When Cypress Maint is Overdue

[MiataDRM 0]

I'll probably get flamed for just thinking about this...but here it goes! :o) I was wondering how accurate & reliable a cypress remains if one goes past the prescribed 4 yr maint...say w/ in a yr or so (I realize Airtec gives it +/- 3 months). Just curious, I didn't know if anyone ran across any actual data.
**I'm a Pschydiver!
Majdi

[BadDog 0]

I've often wondered why the self-test can only be considered valid if the scheduled maintenance and battery replacement requirements have been met (quote from SSK). Are they saying that the test results are not accurate at that point?
CorporateLawyerDave aka BadDog

[Jimbo 0]

I think they're saying it's your ass if you use the thing longer than you're supposed to. That shouldn't be a problem though - your rigger is required to remove it during the repack cycle if it's out of date.
Help with cancer research here.

[skybytch 273]

What Jimbo said. Riggers are required to remove the unit if it's overdue for a 4 year check or if it needs batteries and you choose not to install them. All AAD's require recalibration, or at the minimum a calibration check, at some point in their lives. Four years plus or minus three months is a long time compared to an FXC Model 12000, which if I remember correctly must be checked at least once per year (could be more often, it's been awhile since I've had to know that! There's loads of technical information about the Cypres here. Well worth the time to read if you're interested in how the Cypres works and why.
pull and flare,
lisa

[Jimbo 0]

  Quote

Four years plus or minus three months is a long time compared to an FXC Model 12000, which if I remember correctly must be checked at least once per year (could be more often, it's been awhile since I've had to know that! )

My understanding though is that anyone with a pressure chamber can check the FXC - Every Cypres has to go back to Airtek.
That's not an endorsment of the FXC - just something people should probably know.
-
Jim
Help with cancer research here.

[riggerrob 643]

To clarify on FXC 12000 maintenance: the FXC factory tells riggers to chamber test them at every repack and return them to the factory for re-calibration every two years.
Only two factories can re-calibrate FXCs: the parent company in California and FXC Europe which is a subsidiary of Parachutes de France.

[skybytch 273]

  Quote

Every Cypres has to go back to Airtek.

Or to their authorized service center in the US, SSK Industries. Although if any problems are found by SSK the unit is returned to Airtec in Germany for further testing, etc. Luckily the cost of shipping it back and forth across the Atlantic in a case like that doesn't have to be paid by the customer, but it adds a few weeks to the time you don't have an AAD...
pull and flare,
lisa

[billvon 3,085]

>I'll probably get flamed for just thinking about this...but here it goes! :o) I was
> wondering how accurate & reliable a cypress remains if one goes past the
> prescribed 4 yr maint...
I've taken one apart, and there are no parts that have an inherent wearout mechanism. It should last as long as, say, an MP3 player that is properly maintained. That's not to say that sending it back is worthless - parts do fail, although that's pretty rare, and part of Airtec's quality control no doubt has to do with examining the returned units to see what sort of case damage, battery terminal wear, LCD damage etc has occurred.
-bill von