The Cirrus CAPS System: A Lifesaver in the Skies
Cirrus Aircraft’s groundbreaking Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) continues to prove its life-saving capabilities. As of September 17, 2025, the latest data reveals 139 successful deployments, resulting in 281 survivors. The most recent save took place on September 11, 2025, near Racine, Wisconsin. A Cirrus SR22 experienced engine failure over Lake Michigan, but thanks to CAPS, lives were saved.
The ballistic parachute system, now synonymous with Cirrus aircraft safety, deploys within eight seconds. A solid-fuel rocket is used to extract and deploy the parachute canopy. This system brings all forward velocity to a halt and establishes a controlled descent rate of approximately 20 mph. This allows the entire aircraft to land with relative gentleness.
According to All In Aviation, a Certified Platinum Cirrus Service Center, “The CAPS system has been deployed over 100+ times and saved 250+ lives.” The system requires mandatory maintenance every 10 years. This includes a complete repack and rocket motor replacement, with costs typically ranging between $18,000 and $20,000.
Recent Deployments
- In June 2025, a pilot in Tennessee survived after activating CAPS following an engine oil pressure loss. The aircraft became entangled in a tree canopy, but the pilot walked away with non-life-threatening injuries.
The success of CAPS has contributed to Cirrus aircraft having one of the best safety records in general aviation. The SR22 series has been the world’s best-selling GA airplane every year since 2003.
Source: Cirrus Pilots Safety CAPS Event History