Factory pilot and Sales Director John Degonia flies the AMD CH-601 XL near their Georgia plant. To view video of the seat belt airbags and read owner testimonials click here.
For years BRS Parachutes sold emergency systems to ultralight pilots. Then along came Cirrus Design, who installed the CAPS (Cirrus Airframe Parachute System) on their SR-20 and SR-22 models as standard equipment. It was a bold and unproven tactic, but today, the SR-22 is the best selling general aviation aircraft in the world. Did the parachute help that success? “Absolutely,” says Cirrus president, Alan Klapmeier. Light-Sport Aircraft producers commonly offer parachute systems: Flight Design CT uses a BRS 1350 HS as standard equipment; TL’s StingSport comes with Galaxy. *** Now Aircraft Manufacturing and Development (AMD) has added the BRS to a long list of available safety features: Amsafe seat belt airbags, lightning protection (on the IFR certified CH-601 XLi model), Tetra foam seat cushions (to absorb “G” loads on hard touchdowns), and a FAR 33 certified aircraft engine, the Continental 0-200. The Eastman, Georgia-based LSA producer certified a BRS-equipped airplane at the end of January 2007.
Towanda Pa had a deployment on a 601 and he was too low.. one dead pilot
Hi Joe: I had many years of association with BRS. While I deeply believe in the value of this type of product (see our advertiser Magnum Parachutes), it is true that even the best rocket-deployed parachute has a too-low-to-be-effective altitude. BRS has seen successful deployments from 250 feet or so — remarkably low — but top of the canopy to bottom of the aircraft wheels can be 75-100 feet (depending on size) so you can be too low to have it save your life. I regret the loss of any pilot.