Just about every skydiver begins his or her career equipped with a Reserve Static Line (RSL). An RSL is a basic piece of safety gear that uses a short piece of material to physically connect at least one main parachute riser with the reserve ripcord system. The RSL is designed to instantly extract the reserve ripcord pins if the main parachute is jettisoned, and thus it begins reserve deployment with a minimum altitude loss. Most of us have learned that the RSL is a back up device that should open the reserve container following a cutaway, often before a jumper even has time to grab the reserve ripcord. The RSL is an important safety device, but it is only a back up, so jumpers should not rely on it, and must always attempt to deploy their reserve manually. We should also understand that there are times when a rig should not be equipped with an RSL. Each jumper should become familiar with how this system works, and be able to make decisions about if and when to use an RSL.
The RSL, also called a "Stevens Cutaway System," was created in the 1960's by a skydiving instructor named Perry Stevens. In that era many fatalities resulted from malfunctions when a jumper elected to cutaway but then never pulled the reserve handle, or the cutaway was not high enough for a conventional reserve deployment. The RSL was introduced as a means of reducing these fatalities, and it has done a remarkable job in that regard. An RSL is especially effective in the following cases:
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When a jumper looses track of altitude and initiates a cutaway so low that there is no time to wait before pulling the reserve ripcord. An RSL dramatically reduces the lag time, allowing for full reserve deployment from a very low cutaway. |
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When a jumper is injured or not aware enough to pull a reserve handle. Sometimes an especially hard opening will leave a jumper injured or dazed, and also damage the main parachute. In this case all a jumper needs to do is grab and pull the cutaway handle, and the RSL should deploy the reserve. |
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When a jumper is unable to find his own reserve ripcord handle. Sometimes when a main parachute malfunctions the harness shifts, or a reserve ripcord slips out of the pocket and it is difficult to locate. Sometimes a jumper is overloaded by the malfunction and either looses track of time and altitude, or simply freezes after pulling the cutaway handle, and then fails to pull his own reserve ripcord. The RSL can be a lifesaving device for a jumper in these situations. |
Rigging
The way an RSL is rigged will vary depending on the type of harness/container being used, so each jumper should review the specifics of his own system. Contemporary RSL's are designed to be easily attached and detached by the user, but it is important to understand how best to do this. There are a few ways that an RSL can be improperly rigged when attached or detached that could prove fatal. If you are unsure how your RSL works, it is a good idea to speak with a trusted rigger.
Over the years the concept of an RSL has remained the same, but the device has been modified to improve performance. There have been three key changes to the RSL as follows:
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The hardware originally used to connect the RSL to the main parachute riser was often a simple shackle with a screw on barrel that could not be easily removed. That hardware has been replaced with a spring-loaded snap shackle that can be disconnected in flight or on the ground with just one hand. The snap shackle has become a standard part of the RSL system, although some rigs are still fitted with a locking shackle or similar non-removable device. |
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Some RSL systems have been modified with a cross connector that physically connects the two main risers, so that if just one riser releases it will not travel far enough to extract the reserve ripcord. A cross connector can reduce the probability of a reserve being accidentally deployed into a malfunctioning main parachute. A cross connector system may be especially helpful in the event of a broken riser, or if a jumper inadvertently pulls the cutaway handle far enough to release only one riser. |
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A very recent modification called the "Skyhook" was developed by the Relative Workshop, makers of the Vector series of harness/containers. A conventional RSL connects the main riser to the reserve ripcord, but the Skyhook takes the concept a step further by adding a physical connection to the reserve bridle, thus improving reserve extraction, and dramatically reducing deployment times. A Skyhook equipped rig has a better record of cleanly deploying the reserve parachute even if the jumper is spinning or otherwise unstable. The Skyhook is not available for every rig, although it is becoming more common. |
Disconnecting the RSL
Almost all student rigs and tandem systems are equipped with an RSL, and many jumpers continue using this device when they purchase their own gear. Most manufacturers include an RSL fitting as standard equipment, but they leave the actual use of the RSL to the owner/operator. Some very experienced jumpers have decided not to use an RSL at all, and others have elected not to use an RSL for specific classes of jumps because an RSL can add complexity or create unique problems in some situations. Several of the "problem areas" are listed below:
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Jumpers engaged in Canopy Relative Work (CRW) fly their parachutes together to build canopy formations, usually at altitudes that will allow for a bit of freefall if a problem occurs. These maneuvers are fun and challenging, but because the parachutes are physically connected, they are more likely to become entangled. When a CRW jumper experiences an entanglement he will usually want to use a bit of freefall to gain separation, and thus prevent his reserve from entangling with the spinning mess he just cutaway from. Jumpers who plan to engage in canopy formations will either remove or disconnect their RSL for these jumps, and will limit their CRW to altitudes that will allow freefall from an entanglement. |
