to deploy if the reserve pilot chute is captured resulting in a  horseshoe-type malfunction. The high-drag bridle would then  pull the reserve bag off the parachutist’s back and allow the  canopy to deploy free from the bag. In the late 1980s, assistor  pockets were added to some bridles for additional drag as  square reserves became bigger and heavier.  [Figure 2-35]  pilot chute is deployed into the airstream, the airflow inflates  the pilot chute, which deploys the canopy. After opening, the  elastic pulls the apex down again and collapses the pilot chute,  reducing the drag. While this system works, its main drawback  is that certain airspeeds are needed to inflate the pilot chute.  Remember, the primary function of the pilot chute is to initiate  deployment. Collapsing the pilot chute is secondary. The second type is the “kill-line collapsible” configuration. This  consists of a bridle with a full length channel through which  passes a line of Kevlar $^{®}$ or Spectra$^{®}$.  [Figure 2-37]  The bridle  is “cocked” and the lower end of the bridle is collapsed during  packing. This allows the pilot chute to inflate immediately.  During the deployment sequence, as the canopy inflates, the  lower end is stretched to length and the centerline pulls the apex  of the pilot chute down and collapses it. This configuration  has become almost universal in use for skydiving today. The  only drawback is if the user forgets to cock the bridle during  packing. This results in a collapsed pilot chute and a pilot chute  in tow. In the early days of use of the kill-line bridle, this was  a problem but has become less frequent today. Some bridles  have a colored “eye” at the locking pin location to show if it  is cocked and the centerline is set correctly.  [Figure 2-38] Early main bridles were simply longer versions of the reserve  bridles. This was necessary to compensate for the “burble”  created in free fall by the parachutist. In the mid 1970s and  with the advent of the hand deploy pilot chute, the length of  the bridle was critical in order to allow proper extraction of  the locking pin that secured the pack closed. In recent years and with the almost total use of ram-air  parachutes, the need for collapsible main pilot chutes has  become widespread. As the main canopies have become  smaller and faster, the drag of the inflated main pilot  chute after opening can have an adverse effect on canopy  performance. This problem has been solved through the  use of a  collapsible pilot chute/bridle system. There are two  primary designs used to accomplish this. The first is the “bungee” collapsible configuration. This  consists of a length of elastic shock cord inside a tape sheath  on the bridle near the pilot chute end.  [Figure 2-36]  When  relaxed, it holds the apex of the pilot chute collapsed. When the  The kill-line configuration is used almost exclusively on  tandem systems due to the high speeds involved and the size  of the drogue pilot chutes. Some bridles are made from 2"  Figure 2-35.  Freebag assistor pocket. Figure 2-36.  Bungee collapsible bridle. Figure 2-38.  Kill-line eye or window. Figure 2-37.  Kill-line collapsible bridle. 2-16