A reserve static line, occasionally called a Stevens Lanyard, is a device that automatically opens the reserve parachute container when the main parachute is cut-away. The RSL is a lanyard connecting one or both of the main parachute risers to the reserve ripcord.
The primary advantage of using an RSL is a faster reserve parachute deployment compared with using emergency handles alone; after a cut-away, the RSL will usually activate before the reserve deployment ripcord is pulled. However, proper emergency procedures require the reserve ripcord to be pulled in the event that the RSL is disconnected or not functioning correctly.[1] An RSL also offers protection in the event a jumper cuts-away but does not (or can not) reach for the reserve deployment handle.
The RSL can be disengaged by a skydiver in situations where it is desirable to detach the main parachute without deploying the reserve. Examples of such situations may include certain high-wind landings (in case the parachute must be cut away if the skydiver is being dragged across the ground) or when performing canopy formations. The RSL attaches to the risers through a small metal loop that will disconnect when a fabric tab is pulled.