Cirrus SR22 Safety · Van Nuys Airport

Is The Cirrus Safe? The CAPS Parachute, ExplainedDrawn On Our Own SR22 At Van Nuys

  • A parachute for the whole airplane. Standard on every Cirrus SR22, including ours.
  • Under 2 seconds from handle pull to fully stretched lines.
  • About 20 mph descent under a 55 to 65 ft canopy.
  • 13× more likely to survive a Cirrus accident when it’s used.
Sources: Cirrus CAPS Guide · COPA
Fly In It: Fear Of Flying ProgramSee The Sequence
Our Cirrus SR22 Turbo N422SN in profile on the ramp at Van NuysCutaway of our Cirrus N422SN showing where the parachute system sits: red handle in the cabin ceiling, parachute container and rocket behind the baggage compartment, forward and rear harness straps, and the energy-absorbing seats and landing gear.
Figure 1 · Our Airplane, N422SN

Where The Parachute System Lives

  1. 1
    Red Handle

    In the cabin ceiling between the front seats. Firing it takes a deliberate pull of about 45 lb through 2 inches of travel.3

  2. 2
    Parachute Container

    Packed behind the baggage compartment, under a cover on top of the fuselage.3

  3. 3
    Rocket

    Fires up and aft, knocks the cover off and pulls the packed parachute out of the airplane.3

  4. 4
    Forward Harness

    Straps run forward from the container and pull out from under the fuselage skin as the canopy fills.3

  5. 5
    Rear Harness

    Held short at first to limit pitch-up, then lets out so the airplane settles into its touchdown attitude.3

  6. 6
    Built To Absorb Touchdown

    26G seats, composite landing gear, an airframe designed to absorb impact loads and a composite roll cage.3

Source for all six: Cirrus CAPS Guide (NTSB public docket)

How It Works

The Cirrus Airframe Parachute System

  • Every Cirrus SR22, including ours, carries the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS): a parachute big enough to lower the entire airplane and everyone in it.3
  • It’s built in at the factory as a last resort. The red handle sits in the ceiling right above the front seats.1
Sources: Cirrus CAPS Guide · AOPA
Figure 2 · The First Seconds

What Happens After The Handle Is Pulled

Swipe to see each step →

Deployment sequence drawn on our Cirrus profile: handle pulled, rocket pulls the parachute out and the lines stretch in under two seconds, the slider holds the canopy part-open while the nose pitches up, by about eight seconds forward speed is near zero with the nose low, then the airplane descends in its touchdown attitude at under 1,700 feet per minute.

Sources: timings from the Cirrus CAPS Guide3 and COPA flight-test data2. Canopy drawn smaller than life here so each step fits; Figure 3 shows true scale.

Figure 3 · True Scale

A Canopy Twice The Length Of The Airplane

True scale: the parachute is 55 to 65 feet across, about twice the length of the airplane. Under it the airplane descends at under 1,700 feet per minute and touches down with about the force of a 13-foot drop.

Sources: canopy diameter, descent rate and the 13-foot touchdown comparison from the Cirrus CAPS Guide3. Drawn to scale against the SR22’s 26-ft length from Plane & Pilot7.

Figure 4 · Height Matters

How Much Room The System Needs

Altitude ladder: a flight-test deployment used about 400 feet from level flight and 920 feet from a spin. COPA reports no deaths in deployments above 1,000 feet within speed limits. Cirrus recommends pulling at or above 2,000 feet.

Sources: flight-test heights from the Cirrus CAPS Guide3; the 1,000 ft record from COPA2; the 2,000 ft recommendation from AOPA1.

13×
More likely to survive

a Cirrus accident when the parachute is used2

Source: COPA
0
Deaths above 1,000 ft

in deployments made within speed limits2

Source: COPA
−62%
Fatal accident rate

Cirrus fleet, 2012 to 20184

Source: AvWeb
≈13 ft
Touchdown feels like

a drop of about 13 feet under the canopy3

Source: Cirrus CAPS Guide
269
People saved worldwide

in 132 deployments, through Dec 31, 20241

Source: AOPA
< 2 sec
Pull to full lines

from handle pull to fully stretched lines3

Source: Cirrus CAPS Guide
Figure 5 · Fleet Record

Fatal Accident Rate Fell 62% As Pilots Trained To Pull

Cirrus fleet fatal accident rate fell from 1.6 per 100,000 flight hours in 2012 to 0.6 in 2018, a 62 percent drop, below the U.S. general aviation average of 0.98.

