Editing Cirrus Aircraft (section)

===2000s===
[[File:CirrusSR20Landing.jpg|thumb|right|[[Cirrus SR20]] landing]]
In June 2000, the company received an FAA Production Certificate for its SR20 aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/certificate-cements-cirrus-production-status-66871|title=Certificate cements Cirrus production status|access-date=2013-06-05}}</ref> On 30 November of that year, Cirrus received a type certificate for its next model, the [[Cirrus SR22]], which began deliveries in 2001.<ref name="A00009CH" />

In August 2001, Cirrus sold 58% of the company for $100 million to [[Arcapita|Crescent Capital]], the U.S. arm of the First Islamic Investment Bank of Bahrain (now called Arcapita).<ref>[http://www.businessnorth.com/viewarticle.asp?articleid=651 Business North article ''Soaring aviation ‘cluster’ hits turbulence'' Date: 4/9/2003 by Pamela Rust accessed 20 September 2007]</ref><ref name="Finding the Right Funding - The Klapmeier brothers' Key Move:"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://netcomposites.com/news/2001/august/28/crescent-capital-investment-in-cirrus-industries/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928121458/https://netcomposites.com/news/2001/august/28/crescent-capital-investment-in-cirrus-industries/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=September 28, 2018|title=NetComposites news article ''Crescent Capital Investment in Cirrus Industries''|publisher=NetComposites|access-date=28 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2005_Feb_28/ai_n11831379|title=Article ''Crescent Capital Changes Name to Arcapita Business Wire, Feb 28, 2005'' accessed 20 September 2007|access-date=1 October 2014}}</ref>

In July 2002, the company announced that it would collaborate with the [[University of North Dakota]] Aerospace Foundation to provide a new Cirrus Customer Training program.<ref name="CirrusBackgrounder"/> In February the following year, Cirrus delivered the industry's first-ever all [[glass cockpit]] [[light aircraft]], sparking a major transition in [[general aviation]], whereby over 90% of all new light aircraft by the year 2006 were equipped with glass cockpits.<ref name=NTSB>{{cite web|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SS1001.pdf|title=Introduction of Glass Cockpit Avionics into Light Aircraft|last=National Transportation Safety Board|access-date=7 January 2020}}</ref><ref name="CirrusBackgrounder"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aahs-online.org/centennialofflight.net/user/news_releases/press_cirrus.htm|title=Cirrus Soars at First Flight Celebration|last=Media Fly-By|access-date=2014-11-11|archive-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714235750/http://www.aahs-online.org/centennialofflight.net/user/news_releases/press_cirrus.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Cirrus SR22 front view.jpg|thumb|right|[[Cirrus SR22]] front view]]
In June 2004, Cirrus received type certification for the SR20 from the [[European Aviation Safety Agency]] (EASA).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=6b8b1456-b3fc-4701-9ba1-83089b0b0191|title=SR20 Becomes First Aircraft Certified for Import by EASA|access-date=2013-06-05}}</ref> That same year, Cirrus accomplished record-breaking sales, up 69% over the previous year. The SR22 became the world's best-selling general aviation aircraft.<ref name=GAMA2016>{{cite web| url=https://gama.aero/wp-content/uploads/2016-GAMA-Databook_forWeb.pdf|title=2016 General Aviation Statistical Databook & Industry Outlook|author=General Aviation Manufacturers Association|date=2017|access-date=3 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="CirrusBackgrounder">{{cite web|url=http://www.cirrusdesign.com/static/pricesheets/press/Press%20backgrounder.pdf |title=Cirrus Backgrounder |access-date=2014-11-10 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405171143/http://www.cirrusdesign.com/static/pricesheets/press/Press%20backgrounder.pdf |archive-date=April 5, 2013}}</ref>

Cirrus entered the civilian flight-training fleet market with SR20 deliveries to Sweden's [[Lund University]] in January 2005,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2005/February/4/AOPA-Online-Members-Only-AOPA-ePilot-Flight-Training-Edition-Vol-5-Issue-5|title= SWEDISH UNIVERSITY PURCHASES CIRRUS TRAINERS|access-date=2014-11-04}}</ref> followed by [[Western Michigan University]] in September of that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wmich.edu/wmu/news/2005/09/056.html|title=Aviation college getting top-flight Cirrus aircraft|access-date=2014-11-04}}</ref>

