Lifetime for reserves?

[alexey 6]

Have FAI or USPA some documents, which exactly discribe lifetime for reserve chutes?
Or, may-be, have you any info (manufacturer, BPA, ASF, its) about that...

Lexa

[PhreeZone 20]

As long as it passes its airworthyness test you can jump it. A rigger makes that call. PD Reserves have a thing that at 20 jumps or 40 repacks you send it back to the factory, they inspect it and make a call if its airworthy or not at that time. I know of Swift 5 cells from the early 80's still in containers and a few rounds from the late 70's are still around here too.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[riggerrob 643]

FAI, USPA, CSPA and the FAA don't publish guidelines for reserve canopy life. They defer to canopy manufacturers.
I think that Performance Designs are the only manufacturer to publish hard guidelines on reserve canopy life. After something like 20 deployments or 40 repacks, you are supposed to return your P.D. reserve to the factory for inspection.

Most riggers refuse to repack reserves that have more than 20 jumps or are more than 20 years old. Older reserves usually fall out of fashion before they wear out. For example, since young riggers are no longer taught how to set the brakes on 5-cell Swift reserves (built 1981 to late 1980s), few of them will repack 5-cell Swifts anymore. When you consider that the Swift was the first decent square reserve and it was introduced in 1981 (22 years ago), it is little wonder that most riggers refuse to repack reserves older than they are.

Another factor is round reserves. Round reserves dominated the market until (the Swift was introduced) 22 years ago. Also consider that most of the round reserves built during the early 1980s were light-weight, low-speed pieces of s**t, many of which suffered from acid mesh problems. It is little wonder that fewer and fewer riggers want to repack round reserves.

[rigging65 0]

Quote

Round reserves dominated the market until (the Swift was introduced) 22 years ago. Also consider that most of the round reserves built during the early 1980s were light-weight, low-speed pieces of s**t, many of which suffered from acid mesh problems. It is little wonder that fewer and fewer riggers want to repack round reserves.

True, rounds do require a bit more information to work with, but don't make the mistake of thinking you won't see them out there...and not necessarily on sport jumpers. There are more and more pilots that are taking rigs into the air with them, and those rigs have to be repacked every 120 days as well.

At our shop, we have a hard-line canopy life of 30 years, we just won't work on them if they're older than that. The military uses a 20 year life for their canopies.

We figure that, after 30 years, that system has been stored in less-than-ideal conditions at some point, maybe has been subject to fumes and/or petroleum products, sun, moisture, etc...basically, it's just old. pH tesets and thumb-punching will solve a lot of questions about material degradation, but can't always confirm thread constitution, line strength, etc.

Being in California, we don't run across many reserve that are more than about 8-10 years old. A few that are 12-15 years old maybe...although we do have a couple of original Swifts out there. I know that a buddy of mine that rigs in the midwest sees stuff significantly older, but he tests them and makes his own decision on a case-by-case basis...as a good rigger should

"...and once you had tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward.
For there you have been, and there you long to return..."

[skymedic 0]

Quote

After something like 20 deployments or 40 repacks, you are supposed to return your P.D. reserve to the factory for inspection.

According to Scott Miller at last years winter expo at SDC he said that if the reserve looks like it wont work out any longer they will ask if they can test jump it. and typicaly will give the owner some type of deal to get them a new PD-R.

Marc
otherwise known as Mr.Fallinwoman....

[Hooknswoop 19]

Quote

PD Reserves have a thing that at 20 jumps or 40 repacks you send it back to the factory, they inspect it and make a call if its airworthy or not at that time.

25 jumps/40 re-packs, close

Hook

[councilman24 37]

There was a discussion of this at the Sept PIA meeting and I assume there will be another discussion this week. The real issue is that time is not the limiting factor, or the only factor. Use, storage, packing history, as well a old design enters into the lifetime of a reserve. All of the manufacturers WILL supply a drop dead lifetime when required to meet a government contract (mainly foreign). But there was such a revolt when PIA tried to recommend a gear lifetime a few years ago don't look for many in the US civilian market.

There are some reserves I won't pack, not because they are too old, but because they are to out of date in design. With 4 or 5 generations of reliability improvement it's hard for me to put my name on some older designs, even though they may be airworthy.

I do as many rounds as I do squares, because I do as many pilot rigs as I do skydiver rigs. They're actually easier to do. Except for the one with a free sleeve, fabric tubes for the lines (like a Navy back), several break tapes and tacks, and a center "cutter" dereefing line.

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

[fudd 0]

In Norway a reserve has a lifespan of 20 years before it's considdered unairworthy. Just national regulations, but probably put there for a reason. Don't know which.

There are only 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't.