Two canopies out at a glance: biplane, side-by-side, downplane and entanglement. What the USPA teaches and why the decision belongs in training.
The honest answer up front: "two canopies out" means that main and reserve parachutes are open at the same time. It is rare but a standard topic in training, because the right reaction depends on the configuration and because you must recognise it in seconds [1]. The USPA knows four cases: biplane, side-by-side, main-reserve entanglement and downplane [1].
The most important sentence for you: in three of the four cases you land both canopies, in one (downplane) you cut away from the main canopy, regardless of altitude [1]. That is the only exception to the 1,000 ft limit (about 300 m) for cutting away [1].
This guide is an overview, not a how-to. Two-canopy procedures are practised in the harness trainer with an instructor, and you will make the decision later in seconds, not after reading. Ask your instructor about your school's procedures.
The USPA names two causes: an automatic activation device (AAD) can fire because you did not pull at the planned altitude, or you pulled the reserve below the 1,000 ft limit without cutting away [2]. Prevention therefore means altitude awareness and protecting your handles [1].
The USPA describes four cases [1]:
Milestone: you can match all four from a photo to a name and a reaction.
For biplane, side-by-side and entanglement the USPA rule is: land both canopies. The principle: leave the toggles as they are, steer gently on the rear risers, do not flare and do a PLF [1]. If there is an entanglement, the USPA says never give up trying to clear it or inflate the parachutes, and to make the canopies fly as straight as possible [1].
With a downplane you cut away from the main canopy, regardless of altitude [1]. That is the only exception to the 1,000 ft limit. Milestone: you can explain what a downplane is: the two canopies separate and fly toward the ground [1].
The procedures are long proven, yet they are a training matter. The Swedish fatalities show that activation failures and line entanglements occurred among students [4]. The DFV manual specifies that instructors do not deliberately intervene in a student's emergency procedure but separate [5]. So you must be able to do it yourself.
This explains and motivates, it does not replace supervised training. Emergency procedures are sequences you must practise in the harness trainer.
Make the question "Is a canopy still carrying me?" your first reflex. In a downplane the answer is no, in the other configurations yes. The USPA phrases the core rule as two cases: land both canopies or cut away [1]. Whoever asks the question before reaching for a handle decides in the right order (practical experience).
Main and reserve canopies are open at the same time. The USPA distinguishes four cases: biplane, side-by-side, main-reserve entanglement and downplane [1]. The right reaction depends on the case.
No. According to the USPA you land both canopies in a biplane, side-by-side and entanglement. Only in a downplane do you cut away from the main canopy, regardless of altitude [1]. You practise this in training.
The USPA names: an automatic activation device fires because you did not pull at the planned altitude, or you pull the reserve below 1,000 ft without cutting away [2].
The sources read give no reliable figure. The USPA lists them among the "unusual malfunctions" [1].
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