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Ballistic Recovery Systems was in the news recently as it gained FAA approval for its emergency rocket-launched parachute system for Cessna Skyhawk 172s. BRS manufacturers ballistic parachute systems for ultralights, homebuilt aircraft and a few conventional aircraft. The larger conventional airplanes include the Cessna 150/152, Cirrus SR-20 and now the Cessna 172. The company has 134 saves listed on its web site at www.airplaneparachtues.com. When fired, the parachutes are designed to lower the uncontrollable aircraft to the ground for a survivable landing. According to the company, the descent rate under its aircraft parachute is 15-30 feet per second. For its newest approval in the Cessna 172, “the parachute is mounted in the right side of the Skyhawk's baggage area and blasts out the right half of the rear window when launched,” according to a recent article by AOPA. “Kevlar straps attach the parachute to the airframe. Factory pilots said that the parachute installation doesn't affect performance. The BRS-172 system sells for $15,995, not including installation. The system is certified for 10 years without repacking.” If the system is used, the parachute cannot be repacked. According to the manufacturer, the “FAA has determined that a BRS parachute system installed on a Type Certificated aircraft cannot be reused once deployed.” Past “Rigger Rants and Raves” have documented the troubles with hard pulls on the system installed on the Cirrus SR-20 and SR-22 aircrafts. Most of the company’s saves have been on ultralights and experimental aircraft, although extensive testing has shown that the system does work on the conventional aircraft now approved by the FAA. As a rigger and skydiver, I would rather get out of the aircraft with an emergency parachute that I can control than fire a ballistic parachute and hope for the best. Still, the company is innovative and one to watch.

The most treasured video in my rigging collection is Relative Workshop’s sport reserve packing video for its Vector III containers. Almost all of the tips and bulk management techniques can be applied to every sport container and square reserve. It really opened my eyes to some of the finesse of reserve inspections and repacks. These include the small flake between the D lines and brake lines, a different way of folds for reducing the canopy’s width before placing in the freebag and better ways to keep the air out of the canopy. Packing videos, while not a substitute for a packing manual, gives a rigger or packer a better idea on how certain steps can be accomplished easier or with more consistent results as they are usually performed by the manufacturer’s rigger. Some companies have added tips to their manuals (Mirage), which is helpful as well. But when it came to the Strong Dual Hawk Master Reserves, all I’ve ever had was the dry manual. We have 13 Strongs at Atlanta Skydiving Center/Alabama Skydiving, so we do a lot of tandem reserve inspections and repacking. I have packed Strong Master Reserves at least 100 times by following the manual, but have always wished for a packing video to see more tips from the manufacturer. And now it is here. Strong has released two videos that demonstrate how its riggers pack the Master Reserve as well as the SET-400 and SET-360. I was most impressed with the Master Reserve video as it explained step by step the company’s desired folds, flaking and line group placement. The video definitely expands on the company’s reserve packing manual and provides great visual tips for bulk management as well as closing the reserve container. The main packing video also details the 25-jump inspection and provides a good canopy inspection tip with use of a fan. To order the videos ($14 each), visit www.strongparachutes.com at this direct link.