Airlines Always Let You Bring a Parachute on Board. The Only Problem: It’s Useless

There was a time when air travel was a luxury. Today, it feels more like stepping into a tin can with wings. While flying is very safe, the fear of it leads some passengers to consider extreme measures—like bringing a parachute.

Yes, you can bring a parachute on board, but there are restrictions—and good reasons why they’ll never be standard safety equipment.

Unrealistic. When looking up information on this topic, it’s striking that the first response is always the same: Commercial aircraft don’t need parachutes because they’re very safe. Passengers don’t need to jump out of a moving plane. And there are logical reasons why even the crew doesn’t wear parachutes, despite what some movies suggest.

First, commercial airliners fly at extremely high altitudes. Jumping from around 32,800 feet is not just risky—even with an oxygen mask—the temperature is so low that it could be more dangerous than staying on board. Then there’s the speed, which makes a jump highly unsafe. On top of that, the pressure change can cause a loss of consciousness. Not to mention, opening a door to jump would depressurize the cabin.

A bad idea. To put things into perspective, commercial flights cruise between 32,000 and 40,000 feet at speeds of 500 to 590 mph. In contrast, skydiving typically occurs between 8,000 and 14,000 feet, with speeds around 124 mph.

Jumping from a commercial airliner in an emergency would likely end with the engines consuming you. And if you jump from the tailgate, you might hit the rear rotor or become so destabilized by the wind that deploying your parachute would be impossible.

You can check it in. This is why commercial airlines don’t provide parachutes—but they do allow passengers to bring their own. Airlines treat parachutes like extra luggage. A parachute, when folded, looks like a camping backpack, so some airlines won’t let you carry it along with a regular backpack. However, you can check it in.

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The restrictions. It’s not as simple as saying, “I’ll bring my parachute instead of a suitcase.” The bag must be specially designed for parachuting gear, and you can’t pack any clothes or personal items inside.

Parachutes with safety features, such as smoke canisters, gas bottles, pyrotechnics, and other prohibited items, aren’t allowed. Airlines generally permit parachutes as long as they meet these conditions. As one airline policy states:

“Sports equipment bags and cases can’t contain clothing or other personal items. They must be used only to carry sports equipment. Parachutes (including those equipped with automatic activation devices) are accepted as both checked and carry-on baggage—if they meet weight and size restrictions—and count as one item toward the maximum number of bags allowed.”

Be prepared. Even if airlines and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) allow it, you may still need to explain why you’re carrying a parachute. Some recommendations:

• Pack it separately to make inspections easier.
• Carry a copy of TSA regulations in case airline staff are unfamiliar with the rules.
• Arrive early, as security personnel may take extra time to inspect your gear.

I’ve had to explain at checkpoints that my analog camera film could be damaged by scanners—I can’t imagine having to explain why I’m carrying a parachute. As always, it’s better to be overly cautious. As the TSA puts it:

“The final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint.”

Image | George Bakos (Unsplash)

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