Before the design of passenger aircraft, there was no consideration for equipping parachutes for passengers, and even the crew did not have parachutes.
Many civil aviation accidents have occurred throughout history, affecting the hearts of hundreds of millions of people. Consequently, many wonder why these passenger planes are not equipped with parachutes for passengers and crew. When a passenger aircraft encounters trouble, could people save themselves by parachuting? Is parachuting that difficult?
In the imagination of many travelers, parachuting may be the fastest escape method in emergencies. However, according to international aviation safety organizations, parachutes are considered an unsuitable escape device on commercial flights.
In reality, parachuting is a very complex technique and is much more dangerous than people imagine.
The cruising altitude of passenger planes is between 8,000 meters and 10,000 meters. At this altitude, if passengers lack experience, do not wear specialized parachute clothing, and do not have oxygen equipment for parachuting, the chance of survival when jumping out of the plane during an emergency is almost zero.
The most suitable altitude for parachuting is between 80 meters and 3,000 meters, with a minimum safe parachute deployment altitude of about 500 meters. Passengers without parachuting experience would have no way to estimate the altitude, making parachuting for escape impossible.
First, it is impossible to parachute from the passenger cabin because commercial planes usually operate at an altitude of 10 km (the aircraft reaches this altitude or higher after takeoff and maintains it throughout the flight), with an average speed of 910 km/h. If a jump is attempted, the body could be severely injured or become stuck to the aircraft’s surface.
During the Wenchuan earthquake in China in 2008, 15 Chinese paratroopers decided to jump from an altitude of about 5,000 meters, marking a remarkable parachuting achievement in the country.
The success of high-altitude parachuting depends on many factors, and an untrained person cannot complete a high-altitude jump. At an altitude close to 10,000 meters, the air is thin, oxygen content is extremely low, and temperatures can drop to about -42 degrees Celsius. The cold and lack of oxygen in this environment can cause hypothermia and suffocation almost instantly.
Starting from an altitude of about 4.5 km, passengers need to be provided with oxygen because when the parachute opens, the aircraft will not be pressurized, and the human body will experience significant pressure. If below this altitude, the aircraft, in case of an emergency, will land at a very high speed.
Before parachuting, the crew must identify a suitable landing spot through gaps in dense clouds, then proceed to the exit door and jump decisively while opening the parachute at the appropriate height, maintaining distance and timing with the jumpers in front. These actions require years of accumulated parachuting experience.
If the distance between the jumper in front and the jumper behind is too small and the timing is too short, both may get tangled in each other’s parachute lines, leading to disaster. If the parachute is opened too early, the jumper is likely to suffer from hypothermia and suffocate. If opened too late, the jumper may fall freely and crash to the ground.
During the parachute descent, the jumper also needs to assess wind direction, control the descent direction, and parachute speed; otherwise, they could easily land directly in trees, on the ocean, on roadways, power lines, or other hazards.
Even if it were possible to jump from such heights or lower, the psychological aspect is also crucial. Not all passengers have the ability to parachute independently. This requires professional training.
Landing and touching down also require mastering skills and precise movements. Instead of extending both legs straight down, one must bend forward; upon landing, it is necessary to spring up strongly, tucking in before bouncing back to absorb the impact of the landing.
Additionally, the process of a passenger plane falling due to malfunction occurs very rapidly, making it impossible for untrained individuals to jump out of the aircraft in an orderly manner.
Equipping parachutes for commercial aircraft would also incur additional costs and increase the aircraft’s weight, meaning that more fuel would be needed, making flights more expensive.
In fact, there is more than one type of parachute, classified into various types with different specifications, mainly including life rafts, military parachutes, training parachutes, sports parachutes, etc.
In terms of shape, the round parachute is the most common; this type is low-cost, relatively simple to deploy, and quite safe but significantly affected by wind. If the weather is good, this round parachute is the most suitable option.
Once the holes in the round parachute are created, it becomes more stable and its operational capability improves.
Meanwhile, the stability of square and elliptical parachutes is relatively poor, requiring users to have strong parachuting skills. However, these types of parachutes can be directed accurately, have a smaller impact during landing, and are specifically designed for military aircraft.
When a person panics, their actions become uncontrollable. It is highly likely that the need to jump out of the aircraft will cause chaos and blockage at the emergency exits, making the emergency response even more difficult.
Ultimately, if an ordinary person is not trained in parachuting, they will not be able to successfully jump from a typical altitude, let alone from heights between 8,000 meters to 10,000 meters. This is also the reason why passenger planes are not equipped with parachutes.
