EMERGENCY PARACHUTE EQUIPMENT IN GENERAL AVIATION

Abstract

This work deals with emergency parachute systems used in general aviation. It gives a description of selected rescue ballistic parachute systems, personal emergency parachutes as well as emergency escape systems. The described systems are produced by a Czech production (the rescue ballistic parachute system and the personal emergency parachute) and of Russian production (the emergency escape system). Besides the description of the rescue ballistic parachute systems the work also gives examples of their use, their location in the aircraft, types of these systems, description of pre-flight operations relating to the rescue system, description of activities relating to the activation of the system, process of ejection, forces acting on the crew during deployment, service life, maintenance and warranty. In the case of personal emergency parachutes the process of the opening of the canopy, technical specifications, warranty and service life have been described. Description of the emergency ejection system includes its operation, its variations as well as its operational parameters. The work further discusses selected aircraft accidents in connection with the use of emergency parachute equipment or omitted use of such equipment. The aim of this work based on accident analysis was to show examples when emergency rescue system could have been used but was not due to its absence or due to the pilot not being equipped with a rescue system. Furthermore it gives examples where either of the above mentioned rescue systems were used. The aim of this work was to give a detailed description of the emergency parachute systems and to specify typical aircraft accidents in connection with the use or omitted use of such equipment as well as comparing rescue ballistic escape systems, personal emergency parachutes and emergency escape systems and point out its advantages and drawbacks. The work also deals with legislation, standard orders and standard requirements concerning parachutes.