- For other meanings of "static line" or "Static Line" see Static line (disambiguation).
Use in parachuting
In parachuting, a static line is a cord attached at one end to the aircraft and at the other end to the top of the jumper's 'D-Bag' (Deployment Bag, where the canopy is packed into). The parachutist's fall from the aircraft causes the static line to become taut, this then pulls the D-Bag out of the container on the jumper's back. The static line and D-Bag stay with the aircraft as the jumper leaves, and is pulled back into the aircraft by the dispatcher. Now free of its D-Bag, the canopy is allowed to inflate as the jumper continues to fall. Effectively, the student drags the parachute behind him, causing the upward-rushing wind to force open and inflate the canopy. The canopy should inflate and begin supporting the jumper within 4 seconds. For the unlikely event of a malfunction, students are taught how to cut away the main canopy and deploy the reserve chute. The aim of static line progression is to train students to maintain the correct, stable body position upon exiting the aircraft, and to teach how to deploy the canopy via the pilot chute mechanism.
As mentioned above the parachutist must adopt and maintain a stable body position throughout deployment to minimise the chances of a parachute malfunction. This method of parachute deployment is commonly used in several ways:
- Training student skydivers
- BASE jumping
- Military paratroopers jumping from very low altitudes (400+ feet or 122+ meters)
- Soviet and successor state military standard procedure for all airborne infantry jumps, regardless of altitude
For training students in civilian operations, modifications to existing static line equipment may be made to simplify operations. One such modification is to attach the deployment bag to the parachute instead of the static line, which also requires some modification to allow the static line to detach, typically a Velcro fastener. This leaves much less material "in the wind" behind the plane after the jumper has left; this isn't a problem for larger cargo aircraft used in military jumping, but presents a major issue for smaller aircraft used in civilian operations. This modification also results in a somewhat slower opening, which softens the opening shock at the cost of altitude, a minor concern for jumpers exiting at 2,800 ft (850 m).
Use in construction
- Poynter, Dan (1993). Parachuting Manual With Log for the Static Line Course. Para Publishing, ISBN 978-0-915516-84-1
- Craig SC, Lee T. Attention to detail: injuries at altitude among U.S. Army Military static line parachutists. Mil Med. 2000 Apr;165(4):268-71.
- Farrow GB. Military static line parachute injuries. Aust N Z J Surg. 1992 Mar;62(3):209-14.