Cirrus Aircraft Introduces Five Seating Capacity for All SR-series Aircraft

New 60/40 FlexSeating™ Increases Occupancy to Five Passengers

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Jan 11, 2012, 02:39 ET

DULUTH, Minn., Jan. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cirrus Aircraft today introduced expanded seating capacity in its SR20, SR22 and SR22T aircraft models, available for 2012.

The new 60/40 FlexSeating features a wider back seat, highlighted by a 60/40 fold-down split in the rear seat for five-person maximum aircraft occupancy. The folding versatility of the new seat coupled with a rear cargo net give greater utility and capacity and also make loading the aircraft easier. In addition, 2012 Cirrus models are 10 pounds lighter for more useful load and efficiency.

"We are building a new class of airplane," said Dale Klapmeier, Co-founder and CEO. "Our aircraft was already the largest and most comfortable cabin in its class of four-seat airplanes. Now we have significantly improved our airplanes by making the interior cabin wider, allowing for additional passengers, as well as adding greater comfort when traveling with fewer passengers," said Klapmeier.

The fold-down feature operates like an automobile via an easy access mechanism that eliminates the need for pulling pins to configure seats. The FlexSeating makes three, three-point, over-the-shoulder seatbelts in the rear seat as well as five headphone jacks, and five oxygen ports (when the built-in-oxygen system is installed) integrated seamlessly into the cabin. The new seating also offers a three-position recline feature, increasing the comfort in the rear seats by allowing passengers to recline to their individual desired position.

Cirrus' 60/40 FlexSeating also includes an automobile-style child seat restraint system, called LATCH, which allows passengers to secure child seats with ease. Additionally, the LATCH system meets the same federal regulations of automobile manufacturers. Cirrus is the first to bring this high safety standard to any aircraft.

"The 60/40 FlexSeating gives our customers even more flexibility to accommodate a greater variety of flights," said Todd Simmons, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing."The new seating configuration is beneficial for those customers and owners who use their aircraft for personal and family travel, while those that use it for business travel will appreciate the roomier cabin for increased comfort or greater versatility when it comes to more cargo and loading options."

Deliveries of the newly-equipped aircraft are already underway. For more information please visit www.cirrusaircraft.com.

About Cirrus Aircraft

Cirrus Aircraft is a recognized leader in general aviation. Its all-composite line of personal aircraft — the SR20, SR22 and the turbocharged SR22T — incorporate innovative and advanced performance, electronic and safety technologies, including Cirrus Perspective™ by Garmin^® avionics and the unique Cirrus Airframe Parachute System™ (CAPS). As of mid-2011, total time on the worldwide Cirrus Aircraft SR-series fleet surpassed five million flight hours with 51 lives saved to date as a direct result of CAPS being a standard safety feature on all Cirrus aircraft. The Cirrus Vision SF50 jet, with nearly 500 production positions reserved, will provide a new personal and regional business transportation solution: the personal jet. All Cirrus aircraft are made in the U.S. with a direct sales force in North America and authorized sales centers covering export markets in 60 countries around the world. Cirrus Aircraft is wholly owned by China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co., Ltd (CAIGA). For additional information on Cirrus and its products please visit cirrusaircraft.com.

SOURCE Cirrus Aircraft