Gulli,

Thats a loaded question.

It depends on any number of factors.

What type of chute?
What type of deployment rig for the chute?
Static Line or free fall?
Wind currents.
Deployment timing.
The individual.

While I am no modern parchute god by any stretch, military chutes vary greatly from civilian models because they have very different purposes. I can tell you, you fall MUCH farther than you want on any jump.

The website mentioned earlier have safety chutes that are somewhat similar to military but not quite. The shape of those chutes are very forgiving to novices and open very gently.

To some what answer your question. The bare minimum I would jump any chute under "normal" circumstances is 200 ft or 20 stories lets say. With the right chute and training you could jump down to 100 ft or 10 stories approx but thats pretty much the limit and very risky at that.

The way I figure it, under 15 stories you can be rescued many other ways or pile down the stairs. That height is a good repelling height too.

Its good to note that a majority of people killed in the twin towers were trapped above the plane impact floors WAY up.

A chute would have been nice to have IMHO. Just get out on the roof and step off.

Now, if we can just get those windows open hmmm.

Mike