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 surprisingly low altitudes (tested at 260 feet and 187 knots, with pilot reports below 100 feet), but BRS strongly advises deploying sooner rather than later, with 2,000 feet being the recommended norm for optimal safety.
The deployment process, initiated by a single handle pull, involves a complex sequence where an igniting device activates a rocket motor to propel the parachute lines, and a "slider" ensures the chute fully inflates only once the aircraft reaches a safe speed.
Upon full inflation, the aircraft experiences a significant "opening shock" (3-7 Gs) before stabilizing under the parachute for a controlled descent, typically around 15 to 28 feet per second.

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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.