Aircraft like B737 regularly land on short runways. Why don't they have parachutes to assist slow down?

Question

Is the fusilage not strong enough? A small chute could provide very useful extra drag. A chute wouldn't impose much weight penalty? The chute would be only for emergency use.

The space shuttle was modified to include parachutes.
Some Russian pax jets use them?
In an emergency, aircraft with chutes would have more alternate airports to choose from.

Answer 1

The landing weight of a commercial aircraft is a bit too mutch to be affected by a parachute. Even with ground spoilers, Thrust reverse and auto braking, a 737 (max .landing weight 58 tons) requires a braking way of about 1400 meters. you would hardly decrease the stopping run with 100 meters by using a chute.

Besides that, the take-off run is always longer then the landing distance required. So what's the purpose of being able to land on a runway from which you are not able to take off anymore anyway?

Answer 2

Because thrust reversers are much more efficient and you don't have to repack them everytime you need to fo flying.

One more thing, usually the APU is in the tail of the aircraft. The example you gave, a B737, it sits right there in the tails. It is a mini-turbine engine that would melt most any material you put back there. Plus, I've been in that hole, there's only enough room for the APU and nothing more.

*EDIT*

Because the Russians do it, it's suddenly a good idea? I'd say more that their thrust reverse systems and brakes are inadequate, so they had to supplement the system. Last I checked, all the Russians really do is copy other people's designs.

Answer 3

primarily becasue parachutes are a very primative way of breaking. You must remember that planes are on a tight schedual all the time and it would take a long time to refold every one and put it int. Reverse thrust acts a lot like a parachtutes but stronger. and some planes do have an emergency chute.

Answer 4

Because they don't land at very high speeds. Those older fighters that used a braking chute had very high stall speeds and landed very fast. As a result they needed assistance to stop. They could take off still because of the large amount of power the engines had, providing very high acceleration.

Answer 5

Somebody did make a chute that could be withdrawn back into the canister, removing the need for a roll-up task. But the answers above are the true reasons.