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What Happens If the Parachute

Doesn't Open?

This question—closely followed by the unforgettable 'Do clouds hurt?'—is one I get asked all the time! As the lead tandem instructor, I suppose I’m the go-to person for answers. Thanks to popular media's dramatization of all things skydiving, most people know there’s some sort of backup system in place, but the details are often a mystery. Well, let me clear up any doubts for you: there absolutely is a backup system, and it’s designed with your safety as the top priority. Let’s break it down!

SO WHAT IF THE PARACHUTE FAILS?

 

What if it fails? But also—so what shrugs if it does? The whole reason we’re skydivers and not BASE jumpers is that we have a backup parachute! That trusty reserve parachute is our ace card, ready to step in if the main parachute experiences a malfunction. The backup parachute is officially called the Reserve Parachute, and it’s not just a second-string player—it’s designed, deployed, and maintained differently. Only highly trained professionals, known as Certified Riggers, are authorized to handle it.

The United States Parachute Association (USPA) lays out strict Basic Safety Requirements (BSRs) that mandate every skydiver—whether a first-time tandem jumper or a seasoned pro—must have a reserve parachute installed and maintained according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. So, rest assured: when you jump, you’ve got two parachutes. Feel better now? Good. Let’s keep flying!

WHEN DO WE USE IT

 

The majority of the time, the reserve parachute remains packed and sealed inside the parachute container, untouched by the wind. When the 180-day inspection period comes around, a Certified Rigger will open the reserve, inspect it, and repack it—without the reserve ever feeling the air beneath it.

However, in the event of a main parachute malfunction, the skydiver will activate the reserve during the cutaway process. After cutting away the main parachute, the skydiver will pull the ripcord, which activates the spring-loaded system to begin the reserve deployment process. This ensures a reserve canopy will deploy, providing support within approximately 250 feet of altitude.

 

IS SKYDIVING SAFE?

 

The majority of the time, the reserve parachute remains packed and sealed inside the parachute container, untouched by the wind. When the 180-day inspection period comes around, a Certified Rigger will open the reserve, inspect it, and repack it—without the reserve ever feeling the air beneath it.

However, in the event of a main parachute malfunction, the skydiver will activate the reserve during the cutaway process. After cutting away the main parachute, the skydiver will pull the ripcord, which activates the spring-loaded system to begin the reserve deployment process. This ensures a reserve canopy will deploy, providing support within approximately 250 feet of altitude.

As for the chances of a parachute malfunction? On a tandem skydive, it’s highly unlikely. For experienced jumpers, the average is about 1 cutaway for every 1,000 skydives! These are cutaway numbers—fatalities are even rarer. In fact, according to the United States Parachute Association (USPA), in 2024, there were just 9 skydiving-related fatalities. That’s the lowest number since 1961! With millions of jumps happening annually and more people joining the sport every year, those 9 fatalities really put things into perspective. In Ontario alone, there were nearly 2,000 motor vehicle fatalities in 2022—that's in just one province! Let’s be real: skydiving is a safe sport, especially with modern technology and strict safety regulations in place.

 

 

WHY THE RESERVE PARACHUTE IS SPECIAL

 

Skydivers jump with two parachutes: a main parachute, often called the main canopy, and a reserve parachute. The difference? Regulations and maintenance. The reserve parachute is regulated by the FAA, meaning only Certified Riggers—professionals who’ve completed the FAA Rigging Course, passed rigorous exams, and gained the required experience—are authorized to handle it. If you’re not a rigger, don’t even think about touching it! Fun fact: most skydivers don’t even know the color of their reserve parachute unless they experience a malfunction. During my first cutaway, I remember thinking, Wow, I really hate orange. Maybe one day, I’ll swap it out for red or something cooler.

Reserve Parachute Requirements:

  • Must be maintained by a Certified FAA Rigger with appropriate ratings
  • Inspected and repacked every 180 days (even if unused)
  • In Canada, reserve parachutes must be less than 20 years old
  • Spring-activated for reliable deployment

 

NEED FOR SPEED

 

These days, we activate our main parachutes using a method called hand deployment or Bottom of Container (BOC) activation. Essentially, we grab a small, golf ball-sized object called the pilot chute handle and throw it into the 'clean air' directly to our right, at a 45-degree angle. This allows the pilot chute to catch air, inflate, and start the deployment process, essentially pulling everything out of the nifty little backpack we wear on our back.

But the reserve parachute? That’s a whole different beast. The reserve parachute hails from our military skydiving roots and deploys via a spring-activated system with a ripcord. The spring literally launches the reserve pilot chute into the air above us, and from there, the pilot chute continues its job of pulling the reserve parachute out. Because of this design, the reserve parachute deploys in a fraction of the time—about 1.5 seconds, compared to the typical 5 seconds for the main parachute.

That may not seem like much, but in skydiving, it makes all the difference. We're talking a range of 250 feet for a fully deployed, supporting canopy versus 1,000 feet of freefall time for the main. In a sport like ours, that difference could literally be life or death!

 

Interested in making your first tandem skydive? Read all about what to expect and frequently asked questions here.