An apparatus and method to improve the safety of static line parachute
jumping are disclosed. According to the method, a safety device situated
on a jumper continuously or periodically senses the distance of the jumper
from the jumping platform (e.g. an aircraft). The safety device compares
this distance to a predetermined distance threshold. When the distance
between the jumper and the jumping platform reaches or exceeds the
predetermined distance threshold, the safety device enables the reserve
parachute deployment device which automatically deploys the reserve
parachute if at such time the jumper's rate-of-descent is at or greater
than a predetermined rate-of-descent threshold. Thus, the apparatus
enables its reserve parachute deployment portion when the jumper is at
least a predetermined distance from the jumping platform.
