…Cirrus Says Bring It On

Of course, no one is more interested in what a “Cirrus Killer” might be than those in Duluth. Cirrus VP of Marketing John Bingham said it’s impossible to comment on what is now a phantom airplane but he’s hoping Cessna goes ahead with the project. “I think it will be good for aviation and good for pilots,” Bingham said. He said any time new products that enhance safety and performance are introduced, the industry as a whole benefits. Despite the moniker being used to describe the new Cessna, Bingham said Cirrus isn’t running for cover. “We’re confident about our position in the marketplace,” he said. Besides, if the aircraft is anything but a remake of an existing model, there’s plenty of time for Cirrus and other competitors to assess the threat. An all-composite high-wing would need a ground-up certification, which would most likely take two or more years. Bingham said that if Cessna goes with composite construction, it will be validation for Cirrus’s decision to go to glass more than a decade ago … let alone a whole-plane parachute system.