Cirrus Announces SR Series G7+ Featuring Safe Return™

DULUTH, Minn. — Cirrus Aircraft has announced their “auto-land” function is now coming to some of their propeller airplanes.

The “safe return” button on the plane allows passengers to hit an emergency button if the pilot become incapacitated…
The aircraft will the navigate to a suitable nearby airport and land on its own.
It’s the first time FAA has allowed this technology on single-engine piston powered airplanes. Those airplanes tend to be flown by younger or newer pilots.

“When you’re looking at an aircraft of this class, you’re looking at student pilots, very new pilots, and so you’re introducing this technology that which is essentially with the touch of a button – autonomously guide the vehicle to a safe cruise, approach, landing, and full stop engine shutdown.” said Ivy McIver from Cirrus Aircraft.

Getting this technology into the piston-driven propeller airplanes was more difficult than jet airplanes because computers are doing less of the work in these planes…