Documented CYPRES Saves

Note: With the introduction of the CYPRES "Field Replaceable Cutter" in March, 1995, there has been a reduced number of accurate activation reports being filed.

About the "CYPRES Saves" List - 12/97 comment by Cliff Schmucker

In June, 1995 the following observation was posted on the Internet Newsgroup "rec.skydiving":

"... So out of those 50+ saves, no more than a third could have been real unless there is some amazing correlation between buying a CYPRES and needing one - and in my experience that correlation just isn't there. The average guy shelling out $1200 a pop would have more of a safety outlook than most."

Lets at least hope that safety awareness and emergency procedures are not less of a concern for CYPRES owners. :-)

Statistics are an interesting thing. Trying to make sense of them is another. One of the things I have gotten an appreciation for over the years is how statistically insignificant the numbers are that we are dealing with in this sport. There are simply not enough participants or skydives made to draw many undeniable conclusions from when all the variables are considered.

Concerning Airtec's "CYPRES Saves" list, a couple of comments: The number could easily be doubled. However, Airtec considers a "Save" to be *only* those incidents where all indications are that there would have been a fatality otherwise. If the skydiver says they were in the process of pulling (even if the loop is cut), in general it is not included on the list.

So, is it possible that in the past 4 years that there could have been an additional 50+ fatalities World-wide otherwise? Another 10-15 a year? First remember our shaky statistical base - (the yearly article in Parachutist is U.S. based fatalities only) - and we don't have a real great world reporting / record keeping system (yet). As was pointed out on the news group, a few of these 50+ might have managed to get an open canopy prior to impact; however some of the others not on the list might not have gotten around to removing the reserve handle from the pocket if they had not been reminded of their altitude by a CYPRES-activated deploying reserve.

Unfortunately, with the other AADs in use, there is no system in place to get even a feel for the number of saves over the past years. I suspect it might be higher than generally thought.

One last note: Airtec is tracking a phenomena of saves that can be attributed to CYPRES and the general acceptance of high-tech AADs by experienced skydivers: Based on the number of CYPRES units in use over the past 4 years, and the *decreasing* percentage of jumps where CYPRES activates at or near the time of main canopy deployment, it is fair to say that CYPRES-equipped skydivers are becoming more altitude aware, and are not humming it as low as they were 3-4 years ago. Thus, the probability that there have been cases where an incident was avoided because a CYPRES-equipped skydiver pulled a little higher than he might have otherwise. This can even be taken a step further: a CYPRES equipped (and perhaps now more altitude aware) skydiver turning and tracking at a reasonable altitude might remind others on the load to open earlier than they might have otherwise. Ah, a new topic for debate: the number of "CYPRES saves" on non-AAD equipped skydivers. :-)

I know many are interested in the "saves statistics", however, once again please consider the possible statistical insignificance and pitfalls in over analyzing the data.

SSK Industries is the U.S. CYPRES Service Representative.