In 2006, the company delivered 721 aircraft (at the time its most in a single year), celebrating the 3,000th SR-series airplane off the production line only seven years after deliveries commenced,<ref name=GAMA2016/><ref name="CirrusBackgrounder"/> something that no other aviation company had accomplished in the last half-century.<ref name=Assembly>{{cite web|url=https://www.assemblymag.com/articles/85800-cirrus-soars-with-composites|title=Cirrus Soars With Composites|date=August 2008|accessdate=2025-02-19|work=Assembly Magazine}}</ref><ref name=P&P/> That summer, Cirrus acquired a 25-percent stake in [[SATSair]], a 2004 start-up [[air taxi]] operator that flew 26 SR22s. SATSair ceased operations on 24 October 2009.<ref name="AvWeb24Oct09">{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/SATSAirShutsDown_201394-1.html|title = SATSAir Shuts Down |access-date = 2009-10-26|last = Niles|first = Russ|date=October 2009}}</ref>

[[File:ParaRudniki 2012 15.jpg|thumb|right|[[Cirrus SRS]] [[light-sport aircraft]] (Fk14 Polaris)]]
On 28 June 2007 the [[Cirrus Vision SF50]] single-engine light jet was unveiled (then known simply as "The-Jet").<ref name="AvWeb19Apr07">{{cite web |url= http://www.avweb.com/news/snf/SunNFun2007_CirrusThe-Jet_JigsawPuzzle_195000-1.html |title= Cirrus 'the-jet' Image Emerges |access-date= 2015-03-27 |last= Niles |first= Russ |date=April 2007}}</ref> At the 2007 [[EAA AirVenture Oshkosh]] airshow, the company unveiled the [[Cirrus SRS]] [[light sport aircraft]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://generalaviationnews.com/2007/08/10/cirrus-unveils-its-light-sport-aircraft110354-am-company-will-cirrus-ize%E2%80%99-fk14-polaris/ |title= Cirrus Unveils its Light Sport Aircraft; Company Will 'Cirrus-ize' FK14 Polaris |access-date= 2015-03-28 |last= Godlewski |first= Meg |date=August 2007}}</ref> A version of the [[B&F Fk14 Polaris]], the type never entered production for Cirrus. In December 2007 Arcapita stated that it was looking to sell its share of the company. Cirrus indicated at the time of the announcement that this was expected as Arcapita was considered a medium-term investor.<ref name="AvWeb31Dec07"/>

The Jet took its first flight on 3 July 2008. In September 2008, the global sale slump in piston-engined aircraft impacted the company and it laid off 100 workers, or 8% of its workforce. This included 79 people at the main plant in [[Duluth, Minnesota]] and 29 employees at the composite construction plant in Grand Forks, North Dakota. After this round of lay-offs Cirrus had 1,230 employees remaining. Company COO Brent Wouters stated that the lay-offs were due to "not selling as many airplanes as we'd hoped to this year."<ref name="AvWeb08Sep08">{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/avflash/1205-full.html|title = AVwebFlash Complete Issue: Volume 14, Number 37a - On the Fly|access-date = 2008-09-08|last = AvWeb staff|date=September 2008}}</ref>

[[File:Cirrus Vision SF50 exterior facing left.jpg|thumb|right|[[Cirrus Vision SF50]] single engine [[very light jet]]]]
Company CEO Alan Klapmeier announced in October 2008 that due to the [[Late-2000s recession|economic situation]] and resulting lack of demand for Cirrus aircraft, the company was moving to a three-day work week. He reported that sales were down 10% over the same period in the previous year. Compared to the industry average in that same period sales were down 16%. Klapmeier also indicated that introduction of the SRS would be delayed until 2009, due to lack of demand in the light-sport aircraft market sector, but that the Cirrus Vision SF50 jet would not be delayed.<ref name="AvWeb26Oct08">{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/CirrusGoesToThreeDayWeek_199056-1.html|title = Cirrus Goes To Three-Day Week|access-date = 2008-10-27|last = Niles|first = Russ|date=October 2008}}</ref><ref name="Tribune21Oct2008">{{cite web|url=http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/76263/ |title=Cirrus CEO: Tax break could mean better sales |access-date=2008-10-27 |last=Duluth News Tribune |date=October 2008 }}{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Cirrus eliminated 208 employee positions in the fall of 2008 and cut aircraft production from 14 to 12 aircraft per week in response to the economic situation. In November 2008, the company announced that it would lay-off about 500 production employees for one month to allow for reductions in excess stock of aircraft produced.<ref name="AOPA30Oct08">{{cite web|url=http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2008/081030industry.html |title=Credit crunch felt by GA manufacturers |access-date=2008-10-31 |last=Marsh |first=Alton K. |date=October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081103063316/http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2008/081030industry.html |archive-date=2008-11-03 }}</ref><ref name="AvWeb25Nov08">{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/CirrusFurloughsProductionWorkersUntilJanuary_199291-1.html|title = Cirrus Furloughs Production Workers Until January |access-date = 2008-11-27|last = Niles|first = Russ|date=November 2008}}</ref> Between December 2008 and January 2009, the company began the process of changing its name from Cirrus Design to Cirrus Aircraft.

