RIGGER 0 #1 October 2, 2004 PD reserves has boxes on the tail label to mark the canopy packing/deployment history. PD reserve also have an annual 30.lb fabric pull test. This marking system is the best to control the reserve history & also serves as a backup in case that the owner lost the packing card. The first box on a new reserve must be marked at the very first Assembly, Inspect & Repack. PD reserve are limited to 40 repacks or 25 deployments which come first & after that the canopy should be sent to PD for re-certification. I have seen canopies which the no. of repacks in the card did not match the marked boxes on the tail: the no. of the marked boxes were LESS then the card repacks & no evidence on the card for the pull test. Filling the boxes is MANDATORY by PD & riggers MUST do that !!! PD also mandate the 30 lb. fabric pull test once a year, the best at the reserve repack close to the date of mfg. The test should be done according to PD manual & MUST be write on the packing card. Riggers, please take care to fill the boxes & perform the pull test according the manual. PD reserve owners be aware of that, PD did it for the Safety of the owners of PD reserve canopies. SAFE RIGGING. _________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tombuch 0 #2 October 4, 2004 QuotePD also mandate the 30 lb. fabric pull test once a year, the best at the reserve repack close to the date of mfg. The test should be done according to PD manual & MUST be write on the packing card. Can you provide a bit more detail about the annual "pull test?" I have two PD reserves, manufactured in 1992 and 1996, and the instruction manuals don't say anything about a pull test. Is this a new supplemental?Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mark 107 #3 October 4, 2004 Older editions of the PD Reserve Owner's Manual describe the pull test, which could be read as being part of the inspection required at every repack. In the 2002 edition, the wording is clearer: "Fabric testing should be done annually (at the appropriate repack cycle)." There is still some ambiguity there: "should" is not the same as "must." The FAA does not require riggers to perform reserve manufacturer recommended maintenance, in contrast to AADs, where the "recommended" maintenance is mandatory. The procedure is the same in either case. Para-Gear sells appropriate clamps (basically Vise-grip pliers with 1-inch wide rubber-faced jaws), clamped 3 inches apart; a 30-pound load is applied for 3 seconds. The test is done three times: at the left end top surface, the right end top surface, and the center top surface near the trailing edge. These are the areas most likely to fail first. The manual provides additional details on exactly how to do the tests. Mark Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
