The Evolution of PARASIM®

From its origins supporting smokejumper training in 1987 to becoming a trusted training solution used by global military organizations, PARASIM® parachute simulator has helped paratroopers and pilots develop key skills, improve mission readiness, and enhance safety without jumping out of an aircraft.

Today, more than 400 PARASIM® systems have been delivered to military, government, and specialized training organizations, supporting everything from emergency egress and bailout training to military freefall and airborne operations.

In the late 1980s, the U.S. Forest Service faced a difficult training challenge.

Smokejumpers, wildland firefighters who parachute into remote areas to combat forest fires, required realistic parachute training to operate safely and effectively. However, live training jumps carried significant risks. Reducing training jumps lowered training injuries but often led to increased injuries during actual operations.

The challenge was clear:

How could paratroopers gain realistic experience without exposing them to unnecessary risk?

Systems Technology, Inc. creatively answered the question.

In 1987, STI was awarded its first contract to develop a graphics-based parachute simulator. The result was PARASIM® parachute simulator, a training system that allowed users to practice canopy control, navigation, and landing techniques in realistic virtual environments before stepping into an aircraft.

The concept was simple but transformative: provide meaningful repetition, realistic decision-making, and practical skill development in a safe, controlled setting.

What began as a solution for smokejumper training quickly demonstrated broader potential.

As military organizations sought safer and more effective ways to train airborne personnel and aircrew, PARASIM® evolved to support a wide range of mission requirements.

Over the years, the system expanded to include:

These capabilities helped establish PARASIM® as a trusted training tool across the military airborne community.

The history of PARASIM® is a story of continuous innovation shaped by customer requirements.

Throughout its evolution, new capabilities were developed in response to real-world training challenges faced by military and government organizations.

Key developments included:

Over the past three decades, PARASIM® has become a globally recognized parachute training solution.

More than 400 systems have been delivered to military and government organizations, including:

Military organizations continue to rely on PARASIM® to provide consistent training that helps jumpers prepare for both routine and high-consequence situations.

PARASIM® supports two critical training missions.

For pilots and aircrews, parachuting is not a mission. It is the last line of defense when everything else has gone wrong.

PARASIM® allows aircrew to practice emergency procedures, canopy control, and decision-making skills needed to improve survivability during ejection and bailout scenarios.

For airborne forces, special operations personnel, pararescue teams, tactical paratrooper units, and smokejumpers, parachuting is a mission-critical skill.

PARASIM® helps users to rehearse procedures, improve accuracy, develop confidence, and prepare for successful mission execution before conducting live operations.

Since its introduction in 1987, PARASIM® has continuously evolved alongside advances in simulation technology and the changing needs of military training organizations.

While the technology has changed dramatically over the years, the mission remains the same:

Provide realistic, effective parachute training that enhances readiness, improves safety, and prepares aircrew and jumpers for the moments that matter most.

Nearly 40 years after its introduction, PARASIM® continues to help organizations train smarter, safer, and more effectively.