Advanced Aircrew Personnel Lowering Device

This proposal addresses the need for a modern aircrew personnel lowering device (PLD) to help parachutists extricate themselves from trees. The existing PLD design is over three decades old and is large and cumbersome. A more compact and streamlined device is desired as a future replacement. Creare proposes to develop a new PLD that uses a small, high-strength cord, a friction device that operates independent of the cord, and a novel thermal management approach. Several PLD systems that utilize these basic design concepts are proposed for further study and development in Phase I. In Phase I, we will evaluate preliminary system designs using finite element models to evaluate structural integrity and thermal management. The most promising concepts will be evaluated by constructing and testing prototype hardware. In Phase II, we will develop a complete prototype system, provide evaluation units to the Air Force, and work with a manufacturing partner to develop a manufacturing prototype.