anyone seen this? French Vigil SB

[skydivepete 0]

HI just received this from France...

Pete

http://www.ffp.asso.fr/IMG/pdf/CS_122.pdf

[slotperfect 7]

Would someone with skills in Francais please translate this into English?

Arrive Safely

John

[skydivepete 0]

It was for the photos but I will (short version though)

for now the current cutter (not the new one) causes quite some problems.

Vigil seems to have a new cutter now, However replacment is not mandatory. Seeing the photos I don't understand that but OK I am not a rigger and would like to hear how a rigger feels about this after seeing the photos.

I am not current and not experienced but I was once told that checking the loop is important as worn out loops are dangerous. Seeing the one on the photo is why I posted.

cheers,
Pete

[chris74 0]

Hi Birds,
Same problem as before, the plastic insert of the cutter can damage the reserve loop by friction.FFP imposes a visual check by a rigger and a replacement of the defective cutter if necessary.
Blue skies
Chris

[skydivepete 0]

Thanks Chris,
any idea how often this occurs? Cannot be that many.

Cheers
Pete

[USPA 0]

At my DZ already 2 this year, of the repacks I attended (and I attended 4)

The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

[ericfradet 0]

since I am the one who wrote the safety note in French, I guess I can answer this one : the note says that plastic loop on Vigil cutter made before August 2006 ( since then, there are in stainless steel ) can break during a pacjkjob on any kind of rig ( this what is happenned in the first picture) , whatever is the cutter location, without being the rigger fault, only due to the fact that the plastic loops are weak and work against some metal piece (grommet). For instance on rigs like Javelin, where the cutter is located on the bottom of the pack tray, it is not possible for the plastic loop to be right inside the grommet's hole (see picture).
Once the plastic loop breaks, it can easily cut the reserve loop jump after jump, but because it could happen at the worst time (when skydivers bend over at the aircraft's door), we ask Riggers to open rigs and inspect very closely plastic loops and reserve loop. If they find any defect, riggers should ask AAD ( Vigil's manufacturer) for a change for stainless steel cutter ( since they are plastic loop less)