Pilot chute

Throw-out pilot chute

A pilot chute is a small auxiliary parachute used to deploy the main or reserve parachute. The pilot chute is connected by a bridle to the deployment bag containing the parachute. Pilot chutes are a critical component of all modern skydiving and BASE jumping gear. Pilot chutes are also used as a component of spacecraft such as NASA's Orion.[1]

  1. ^ "Orion's Parachute System" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 2020-12-24.