At Candrone Demo Day 2025, drone enthusiasts and professionals gathered to explore the future of UAV operations. One of the standout conversations of the day featured Omar Husain from AVSS, a company specializing in parachute recovery systems (PRS) for drones. Interviewed by Jacky Heshi from Candrone, Omar shared a wealth of insight into how and why parachutes are becoming essential gear for advanced drone operations—particularly in urban and populated environments.
Why Add a Parachute to a Drone?
Omar was clear from the outset: “You want a parachute on the drone just because you have to.” Parachutes aren’t added for flair—they're required for compliance and safety, especially when flying over people, beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), or in dense urban settings.
Transport Canada and other global aviation regulators mandate additional safety measures for these kinds of operations. A parachute system helps reduce the descent speed of a failing drone, significantly lowering the risk of injury or property damage. It’s not about saving the drone—it’s about protecting the people and infrastructure below.
Reusable Safety: What Happens After Deployment
Contrary to what some may think, AVSS parachutes are not single-use. Once deployed, users can send the unit back to AVSS, where it will be professionally repacked and re-certified for a modest fee. While drone operators can’t repack it themselves (for good reason), this service keeps the system functional and ensures it’s in perfect working order for the next mission.
Installation: Simpler Than It Sounds
Installing an AVSS parachute system is surprisingly straightforward—though it varies depending on the drone model. For example, on the DJI Mavic series, the system bolts on with just two screws and a strap, connecting via USB-C to the drone’s Payload SDK (PSDK) port. This allows seamless integration and communication between the drone and the PRS, enabling pilots to monitor the parachute’s status right from their DJI controller.
Smart Deployment: Preventing False Alarms
A major concern in integrating any emergency system is reliability—particularly when false activations could disrupt missions or damage gear. Omar emphasized that AVSS has developed sophisticated models based on extensive testing to minimize false positives. The system is trained to recognize specific sensor patterns and flight behaviors, ensuring the parachute only deploys when a real failure occurs.
This intelligent decision-making is key for operators flying complex missions where any interruption can be costly or dangerous.
Seamless Integration with DJI Ecosystem
AVSS's parachute system communicates continuously with the drone via USB-C and the DJI Payload SDK. This enables real-time status updates directly in the DJI flight interface, giving pilots full visibility into the parachute system's condition mid-flight.
Moreover, AVSS stays in sync with DJI firmware updates. Whenever DJI releases new software, AVSS tests their system for compatibility and alerts users of any required firmware updates for the PRS via email. This proactive approach ensures that safety systems remain dependable—even as drone platforms evolve.
Safety-Driven Simplicity
The message at the heart of this interview was simple: Drone parachutes are not optional for advanced operations—they’re essential. Whether it’s for regulatory approval or just peace of mind, integrating a PRS from AVSS adds a crucial layer of safety to your aerial toolkit.
Thanks to AVSS’s user-friendly installation, professional repacking service, and deep integration with DJI systems, adopting this technology doesn’t just meet regulatory standards—it helps operators fly with confidence.
As Jacky put it, “Simple as that—drones and parachutes, mainly for safety.” And as the drone industry continues to grow into new airspaces and applications, solutions like AVSS’s parachute systems are leading the charge in making those flights safer for everyone.
Explore Candrone's range of AVSS Parachute Recovery Systems.
