How It Works: BRS Aircraft Parachute

Bethany Whitfield

Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at 11:16 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

BRS parachutes are effective at low altitudes (down to 260 feet, some below 100 feet) and high speeds (up to 187 knots), with BRS encouraging early deployment (2,000 feet) for optimal safety.
Pilots activate the system with a single pull, triggering a complex chain of events including an igniting device and a rocket motor that rapidly propels the parachute's suspension lines.
After deployment, a "slider" manages inflation, leading to an "opening shock" (3-7 Gs), followed by a controlled descent (e.g., 15-28 feet per second for an SR22) with the aircraft settling beneath the chute.

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According to BRS, tests have shown that its parachutes can be pulled and still fully inflate at altitudes as low as 260 feet and speeds as high as 187 knots. Individual pilots have testified that they successfully deployed their chutes below 100 feet. BRS does not provide a specific minimum-altitude limitation (Cirrus recommends a minimum deployment height of 580 feet in the latest-generation SR22), but that doesn’t mean pilots should wait to pull the handle. For your best chance at a safe, injury-free landing, BRS encourages pilots experiencing midair emergencies to pull the chute sooner rather than later, with a 2,000-foot deployment height being the norm.