drastically new apporoach to transition training. The results speak for themselves. Today Cirrus' fatal accident rate, less than one fatal accident per 100,000 flight hours, is just half the industry average.

Flying magazine Editor-in-Chief Stephen Pope went through the Cirrus Approach training process at the company's headquarters in Duluth, Minnesota.

Cirrus Approach training in Duluth, Minnesota, includes flight time, simulator sessions and practice on this Garmin Perspective avionics procedures trainer. Jim Koepnick

The Cirrus Approach simulator training focuses on use of the SR series' CAPS full-airframe parachute, with scenarios that put the pilot in hopeless situations that require pulling the big red handle in the ceiling. Jim Koepnick

By the end of Cirrus Approach training, pilots know when and how to use the parachute, and are able to make the decision to pull or not in a split second. Jim Koepnick

The focus of Cirrus Approach training is the flying, which is also the most fun. Jim Koepnick

Cirrus Approach is offered to VFR and IFR pilots, with curriculums to match. Our training was in a turbo SR22T. Jim Koepnick

Cirrus Approach training in the SR22T. Jim Koepnick

The Cirrus Approach preflight is thorough. Jim Koepnick

Cirrus SR22T preflight. Jim Koepnick

Cirrus preflight. Jim Koepnick

Checking the fuel for contamination. Jim Koepnick

Many customers undergo Cirrus Approach training and take delivery of their new airplanes at the same time. Jim Koepnick

The Cirrus customer delivery center in Duluth, Minnesota. It will soon move to a warmer climate, Knoxville, Tennessee. Jim Koepnick

Cirrus preflight. Jim Koepnick

Undergoing the Cirrus Approach training in January in Duluth, Minnesota, means braving the elements. All factory training will soon move to Knoxville, Tennessee. Jim Koepnick

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