slider kill line & toggle entanglement

[linestretch 0]

Wondering if anyone has ever had this problem. It's never been a problem on my sport rig, but our tandem canopies have collapsible sliders, and some of the guys have had issues where the kill line has tangled in one way or another with one of the toggles. Making for a pretty sketchy situation. I've started tying them together after collapsing it. I know it sound's funny on a tandem, but we jump 300's in high winds, and it does make a difference in drive, and landing.

anyone?

my pics & stuff!

[darkwing 5]

I have heard of this several times, as recently as last weekend with a teammate of mine. Some people now use various tricks to secure the kill lines to prevent unfortunate entanglements (i.e. when hooking or flaring...)

-- Jeff
My Skydiving History

[sdctlc 0]

This might be a good situation for a velcro tab to collapse the slider instead of the kill-line. I have never really liked the velcro for sport rigs but it could easily be worked into my Tandem post jump routine... Might solve your noted concern..

Scott C.

"He who Hesitates Shall Inherit the Earth!"

[linestretch 0]

that's a thought, but I don't think the velcro would hold it closed, or at least, wouldn't last all that long. Plus, it's a little tough reaching the slider as it is. With the kill lines, I can just grab a corner, then work my way to the kill lines and yank. It sucks having short arms. I don't think I could ever do this on a strong.

my pics & stuff!

[slotperfect 7]

I jump PD canopies, and had this problem once long ago when I first started jumping them. To fix it, after collapsing the slider, I simply throw the lanyards over the top of the slider, which effectively shortens the lanyards by the width of the collapsed slider, and lays them on top out of the way. I have not had a problem since.

I have no experience with tandem canopies that have a collapsible slider. Out of curiosity, what canopies are they??

Arrive Safely

John

[sdctlc 0]

Hey, Just a thought. Good luck!

Scott C.

"He who Hesitates Shall Inherit the Earth!"

[webracer 0]

I have had this happen on a number of occasions. The first time I learned of it when I went to flare after coming off rear risers on approach. It all turned out ok, luckily it was a bit windy so I didn't need much toggle stroke to stop.
I have grabbed the kill lines on a couple more occasions, but check carefully as I pull the slider down, and after I get the toggles in my hands I go out to arms length at shoulder level and look.

Troy

I am now free to exercise my downward mobility.

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Out of curiosity, what canopies are they

icarus 300's. Very nice canopies. No brake settings, bitchen openings, and friggin long ass swoops. Granted most of our students weigh about 100-150lbs.(Japanese) but I've taken several well over 200lbs. It's like a sport rig, but tandem style.

I've been tieing the kill lines together after collapsing it.

my pics & stuff!

[riggerrob 643]

With the kill lines, I can just grab a corner, then work my way to the kill lines and yank. It sucks having short arms. I don't think I could ever do this on a strong.

[diablopilot 2]

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icarus 300's

300's? or 330's?

Never heard of a 300. I have most of my tandem jumps on Icarus canopies and haven't seen one with a collapsable slider. Did they come from the factory like that, or were they modified? Can't think of a reason I'd want a colapsable slider on a tandem, given the chance for a mal, or a packer (or myself)to forget to un-kill it.

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[AggieDave 6]

Yeah, a packer that forgets to unkill it could very well seriously hurt a student or passenger. That is the very reason why RWS does NOT have kill lines on their slider. Although listening to the 6-grommet slider flap on our EZ-384 I really wish it could collapse.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[linestretch 0]

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300's? or 330's?

300's. Actually, we have both here, but are jumping the 300's while the winds are high. The 330's are very nice canopies too. I was laughing at the thought of a collapsable slider on a tandem too, but it is nice. Quiet, and no buffeting. Plus (knock on wood) I haven't landed going backwards on the 300's, even with a student that weighs 80lbs, and I'm only 175lbs. As for the sliders, we were modifying them on the 330's, but the 300's came from icarus that way. As for packing, we pack all of our own. And even though it's possible to forget to un-collapse the slider (I know of a gal that did it on her own sport rig), I really don't see it happening. That would be a roockie mistake that you wouldn't forget though.

my pics & stuff!

[Scrumpot 1]

Yes, this has happened to me on my sport rig in the past. Reflex flying an Icarus Safire, and dual kill-line collapsable slider. However, once I changed out my hard-links to SLinks, and instead now collapse my slider behind my head (instead of leaving above the links) this has not happened since.

Blue Skies,
-Grant

coitus non circum - Moab Stone

[riggerrob 643]

linestretch,
What type of harness/containers are you jumping?

[Jumpnfun2 0]

I've had this problem with my sport rig. I fly tandem video. I had my rigger modify the kill line to be basically a loop. The 2 kill lines are attached.
When you go to collapse the slider, you just grab the line that runs at the back end of the slider.
The lines are connected and cannot fly wherever to entangle with your other lines. It works great.
BS,
Sue

[alan 1]

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I fly tandem video. I had my rigger modify the kill line to be basically a loop. The 2 kill lines are attached.
When you go to collapse the slider, you just grab the line that runs at the back end of the slider.
The lines are connected and cannot fly wherever to entangle with your other lines.

I guess the chances of having to cut away your main after you have collapsed the slider are reasonably slim, but things can and do happen. Have you given any thought to that loop you now have dangling near the back of your helmet and camera snagging one or the other in the rare event of a cut away after a canopy collision, for example?

alan

[Hooknswoop 19]

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I guess the chances of having to cut away your main after you have collapsed the slider are reasonably slim,

I think there area number of cutaways each year from brake release problems, such as only one brake releasing or a steering line getting tangled while releasing the brakes, hence the advice to release your brakes above your hard deck. Any slider stow system must be able to release in the event of a cutaway after stowing the slider.

Derek

[alan 1]

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I think there area number of cutaways each year from brake release problems, such as only one brake releasing or a steering line getting tangled while releasing the brakes, hence the advice to release your brakes above your hard deck. Any slider stow system must be able to release in the event of a cutaway after stowing the slider.

Yes, I know. One just has to read this months Safety Check in Parachutist to confirm it. I was just trying to find a subtle way of getting her to think about it without being so blunt as to say her and her rigger had not really thought this through and they may have made a potentially fatal mistake.

I guess I'm just better at being blunt.

alan