Repack Calendar

[JackR 0]

I suspect everyone has created their own repack calendars by now. If you haven't, please try the attached Microsoft Excel file.

When you open the file, enter the current year and the days in your local repack cycle in the available cells. The chart will update with the repack due dates for the year.

This can be printed and kept at manifest, with rental gear, or near your gear check station as a handy quick reference for determining repack dates. (This is mainly for those of us bad at math and can't add 4 to the month.) It can also be kept in the loft to annotate your repack invoices with the next due date.

The variable repack cycle should allow international repack cycles as well.

Packin' Jack
42nd Lost Prairie: The Ultimate Answer to Life, the Universe, and Skydiving
25 Jul - 3 Aug 2009
2007 photos: http://www.skydive.com/prairie/pages/prairie.htm

[NewGuy2005 53]

Thanks

• Quote

[IanHarrop 42]

In Canada the cycle is 180 days. Unfortunately entering this number creates cells that need to be wider and that's a little difficult to do when the sheet is password protected.

"Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy

[bob.dino 1]

Excel passwords are easily crackable.

[IanHarrop 42]

Thanks!

"Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy

[peckerhead 0]

Here is another way to figure it out; Add 4 months to your repack date. With a little practice you can do it without a calender.

[JackR 0]

Or you could just ask me to fix the file.

The calendar prints fine with the 180 day cycle, despite the #### displayed on the screen.

I'm hurt that skydivers don't respect my intellectual property any more than this. Next time I'll just keep my tools to myself.

Packin' Jack
42nd Lost Prairie: The Ultimate Answer to Life, the Universe, and Skydiving
25 Jul - 3 Aug 2009
2007 photos: http://www.skydive.com/prairie/pages/prairie.htm

[xlh883 0]

Jack,

Some of us do appreciate this. With this rig being my first, I have been keeping a mental note of when the pack date will be again. Its new so I haven't had to do the repack yet. Now I can set up some future reminders in Outlook if I want to.

Thanks,

David

[Samurai136 0]

If you're setting reminders in outlook and don't have the spreadsheet handy, remember that 120 days = 17 weeks + 1 day.

Or you could quickly open your excel spreadsheet and create this formula in cell B1:
=A1+120

Key in any date into cell A1 and B1 will tell you the last legal day to jump that reserve.
Remember to format cells A1 and B1 as "dates"

"Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian
Ken

[JackR 0]

Thanks for the encouragement. The calendar can also help you verify that you'll be in date for your favorite boogie.

The Outlook reminders sound like a great idea.

Another, low-tech option is to get some tiny red dot stickers from an office supply store. I use Avery 05790. I put the sticker on the outside of the Cypres control unit pocket right over the button. Then I write the repack due date on the sticker, like 12/26. Now every time you turn on your Cypres, you're reminded when your next repack is due.

If it comes due before next weekend, you can just leave it with the rigger on Sunday and they can probably have it ready for you first thing next Saturday.

This has really helped some of my clients who used to lose track of their repack dates only to get grounded by the DZ.

Packin' Jack
42nd Lost Prairie: The Ultimate Answer to Life, the Universe, and Skydiving
25 Jul - 3 Aug 2009
2007 photos: http://www.skydive.com/prairie/pages/prairie.htm

[BIGUN 1,483]

Why don't most Riggers (whom are computer savvy), create a recurring meeting planner for both themselves and their customers so that both parties are notified. Here's one created with a recurrence every 110 days.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[xlh883 0]

I wasn't using the 120 method, I was just going to set a reminder for a week or so before the actual due date. Your method would work to.

David

[skytash 0]

Thanks Jack - I hadn't bothered with one in the past when I just had one rig to keep track of. Now that I have two, I've saved your calendar twice once for each rig . No more emergency texts to my rigger (which is what I did just a couple of weeks ago!).

tash

Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

[JackR 0]

I've gotten a number of thanks from readers who have found this calendar useful. I'm glad I could help.

I just got a note from a pilot and it reminded me that there are many parachute users and owners who do not regularly check this forum. Please forward the posted copies of this calendar or printed copies of this calendar who may benefit from it.

You may also contact your FBO or FAA representative to see if you can post a copy in the pilot lounge. If you're airport has a number of aerobatic or experimentat pilots. They may not be aware of when their repacks will come due.

Packin' Jack
42nd Lost Prairie: The Ultimate Answer to Life, the Universe, and Skydiving
25 Jul - 3 Aug 2009
2007 photos: http://www.skydive.com/prairie/pages/prairie.htm

[skycat 0]

Cause that would require customers to leave an email address.

We just put a sticker on the packing card with the date that the cypress (maint & batt) is due and when it's time for the next repack. Like I tell my employees it's their responsibility to have their timesheets to me on time, and so I tell my customers that it's their responsibility to have their rig back to me in time.

Fly it like you stole it!

[IanHarrop 42]

Quote

Why don't most Riggers (whom are computer savvy), create a recurring meeting planner for both themselves and their customers so that both parties are notified. Here's one created with a recurrence every 110 days.

There is a free service that will send you reminders...

http://www.rigminder.net

"Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy

[BIGUN 1,483]

I likes that even better.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[ZigZagMarquis 9]

Cool Excel spread-sheet there JackR. I saved a copy off and will keep it with my "rigger's gouge". Hey... what's the password to unprotect the sheet? ... just kidding!

[jerm 0]

Quote

I'm hurt that skydivers don't respect my intellectual property any more than this. Next time I'll just keep my tools to myself.

uhh.. how did they disrespect your IP, exactly?

Landing without injury is not necessarily evidence that you didn't fuck up... it just means you got away with it this time