Parachutes whilst flying!

[The - Elite]

Strange one this.. .Has anyone ever experienced someone wearing a parachute whilst flying, learning to fly or even instructing.. .. .If you hired a plane to do some touring you would more than likely take a life jacket or even a life raft 'just in case' so why not a parachute, seeing as you would be in the air for 99% of the time?. .. .Given the choice I would wear one, especially after I read that airproxes are on the up! (Flyer April 02). .. .Tell me what you think.

[Pegasus77]

I would'nt; it is uncomfortable, and when flying single engine you should practice a forced landing, not jumping out of the airplane.. .. .Maybe "airproxes are up", but if you would be hit in mid air by another aircraft, your chances of getting out with your parachute are less than 0. . .. .Why not concentrate on flying, look intensively for other traffic, especially near airports on days with good weather... brings you way more.

[Mycroft]

I believe that wearing parachutes is standard practice in gliders (except when just doing winch launched circuits) and I have seen an accident report for a Yak 52 ( <a href="http://www.aaib.detr.gov.uk/bulletin/feb02/ra44546.htm" target="_blank">http://www.aaib.detr.gov.uk/bulletin/feb02/ra44546.htm</a> ) where it is stated that the pilots' wearing of a parachute was not significant as the accident occured too low for effective escape.

[DB6]

I wear a parachute every day whilst instructing however we operate at heights that make a parachute descent a practical proposition (up to FL100). They're not much use for operations at lower levels for obvious reasons - although our minimum abandon height is 1500 ft - and in any case a forced landing is often as good a way to get down safely. Aerobatic aircraft will often carry parachutes since there is no other way to survive structural failure or an irrecoverable spin, and they're not uncomfortable - in the aircraft I fly, the Firefly 260, they form the seat back cushion so are quite the opposite. The only downside I can think of is that I get a bit uneasy doing aeros in other 'planes when I don't wear a chute, but we all have our crosses to bear <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />

[Spacer]

I'm in a UAS and we wear parachutes as standard kit. It now feels strange when I go flying in civvy aircraft and don't wear a parachute. Same feeling as not wearing a seatbelt in a car. I think its a very good idea to wear one as it gives you a good alternative to staying with a crippled aircraft (which is the only time you'll ever need one). It also may just save your life if you are doing spinning.

[phd]

Interesting subject - which is all tied up with risk perception and cultural norms. Military fixed-wing pilots I believe all have to wear parachutes - even those flying light aircraft at relatively low level. Of course they are doing more demanding flying including formation flying, tail-chasing and aerobatics etc. so the probability of a mid-air collision or structural damage leading to the need to abandon ship is increased, in comparison to GA flying. I know of 2 pilots personally who are alive today due to the fact that they both wore parachutes and had to abandon an aircraft that was in a high rotational spin which could not be recovered by the minimum bale-out height, so very wisely they baled out! Glider pilots also wear parachutes, again as they tend to fly in close formation when thermalling and ridge soaring etc. and are at greater risk of 'meeting' unintentionally in flight. Although the risks in GA generally are lower they still exist and from time to time events occur which result in an aircraft becoming uncontrollable - even though the pilot/passenger are still alive at the time of the event. In these situation GA pilots could definitely benefit from using parachutes, but the question is do you attach the parachute to the person or the aircraft? This debate is on-going in Europe but the USA are leading the way in design and certification of light aircraft recovery systems. Personally if I am flying a light aircraft or microlight I would far rather have the option of using a 'chute than not. I would also rather not have to bale out since this can be extremely difficult due to G forces and is in itself a risky manoeuvre. But if I was unlucky enough to suffer structural damage due to a mid-air I would be only too glad to pull the rip-cord on an aircraft recovery 'chute and then enjoy the ride down to terra firma - safely strapped in to my 5 point harness. Hang-glider pilots have used such systems for many years and many lives have been saved as a result. I predict that someday all light aircraft will be fitted with such devices - just as all cars today have not only air-bags, but also side impact protection, anti-lock brakes, crumple zones etc. These things were the exception only 20 years ago - now they are considered essential by most drivers - because the perception of the risks and the acceptable safety margins has shifted. The same needs to happen in GA.

[low n' slow]

While flying gliders it is mandatory to wear a parachute (in sweden).. . There are comfortable parachutes, but I wouldn't consider it a useful item as todays aircraft seldomly are designed for use together with parachutes.. . However, if the plane would be designed with a big jettisonable canopy and hollowed out seats, I would use a parachute if I was offered one.... .. . cheers/lns

[Miles Magister]

I wear a parachute when flying the Queen's aircraft and when flying civil light aircraft. I often get strange looks from other club members, but being lucky enough to have learnt in the RAF, I am thick skinned! My reasoning is that if you look back over the last 25 years of light aircraft forced landings they have almost all ended in tears with serious injury or death. If you look at the people who have baled out they almost invariably walk to the pub afterwards (apart from one poor chap from Liverpool UAS a few years ago who may not have had the parachute fastened properly). I have made the decision that I will do a PFL following an engine failure if I have a stubble/fallow field or better as it is just like a grass strip. If the options are any worse like ploughed or very wet then I shall trust Mr Irvin. However the decision is yours, but make it in the club house before you walk. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

[FNG]

I tend to favour parachute wearing, especially for aerobatics, but I am sceptical as to Miles's assertion that most forced landings end in serious injury or death. Speaking as a member of the forced landing statistical pool (result: two uninjured crew, one undamaged aircraft, credit due to bloke in right hand seat, not me) and based on reading the occurrence reports which accompany GASIL, I believe that most forced landings are successful, in that the crew escape without serious injury, even if the aircraft is damaged or destroyed. Anyone have the stats?

[gas_man]

i have seen a patient in colombo, sri lanka , that sent a shiver down my spine. i could not get many details of what happened , but i think it was the engine cutting out. they crash landed. the instructor died on the spot and the student was quadriplegic (no power in hands or legs) . i salute that student ...at the crash site , despite his injuries, he had asked how his intructor was.. .. .prasanna