teason

I've noticed Duty charges on shipments brokered by UPS, I've been charged 3% twice. Parachutes (8840.00.10.00) and accessories (8840.00.20) are exempt when they are coming from the US. UPS is making you pay duty you shouldn't be paying. Check your bills, you should be entitled for a refund. You may need a certificate of origion from the company but that can easily be arranged. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

As far as I know, it's only for the Racer. I believe it's because it is part on the reserve Pilot Chute Maybe a call to Nancy would be a good idea ... I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

I've had some interesting conversations with Canadian riggers on the subject. The belief is that because we don't need TSO'd gear in Canada, we can replace the quick loop with anything we want. I don't know if that's acceptable for FAA riggers working in Canada as we would be knowingly violating the TSO. ** anecdote time** Getting back on track, I know an ijnstructor who was dispatching with a racer on when one of his loops broke (he was on the step at the time). The loop, however, while non adjustable was sewn to the hat. The whole job was an example of "creative rigging" but because the loop wasn't floating, he didn't get dragged over the tail. Having done thousands of IADs and having a couple of deployment scares myself, I like having my loop tacked to the PC. Ultimately, heres the deal. The Quickloop is a TSO'd componant and I think only a Mater Rigger or the Manufacturer can make one. I believe they must also have the drawings on hand. Anything else, even Cypres' suggestion is a violation of the TSO. I think Cypres, being concerned with the proper function of the AAD, just wants a system that will still activate even if one cutter fails. Hence the floating loop suggestion. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Anecdote time! I knew a girl who counld land a Manta. Some experienced jumpers told her the Manta was simply too big for her (she only weighed 105 ibs). She downsized to a Sabre 150 which she had to fly under radio comand and still landed badly. She was advised to downsize to a smaller canopy two more times. It seemed the consenses was that she wasn't loading it enough to get the proper speed for a good flare. Last I heard she ended up lying on the runway next to her deflated stilletto 107 with a leg broken in six places. That is what bad canopy advice can do to you and it sound like your getting some! Learn from the mistakes of others, you won't live long enough to make them all yourself! I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

OMG! A stilletto is now a transition canopy for jumpers with 40 jumps!?! You were jumping a diablo at 23 jumps!?! Are your instructors taking crazy pills! Go with the Sabre 150 and fly the living snot out of it. I've seen many jumpers go for high performance canopies and learn at half the speed of those with lower wing loadings. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Well, I'm a big believer that the purpose of debate is knowledge not victory. With that in mind, Tom, thanks for steering me on the right path. I'll be sure to remind my jumpers going south that I'm FAA rated. Tim I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

It really depends on how you interpret foreign gear. Is it foreign because of origion or ownership? Would a solution be to cut off the TSO tag and therefore voiding the TSO? Where would flying high's Sidewinder fit into all of this. Finally, FAR 105.49 does not have a TSO not-withstanding clause. I don't think the TSO is relevent. Was the FAR in question was written with foreign technical standards in mind or is it to accomodate foreigners who have equipment maintained under other laws and regulations? To say that a Canadian with TSO'd gear can't jump a CSPA riggers pack job in the US is not supported in black and white by the FARs. In fact, it passes responsibility by making reference to regulations that simply don't exist in Canada. If you reread my post, you'll see that that is the grey area I am poking fun at. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Uh ... what happens when an unstable jumper fires the rocket downwards and then falls into it. But ... even if stable... I've packed rocket powered reserves for glider pilots. Because of the rocket design, they must be packed sideways. That leads to sail effect. Sail effect leads to malfunctions. Rocket assist reserve would increase the malfunction rates on reserve canopies. The only solution to that would be to introduce new procedures to make deploying safe. And isn't it incorrect procedures that are the real cause of the problems you origionally mentioned? Oh yeah, I've also seen a really neat melted reserve I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Actually ... FAR 105.49 (a) (ii) The reserve parachute must be packed in accordance with the foreign parachutist's civil aviation authority requirements, by a certificated parachute rigger, or any other person acceptable to the Administrator. Seeing that TC doesn't have any requirments regarding repacks except on demos ( ), you can have drunk, half retarded monkey pack it and it would be a-ok I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

This is from a University of Florida Website: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig122 Interesting ... I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Hate to hyjack the thread but that's a good point about a 6 mo cycle in Canada. I get bogged down because everyone gives me thier gear a couple of days before we open at the start of the season and at the end of the season, the DZO (also me) has to decide whether or not to let someone jump the last weekend with a reserve that's a week out of date! The 6 mo cycle can only work right if you have a 5 mo season! I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

