The pilot of a small disabled, single-engine airplane,
\nwhich floated to a safe landing instead of crashing, can
\nthank NASA and a Minnesota company. The pilot walked away,
\nfrom what would have been a catastrophic crash, with just a
\nstiff neck.<\/p>\n
\nIn 1994, NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
\nprogram awarded Ballistic Recovery Systems (BRS), Inc., of
\nSouth St. Paul, Minn., an SBIR Phase I contract to develop a
\n“low-cost, lightweight, aircraft-emergency recovery system.”<\/p>\n
\nIn October 2002, a pilot released his single engine
\naircraft’s parachute and landed safely in a Texas mesquite-
\ntree grove. The pilot was uninjured, and there was minimal
\ndamage to the plane. The safe landing made aviation history,
\nas it was the first emergency application of an airframe
\nparachute on a certified aircraft.<\/p>\n
\nThe successful “save” is a research and development (R&D)
\nsuccess story between small business and government. The
\nSBIR program provides an opportunity for small, high
\ntechnology companies and research institutions to
\nparticipate in government-sponsored R&D efforts in key
\ntechnology areas.<\/p>\n
\nNASA’s Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., recommended
\nfunding for the BRS SBIR Phase I proposal. BRS wanted to
\ndevelop new, lightweight and strong materials that would
\nallow a parachute to deploy at the speeds required for high-
\nperformance general aviation single-engine airplanes. The
\nparachute and mounting gear had to weigh less than 60 pounds
\nincluding the straps that are part of the airplane
\nstructure.<\/p>\n
\n“BRS addressed a NASA program need with their innovative
\nsolution,” said Robert Yang, head of Langley’s Small
\nBusiness Partnership Team. “The company had an excellent
\ntechnical proposal and did significant homework in planning
\nfor commercial applications,” he said.<\/p>\n
\nThe first award was in 1994. Phase I awards are usually
\nunder $100,000. Two years later, BRS was awarded Phase II
\nfunding for continued development of the Parachute Recovery
\nSystem; these awards are up to $600,000.<\/p>\n
\nPropelled by a solid-fuel rocket motor, the parachute is
\nreleased from a special opening on top of the fuselage.
\nThree Kevlar webbing straps connect the parachute to the
\nairframe and help guide it through a level descent. BRS says
\naircraft, crew, and passengers can be saved from altitudes
\nas low as 300 feet.<\/p>\n
\nAlthough BRS has had 155 “saves” with its ultralight and
\nexperimental parachute systems, the October safe landing was
\nthe first in a certified general aviation aircraft.<\/p>\n
\n“This technology has been successful on many levels,” added
\nYang. “It will be part of the suite of innovations available
\nto SATS (NASA’s Small Aircraft Transportation System
\nresearch program) that have been funded through the SBIR
\nprogram. BRS has been able to take the concept and spin it
\nback into NASA’s program needs,” he said. BRS won 2001 SBIR
\nPhase I and II awards for the development of a larger
\nparachute for the new generation of mini-jets.<\/p>\n
\nYang said he sees it as a quality-of-life improvement. One
\nU.S. insurance company offers up to a 10 percent discount on
\npremiums for a plane having such a system, while European
\naviation organizations are pursuing some mandatory
\nrequirements for systems on certain experimental aircraft.<\/p>\n