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Skydivers who carry extra or unusual equipment in freefall often prefer to disconnect or remove an RSL to prevent entanglements. Cameraflyers were the first to identify this unique snag hazard, and those that fly with large camera platforms or odd shaped cameras almost always choose to jump without an RSL. Modern helmet systems that contain the entire camera and have no snag points are generally not a hazard and are compatible with RSL's. Skysurfers will often disconnect the RSL to prevent entanglement of a reserve with the surfboard if the flight is unstable at pull time. Wingsuit jumpers are especially susceptible to spins from off heading openings caused by the huge wings, so they will frequently jump docile canopies and not use an RSL. |
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Some jumpers are concerned about a broken riser or an asymmetrical cutaway causing an RSL to deploy their reserve into a trailing main parachute. A well manufactured and properly sized riser-set, coupled with proper maintenance, will just about eliminate the threat of a broken riser. A properly designed and well maintained cutaway handle, pulled to full arm extension, will almost always release both risers. It is also important for the cutaway cables to be of an appropriate length as defined by the manufacturer so that they release as designed. A rigger should check these measurements whenever the cutaway handle is replaced, or if there is any doubt about the length. Full sized risers (as opposed to mini-risers), proper emergency procedures, and a solid maintenance program are the best ways to reduce these failures. When equipment is properly manufactured and maintained it generally works, but some experienced jumpers have been frightened by very rare and well publicized riser or cutaway failures, and have elected to disconnect or remove their RSL's to prevent these very unusual problems. |
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Small, highly elliptical, or heavily loaded parachutes can generate high speed and extraordinarily unstable malfunctions. Some experienced jumpers believe it is safer to release a radically performing parachute and then freefall to gain stability prior to deploying the reserve. The thinking is that a reserve parachute will open better if the jumper is stable, and experienced jumpers believe they can obtain stability very quickly without loosing altitude awareness. There are also concerns that a malfunctioning high performance parachute can spin so quickly that one riser might be locked up and not release, so there is a fear of a rapid reserve deployment by an RSL. The Skyhook system is designed to deal with these issues by extracting the reserve bag so quickly that it does not have a chance to spin. Still, some very experienced jumpers choose to rely exclusively on their own training and skill rather than use an RSL. |
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Some jumpers who are engaged in very large formation skydives (relative work formations involving hundreds of jumpers) are concerned about collisions at opening altitude, and choose to disconnect their RSL's. These jumpers feel that since there are so many people opening close to each other, the risk of a CRW style entanglement at opening altitude is too great to use an RSL. They also note that relative work jumpers often fly very high performance parachutes that are more prone to surging and spinning at opening, and that the congestion of large formations often forces jumpers to open very low without adequate tracking time. Of course a collision and entanglement of these high performance parachutes will be especially nasty and almost certainly not landable, and it may occur at a very low altitude. It's quite likely that since the entanglement will probably be spinning, the best outcome would be for a cutaway that pitches the jumpers apart, then an immediate reserve opening. There is a possibility that the quick action of an RSL will leave the jumpers in near proximity and add the risk of a second collision between reserves. On the other hand, jumpers who are not using an RSL may cutaway, planning to freefall for a bit of separation before using their reserves, but the initial low opening altitudes coupled with the loss of altitude through the spinning may leave insufficient time for reserve deployment. There are starkly differing opinions about the use of RSL's on very large relative work jumps with hundreds of participants, and each jumper must balance the risks and make his own decision. Jumpers involved in these extraordinary skydives should also consider higher break off altitudes for all participants, greater tracking distances, higher than normal opening altitudes, and the use of large docile parachutes that will reduce spinning and surging. |
Making Your Decision
The RSL has been credited with dramatically reducing the number of fatalities over a 30-year period, and malfunctions of the system are extremely rare. This device has helped thousands of jumpers of all experience levels since it was first introduced. I have watched experienced jumpers smash into the ground after cutting away without an RSL, and I've watched other jumpers cutaway frightening low, yet be saved by the fast pull of an RSL. In my more than 25 years of skydiving, I have never personally seen an RSL cause any problem, or place any jumper at risk. In my opinion, for most jumpers, the benefits of an appropriate RSL system (including the Skyhook) far outweigh the potential problems. The few exceptions should be limited to very experienced and current jumpers with very high performance parachutes, skydivers who are carrying advanced equipment likely to cause accelerating spins, jumpers with snag hazards such as exposed cameras, and CRW enthusiasts.
The decision to use or abandon an RSL connection is important. It is difficult to imagine a viable reason for any skydiver with fewer than 200 jumps to forgo an RSL, and jumpers with more experience should also carefully consider the value this device offers. All jumpers are encouraged to discuss the pros and cons of RSL's with experienced riggers and instructors, and then to make a considered decision about their use.
Additional comments about RSL use are available at:
Relative Workshop Skyhook: http://relativeworkshop.com/pdt_skyhook.html
Quick review of RSL myths by skydiving instructor Bill von Novak: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/safety/detail_page.cgi?ID=18
- Tom Buchanan S&TA