Snatch force. The shock produced on the load when the parachute assembly fully strings out and becomes suddenly accelerated to the same speed as the load. Comes just prior to opening shock.

Sniveling. Slow opening of a parachute.

SPEC. Specification and/or MIL-SPEC (military specification).

Spiral vane pilot chute. A pilot chute with a cone-shaped, cloth-covered coil spring used in free-type parachute assemblies.

Splicing. The process of joining together, as the interweaving of strands, overlapping and stitching of materials.

Split saddle. The lower part of a harness that has independent leg straps; no saddle cross strap.

Sport parachuting. The making of premeditated parachute jumps for pleasure.

Sport rig. A skydiving harness and container system.

Square knot. A strong knot for joining two cords or lines, which does not slip or loosen easily.

Square parachute. A gliding or ram-air canopy having a square or rectangular shape.

Stand. A sewing machine table.

Static line. A line, cable, or webbing, one end of which is fastened to the pack, the other to some part of the launching vehicle; used to open a pack or to deploy a canopy.

Static line operated parachute. A parachute operated by a length of webbing after a jumper has fallen the length of the static line. The ripcord pins are pulled from the pack, the parachute opens, and a “break tie” breaks, freeing the parachute.

Static line system. A parachute system that is attached to the aircraft with a line and automatically deploys the parachute.

Straps. The webbing components of a harness.

Surgeon’s knot. A type of knot commonly used for tying nylon threads or cords in place of a square knot to prevent mis-tying.

Suspension lines. Cords or webbing of silk, nylon, cotton, rayon, or other textile materials that connect the drag surface of the parachute to the harness. They are the means by which the wearer or weight is hung or suspended from the inflated canopy.

Swages. The ball or other device used at the end of a ripcord to secure the cable to the handle.

Tail pocket. A deployment device sewn onto the tail of a ram-air canopy used to stow the suspension lines.