Cirrus started recalling its workers on 5 January 2009 after the month-long shutdown. The furloughed workers were called back slowly over the month, to ramp up production to eight aircraft per week, compared to a company capacity of 16 aircraft per week. The company indicated at that time that it would retain the ability to reduce its workforce quickly as the economic situation and sales numbers dictate.<ref name="AvWeb04Jan09">{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/CirrusGoesBackToWorkSuppliersToo_199507-1.html|title = Cirrus Goes Back To Work, Suppliers Too|access-date = 2009-01-05|last = Pew|first = Glenn|date=January 2009}}</ref>

On 9 January 2009, Cirrus announced that it would lay off 50 administrative employees and extend the layoff period for 100 of the 500 employees laid off over Christmas 2008. Company spokesman Bill King stated that the cuts were necessary or else the company would not survive the current economic crisis.<ref name="AvWeb12Jan09">{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/CirrusIntroducesFIKI_AnnouncesLayoffs_199554-1.html|title = Cirrus Introduces FIKI, Announces Layoffs |access-date = 2009-01-12|last = Niles|first = Russ|date=January 2009}}</ref>

In early February 2009, the company's new CEO, Brent Wouters, indicated that the future of the company would likely hinge on the Vision SF50 jet design as production of the piston single-engine SR-series had fallen to 20% of its 2008 rate of 16 aircraft per week. Wouters characterized demand for new aircraft as "awful" and added, "We are increasing our focus on the jet, because that is going to be our future engine for growth in my estimation."<ref name="AvWeb">{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Cirrus_vision_sj50_jobs_jet_199777-1.html|title = Cirrus Shifts Focus Toward Jet Development |access-date = 2009-02-16|last = Pew|first = Glenn|date=February 2009}}</ref>

In April 2009, the company announced that it was suspending the Cirrus SRS light sport aircraft project. It cited economic conditions, that the aircraft required development, an expanded flight-training strategy and that the LSA rules were expected to change over time to allow LSAs with a broader mission profile.<ref name="AvWeb22Apr09">{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/news/snf/CirrusLSAProgramOnHold_200215-1.html|title = Cirrus LSA Program On Hold |access-date = 2009-04-24|last = Grady|first = Mary|date=April 2009}}</ref>

On 29 April 2009, the company announced that it was increasing production from the previous 3-4 aircraft per week back to 6 aircraft per week. The change was accomplished without recalling any laid-off workers. The company stated: "We continue to see very encouraging trends in sales activities and interest from sales prospects domestically and around the world. Clearly, this is an upward move and is indicative of a stronger bias toward growth in aircraft orders. Though we remain in a very challenging environment, our hope is that this new rate is the first step and initial indicator of what will become a more substantial trend into the second half of the year and beyond."<ref name="AvWeb29Apr09">{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/AGlimmerOfGoodNews_CirrusBoostsProduction_200289-1.html|title = A Glimmer Of Good News -- Cirrus Boosts Production |access-date = 2009-04-29|last = Grady|first = Mary|date=April 2009}}</ref>

On 1 June 2009, the company announced it was recalling 50 workers and boosting production to 8 aircraft per week.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/CirrusBoostsProductionWillRehire50Staffers_200485-1.html|title = Cirrus Boosts Production, Will Rehire 50 Staffers |access-date = 2009-06-04|last = Grady|first = Mary|date=June 2009}}</ref><ref name="Cirrus01Jun09">{{cite web|url = http://news-archive.cirrusaircraft.com/post/2009/06/01/CIRRUS-AIRCRAFT-ANNOUNCES-HIGHER-PRODUCTION-FOR-SECOND-TIME-IN-45-DAYS-WITH-NEW-RATE-REQUIRING-INCREASED-STAFFING.aspx|title = Cirrus Aircraft Announces Higher Production Rate For Second Time in 45 Days Requiring Staffing Increase|access-date = 2009-06-04|last = Cirrus Design|date = June 2009|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110708155021/http://news-archive.cirrusaircraft.com/post/2009/06/01/CIRRUS-AIRCRAFT-ANNOUNCES-HIGHER-PRODUCTION-FOR-SECOND-TIME-IN-45-DAYS-WITH-NEW-RATE-REQUIRING-INCREASED-STAFFING.aspx|archive-date = 2011-07-08}}</ref>

