Which parachute system measure is important for calculating landing performance?

Wing loading is a crucial measure for calculating landing performance in parachuting. It is defined as the total weight of the jumper (including their gear) divided by the area of the parachute canopy. This ratio greatly affects how the parachute behaves during descent and landing.

When wing loading is high, the canopy descends faster and has less lift, requiring more precise control during landing and potentially resulting in a harder landing. Conversely, a lower wing loading means a slower descent and a more stable ride, which can lead to softer landings. Understanding wing loading allows jumpers to predict their landing performance and make informed decisions about their jump, such as canopy choice and landing techniques.

The other measures, while important in various contexts, do not directly evaluate landing performance in the same way. Canopy size influences overall performance, exit altitude affects freefall time and stability but not directly landing dynamics, and body weight is a factor that contributes to wing loading rather than serving as an independent measure of landing performance. Therefore, wing loading stands out as the key metric for understanding how a parachute system will perform during the landing phase.