Parachutes for aircraft

[laurie]

Is it just an urban myth that the technology exists for passenger a/c to be equipped with parachutes in case of an emergency?

[747FOCAL]

No it is true. They have tried it but can't prove the reliability of the system. Rocket powered parachutes are not consistent enough.

Would really be nice, but the load s the chutes put ont he airframe in analysis would break it into pieces.

Maybe someday.

[Evo7]

I'm sure I've seen pictures of it being tried on something like a C172. Jets would presumably be more of a challenge... :)

[newswatcher]

Try these:

http://www.dropzonepress.com/
http://www.msnbc.com/news/431474.asp

[ANOpax]

Not quite passenger jets, but successfully implemented in light a/c

http://209.238.147.86/BRS.HTML

[laurie]

Thankyou everybody

I was expecting the usual backlash of "Go away with daft questions", only this was something someone asked me & I didn't know the answer.

I knew it had been developed for GA. I just thought the extra weight penalty would rule it out of airline service.

[Spam Fritter]

Would this technology have helped in the last crop of accidents.

A more sensible route must be the fine tuning of an already good system.
Aircrew training and management(sleep!)
Modern aircraft systems and warnings which make them more CFIT resistant.
ATC and proceedures etc,etc..

[hassel]

Just a thought but how many instances have happened where, given sufficient time would parachutes in "Airliners" been used with obvious benefits?

[Stonebird]

I have often wondered at the feasibility of constructing airliners with the passenger section as a complete 'pallet' which gets loaded into the aircraft...

It could be cleaned, catered, baggage packed, boarded, all off the apron, then simply loaded into the aircraft Galaxy-style. In an emergency, it could be ejected out of the back, and descend under canopies, Apollo-style...

An advantage would be, unload one pallet and load the next, and you´re off....the pax and bags and catering and loo's etc ...all taken off your hands in one fell swoop..

Pallets could be pax or cargo..the idea is, they are all prepacked & self contained.

[Tinstaafl]

I've thought exactly the same thing, Stonebird!

Would have to overcome possible weight / drag penalties in the pod retaining mechanism.

I imagine that there would be certification requirements for a guaranteed reliability of the retention mechanism not 'letting go' at an inappropriate time. http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/redface.gif

Still, some helicopters have had similar eg the skycrane or whatever it was called, so it's not impossible.

[hassel]

I think it has been done.
http://www.thunderbirdsonline.com/0401/images/tb2_launch_r03_c02.gif

[ANOpax]

Stonebird & Tinstaafl, International Rescue have been doing something similar for years with Thunderbird 2 (as discussed on a previous thread - can't find it at the moment) :)

Edited to acknowledge hassel's faster keyboard skills and better /img manipulation.

[This message has been edited by ANOpax (edited 14 June 2001).]