A Closer Look at BRS

Thursday, January 15, 2015 at 12:53 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Whole airplane recovery systems, such as BRS, are designed to save lives during critical incidents like engine failure, as demonstrated by successful real-world deployments.
The system's deployment is a precise, multi-stage process initiated by a rocket, involving parachute extraction, inflation, and disreefing.
The parachutes require meticulous packing, including compression under extreme pressure, and involve a rocket fuel ignition module for deployment.
BRS systems are available in various forms, including nylon packs and canisters.

See a mistake? Contact us.

See what goes into whole airplane recovery systems and how they are saving lives one pull at a time.

Cirrus flier Dick McLaughlin has no regrets about pulling his chute after suffering an engine loss while flying over Bahamian waters with his daughter in 2012.

The parachute packing process is a very precise science.

**Chutes are compressed down to a small brick through the application of extreme pressure. **

**There are several different BRS Systems; some come in nylon packs while others are canisters, like this one. **

A technician inserts the rocket fuel into the ignition module.

1. Rocket extraction, parachute extraction 2. Line extention, initial canopy inflation, reefed parachute 3. Parachute disreef 4. Snub line release Read more about the benefits of BRS here.

FLYING Magazine is a one-stop resource for everything aviation, including news, training, aircraft, gear, careers, photos, videos, and more.