HALO
Arriving With a Whisper

A HALO jump is shortform for High Altitude Low Opening jump. In the HALO method, the parachutist free-falls to the minimum safe altitude before opening his parachute. While this technique makes for a quick insertion it is suitable only where the aircraft can fly directly over the Drop Zone (DZ). In other circumstances, the High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) is used.

In most HALO jumps the jumper exits the plane at 30,000 feet, although altitudes up to 36,000 feet are not uncommon for jumping out. The jumper free-falls for a little over two minutes to within about 2500 feet of the ground, then pulls the rip cord and steers toward the landing point.

At such high altitudes an oxygen supply is needed, jumping out of an airplane at 30,000 feet without an oxygen supply is highly discouraged, to put it briefly: its suicide. At this altitude, hypoxia will set in within minutes. Another highly necessary item is insulated clothing, without it you will freeze to death, remember - the temperature at 30,000 feet is sub-zero.

The HALO jump is by far the most dangerous way to insert via parachute. If something goes wrong when you open your main canopy you have precious few seconds to cut away and deploy your reserve. These seconds could mean the difference between landing safely and becoming a red blotch on the ground. Remember - a jumper falls at roughly 120 mph, giving you a little over 14 seconds to deploy your reserve, lest ye becometh one with the earth.

The Chute

Standard Single User Ram-Air Parachute
Type: Ram-Air Parachute
Skill: Parachute: Ram-Air
Availability: 2
Cost: 1500 (new), 750 (used)
Scale: Character
Size: 6.4m wide, 2.7 long
Body: 2D
Maneuverability: 4D
Move: Forward: 10; 30kmh
 Rate of Descent: Varies. See Chart

Capsule:
This is the standard one person parachute. It is rectangular in shape and consists of a double-layer canopy shaped like an airfoil, which generates lift to extend the descent.

The parachute is worn on the back and activated by a ripcord attached on the user's right hip. An altimeter-based activator can also be used for further safety. The altimeter-based activator is only really necessary when hypoxia is a threat, but can be used as a backup, just in case you *do* pass out. It pulls the ripcord at a predetermined altitude if the jumper passes out. It is used more often on single jumps than tandem jumps because single jumps can safely jump from much higher altitudes (often with oxygen) than tandem jumps.

This chute is used for both the HALO and HAHO jumps.

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This is an original work by Ross Hedvicek