hackertube.io

Are Planes With Parachutes Really Safer?

AVweb · explainer · Watch on YouTube

Aviation & aerospace engineering

What it is

AVweb's Paul Bertorelli analyzes the safety record of the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS), looking at the 90-plus deployments over 20 years of Cirrus flying. He asks whether the whole-aircraft parachute has actually saved lives.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Cited in aviation-accident threads as a compact analysis of whether whole-aircraft parachutes work, with the track record described as impressive.

  • 2 people recommended it
  • 2 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2021, last 2025

What HN commenters said

  1. “Here's an analysis of the CAPS system's safety record”

    Analysis of Cirrus CAPS safety record with footage.

    jrockway, 2021-05 · Recommendation · in “Midair Collision over Denver”

  2. “AVweb did an interesting video a couple of years ago”

    Analyzes whether Cirrus parachutes saved lives; concludes generally good.

    throw0101c, 2022-09 · Recommendation · in “Cirrus Vision Jet Pilot Pulls Chute in Florida”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: cirrus, caps, general aviation, aviation safety, parachute

Also recommended by the same people