Reserve Parachutes for AirSports

A reserve parachute is considered an essential piece of equipment, to provide a 'last chance' in the event of an unrecoverable collapse, mid-air collision or similar. Such events are extremely rare, but most pilots prefer to carry a reserve parachute to take care of the the possibility.

Most reserve parachutes used in paragliding are of the pulled-down-apex design, giving a reduced descent rate and fast opening time. Emergency parachutes need to be inspected and repacked regularly, and replaced after a set period of time - consult the manufacturer for details.

Parachutes for paragliding can be mounted at the rear of the harness, the side, or in front. Rear mounting may keep the parachute 'out of the way', but the other options can make for faster, more reliable deployment in an emergency.