Cirrus SR22 G7+ Test Flight: Experiencing the 'Safe Return' Self-Landing System

Introduction to Safe Return

• ✈️ The Cirrus SR22 G7 Plus features a new system called Safe Return, designed to land the aircraft autonomously.
• 💡 This technology, previously seen in commercial jets, is now accessible in a single-engine consumer aircraft, marking a significant advancement.
• 🚀 The system is described as 'next level' with an additional emergency knob to deploy a parachute.

How Safe Return Works

• 🧠 Safe Return can be activated by a passenger if the pilot becomes incapacitated, disoriented, or is flying erratically.
• ⚠️ The system can also automatically detect if the pilot is not interacting with the plane and activate itself.
• ☁️ It's beneficial even for alert pilots who might become disoriented, such as flying into a cloud and losing visual reference.
• 🪂 In case of system malfunction after activating Safe Return, the parachute system can still be deployed.

The Autonomous Landing Process

• 🗺️ Upon activation, the system calculates the route to the nearest appropriate airport, identifying Stewart Airport in this demonstration.
• 📡 In a real emergency, the system would notify air traffic control, providing crucial information like location, estimated time of arrival, and fuel status.
• ⚙️ Safe Return controls all aircraft systems, including ice protection, flaps, fuel pump, mixture, throttle, navigation, and radios, to manage the flight autonomously.
• ⛰️ The system ensures a safe descent by maintaining at least 1,000 ft above any terrain or obstacles, circling if necessary to manage altitude.

Landing Sequence and Final Thoughts

• 🛬 As the plane approaches the runway, the system reduces power and initiates a flare sequence to safely touch down.
• 💨 The landing involves a controlled descent and a slight float to bleed off airspeed before touchdown, followed by auto-braking.
• ✅ The test flight demonstrated a remarkably close-to-centerline landing, showcasing the system's precision.
• 😮 While a gust of wind caused a momentary deviation, the system quickly adjusted, highlighting its real-time calculation capabilities.
• 🛠️ The built-in parachute system is also a reassuring safety feature, with the aircraft being modular and restorable even after deployment.