Attention to Detail in an I&R

[skybytch 273]

The lower steering lines in the pics below were recently discovered lurking underneath the velcro keepers.

On a reserve.

Attention to detail...

[pchapman 279]

Yikes.
Soft PD line material?
Presumably on a reserve that was used, after which the happy-to-be-alive jumper didn't stow the toggles on the velcro, and let the lines get all chewed up?
Or were the velcro toggle covers badly folded, chewing the lines when packed?

[riggerrob 643]

Looks like the last few riggers did not inspect the lower steering lines.

"Fluff and stiff" is the most profitable way to repack reserves. $$$$$$$$$$

[skybytch 273]

They were on a reserve that came in for a routine I&R (out of date, not after use). Velcro covers were fine.

[jimmytavino 16]

Quote

They were on a reserve that came in for a routine I&R (out of date, not after use). Velcro covers were fine.

simple then,,, WHO was the last rigger to sign off on it...?

i've always imagined that a repack consists of pulling the reserve completley OUT,,, going over everything, and then Packing It!!.right???

but, could be.....
i dunno,
but maybe.,..
some riggers, only do a "modified version" of the UNpack procedure..
especially IF they are the rigger, who ALWAYS does the repack...
any actual testimony to support this possibility???

besides, what skybytch has just now brought to our attention...

jt

[kingbunky 3]

i was at a boogie last spring and a friend had a cutaway. the rig was back in his hands in well under an hour. even if i was just doing a 'fluff and stuff' (which i don't do) it would take me longer than that just to pack it! no way an inspection of any sort was done. kinda bothered me, especially after a deployment.

"Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart."
MB4252 TDS699
killing threads since 2001

[yoink 321]

I've always been curious how jumpers are supposed to know the reliability of their rigger if they're not a rigger themselves.

This is a great example.
It's a case of something that any inspection should have caught. It obviously wasn't and this reflects badly on the rigger that last signed off on it, but other than knowing that there's a sketchy rigger out there, it doesn't change anything for the rest of us. People will keep going to this person because they're not aware of this mistake.

As far as I'm aware, it's extremely rare for people to name-and-shame riggers in the sport who do a sub-par job. It's always 'the current rigger should let the last one know' and a keep-it-in-the-family attitude to any faults that are found.

I'd love to see a transparent database of names and reported faults against riggers. Equally, I'd love to see positive glowing reports that we could make better decisions on.
At the moment it's pretty much a word-of-mouth lottery.

[erdnarob 1]

Most of the riggers are honest persons but some rig owners are not always alright and forged signatures have been seen here and there and not by riggers. I have myself discovered a case where a DZO had pen packed a tandem rig. He was stupid enough to leave the rigger seal on the rig but the signature and place were unreadable obviously on purpose. All of that to save 70$. The fact it wasn't his personal rig was really a pity. A good way to be sure a rig has really been repacked is to pull the reserve when it is due and air it. It is known that the famous Dave deWolf of Pennsylvania was asking 60$ for a reserve repack and 160$ for a repack when the reserve has not been pulled. Pulling yourself a reserve when due is a unique opportunity to feel the force necessary to get the launch of the pilot chute. Why not take advantage of this, it can save your life.

Learn from others mistakes, you will never live long enough to make them all.

[koppel 5]

Quote

I've always been curious how jumpers are supposed to know the reliability of their rigger if they're not a rigger themselves.

easy!

i encourage all my customers to come and watch their reserve being repacked anytime they like.

i also encourage them to bring a 6-pack of good beer to drink afterwards for them to ask all their questions then rather that during the pack job itself if possible.

I like my canopy...


...it lets me down.

[riggerrob 643]

Quote

Most of the riggers are honest persons but some rig owners are not always alright and forged signatures have been seen here and there and not by riggers. I have myself discovered a case where a DZO had pen packed a tandem rig. He was stupid enough to leave the rigger seal on the rig but the signature and place were unreadable obviously on purpose. All of that to save 70$.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

I am assuming that he did not do a "25 jump inspection" either ????????????????????????

• Quote

[councilman24 37]

As I've said before I want customers to pull their reserves. But in front of me. I want to see what the pack job looks like, (whether I did it or not) who's seal is on it (just packed a pilot rig that had a seal that didn't match the card, last pack job had been a pencil pack), maybe the pull force, how the PC launches, how it's stowed in the container and packed in the bag.

And I'd prefer to have it pulled with the main in it. That's how I found the Quasar II flinger problem.

If they want to watch, great. But they get a better pack job if they don't and I'm not distracted. Of course one girl friend/customer's answer to this? "I'll watch you pack someone else's."

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE