Cirrus Perspective

[Pa28-140]

Just curious how many pilots here who fly Cirrus aircraft with the Garmin Perspective FMS. I have 325+ hours flying the SR22 with Avidyne displays but had never flown one with the Perspective. Yesterday I got to spend four hours flying one in good VFR weather, but boy I was sure on the wrong side of the learning curve! Prior to this I only have about 15 hours flying behind the Garmin G1000 (and that was 18 months ago). Just curious what the experiences have been with others making this transition. The Avidyne is stupid simple but I'm a little concerned about gaining and maintaining proficiency with the Perspective. Your thoughts?

 

[HPNPilot1200]

My recommendation is to download/purchase the Cirrus Perspective simulator from Garmin and spend some time learning the system on the computer. You can also learn a lot at http://www.cirrusperspective.com/ if your flight school or operator has a login/password.

Additionally, a Cirrus Perspective proficient instructor will really help in transitioning to the Garmin avionics. I find the system very intuitive but have a lot of G1000 and Garmin Prodigy experience. Every manufacturer makes their system a little different but most of the functionality exists in both. It's just a matter of finding those differences and learning the Garmin specifics.

 

[poadeleted20]

I've been learning this system over the summer, and it's extremely complex and sophisticated -- not likely you can effectively learn it just with the manual. I had the advantage of some training time on the Perspective simulator (a real hardware-based one, not the one that runs on a PC). Cirrus also has an on-line training system for Perspective, and it's very good. I strongly recommend you contact your Cirrus dealer or flight school to get an access code for it.
http://www.cirrusperspective.com/

 

[Henning]

For me learning a complex system like that works best with someone who knows the system well, usually takes a third of the time as if I have to teach myself everything by trial and manual.

 

[Pa28-140]

Thanks for the comments. Yes, I do have a password and access to the www.cirusperspective.com site. I should probably go through that again. It's been a while. I'd love to use the Garmin simulator, but I believe it only works on a PC. I threw my last PC out the window when my household went 100% Mac. (and I ain't lookin' back!)

If it looks like I will be getting significant time with the Perspective, I definitely will get some training before I plunge into significant IFR. Then again, I'm only one lottery away from buying one.

 

[poadeleted20]

I'd love to use the Garmin simulator, but I believe it only works on a PC.

That's correct.

If it looks like I will be getting significant time with the Perspective, I definitely will get some training before I plunge into significant IFR.

Even VFR, you could get in trouble with that system -- my personal experience is that too much attention is sucked away from eyes-outside if you aren't fairly good with it.

BTW, that hardware-based sim I mentioned is owned/operated by NOVA Aviation, a flight training outfit at MMU upstairs in the Signature building. See http://www.airnav.com/airport/KMMU/NOVA for contact information.

 

[HPNPilot1200]

Thanks for the comments. Yes, I do have a password and access to the www.cirusperspective.com site. I should probably go through that again. It's been a while. I'd love to use the Garmin simulator, but I believe it only works on a PC. I threw my last PC out the window when my household went 100% Mac. (and I ain't lookin' back!)

If it looks like I will be getting significant time with the Perspective, I definitely will get some training before I plunge into significant IFR. Then again, I'm only one lottery away from buying one.

I am also on a mac but use Parallels to host a Windows VM. Not sure if that is an option for you or not but I thought I would mention it.

 

[Pa28-140]

I am also on a mac but use Parallels to host a Windows VM. Not sure if that is an option for you or not but I thought I would mention it.

Thanks again! I may have to go that route, especially if it looks like I might get more time in the SR22 with Perspective. I do know and respect the fact that "if you don't use it.....you lose it".

 

[Dr. O]

I'm beginning to see rumbles about an issue I have long suspected... Statistics are showing that the accident rate for planes equipped with a glass cockpit (in typical GA airplanes, not big iron) has a higher accident statistic than a similar model plane with steam gauges...
Gonna be interesting if the insurance companies start charging extra premiums for a plane with a glass panel...

denny-o

 

[Henning]

I'm beginning to see rumbles about an issue I have long suspected... Statistics are showing that the accident rate for planes equipped with a glass cockpit (in typical GA airplanes, not big iron) has a higher accident statistic than a similar model plane with steam gauges...
Gonna be interesting if the insurance companies start charging extra premiums for a plane with a glass panel...

denny-o

I know some actuaries, they would say "I can't draw a significant conclusion from that". It requires a lot more circumstantial data than that to overcome the safety benefit data that has been generated. You are making a supposition that the glass was contributory to the accident without supplying evidence of it. I fly glass, I'm not seeing it. The situational awareness available with the G-500 and 430W is high value and high speed, it would take a heck of a negative to overcome it. With SVT I'm not sure it's possible.

 

[poadeleted20]

I'm beginning to see rumbles about an issue I have long suspected... Statistics are showing that the accident rate for planes equipped with a glass cockpit (in typical GA airplanes, not big iron) has a higher accident statistic than a similar model plane with steam gauges...
Gonna be interesting if the insurance companies start charging extra premiums for a plane with a glass panel...

I suspect that what they'd do is give you a choice of getting certified training (e.g., CSIP for Cirrus) or paying a significantly higher rate until you get some number of hours (probably at least 25) in type. But I don't think there's been a significantly different accident rate between the steam-gauge and glass panel versions of the same planes (e.g., Cirrus and Diamond, and legacy vs modern C-172/182 and PA-28/32), so it will take some research.