{"id":60917,"date":"2025-11-04T22:31:56","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T22:31:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=60917"},"modified":"2025-11-04T22:32:02","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T22:32:02","slug":"after-cutaway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/after-cutaway\/","title":{"rendered":"After Cutaway"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The moment after a cutaway is when your training truly counts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are many different variations of the emergency procedure, but for the purpose of this article, we\u2019ll focus on what happens after you\u2019ve pulled the reserve handle. Before we get to that, I\u2019d like to kindly ask you to stop reading, stand up, and practice your emergency procedure, go through the full sequence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Great! So, you\u2019ve now practiced your emergency procedure. But how many of you went through the motions and, after pulling the reserve handle (\u201cRESERVE\u201d), just relaxed and stopped? Just because you\u2019ve pulled your reserve handle doesn\u2019t mean your reserve will open or that it will open perfectly. Don\u2019t worry, this is a very common reaction among skydivers, from beginners to world champions. But if you\u2019re willing to continue reading, you might change how you practice your emergency procedures in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Timothy Parrant<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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My Emergency Procedure (After Pulling the Reserve Handle)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

ARCH \u2013 RESERVE \u2013 ARCH \u2013 1 THOUSAND, 2 THOUSAND, 3 THOUSAND \u2013 IS IT THERE? \u2013 IS IT BIG? \u2013 IS IT SQUARE? \u2013 TWIST FREE? \u2013 BRAKES, LEFT AND RIGHT TURN, PRACTICE FLARE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you went through the full sequence when you practiced earlier, amazing work. It takes roughly 1,000 repetitions for something to become muscle memory. Let\u2019s break down why it\u2019s recommended not to just assume your reserve will open perfectly and what you can do if it doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ARCH<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Arching helps you whether you\u2019re in an upright or freefall position. It resets your body to a symmetrical position, aiding in a better reserve deployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RESERVE<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Pull the reserve handle all the way through to ensure the reserve pin is successfully extracted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ARCH (Again)<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Arch again because you may have dropped a shoulder while pulling the reserve handle. By arching, you create more speed and less surface area. Most of the time, the reserve pilot chute (under spring tension) will launch into clean air and inflate, but there are cases where it may fall into your burble, especially if you\u2019re wearing camera wings or a wingsuit. So arch strongly (collapse your wings if applicable) and help the pilot chute do its job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1, 2, 3 THOUSAND<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

If your pilot chute is stuck in your burble, looking back over your shoulder after about 3 seconds will allow air to flow and help it inflate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IS IT THERE?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

If your reserve hasn\u2019t opened, start working hard. Use your elbows to push on the container and loosen it to help the freebag come out. Fight for your life to the very end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IS IT BIG?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Is the canopy inflated? If your slider is stuck high, grab the toggles and perform big flares to bring it down. Fight for your life to the very end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IS IT SQUARE?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Imagine this situation: you\u2019ve cut away, pulled your reserve, and notice a brake line over the middle of your canopy\u2014creating a line over and deforming your parachute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the line over is near the wingtip, you might be able to clear it with a strong flare. If it\u2019s in the center (\u201cbow-tie\u201d shape), you can use your hook knife to cut the single brake line, releasing the line over and restoring a square canopy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep in mind that you\u2019ll now have only one brake toggle, so your best option is to land using the rear risers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you practiced rear riser landings?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWIST FREE?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a reason we all have a hard deck for emergencies\u2014it gives us enough time to deal with our reserve canopy and find a safe landing area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now imagine this: your AAD fires, you\u2019re below 800 feet, your reserve opens with line twists, and you can\u2019t clear them before hitting the ground. What do you do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This scenario should be discussed with your canopy instructor or an experienced BASE jumper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hint: It\u2019s possible to land safely with line twists if done correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Timothy Parrant<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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BRAKES, TURNS, AND FLARE<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever flown your reserve parachute in a controlled environment? Is your reserve larger or smaller than your main canopy? Do you know if it requires a different flare technique?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At low altitude, under a new type or size of canopy, isn\u2019t the best time to learn new skills. That\u2019s why I recommend practicing with a reserve canopy in a controlled environment\u2014for example, by demo-jumping a reserve canopy hooked up to your container as if it were a main. You\u2019ll still have two canopies in your system, but your \u201cmain\u201d will be an identical model to your reserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t have that option and you\u2019re flying your reserve for the first time in an emergency, perform a quick control check. This will give you a sense of how the canopy handles and help you identify any issues before landing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

There are many different emergencies, situations, and procedures, but if we all build the habit of following through after pulling the reserve handle, and continue the full sequence, we\u2019ll improve our chances of making better decisions under stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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