cpoxon 0 #1 November 21, 2002 Just to add a bit more confusion to the honouring of foreign repack cycles, is the Parachutes de France Techno canopy "TSO'd" (whatever that means)? The manual refers to the TSO C23c CAT B maximum weight limit on page 6 but no literal approval under TSO. Since FAR 105.49(4) talks about "all foreign non-approved parachutes", if the Techno is approved, the fact that it is "foreign" (manufacturer, packed, owned, and used) is academic? The sooner the US moves to a 180 day repack cycle, the better. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #2 November 21, 2002 French drop test standards are tougher than American TSO standards. Techno reserves meet or exceed all TSO standards. Then it becomes a financial question of whether or not they want to spend the money on the paperwork. Also, since Parachutes de France quit selling on the North American marlet a long time ago - to avoid doing business with American lawyers - they do not need TSO approval. Finally, I disagree with your push to have the FAA change to a 180 day repack cycle. A 180 repack cycle may work well in Wisconsin, but it is dangerous in desert states where they jump year round. When CSPA instituted its 180 day repack cycle, it was an admission that the average Canadian skydiver makes less than 100 skydives per year because the Canadian jumping season is only 5 or 6 months long. CSPA resigned themselves to the notion that they would be doing well to convince Canadian skydivers to get their gear inspected once a year. However, parachutes wear out far faster when professional packers help you are make 10 or 12 jumps a day in the desert. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoby 0 #3 November 21, 2002 How does the number of jumps affect the reserve, which is tucked away? Or are you advocating the 120-day cycle so that the rigger will get the chance to inspect the entire rig that often? Would you rather see gear inspected after X number of jumps? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #4 November 21, 2002 Jumps and age are two seperate factors. With a rig with a cypres, even if its been in a closet and never jumped its still a good idea to pop the reserve and make sure the battery packs are'nt leaking or anything. Thats an age issue. if you say every 100 jumps, teams are looking at maybe every 6 weeks or so getting a repack. Then again, doing 500 jumps between inspections is a lot of wear and tear on a rig an might warrent more inspections.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,121 #5 November 21, 2002 >However, parachutes wear out far faster when professional packers > help you are make 10 or 12 jumps a day in the desert. A rig jumped 12 times a day in the desert, one that is literally dragged into the hanger for a repack and thrown around, should be looked at before the 120 day repack cycle. That is not a good argument for requiring everyone to go to a 90 day repack cycle. Some gear (often-used tandems for example) will always need more than the absolute minimum maintenance, and must be inspected more often than even the 120 day cycle. Other gear, like a jumper's seldom-used backup rig, can easily go to 360 days. The issue is not how often it must be inspected to be safe; that varies with the rig. The issue is how often must it be inspected to allow a reasonable degree of safety for most jumpers. How to get that number? Ask the only true experts - the manufacturers of the gear. They, and not the FAA, should set the repack cycle requirements. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
councilman24 37 #6 November 21, 2002 Quote >How to get that number? Ask the only true experts - the manufacturers of the gear. They, and not the FAA, should set the repack cycle requirements. And when you get them in a room they have all the same varying opinions and arguments. One canopy manufacture recently said during a discussion of 180 days with others in the industry, "We all know most of the deployed reserves have been packed longer than a 120 days any way so why not go to 180 days. I know all my reserve deployments have been past 120 days." (Some slight paraphrasing) They cann't agree on how to measure the area of a canopy let alone inspection cycle or gear lifetime. Each would have their own opinion and a different cycle for each brand would be unmanagable. When asked for required service lifetimes for non US government contracts, they make it up, knowing that it all depends on the storage and use. If skydivers were conscientious enough to recognize there own unique situation, anything from 3 weeks to two years might be appropriate. We have to set a manditory time, and right now I believe that 120 days is a good compromise. I believe for most of us riggers it's not the reserve that concerns us but the rest of the maintenance. And no, I don't want the business. Nomex on.I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
