Short-haul escape system and method

A short-haul escape system installed on a load-transporting airborne vehicle, the system comprising:

• (a) a support member on a load-transporting airborne vehicle;
• (b) an elongated load line detachably suspended from the support member of the airborne vehicle;
• (c) a load-carrying receptacle attached to an end of the load line;
• (d) a parachute;
• (e) a container attached to the airborne vehicle in proximity to the support element thereof and releasably stowing the parachute such that the parachute can be pulled from the container;
• and
• (f) an interconnecting member attached at one end to the parachute stowed in the container and extending from the container to an opposite end of the interconnecting member secured to the load line such that upon detaching the load line from the support member of the airborne vehicle, which will cause the load line and load-carrying receptacle to fall away from the airborne vehicle, the interconnecting member will pull the parachute from the container so that the parachute can inflate and slow the fall of the load line and receptacle to a soft landing.

A short-haul escape method, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a container having a parachute stowed therein and releasable means for permitting pullout release of the parachute from the container;
• (b) attaching the container to a load-transporting airborne vehicle in proximity to a support member on the vehicle;
• (c) detachably attaching an elongated load line to the support member on the airborne vehicle and an end of the load line to a load-carrying receptacle;
• (d) connecting one end of an interconnecting member to the parachute stowed in the container and extending the interconnecting member from the container through the releasable means of the container;
• (e) connecting an opposite end of the interconnecting member to the load line adjacent to the support member on the airborne vehicle;
• (f) detaching the load line from the support member so as to cause the load line and load-carrying receptacle to fall away from the airborne vehicle;
• and
• (g) in response to detaching the load line from the support member on the airborne vehicle, pulling the parachute from the container by the interconnecting member so that the parachute can inflate and slow the fall of the load line and receptacle to a soft landing.