Aviation Safety Resources (ASR) has been awarded patent No. 7934682 from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its TriChute Safe Landing System. The new patent revises and updates the technology from a previous patent.
The TriChute Safe Landing System is designed to equip general aviation aircraft with a pilot-controlled mechanism that lands passengers and aircraft safely in the event of an in-flight emergency. The technology activates a series of ballistic systems that separate the passenger compartment from the fuel-containing wings and deploys three parachutes that bring the passengers and wings down in separate, controlled level landings.
“The fact is, three parachutes are better than one,” said Dario P. Manfredi, ASR president. “ASR’s TriChute technology expands and improves upon existing single-chute designs which are limited to smaller aircraft. The TriChute system is designed to safely land six-passenger aircraft and, down the road, even commuter jets, larger fixed aircraft and helicopters.”
The additional patent adds to the strength of the company’s intellectual property portfolio, which includes the original TriChute safety system (U.S. Patent No. 5,009,374) proven and tested in 1967 by Manfredi’s father, Dario J. Manfredi, using a specially equipped Stinson Voyager in an FAA-sanctioned flight at Lakehurst (NJ) Naval Air Station. The system worked as designed, separating the wings and bringing the fuselage down safely with little or no damage. A video of that test flight can be seen here.
In addition to ASR’s two patents, the company’s application for a sensor-based Smart Recovery System (SRS) has been accepted for both national and international review and is in the final stages of approval with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, company officials said.
Applying sensor systems currently available in commercial and military aircraft to general aviation aircraft, the Smart Recovery System detects the environment in which the aircraft is operating and makes decisions based on monitoring data. The system immediately evaluates an emergency situation, identifies the devices and systems available on the aircraft, and then automatically deploys the appropriate device and/or system in the safest manner unless overridden by the pilot.
The system is designed to deploy whatever safety systems are available on the aircraft to rectify an in-flight emergency, such as verbal warning systems, fire extinguisher systems, autopilot, flight control systems, airbags and ballistic parachuterecovery systems including the TriChute Landing System.
“Most pilots will fly their entire careers without ever needing the protection provided by ASR technology,” Manfredi said. “Pilots don’t think about safety systems. They don’t plan for accidents caused by loss of control or failure of one or more components of delicately balanced flying systems …including the pilots themselves! But every year some 5,000 general aviation pilots are forced to face near-death crises and 20% never live to tell about it. Avionic companies have made great strides in creating new features, however, none begin with a comprehensive diagnostic and instant awareness or offer the integrated solutions promised by our Smart Recovery System and backed up by our TriChute system.”
For more information: AviationSafetyResources.com
