Why no parachutes on large jets?

Factual Questions
1

Is it possible, has it been tested? I’m thinking it could deploy hundreds of small ones, or a handful of very large ones to lessen the impact of a plane that has failed.

2

I’m pretty sure the idea has been examined - I believe it’s the case that parachutes of sufficient surface area (and all the lines, etc) to make a difference to the uncontrolled descent of a jet liner would weigh so much and take up so much space as to make it uneconomical to fly.

Plus… once the parachutes are out, you can’t glide - there is little control.

3

I don’t know if the idea has seriously been considered or tested. But I do know two things: First, a passenger jet cruises at about 500-600 miles per hour, and I think takeoff and landing speeds are well over 100 MPH. I don’t think a parachute would last long at that velocity. Second, have you seen parachutes that people use? A Boeing 777 has a maximum gross weight in the 600,000 pound range, so imagine enough parachute power to handle weight equivalent to 3,000 Green Berets.

The only aircraft I’ve heard parachutes being used for were the space capsules.

4

Somebody makes a small plane that has a parachute big enough for the plane. Of course you have to find a flat spot to land even with the parachute, you don’t want to be over a forest.

5

We have had some prior threads on parachutes and airplanes. For everyone’s convenience, and to keep the search hamsters from overwork.

Airliners and parachutes:

Mostly small planes:

6

The modern versions of Cirrus small airplanes have whole plane parachutes (I think they are standard or close to it). I know of at least two incidents with their aircraft and people aboard that were saved by it and maybe more. There are retrofit kits for some other small planes but they are very expensive.

http://www.cirrusaircraft.com/parachute/default.aspx

However, we have done the airliner/parachute question many times here. It simply won’t work for a variety of reasons even if you could make a parachute that big and store it somewhere on the plane. Most people in airliner accidents still survive. The most important safety feature is a very skilled crew which was proved today by an airliner crash in the Hudson river.