FIKI Cirrus
- Thread starter MikeOH58
- Start date
wjmiller3
Well-Known Member
Flown one a few times, one of nine of ours is a FIKI. But seeing how I fly out of Houston, dont see much ice. The one time I did get some buildup was mostly on the windshield, so the sprayers worked pretty good.
Fly_Unity
Well-Known Member
I been in them quite a bit and in ice in the Rockies. Works well.
I Also fly a non Turbo ed Cessna 310 with boots and Id take the Turbo Cirrus any day over the 310 in ice for 2 reasons...
1: The 310 has so many unprotected areas that even if the wings are clean, ice will build on the tips, the nose, etc and slow you down big time. In the Cirrus, the ENTIRE aircraft stays clean with very little buildup anywhere.
2: The Cirrus can get out of ice, Its easy to climb 1200 FPM to FL 250 and get out of ice. The 310 once you start building, its tough to outclimb it with out a Turbo.
With the FIKI Cirrus, I would NEVER stay in ice like any other plane. I worry about running out of fluid if going to FBO's that dont carry the Fluid, and worry that severe ice will overwhelm the TKS system and block it entirely, but never been in ice reported more then moderate, and never had an issue. I also worry that people will get in trouble with the FIKI more if they dont have much ice experience and dont plan backup options if they do get into trouble...
I Also fly a non Turbo ed Cessna 310 with boots and Id take the Turbo Cirrus any day over the 310 in ice for 2 reasons...
1: The 310 has so many unprotected areas that even if the wings are clean, ice will build on the tips, the nose, etc and slow you down big time. In the Cirrus, the ENTIRE aircraft stays clean with very little buildup anywhere.
2: The Cirrus can get out of ice, Its easy to climb 1200 FPM to FL 250 and get out of ice. The 310 once you start building, its tough to outclimb it with out a Turbo.
With the FIKI Cirrus, I would NEVER stay in ice like any other plane. I worry about running out of fluid if going to FBO's that dont carry the Fluid, and worry that severe ice will overwhelm the TKS system and block it entirely, but never been in ice reported more then moderate, and never had an issue. I also worry that people will get in trouble with the FIKI more if they dont have much ice experience and dont plan backup options if they do get into trouble...
jhugz
Well-Known Member
My understanding and I'm sure I will be flamed for it but the FIKI Cirrus passed all FAA known icing testing on the medium intensity. They didn't even have to bump it up to the highest during the testing. However I totally agree w/ everything you said about having a plan to get out of icing regardless of the type of aircraft.
jhugz
Well-Known Member
The chute has saved lives in ice. They mad all the wrong decisions beside the last one which saved their lives. But again thanks for that solid contribution to the thread.
jtrain609
Antisocial Monster
So what you're saying is that people flew a non-FIKI aircraft into icing conditions, and they were able to opt out of those conditions by using the chute, thus destroying the aircraft and allowing them to fly into icing conditions again in a non-FIKI aircraft? Their mere survival reinforces bad decision making.
I appreciate the chute in situations where you're in night IMC over unfriendly terrain, or said another way when you're stuck between a rock and a hard place; but this?
Idiots.
I appreciate the chute in situations where you're in night IMC over unfriendly terrain, or said another way when you're stuck between a rock and a hard place; but this?
Idiots.
jhugz
Well-Known Member
No your right, people make a bad mistake and they should without a doubt die for their decision. You have to be kidding me? I'm just going to take a wild guess and say that if they totally an airplane over a decision the decision probably won't happen again.
jtrain609
Antisocial Monster
Hey you know what? I was just thinking, I should start running a ground school aimed at Cirrus drivers!
"Your butt or a hole in the ground; how to tell if you're about to get yourself in over your head."
If you say, think or are about to do any of the following, you may be about to get yourself in over your head:
-Are thinking, "Huh, if it gets hairy, I'll just pull the chute!"
-Are you about to punch through "a thin layer" when you don't have an instrument rating?
-Are you about to fly in marginal VFR?
-Are you scud running?
-Continued VFR flight into IFR conditions?
-Are you about to punch a cloud layer when it's below 40 degree's F at your altitude?
-Are you thinking, "Huh, well if I get ice, I'll just climb above and have the sun melt it off!"
-Are you thinking, "If I pick up ice, I'll just pull the chute!"
If you ever consider any of these things as a 100 hour private pilot rated Cirrus driver, you've got some very, very, very serious problems on your hand.
"Your butt or a hole in the ground; how to tell if you're about to get yourself in over your head."
If you say, think or are about to do any of the following, you may be about to get yourself in over your head:
-Are thinking, "Huh, if it gets hairy, I'll just pull the chute!"
-Are you about to punch through "a thin layer" when you don't have an instrument rating?
-Are you about to fly in marginal VFR?
-Are you scud running?
-Continued VFR flight into IFR conditions?
-Are you about to punch a cloud layer when it's below 40 degree's F at your altitude?
-Are you thinking, "Huh, well if I get ice, I'll just climb above and have the sun melt it off!"
-Are you thinking, "If I pick up ice, I'll just pull the chute!"
If you ever consider any of these things as a 100 hour private pilot rated Cirrus driver, you've got some very, very, very serious problems on your hand.
jhugz
Well-Known Member
Yep...because only Cirrus Drivers do this...
jhugz
Well-Known Member
Do you have any time in a Cirrus or are you just another one of those haters that like to talk about what they don't know? I remember being lectured about this by a certain someone...
jtrain609
Antisocial Monster
I don't have any time in a Cirrus.
No time in a plane with a chute.
But I've got enough time to have developed something called common sense in an airplane.
Cirrus drivers have made a name for themselves with some of the stupid pilot tricks they've pulled.
You don't need to have any time in a Cirrus to read NTSB reports.
jtrain609
Antisocial Monster
You two need some alone time??
No thanks man, mikecweb would be pissed if I made out with any dudes besides him.
wjmiller3
Well-Known Member
I have no dog in this fight but I do fly a Cirrus for our company. And you are making some awfull large generalizations there that include me in them. People drink and drive and kills families in minivans, so do we say anybody that drinks is a baby killer?
jtrain609
Antisocial Monster
Get offended if you'd like, it's not a real big deal to me. If you fly your aircraft safely then that's fantastic, we all should.
But Cirrus drivers have crashed a heck of a lot of airplanes in the last few years, and the great majority of those crashes (as they usually are) have been pilot error.
Until that trend reverses, Cirrus drivers are going to take heat for it. If you're operating safely, fantastic! Keep it up! But there are a lot of Cirrus drivers who are not.
Take it for what it is.
wjmiller3
Well-Known Member
I dont remember being offended, but thanks for caring..