Source: rates as reported by AvWeb from COPA and NTSB data4. COPA notes that comparing one airplane type with another is only approximate6.

Also Built Into Every SR22

  • 26G energy-absorbing seats
  • Composite landing gear
  • An airframe designed to absorb impact loads
  • A composite roll cage
Source: Cirrus CAPS Guide
The Malibu coastline at sunset from the air

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FAQ

Cirrus Parachute Questions

Is The Cirrus SR22 Safe?

Every Cirrus SR22 carries a parachute for the whole airplane, plus 26G seats, composite landing gear and a composite roll cage. Across the worldwide fleet, the Cirrus Owners & Pilots Association reports you are 13 times more likely to survive a Cirrus accident when the parachute is used.2,3

Sources: COPA · Cirrus CAPS Guide

How Does The Cirrus Parachute Work?

A red handle in the cabin ceiling fires a small rocket that pulls the parachute out of its container behind the baggage compartment. The lines are fully stretched in under two seconds, a slider keeps the canopy part-open while speed bleeds off, and the airplane then descends at under 1,700 feet per minute.3

Source: Cirrus CAPS Guide

How Many Lives Has CAPS Saved?

AOPA reports that CAPS has been credited with saving 269 people in 132 deployments worldwide, as of December 31, 2024. That is a total for the whole Cirrus fleet, not a figure from any one school.1

Source: AOPA

What Does Landing Under The Parachute Feel Like?

Cirrus says touchdown under the canopy is about like dropping from 13 feet. The seats, landing gear and airframe are built to absorb it.3

Source: Cirrus CAPS Guide

How High Does The Airplane Need To Be?

In Cirrus flight tests a deployment used about 400 feet from level flight and 920 feet from a spin. COPA reports no deaths in deployments above 1,000 feet within speed limits, and Cirrus recommends pulling at or above 2,000 feet.3,2,1

Sources: Cirrus CAPS Guide · COPA · AOPA

Can I Fly In The Cirrus At Van Nuys?

Yes. Our Fear Of Flying Program puts you in the front seat of our Cirrus SR22 Turbo for 60 minutes after 20 minutes in a full-motion simulator. It is $899 for 90 minutes, and one guest comes along free.

Keep Reading

More On The Cirrus And Fear Of Flying

$899 · 90 minThe Fear Of Flying ProgramThe aircraftThe Cirrus SR22 Turbo At Van NuysFrom $189The Fear Of Flying Simulator SessionThe full guideFear Of Flying: What It Is And What Helps
Sources

Where Every Safety Number Comes From

  1. 1
    AOPA, “What Am I? CAPS,” Flight Training, August 2025

    269 people saved in 132 deployments as of Dec 31, 2024; red lever overhead between pilot and passenger; Cirrus recommends pulling at or above 2,000 ft.

  2. 2
    Cirrus Owners & Pilots Association, “About CAPS”

    13× more likely to survive when CAPS is used; no deaths in deployments above 1,000 ft and below 200 KIAS; forward speed to zero in about 8 seconds; ~1,700 ft/min descent.

  3. 3
    Cirrus Aircraft, “Guide To The Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS)” (NTSB public docket)

    Handle location and 45 lb pull; container behind the baggage compartment; rocket, harness and slider sequence; under 2 seconds to full lines; 55–65 ft canopy; 13-ft drop equivalent; 400 ft and 920 ft test heights; 26G seats, composite gear, roll cage.

  4. 4
    AvWeb, “Cirrus At 25: A Safer Airplane?” (updated May 2025)

    Cirrus fleet fatal accident rate 1.6 per 100,000 hours in 2012 and 0.6 in 2018; NTSB general aviation average 0.98.

  5. 5
    FLYING, “Cirrus Again Tops GA Aircraft Deliveries In 2025,” March 2026

    11,000th SR-series airplane delivered in 2025; best-selling high-performance single-engine piston airplane for 24 consecutive years.

