Are Planes With Parachutes Really Safer?

Summary

The video discusses the development and impact of the Cirrus Aircraft Parachute System (CAPS), highlighting its invention by Alan and Dale Klapmeier and Boris Popov. The CAPS is designed to enhance aircraft safety by deploying a parachute in emergencies. Despite initial skepticism, the system has proven effective in reducing fatal accidents among Cirrus aircraft. The video emphasizes the importance of training pilots to use CAPS and shows how it has saved lives by lowering the fatal accident rate over the years.

Takeaways

• ✈️ The idea of using a parachute system for airplanes was initiated by Alan and Dale Klapmeier and developed by Boris Popov's company, Ballistic Recovery Systems.
• 🪂 The Cirrus Aircraft Parachute System (CAPS) has been in use for over 20 years and aims to enhance safety by allowing planes to descend safely in emergencies.
• 💡 CAPS involves a rocket-extracted parachute system that deploys from the baggage compartment, requiring a 45-pound pull to activate.
• 📉 Initially, the fatal accident rate for Cirrus airplanes was slightly higher than the general aviation average, but it has since improved to be average or even below average.
• 🚀 CAPS training emphasizes using the parachute as the first option in emergencies, not the last resort, helping pilots overcome hesitation to deploy the system.
• 📊 Data from the Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) shows 98 CAPS deployments with 84 considered successful in saving lives.
• ⚠️ CAPS has a 100% survival rate for occupants when deployed within a realistic operating envelope, though there have been cases where it didn't fully deploy or malfunctioned.
• 📝 The Cirrus training program encourages pilots to remind themselves of the parachute's availability during flights to ensure they are prepared to use it if necessary.
• 📉 The graph data shows a decrease in fatal accidents correlating with increased CAPS deployments and improved pilot training.
• 🛠️ Cirrus offers free training for buyers of used airplanes under the Embark program to ensure all pilots are well-trained in using CAPS.

Q & A

What is the name of the parachute system developed by Alan and Dale Klapmeier?

The parachute system is called the Cirrus Aircraft Parachute System, or CAPS.

How long has the CAPS system been in use?

The CAPS system has been in use for 20 years.

What is the general perception of pilots regarding the use of a parachute system in an airplane?

Some pilots may view the use of a parachute system as a sign of inexperience or lack of confidence, as it might imply they cannot handle an emergency situation without it.

What are the components of the CAPS system and where are they located?

The parachute and rocket extractor are mounted behind the baggage compartment. The system weighs about 80 pounds and has a 55-foot round canopy.

What is the activation process for the CAPS system?

The activation lever is on the cabin ceiling and requires a 45-pound pull that ignites the rocket, which then pulls the canopy out of the airplane inside its deployment bag.

What is the purpose of the 'slider' in the CAPS system?

The slider slows the canopy inflation to reduce deployment loads, preventing the lightweight nylon parachute from being shredded during opening due to high air loads.

How does the CAPS system help in reducing injuries during a crash landing?

The system uses pyrotechnic fuses on snub lines to allow the airplane to assume a more upright attitude, spreading the impact load to the landing gear and energy-absorbing seats.

What was the initial safety record of Cirrus aircraft before the widespread adoption of CAPS training?

Initially, Cirrus had a fatal accident rate slightly higher than the general aviation average. It was only after pilots were trained to use CAPS that the rate decreased.

How has CAPS training influenced the decision-making of pilots during emergencies?

CAPS training has instilled in pilots the idea of considering the parachute as the first option in an emergency, rather than a last resort, reducing the stigma associated with its use.

What is the maximum demonstrated deployment speed for the CAPS system?

Cirrus gives the maximum demonstrated deployment speed as 133 to 140 knots, depending on the model.

What is the current fatal accident rate of Cirrus aircraft compared to the general aviation average?

The current fatal accident rate of Cirrus aircraft is average or slightly below the general aviation average.

How many lives has the CAPS system saved according to the Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association (COPA)?

COPA tracks CAPS deployments and lists 98 events, claiming 84 of these as saves, meaning lives were saved by using the parachute.

What is the survival rate of aircraft occupants when CAPS has been used within a realistic operating envelope?

The survival rate of aircraft occupants when CAPS has been used within a realistic operating envelope is 100%; nobody has died for having decided to use the CAPS parachute.

What is the significance of the '500-foot call-out' in CAPS training?

The 500-foot call-out is a training routine where the pilot verbalizes 'CAPS available' to remind themselves that the parachute is there for emergencies, making its use part of the flight routine.