From the USDA / US Forest Service
MONTANA – The Forest Service smokejumper program employs highly skilled individuals who provide leadership for a variety of missions such as creating a command structure for an initial fire response, providing logistical support for extended operations and initial attack in locations not easily accessed by ground-based wildland firefighters. Smokejumpers’ specialized skills and training allow them to provide this critical mission support with increased speed, range and payload.
In delivering this important work, safety is the highest priority. This is why the smokejumper program is in the process of updating reserve parachute systems; we are developing a reserve parachute model that opens quickly, possess increased weight limitations and has flight characteristics like the two main parachutes currently in use.
This past summer, the National Technology and Development Program tested and collected data on potential reserve parachutes using torso dummies to avoid exposing smokejumpers to unnecessary risk. The National Technology and Development Program also adapted and integrated the Joint Precision Airdrop System technology into the torso dummies used for the test drops. These units allow dummy drops that autonomously guide the test system to a desired location and simultaneously collect important flight data such as forward speed and descent rate.
Guided dummies are critical to new tests due to the performance requirements of the modern Ram-Air canopies. Legacy dummy drops occurred with round parachutes; however, the Ram-Air canopies have improved performance and must drop from higher altitudes to maximize test efficiency. The Joint Precision Airdrop System technology allows us to conduct tests from higher altitudes under realistic conditions, which ensures a high-level of reliability is achieved before new equipment is used by personnel.
This work conducted by NTDP will ultimately provide smokejumpers with additional data and insight to conduct future jumps more safely.
Check out the video below to learn more about how the National Technology and Development Program is testing parachutes.
Source: https://www.fs.usda.gov/inside-fs/delivering-mission/excel/technology-forefront-keep-smokejumpers-safe
