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Every parachutist starts each jump with their parachute tightly folded up in a container pack on their back. Not every jump will result in this parachute perfectly deployed. Some misdeployments, or malfunctions, result in very little if any of the parachute deployed. These jumpers will rapidly accelerate to terminal velocities measured in hundreds of feet per second. Only seconds are available for the parachutist to become aware of the problem and take appropriate corrective action. Other malfunctions will start the parachute spinning or will result in a parachute which cannot maneuver properly and thus cannot be brought to a safe landing.
It is vital for a parachutist to reach and maintain a training status where he will automatically and immediately check parachute deployment and controllability, be able to identify a number of different specific malfunctions, and immediately follow the proper correction procedure if necessary. Since malfunctions are hopefully an infrequent event, with reserve deployments roughly only every 800 jumps, it is recommended that even the most experienced jumpers regularly practice malfunctions procedures. This is currently followed in jump schools by having the parachutist hang in a harness, view a slide or print of a malfunction, identify the specific problem, and exhibit the correct correction procedure corresponding to that specific problem. Malfunctions procedures skills are particularly critical for aircrew, who don't have a reserve parachute.
Since the Systems Technology, Inc. parachute simulator features a Virtual Reality head mounted display and tracker, the user can look overhead and check for a specific parachute malfunction. Actual simulator malfunctions training and practice is far more complete than this however. The jump simulation starts accelerating in freefall. Static line parachutes start deploying immediately; otherwise the system senses when the ripcord is pulled. The parachute can be observed to smoothly deploy to the configuration status chosen by the instructor prior to starting the jump. Meanwhile the jumper slows to whatever velocity and ability to steer and brake is appropriate for the malfunction. The student checks overhead to assess and identify canopy condition, and if it appears good, may make a controllability check by steering left and right, and braking.
Given a malfunction being presented, the student can then follow the procedure specified to correct the problem, pulling toggle, risers, or the cutaway handle and then the reserve. If toggle or riser pulls are required and correctly supplied, the malfunction can be observed to smoothly clear as the canopy deploys to a good full opening, with the chute slowing to normal velocity and controllability.
Some malfunctions are either inappropriate or impossible to clear by toggles or riser pulls, so the system watches for a cutaway handle pull to remove the bad canopy and start falling again, and a reserve handle pull to supply a good canopy deployment. The students are not supplied with a simulation of a RSL (Reserve Static Line) cutaway main to automatic reserve deployment, or an AAD (Automatic Altitude Deployment) reserve opening because standard jump schools dictate that jumpers should use the full manual procedure and not rely on other safety devices which could also fail.
With the addition of riser force sensors, the simulated chute gains riser controllability from front/rear and side riser pulls. Students need a higher opening altitude to respond to malfunctions, so the initial release altitude has been increased from 2500 feet maximum to a 4000 feet nominal start, with a 25,000 feet maximum, which also provides for military HALO/HAHO operations and aircrew emergencies.
Previously the simulator focused on canopy control. Now the experience starts prior to canopy deployment and malfunctions procedures can be mastered under the same time stresses as in a real parachuting experience. Timing is everything, particularly in parachuting, where panic, mistakes and even very brief hesitations can be fatal. The solution to perfecting safety skills is to make it possible for a rare event to be practiced frequently; thus the instructor can guarantee the need for a reserve ride in the simulator.More information about malfunctions
procedures training.
More information about simulator training for Smokejumpers and Operational Military Personnel.
More information about parachute training for Aircrew Emergencies and Aviation Physiology
Other Questions about Parachute Simulator Flight Training
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