If you worked in a highrise... would you keep a parachute under your desk..?

[PullMyFinger]

Regarding the usefulness of a parachute below the 100th floor, I've watched BASE jumpers sucessfully jump from a 380 foot high bridge (approx 38-40 stories). The primary difference between a BASE rig and a freefall rig is that the BASE rig usually does not have a reserve parachute, since many BASE jumps are at an altitude which does not allow time to deploy a reserve. The other main difference between the two rigs is that the pilot chute on a BASE rig is usually larger than that on a freefall rig to ensure that the parachute can be extracted earlier and at sub-terminal speeds. The parachute within the BASE rig is also packed slightly differently to ensure that it opens quickly and keeps the jumper on heading (you don't want to turn back towards the building or cliff you just jumped off of).

Now, would it be prudent and economically justifiable to equip everbody above the XX floor w/ a parachute? In a word NO. This terrorist attack was a one time deal and probably will never happen again (at least on the same scale).

 

[kikokam]

i would just in case

 

[piku]

I'm surprised that those windows even open... I would have figured that in most of those skyscrapers like that the entire side is like one big piece of plexiglass.

 

[Windogg]

Good idea until everyone in the office gets one. Imagine how many people will be collapsing each other's canopies. Plus there is a reason why your first few jumps are usually tandem jumps. There will always be those that panic in freefall and forget what to do. The circumstances presented in the last week is a horrible exception. The reality is that disasters like this do not happen too often. Having an orderly exit is the key to survival not people jumping off of buildings willy nilly.

Windogg

 

[jpsj82]

"Which unbreakable window are you gonna try to bust out?"

are office building windows unbreakable or would you be able to throw a computer through and parachute away?

 

[bootymac]

<< "Which unbreakable window are you gonna try to bust out?"

are office building windows unbreakable or would you be able to throw a computer through and parachute away? >>



sorry man, no throwing my comp out the window for me! im taking my comp with me!!!! i'll throw my cubical buddy though

 

[AaronP]

well, have a sledgehammer by your desk to so you can break the glass.

 

[jehh]

<< Even on top of the world's tallest buildings it'd be pretty useless. >>



Why? It is called BASE jumping... No big deal... You only need a few hundred feet, and the WTC is 1,700 feet up...

Jason

 

[Jfur]

well you should also remember to wear it all the time, so if sometyhing happens you won't have to fumble in your desk, strap it on, etc

 

[jpsj82]

"well you should also remember to wear it all the time, so if sometyhing happens you won't have to fumble in your desk, strap it on, etc"

or if you are in a meeting on the other side of the building.