  6. 6
    Cirrus Owners & Pilots Association, “Cirrus Accident Statistics”

    About 2.7 million fleet flight hours over 36 months; COPA cautions that comparisons between airplane types are approximate.

  7. 7
    Plane & Pilot, “Cirrus SR22-G3” specifications

    Overall length 26 ft, wingspan 38 ft 4 in, used to draw Figure 3 to scale.

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Over 100 Reviews. 5.0 Stars.

Every review below is real and shown verbatim, in the reviewer’s own words — written by the people who learned to fly here, not by us.

5.0Google100+ Reviews 355Flyable DaysA Year At Van Nuys 9–9Open Daily9 AM To 9 PM, 7 Days
The Downtown Los Angeles skyline under an overcast sky, seen from a small airplane on a flight with LA Flight School, from the Google review by Marc Bolanos SAFETY FIRST
Marc BolanosJAN 2026 Google
★★★★★
Very safety and detail oriented. Pre-flight briefing explained everything there was. To my knowledge, this flight school is exceptional in their ability.
The view from the pilot seat of a small training airplane, with the instrument panel beside the window and Los Angeles below, from the Google review by Diego Gutierrez DISCOVERY FLIGHT
Diego GutierrezOCT 2024 Google
★★★★★
I recently had the chance to take my first-ever discovery flight, and it was nothing short of amazing! From the moment I stepped into the cockpit, the...
The sun setting over the hills past the wing of a small airplane on a sunset flight from Van Nuys, from the Google review by Ethan Pilon SUNSET CIRRUS
Ethan PilonOCT 2024 Google
★★★★★
It was a great flight! I did a sunset flight and Alex let us fly an awesome. Website was easy to book, and the plane itself was really fun to fly...
A yellow and white Piper training airplane, registration N6312C, parked on the ramp at Van Nuys Airport under a clear blue sky, from the Google review by Mia Bompat FLYING LESSON
Mia BompatJUN 2026 Google
★★★★★
We had a great flying lesson with Ralph and came away with a much better understanding of both the aircraft and the principles of flight. Ralph is a...
Sunset over the Santa Monica Mountains and the Malibu coastline, seen from a small airplane above Santa Monica Bay, from the Google review by Sanaz Diba KIDS LUXURY FLIGHT
Sanaz DibaAUG 2024 Google
★★★★★
I got 2 luxury discovery flights for my kids. I wanted them to have the experience of flying. Our instructor Alex was amazing he made sure they feel...
Pink and orange sunset clouds over the ridgelines of the Santa Monica Mountains, photographed from a small airplane, from the Google review by Rakkad Alhouqani HONEYMOON SURPRISE
Rakkad AlhouqaniJUL 2024 Google
★★★★★
Last minute booking to surprise my wife on our honeymoon. She had no experience with flying and was scared of flying, but Alex was very easygoing and knew...
A row of yellow and white LA Flight School training airplanes parked on the ramp at Van Nuys Airport at dusk, from the Google review by Niyousha Aslejafari FULL-MOTION SIM
Niyousha AslejafariNOV 2025 Google
★★★★★
Amazing flight school in van nuys airport. I have been a student here for the past few months and i could not be happier. I started doing a lot of...
A student and an instructor in headsets in the front seats of a small airplane, flying toward the sunset over the Pacific, from the Google review by Bruce Guido DISCOVERY FOR TWO
Bruce GuidoNOV 2024 Google
★★★★★
I booked a Discovery Flight for Two for my girlfriend's birthday and it was the perfect gift for her. She couldn't have been more excited to get to...
A smiling LA Flight School student standing in front of a white training airplane outside the hangar at Van Nuys Airport, from the Google review by George Attallah SIMULATORS
George AttallahAPR 2024 Google
★★★★★
Very professional and great airplanes. I love the flight simulators. The pricing is very fair compared to any other flight school
A student pilot in a headset sitting in a Cirrus with the door raised, parked outside a hangar at Van Nuys Airport, from the Google review by Tania Anders TEEN FIRST LESSON
Tania AndersJUN 2025 Google
★★★★★
We gifted our teenage son his first flying lesson. He was so excited! Alex greeted us and gave a reassuring brief that made us all feel comfortable and at...
A white Cirrus being moved out of its hangar at Van Nuys Airport before a flight, from the Google review by Meghan Klien FIRST-TIME FLYER
