Which statement is true about a progress capture device (PCD)?

• A. PCDs can be either hardware or software
• B. Personal ascenders can be used as PCD's when more than one person's weight is being lifted
• C. PCD tenders are needed to ensure the PCD grabs the rope when needed
• D. The arrow on an ascender used as a PCD points towards direction of pull

Answer: (A)

Progress capture devices are used to arrest or control rope movement when moving a load in a rope rescue system. The statement is correct because PCDs can be hardware devices that physically grab and lock the rope, or software approaches—techniques and configurations using ordinary gear and controlled operator actions—that achieve the same capture without a dedicated device. In practice, you might rely on a mechanical brake or auto‑locking device as a hardware PCD, or you might implement a procedure using friction, proper rope handling, and braking to stop the rope’s progress. The other options describe specific uses or features (like using personal ascenders for multiple weights, or arrow orientation) that aren’t defining characteristics of PCDs and aren’t universally true across setups.