The company stated:

{{cquote|In contrast to other reported general aviation industry trends, Cirrus Aircraft has seen consistent growth in new aircraft orders over the past 120 days, with stronger order rates consistently outpacing production output over that timeframe. Equally notable are the sources of the new orders. Domestic and international retail demand, as well as both U.S. and global institutional demand, are each playing a contributory role. Cirrus Certified, its pre-owned aircraft sales division, is seeing similar increased sales activity with used aircraft inventory levels showing increasing signs of stabilization.<ref name="Cirrus01Jun09" /> }}

On 26 June 2009, it was reported by AvWeb that Cirrus co-founder and former CEO Alan Klapmeier intended to buy the Vision SF50 project from Cirrus and its major shareholder Arcapita and produce the aircraft under a new company. The new venture had been receiving financial advice from [[Merrill Lynch]]. Klapmeier indicated that his reason for wanting to take over the project was to speed up development and get the aircraft on the market sooner.<ref name="AvWeb26Jun09">{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/KlapmeierMakesPlayForCirrusJet_200623-1.html|title = Klapmeier Makes Play For Cirrus Jet |access-date = 2009-06-26|last = Niles|first = Russ|date=June 2009}}</ref><ref name="AvWeb03Jul09">{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/podcast/podcast/AudioPodcast_AlanKlapmeier_CirrusVisionSF50Jet_200668-1.html|title = Klapmeier Lays Out Jet Plans |access-date = 2009-07-07|last = Niles|first = Russ|date=July 2009}}</ref> Cirrus CEO Brent Wouters indicated that while the company intended to proceed with the SF50 program itself, he would listen to Klapmeier's proposal.<ref name="AvWeb277un09">{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/podcast/podcast/AudioPodcast_BrentWouters_CirrusVisionJet_200619-1.html?kw=AVwebAudio|title = The Future Of Cirrus's Jet |access-date = 2009-06-27|last = Niles|first = Russ|date=June 2009}}</ref> On Monday 27 July 2009 Wouters and Cirrus co-founder Dale Klapmeier stated at a press conference that they would find a way to produce the SF50, either at Cirrus or through selling it to Alan Klapmeier. They both said that the key factor was raising enough capital to proceed with the project, complete certification and commence production.<ref name="AvWeb26Jul09">{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/news/airventure/EAAAirVenture2009_CirrusVisionJet_200813-1.html|title = Cirrus On The Vision Jet: "We Will Get It Done" |access-date = 2009-07-28|last = Grady|first = Mary|date=July 2009}}</ref> On Friday 31 July 2009 Alan Klapmeier announced that his offer to buy the SF50 program had not succeeded, with the key issue having been the program selling price, as well as other points and that the negotiations were at an end. Wouters responded saying further talks were possible, but that Cirrus would continue to develop the SF50 in house.<ref name="AvWeb31Jul09A">{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/news/airventure/EAAAirVenture2009_AlanKlapmeier_CirrusSF50VisionJet_200890-1.html|title = Klapmeier Jet Deal Collapses |access-date = 2009-07-31|last = Niles|first = Russ|date=July 2009}}</ref><ref name="AvWeb31Jul09B">{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/news/airventure/EAAAirVenture2009_CirrusVisionJet_200892-1.html|title = Cirrus Says More Jet Talks Possible |access-date = 2009-07-31|last = Niles|first = Russ|date=July 2009}}</ref>

In late August 2009, Cirrus announced that it was laying off 85 employees, mostly office workers. Todd Simmons, vice president of marketing, stated: "These are challenging days for Cirrus, but the decision made is in the best interest in the entire company. Our outlook is still positive. We are making forward progress within the industry."<ref name="AvWeb27Aug09">{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/MoreLayoffsAtCirrusHawkerBeech_201064-1.html|title = More Cuts At Cirrus, Hawker Beech, Maybe Cessna |access-date = 2009-08-27|last = Niles|first = Russ|date=August 2009}}</ref>

In November 2009, the company laid off an additional 58 workers, or 10% of the remaining payroll. The company indicated that it had failed to achieve some "institutional sales of aircraft" and that meant the lay-offs were expected, emphasizing that it does not indicate deeper problems with the company. As of 11 November 2009, the company had about 550 production workers employed.<ref name="AvWeb11Nov09">{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/CirrusCutsStaff_CompanyStrong_201517-1.html|title = Cirrus Cuts Staff, But Company Strong, Says CEO |access-date = 2009-11-12|last = Niles|first = Russ|date=November 2009}}</ref>