Meghan KlienOCT 2024 Google
★★★★★
Flying is my husband's hobby and I was incredibly anxious and apprehensive about the discovery flight. However, I felt completely safe and at ease once we...
The Downtown Los Angeles skyline under an overcast sky, seen from a small airplane on a flight with LA Flight School, from the Google review by Marc Bolanos SAFETY FIRST
Marc BolanosJAN 2026 Google
★★★★★
Very safety and detail oriented. Pre-flight briefing explained everything there was. To my knowledge, this flight school is exceptional in their ability.
The view from the pilot seat of a small training airplane, with the instrument panel beside the window and Los Angeles below, from the Google review by Diego Gutierrez DISCOVERY FLIGHT
Diego GutierrezOCT 2024 Google
★★★★★
I recently had the chance to take my first-ever discovery flight, and it was nothing short of amazing! From the moment I stepped into the cockpit, the...
The sun setting over the hills past the wing of a small airplane on a sunset flight from Van Nuys, from the Google review by Ethan Pilon SUNSET CIRRUS
Ethan PilonOCT 2024 Google
★★★★★
It was a great flight! I did a sunset flight and Alex let us fly an awesome. Website was easy to book, and the plane itself was really fun to fly...
A yellow and white Piper training airplane, registration N6312C, parked on the ramp at Van Nuys Airport under a clear blue sky, from the Google review by Mia Bompat FLYING LESSON
Mia BompatJUN 2026 Google
★★★★★
We had a great flying lesson with Ralph and came away with a much better understanding of both the aircraft and the principles of flight. Ralph is a...
Sunset over the Santa Monica Mountains and the Malibu coastline, seen from a small airplane above Santa Monica Bay, from the Google review by Sanaz Diba KIDS LUXURY FLIGHT
Sanaz DibaAUG 2024 Google
★★★★★
I got 2 luxury discovery flights for my kids. I wanted them to have the experience of flying. Our instructor Alex was amazing he made sure they feel...
Pink and orange sunset clouds over the ridgelines of the Santa Monica Mountains, photographed from a small airplane, from the Google review by Rakkad Alhouqani HONEYMOON SURPRISE
Rakkad AlhouqaniJUL 2024 Google
★★★★★
Last minute booking to surprise my wife on our honeymoon. She had no experience with flying and was scared of flying, but Alex was very easygoing and knew...
A row of yellow and white LA Flight School training airplanes parked on the ramp at Van Nuys Airport at dusk, from the Google review by Niyousha Aslejafari FULL-MOTION SIM
Niyousha AslejafariNOV 2025 Google
★★★★★
Amazing flight school in van nuys airport. I have been a student here for the past few months and i could not be happier. I started doing a lot of...
A student and an instructor in headsets in the front seats of a small airplane, flying toward the sunset over the Pacific, from the Google review by Bruce Guido DISCOVERY FOR TWO
Bruce GuidoNOV 2024 Google
★★★★★
I booked a Discovery Flight for Two for my girlfriend's birthday and it was the perfect gift for her. She couldn't have been more excited to get to...
A smiling LA Flight School student standing in front of a white training airplane outside the hangar at Van Nuys Airport, from the Google review by George Attallah SIMULATORS
George AttallahAPR 2024 Google
★★★★★
Very professional and great airplanes. I love the flight simulators. The pricing is very fair compared to any other flight school
A student pilot in a headset sitting in a Cirrus with the door raised, parked outside a hangar at Van Nuys Airport, from the Google review by Tania Anders TEEN FIRST LESSON
Tania AndersJUN 2025 Google
★★★★★
We gifted our teenage son his first flying lesson. He was so excited! Alex greeted us and gave a reassuring brief that made us all feel comfortable and at...
A white Cirrus being moved out of its hangar at Van Nuys Airport before a flight, from the Google review by Meghan Klien FIRST-TIME FLYER
Meghan KlienOCT 2024 Google
★★★★★
Flying is my husband's hobby and I was incredibly anxious and apprehensive about the discovery flight. However, I felt completely safe and at ease once we...
See Discovery Flight Details — $229

Reviews shown verbatim, exactly as each reviewer published them.

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