What is the main purpose of a “cutaway” procedure?

The cutaway procedure is a critical safety protocol in skydiving, specifically designed for situations where the main parachute is not functioning correctly. The main purpose of this procedure is to safely detach the malfunctioning main parachute, allowing the skydiver to deploy the reserve parachute.

When the main parachute fails, the skydiver executes the cutaway by releasing the main canopy. This action ensures that the malfunctioning parachute, which may pose a risk of entanglement or further complication during descent, is no longer attached. Once the main parachute is released, the skydiver can then deploy the reserve parachute, which is a secondary safety system intended to provide a reliable means of descent.

Understanding the cutaway procedure is crucial for all skydivers because it can be the difference between a safe landing and a dangerous situation.