The cutaway — the deliberate release of a malfunctioning main parachute — is the defining emergency procedure in skydiving. Every skydiver must be prepared to execute this procedure instantly and correctly if their main canopy fails in a way that cannot be resolved by other means. There is no situation in skydiving where hesitation in executing a cutaway is appropriate. The skydiver who waits too long to cut away a malfunctioning canopy is the skydiver who runs out of altitude before making the decision.
Understanding When a Cutaway Is Necessary
A cutaway is appropriate when your main canopy is not flying correctly in a way that you cannot resolve through other means and that threatens your safety. This includes canopies that are spinning uncontrollably, canopies with severe line twists that cannot be cleared, canopies that have collapsed and will not reinflate, and canopies that are tangled with another canopy or with part of your own body in a way that cannot be manually resolved.
A cutaway is not appropriate for every canopy malfunction. Many malfunctions — minor line twists, slight asymmetry in the opening, minor steering issues — can be managed without cutting away. The decision about whether to cut away requires calm, honest assessment of the situation: can I control this canopy well enough to land safely? If the answer is yes, manage the situation and land. If the answer is no, cut away immediately.
The most dangerous delays in cutaway decision-making come from two sources: the desire to avoid the hassle and expense of a reserve deployment, and the emotional difficulty of acknowledging that something has gone wrong. Neither of these considerations has any place in emergency decision-making. If your canopy is not safe to land, you cut it away. End of discussion.
The Cutaway Sequence: Step by Step
The standard cutaway sequence involves three steps that must be performed in the correct order. First, locate and grasp the cutaway handle — a large handle on the right side of the container, typically colored orange or red for visibility. Second, pull the handle with a firm, decisive motion, which fires the cutaway cable and releases the main risers from the harness. Third, allow the main canopy to fall away on its bridle, then deploy the reserve using the reserve static line or the reserve pilot chute handle.
The cutaway handle on a modern skydiving rig is designed to be findable by touch under any conditions — with gloves, in low visibility, with your eyes closed. You should be able to locate your cutaway handle without looking at it. Practice this during every packing session. Reach for the handle, confirm its location, and practice the pulling motion until it is automatic.
The pull on the cutaway handle must be decisive. The mechanism is designed to fire with moderate force, and a hesitant, gentle pull may not fully activate the cutaway. Pull firmly and completely, as if you are trying to rip the handle off the rig. There is no risk of damaging anything with a forceful pull — the mechanism is designed for this.
Reserve Deployment After Cutaway
On most modern skydiving rigs, the reserve deploys automatically after the main is cut away through the reserve static line — a line that runs from the main riser attachment point to the reserve pilot chute. When the main risers release, this line pulls the reserve pilot chute out of its pouch, which initiates the reserve deployment sequence exactly as a normal manual deployment would work.
This automatic reserve deployment is a major safety advance because it eliminates the need for the skydiver to remember a second action under stress. After cutting away, the skydiver needs only to confirm that the reserve is deploying and then focus on flying the reserve canopy to a safe landing. The reserve static line system has an extraordinary safety record and has saved many lives that would have been lost if the skydiver had needed to manually deploy the reserve.
In the extremely rare event that the reserve static line fails to deploy the reserve, the skydiver must manually deploy the reserve using the reserve pilot chute handle on the left side of the container. This handle is typically different in shape and location from the cutaway handle — typically it is a smaller, more discrete handle located on the left side of the container. If your reserve has not begun to deploy within approximately two seconds of the cutaway, reach for the reserve handle and deploy manually.
Altitude Management During Emergency Procedures
Altitude is the skydiver's most precious resource in any emergency. The moment you recognize a malfunction, the clock starts. You have a finite amount of altitude — and therefore time — before you must have a functioning canopy. Every second spent deliberating, diagnosing, or attempting non-existent recovery procedures is a second of altitude you cannot get back.
The standard practice for cutaway decision-making is to allow approximately 500 feet of altitude for the cutaway and reserve deployment sequence plus a safety margin. This means that if your malfunction occurs at 2,500 feet, you should have cut away by 2,000 feet to ensure sufficient altitude for a safe reserve deployment and landing. If you have not successfully cut away and deployed your reserve by 2,000 feet, your AAD will fire at approximately 1,000 feet, but this is an emergency backup, not a planned part of your response.
After any emergency deployment — whether a manual reserve deployment following a cutaway or an AAD activation — the reserve canopy must be flown conservatively. Reserve canopies are typically more stable but less maneuverable than main canopies, and their descent rate is higher. Plan your landing approach accordingly, and be prepared for a higher descent rate than you are used to on your main canopy.