A couple of points to digest. Firstly, the 180 day repack cycle is not imposed by transport Canada, it's imposed by CSPA. TC only regulates gear used in demo jumps. (I've tried looking for other references, they just ain't there). Secondly, a southern DZ can refuse to let you jump for any reason they wish; be it that your gear was repacked over 120 days, it clashes with everyone elses gear or you maybe they just don't like how you polka. I wouldn't take the risk, repack it. It's cheaper up here. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

For many years, we have packed without mosquito repellant. The reason for this is that many repellants contain Deet which melts plastics. I know this to be true because I once melted my headphone buds while working in the bush! A couple of years ago, a friend pointed out that if deet melts all plastics, then why is it sold in a plastic bottle? Obviously not all synthetic materials are harmed by deet. The question here is this; does anyone know difinitively if deet is injurious to nylon? It may be a myth (I'm not sugesting anyone try it out on thier parachute). I'm sure someone out there must know. I do have some scrap f111 and I'm going to do some experimentin'! I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

*sniff*. This thread is starting to smell *sniff* *sniff* What is that? *sniff* is that hubris? Seriously, it's not "jumping without an alti" that is bugging me here, it's the attitude. Saw it before, along with the godlike veneration that the jumper in question received for doing so. One day an junior jumper did a two-way with him. The junior jumper noticed his alti was broken in the plane but jumped anyway, seeing that the other jumper had 5000 jumps and never wore an alti. Long story short, the junior jumper hit the runway at line stretch and the experienced jumper and his DZ were crucified at the inquiry. But, hey, if it's a comfort thing... I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

I like to show those people with racers how they should be packed. It's a sure fire way for the customer to evlaute (or help) other riggers. I also have very loyal customers because they have seen what other riggers do (or rather don't do!) I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

I'll remeber that ... next time I visit my friend's tome. Sarcastic but not a joke. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

If it is the right sized freebag, then I would find the packing suspect at this point. Obviously it is not designed to be so. Either that or the bag is way to small and previous riggers have just sluffed it off. The bag you are describing seems to be a modified bag (origionally using Safety stoes). Certainly a safety stoe would not have made any difference. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

I was talking about people with 100+ jumps! It's amazing how a low altitude can freak out an experienced jumper. They can take a 4-way nice and stable from the crotch but diving out at 3000' makes them kick I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Another good point! Why is it we have no problem pulling at 3000' at terminal, with 15 sec. to impact but a 3000' hop 'n' pop that's 23 sec to impact is so intimidating I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

At SL and IAD DZs it's pretty common to do a hop and pop after the students. (I have about 300-400 jumps from 3000-4500'!) Still, I have noticed jumpers and new instructors who return to the low altitudes do get a bit of nervousness when blasting out the door at 3000. Silly, you can almost get terminal! I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Hang? You can get in at least 2 front loops in by 2200' if you flip I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Some pilotchutes get replaced when they blow apart. Poor packing can also make a pin hesitate. I've picked student gear off the ground by the pilotchute to prove this point the non believers. Certainly the bag isn't necessarily the only problem, but it can be one more link in the chain. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Malfunctions aside, you could also be damaging the container. I know of a DZ that was using both Strong and Racer tandem equipment. They decided that to make it easier for the packers, they would put Strong bags on the Racer Tandem. I don't know if they had any Mals from this but they sure as hell had damage! Stiffeners were cracked and flaps had to be replaced. By the way, a cracked stiffener can tear through a flap and snag a line. Not something you want on a Tandem! Three rings can be an issue too. Parachute de France has a different size three ring. Problem? Don't know, don't want to find out the hard way. I do know that risers can be gear specific (escpecially interity risers), however S-links and the effort required to change risers can be a hassle. Be careful switching canopies! Check with a rigger or manufacturer! Never Assume it can make a corpse out of U and ME! I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

Not knowing or seeing the harness (articulated or standard) makes it abit hard but take notice of where the lateral crosses the MLW. it should be on the hip with the legstrap coming up at an angle. If the junction is too low and the leg strap is close to horizontan around your leg, it will pinch the leg on opening. The leg strap wants to be at angle on opening and will pinch your thigh to get there. Also, if your leg straps are too long they can slip down and put pressure lower down on your thigh. I have quite a short torso and had this happened every 40 jumps or so until I found a harness that fit correctly. Made turns excruciating. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

I agree, both do have pros and cons. If you are going to another DZ, make sure the instructors are aware of what you have been taught. I've seen confusion arise from going to a different DZ and having a slightly altered procedure presented. It doesn't matter which method is better, consistancy is the best training tool of all. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.