CIRRUS WINS TOP SAFETY AWARD
04 Feb 2014
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The prestigious American Joseph T Nall Safety Award for 2013 has been awarded to the SR-series Engineering and Design Team of Cirrus Aircraft, for pioneering a wide array of safety features designed for single-engine aircraft.
The award is presented annually by the International Air & Transportation Safety Bar Association (IATSBA) to honour industry leaders who have made noteworthy contributions to aviation and transportation safety.
Joe Nall was a member of the US NTSB who died as a passenger in an aircraft accident in Venezuela in 1989. Mr Nall, an active pilot, was appointed to the safety board by President Ronald Reagan and was the board member most intimately involved with aviation and particularly interested in safety issues in the use of small planes for business and pleasure.
Prior recipients of the award include Al Haynes, captain of the ill-fated United Flight 232 that crash landed in Sioux City, Iowa. Haynes is generally credited with saving the lives of most of the 300-plus people on board.
Cirrus Aircraft Co-Founder and CEO Dale Klapmeier and members of the Cirrus Aircraft Design Team accepted the award during an awards dinner at the National Flight Academy in Pensacola, Florida. The team members are:
- Dale Klapmeier, Co-Founder & CEO
- Pat Waddick, President & COO
- Paul Brey, Senior Vice President, Product Development
- Mike Stevens, Chief Test Pilot
- Paul Johnston, Chief Engineer
- Travis Klumb, Director of Flight Operations
- Dave Rathbun, Chief Engineer, SF50
- Tim Timmerman, Director SR2X Program
Cirrus Aircraft's SR-Series aircraft have introduced new safety technologies to general aviation (GA) not previously seen in the industry. The company made history in 2002 with the first-recorded rescue of a private pilot with the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS).
"We have the deepest regard for the aviation leaders who have received this award in past years, and Cirrus Aircraft is honoured to join them," said Klapmeier. "However, our work is far from done as we continue to challenge ourselves to make flying safer and more secure for new and seasoned pilots alike."
Cirrus has introduced key safety enhancements to the industry, including the well-recognized CAPS, as well as composite construction, advanced aerodynamics, airframe ice protection and Cirrus Perspective avionics by Garmin - with its hypoxia recognition, bank-angle control and stall protection systems.
Cirrus ApproachThe latest initiative is Cirrus Approach, a multi-year pilot training initiative designed to enhance Cirrus pilot safety and reduce the general aviation (GA) accident rate.
"There is little doubt that Cirrus SR-series aircraft have the most capable technologies available for safe flight," said Travis Klumb, Cirrus' Director of Flight Operations, "But, as pilots and owners, we have to become and remain proficient in order to use them successfully. Cirrus' and COPA's (Cirrus' Owner Group) complementary communication and training strategies will enable the potential of these technologies."
To date, total time on the worldwide Cirrus Aircraft SR-series fleet surpassed five million flight hours with 85 lives saved as a direct result of CAPS being a standard safety feature on all Cirrus aircraft.
LINKS
Cirrus Aircraft
International Air & Transportation Safety Bar Association
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