Aircraft Often Flown On Low Altitude Missions

Whole-airplane parachute manufacturer Ballistic Recovery Systems Inc. told ANN Tuesday the company recently installed its unique safety system on a aircraft used by the United States Department of the Interior. The single-engine Cessna will be flown by the US Fish and Wildlife division for a variety of missions across the United States.

"The mission of this aircraft may require some low altitude, long duration missions over inhospitable terrain. If the BRS system is used in an emergency, it will give the pilot another safety option in the event of any unscheduled off airport landing," said BRS VP of Sales, John Gilmore.

"We're encouraged by the fact that the United States government sees the true value in the BRS whole-airframe parachute system, and we hope that other government aircraft will follow suit," added BRS CEO and President Larry Williams. "There are a number of missions the US Fish and Wildlife service flies that would benefit greatly by the extra safety afforded by the installation of a BRS system."

The US Fish and Wildlife Service aircraft was the 55th BRS system installed in a Cessna, and the first in an airplane equipped with the Garmin G1000 avionics system. BRS manufactures its whole-airframe parachute systems for use in the Cessna 172 and 182 series of aircraft.

To date, BRS parachute recovery systems have been credited with saving the lives of 201 pilots and passengers.

FMI: www.brsparachutes.com, www.fws.gov/