How It Works: BRS Aircraft Parachute

Bethany Whitfield

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

Verified

Key Takeaways:

BRS parachutes are proven to deploy and fully inflate at altitudes as low as 260 feet and speeds up to 187 knots, with pilots reporting successful deployments below 100 feet; however, BRS recommends early deployment, with 2,000 feet being the norm, for the best chance of a safe outcome.
The deployment process, initiated by a single pull, involves a complex sequence where a rocket motor propels the parachute lines, a "slider" ensures full inflation at a safe speed, resulting in an "opening shock" of 3 to 7 Gs, followed by a controlled descent (e.g., 15-28 feet per second for a Cirrus SR22).

See a mistake? Contact us.

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.