TriChute Safe Landing System, developed by Aviation Safety Resources  (ASR), a Glen Head, NY-based life-saving emergency landing systems company, was awarded Patent No. 7934682 from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, on June 8. The new patent, according to a release, revises and updates the technology from a previous patent.

Designed to equip general aviation aircraft with a pilot-controlled mechanism, the TriChute Safe Landing System would lands passengers and aircraft safely in the event of an in-flight emergency. The technology activates a series of ballistic systems that separate the passenger compartment from the fuel containing wings and deploys three parachutes that bring the aircraft, passengers and wings down in separate, controlled level landings, according to ASR.

“ASR’s TriChute technology expands and improves upon existing single-chute designs which are limited to smaller aircraft,” said Dario P. Manfredi, ASR president, who believes three parachutes are better than one.

"The TriChute system is designed to safely land six-passenger aircraft and, down the road, even commuter jets, larger fixed aircraft and helicopters. We believe it will become the standard in aircraft design defining a new era in aviation safety," Manfredi said.