avgjoe 0 #1 March 25, 2011 How can container manufacturers ban an aad in their rig? An aad does not change the functionality of the reserve deployment. An aad is not required to be used. A container was tso'd with a single reserve but riggers regularly packed other tso'd reserves in the containers. Is this an issue of rigger rights vs manufacturers liability? Avgjoe Hook it for safety Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
indyz 1 #2 March 25, 2011 Quote An aad does not change the functionality of the reserve deployment It absolutely can. In a rig with the cutter above the PC, if the cutter does not fully cut the loop it may trap the loop and prevent the reserve from deploying even if the handle is pulled. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
koppel 4 #3 March 25, 2011 Here is a reply that I got from one manufacturer when I quizzed them on AAD approval's in their rigs. Quote Background 1. TSO TSOs are granted type certifications for all kinds of aircraft or other devices used in controlled airspace by the relevant CAAs Personal Parachute assemblies and components thereof are under TSO C23 (x) The minimum performcance requirements are currently laid out in AS 8015B This document defines the scope and the types of parachutes that can be authorised with a TSO (both US and Euro) 2. AAD AADs are out of the scope of AS 8015B and are also not covered under any other official document. 3. Chronology of our problem Normally, you as a rigger can only legally assemble components which are qualified under the same TSO as you are compiiing a "new aircraft" and therefor take over the responsibility of it. This is no problem as both components fullfill the same minimum standard and are placarded accordingly. There is no CAA worldwide that requires the use of a AAD by law or regulation in conjunction with preplanned jumps from aircraft (skydiver) or emergency jumps (flight crew) This is why a AAD is out of the legal system of the certification chain. It is a additional safety device, a skydiver can choose to have or not. ( saying this, I am aware of that it is made mandatory by all governing bodies worldwide and therefor a must to be able to get on the load) Nevertheless, you are not illegal if you don't have one: This device though interacts with the reserve container, whose opening sequence was once tested and certified under specified terms in AS 8015B This means a deployment by manual action in pulliing the reserve pin. Now a AAD is installed, which bypasses the certified deployment mode and cuts the loop somewhere inside the container and alteres everything. This is excactly the point where every H/C manufacturer should stop taking responsibility. WE DID. Why ? Because even if we would conduct our own tests, there is no international standard for testing AADs in conjunction with a personel parachute assembly. AND, since the AAD is not inside any aviation regulation, such testing would not be leagally backed. PLUS, we would take full responsibility for something quite important that we do not manufacuter. The AAD comes in last into the so called single harness reserve parachute system by special request of the user. This is why the AAD manufacturer has to make available a installation instruction and proof that if his device is installed into a certain container, the new overall system will work as generated by the new function introduced by the AAD. Compare it to chip tuning of cars If you ever touch the manufacturer defined engine management system and install a 3rd party tuning chip, you will loose your guarranty and possible your insurance, should you end up in a accident with this mod. Again, I can always agree that the installation of a AAD will not affect the TSOed performance of my manually activated reserve but I cannot take responsibility of the interaction, once the AAD starts to work as intended Is all clearer now ? CheersI like my canopy... ...it lets me down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #4 March 27, 2011 Container design is a complex process, that requires dozens of components to work together correctly. Changing any one component can prevent the container from opening. If a container manufacturer says that an AAD component is incompatible - with their container - I don't install it. Just this wmorning, I assembled and packed a Mirage, but left the Argus out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
