Fired my reserve before a repack this morning...

[ntrprnr 0]

Damn, those pilot chutes launch fast.

time I ever did it.

Interesting thing. When I pulled my cutaway handle, it didn't strip entirely through the housing. I pulled all the way down to a fully extended arm, then went for my reserve.

I'm assuming I would know to go for my reserve after I feel myself go back into freefall, but it kind of surprised me when I finished pulling the reserve handle and there was the cutaway handle, still hanging there.

Is it not supposed to strip entirely clear?

Edited because I'm a spelling dumbass.

_______________
"Why'd you track away at 7,000 feet?"
"Even in freefall, I have commitment issues."

[riggermick 7]

Is it not supposed to strip entirely clear?



Nope, it worked as advertised. Unless you have 4' arms it's impossible to clear. That's why some people come across their chest with the left arm/ hand and clear the cables (while still holding on to the pud with the right hand) before reaching for the reserve rip chord. Talk to your instructor before try this especially @ your current experience level.

Mick.

[CrazyL 0]

Yes young rabbit. Everything in your post is right. Now, to help you understand: The cutaway cables have a long side and a short side. The long side routes from the right side harness(cutaway handle) around the back of the neck (through the yoke) and exits nearest the mudflap on the left side. The long side cable is more than likely longer than the distance that you can pull the cutaway handle thus leaving some cable in the housing once you have cutaway. When you cutaway did you observe how much distance your hand travels with the cutaway handle when the cables release the 3 rings?

[MF42 0]

Quote

Is it not supposed to strip entirely clear?



Nope, it worked as advertised. Unless you have 4' arms it's impossible to clear. That's why some people come across their chest with the left arm/ hand and clear the cables (while still holding on to the pud with the right hand) before reaching for the reserve rip chord. Talk to your instructor before try this especially @ your current experience level.

Mick.

In my recent FJC my instructor advised me to clear the cables, and that is what I've been practicing. I'm curious about why you qualify your advice "especially @ your current experience level." I don't understand what experience, or rather the lack of experience in my case, has to do with clearing the cables. Why might it not be a good idea to clear them?

And don't worry, I'll keep practicing what I was taught until my instructors say different. Just curious.

Matt

[meatbomb 0]

Quote

I'm curious about why you qualify your advice "especially @ your current experience level." I don't understand what experience, or rather the lack of experience in my case, has to do with clearing the cables.Why might it not be a good idea to clear them?

It's not the clearing of cables, as such, but rather the changing of reserve drills that shouldn't be done with low experience.

Quote

And don't worry, I'll keep practicing what I was taught until my instructors say different. Just curious.

Bingo!

---
Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii!
Piccies

[ZigZagMarquis 9]

If your DZ has a hanging harness... next reserve repack, get with your local rigger and hook you and your rig, sans your main, to the "main risers" in the hanging harness or a suitable substitute... suspend yourself & rig a foot or so off the ground... Cut-Away & pull your Reserve.

[rwieder 0]

This is a good practice drill. It is one that i was taught by a vey reputable insructor years ago. I needed a reserve re-pack, he was standing there and i was going to hand him my rig, he said go ahead and pull your reserve handle, i thought "O.K." so i did it, i couldn't believe the strength of the spring in that J-4. My cable didn't clear all of the way either on the right shoulder, it was 1/4" from clearing all of the wayr, i thought "would it clear or hang a riser in a real emergency procedure??!!##"

I got to find out not too much longer after that when i had severe unrecoverable line twists at the AOTMB about a month later, it did clear then i think because of the weight on the harness?? (By the way, i kept my handles) although when i went to unstow the brakes on my PD-193 i dropped the reserve cut-away handle. RATS!

Hanging harnesses are even better because you will find your handles are not in the same place with weight suspended on them VS where they are with your rig on with no weight suspended on the harness.

Great Post!

-Richard-
"You're Holding The Rope And I'm Taking The Fall"

[riggermick 7]

Quote

Quote

Is it not supposed to strip entirely clear?



Nope, it worked as advertised. Unless you have 4' arms it's impossible to clear. That's why some people come across their chest with the left arm/ hand and clear the cables (while still holding on to the pud with the right hand) before reaching for the reserve rip chord. Talk to your instructor before try this especially @ your current experience level.

Mick.

In my recent FJC my instructor advised me to clear the cables, and that is what I've been practicing. I'm curious about why you qualify your advice "especially @ your current experience level." I don't understand what experience, or rather the lack of experience in my case, has to do with clearing the cables. Why might it not be a good idea to clear them?

And don't worry, I'll keep practicing what I was taught until my instructors say different. Just curious.

As Meatbomb said, it's not that clearing them isn't a good idea at your level, but ANY CHANGE in procedures could potentially kill you. I've seen it happen, some simple change to a procedure in a low timers emergency drills not fully understood and practiced and in a moment of panic can cause a disaster.


Mick.

[MF42 0]

Understood, thanks!

Matt