Review: Cirrus Perspective Introduces The Little Blue Button--Situational Omniscience

Cirrus Design has introduced their new Cirrus Perspective avionics suite by Garmin, and they've gone and revolutionized the industry in one fell swoop... again.

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Forget the 12 inch primary and multi-function displays that have 35 percent more real estate than the 10 inch screens they replace. Forget the real-time moving terrain functionality or the highway in the sky (HITS) which allows the pilot to simply fly through purple rectangles to maintain course. Forget all of that and focus on one thing: The "Blue Button."

It's little... It's unassuming... It's the size of your pinky tip. But it's revolutionary. Three letters say it all: LVL--Level. I don't care if you've never flown before or if you have 40,000 hours in your logbook, the level button is something that's going to make you take note. Cirrus Design just gave pilots of its SR22 series one more thing to grab out of the bag when the chips are down. If you're flying along and get disoriented for whatever reason, all you have to do is press that little blue button, set the throttle to a moderate range and the world will right itself. It's that simple. Unusual attitude? LVL. Can't make sense of the panel in IMC? LVL. Workload too much for you? LVL. Wow! And if that doesn't work? Pull the parachute handle and the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) will bring you and the airplane to a safe landing. No other airplane gives either of those options.

After seeing the Cirrus Perspective first hand this week, I have to say that it doesn't just provide situational awareness. Websters defines awareness as having or showing realization, perception or knowledge. Websters defines omniscience as possessed of universal or complete knowledge. The Perspective truly gives a universal knowledge of the aircraft. From your position to the condition of the engine, you have everything right there at your fingertips. And when Murphy comes knocking, there's a blue button and a parachute.

I got a great walkthrough of the system with Ian Bentley, vice president of customer relations at Cirrus Design. Look for the video in a bit. In the meantime, see what Patty Wagstaff has to say about it here: