From: Walt
Date: 11/18/99
Time: 8:56:24 PM
I have to eat some crow. I screamed and yelled about the extra expense of a back up vacuum was overkill. "We don't need a backup vacuum system on an airplane that has as standard a 'rate based' autopilot that uses an electric turn and back for guidance", I yelled. Well folks, I am here to tell you I swallowed the back up vacuum when I bought the plane because it was part of the certification of the SR20. As fate would have it, last night on an IFR flight the vacuum pump failed (165 hours on it!). The idiot light on the panel comes on indicating the failure and the fact that the electric backup is working. For those of you that don't know, the back up vacuum pump is electric and only comes on when there is no suction from the engine driven pump. For example, when you are starting the engine there is no suction coming from the engine and you can plainly (no pun intended) hear the electric vacuum pump prior to engine start. When the engine vacuum pump failed and the electric one kicked in the vacuum indicator gauge held steady in the "green". We completed the flight with the indicator light on with no problem. My hat is off to Cirrus. The design of not having the electric pump on until needed and the fact that it comes on when the "system" senses it is needed is GREAT! I am very impressed. Frankly, the more I look at basic design issues of this plane the more I see the thoughtfulness and planning that Cirrus has incorporated into this plane.
PS - Cirrus indicated that this item will be covered under warranty .. again, they are there. Thanks Cirrus..