Human-rated certification

What is certified

Where human-rated certification is required but not currently defined by the authorities, we can offer certification services in alignment with EN European Norm standards, for custom and specialised requirements.

We develop and produce canopies, harnesses, airbags and parachutes to EN certification standards for defense, aerospace and special mission applications. EN certification itself can only be obtained through an accredited certification laboratory, and we work with such accredited external laboratories to carry out the certification programs. Our own testing capabilities are listed below.

Test scope

Shock and load testing runs in two stages. First the shock test: the parachute is laid out across the track like a wall and connected by rope to an accelerating truck. As the slack is taken up, a sudden and massive shock load hits the canopy — a pre-defined weak link must break without damaging the parachute. Only upon successful completion of the shock test is the load test performed: the parachute is connected to a truck that accelerates along a runway, gradually increasing speed to achieve a dynamic load of up to 4,000 kg.

• In-flight deployment from helicopters to evaluate real-world aerodynamic performance and reliability.
• Helicopter drop testing: free-drop testing of payloads to validate opening forces, descent rates and deployment sequence reliability.
• Impact measurements with high-precision instrumentation to measure landing forces on various terrains.
• Strength and durability testing: tensile and structural integrity testing of harnesses, airbags and load-bearing components to verify compliance with EN and applicable defense standards.
• Airbag performance evaluation: impact energy absorption, inflation speed and pressure retention, for UAV, manned aircraft and ground-based applications.

Beyond EN

The certification process ensures that every product meets not only EN standards but also defense-grade operational requirements. By combining over 50 years of aerodynamic expertise with testing facilities, we develop and test systems for civil and military applications.

Why certification matters

Certification documents whether the equipment meets the requirements covered by the tests.

The certification process also proves independent results of tests by an accredited, well-known, objective body, and can help obtain FAI approvals and proof of safety for human applications — especially valuable in the case of air taxis and new-generation VTOL human-carrying systems.