BrianM

Do no harm, unless the cutter is located above the freebag or PC and clamps onto the loop with sufficient force to prevent the reserve from being deployed even if the ripcord is pulled. The odds of that happening are probably small - the window between AAD firing and "too low to matter anyway" is not very long - but that doesn't mean that it won't happen, just that it won't be a frequent occurrence. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Why do I have the feeling someone took a pamphlet from the late 70's or early 80's, changed "The drug of the 70/80's" to "The drug of the 90's", updated the prices, and left the rest as is? Piglet 23 (circa 1976) Talks about military style gear... Mentions something that was approved in 1978... That looks rather dated by early 90's standards. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Still knot write - it's CYPRES (uppercase because it's an acronym) "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Write down your questions as as you think of them. Take the list with you next time you go to the DZ. Sit down with an instructor and go over your list. Problem solved! "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Is this intended to replace the entire blue booklet - CoP cards, rating cards, and membership card? Or is it just a redesign of the membership card? "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Even more interesting to me is that "everyone" felt the main concern was distraction, not snag hazards - but "everyone" thought they should lower the jump number requirement because cameras have gotten smaller. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Done that! An old paracommander, the DZO's vehicle - and it was on an international airport... "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

A bit much don't you think? http://www.redmangear.com/index.cfm?method=Products_detail&productID=2 "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

So what does that say about the ones labelled "Student"? Maybe we shouldn't be using those - especially for student jumpers! I sure hope that the AAD versions are all equally expert at doing their jobs, and that the "Expert", "Student", and "Tandem" labels refer to the jumper (or the type of jump, if you prefer). "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

*raises hand* I'm a girl! I'll do it as long as I get a sexy outfit, a paddle, and free jumps for life! Please respond with an application for the position, to include a photo of yourself in a sexy outfit, and details of your experience with paddling. If these are deemed acceptable, then we can negotiate on the number of free jumps. ... and don't forget to let us know which DZ you are working at so we can come walk on the lines! "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

With an unmodified round you are correct With a modified round, I am also correct! What the spit does relative to you will be the same regardless of whether you are flying into the wind or with it - airspeed is the same in both cases. ***I can also recommend not pulling the mask off the Lone Ranger, and I'd stay away from Jim. I wouldn't tug on superman's cape either. ... but if your name is Willie McCoy, then Jim better watch out! "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

A round moves relative to the air mass just like a square does! In other words, the results will be identical whether you are facing into the wind or away from it - even under a round. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Where does it say we have to log it on the parachute data card? It just says we have to log it on OUR logs. I have no idea where it says that. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

I agree with you about CYPRES vs Vigil, but I would say the Argus behaves more like the CYPRES than the Vigil (based on info from the manufacturer combined with reports about how it has behaved in real-world unusual situations). Without knowing specifics of the algorithms, however, none of us really know exactly how any of them work. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Fixed it for ya!

Ah, good point - I hadn't considered that! I do - I consider it as part of the repack and don't charge extra. It only takes a few minutes. I do pass on the cost of the batteries themselves, of course. If I was trying to earn a living at this, that might change, but as a weekend/evening rigger I'm not in it for the money (I just like parachutes). "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

I'm going to stick my neck out and suggest that this rule will actually result in an increase in sloppy rigging. How many riggers do you think were ignoring the 1 year battery replacement requirement? How many riggers do you think will ignore the new requirement and replace the batteries annually, based on the logic that the manufacturer states they are good for at least that long, and allows it in some countries? How many riggers do you think are going to ignore the new requirement during a mid-cycle repack of a rig with almost new batteries? It's a safe bet that the second number will be larger than the first, and that the third will be considerably larger. P.S. riggerrob: you are paying too much for batteries. Try MEC, they sell Panasonic CR123A's for $5 each - that's $10 for a set. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

I was going to post the same thing. Zywo44's wing loading on that 190 will be 1.13. That's quite high for 40 jumps. Of course his wing loading on the Tempo 170 listed in his profile will be 1.27... Brian Germain's chart recommends a 230. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

How many skydiving helmets do you think are certified for anything (airsports or otherwise)? Hint: it's a single digit number that starts with 0. I agree with MarkM, looks fine for skydiving, and since the goggle retainer is removable, I'd take it off to eliminate a snag point (you'll probably find skydiving style goggles work better under the helmet anyway). "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

Me neither. I have no problem with mandating time-based battery replacement, but repacks is not a measure of time. It makes no sense at all. You could have a mal on the first jump after a repack. Do I really need to replace batteries that were installed a few hours ago and used for one jump? Mfg says I do! Even without mals, repack cycles vary significantly by country. The act of repacking the reserve obviously doesn't affect the battery, so if I find out which country has the longest repack cycle and use that as the battery replacement period, the battery should still have sufficient charge to operate the AAD, right? It's either that, or people in countries with longer pack cycles are being put at risk! Edit to add: I know there are countries with a one year cycle - same as the previous Argus battery replacement period. Does anyone know if any countries have cycles longer than a year? If so, that will result in batteries being changed less often. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

If someone is going to go to the trouble and expense of purchasing a seal press and dies, they really have no need for it to match the seal number of the rigger who did the last pack job. Making up some random name and seal number works just as well, you don't have to try to match the handwriting/signature, and it carries less risk of being caught. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

I have a rubber stamp with my certificate and seal numbers. It makes pencil packing fairly obvious to whoever is checking gear, as long as they bother to look at more than just the last line. It can't prevent pencil packing, and may not even be caught, but the risk is there, so someone who is heading off to a boogie or visiting another DZ and who needs a repack before they go is a lot less likely to pencil pack if they think they may get caught and not be allowed to jump their rig. I started using the rubber stamp after someone brought me a rig for a repack, admitted to pencil packing in my name, then complained about how another local rigger uses a rubber stamp, so he can't pencil pack if he gets repacks from that guy. I had a rubber stamp made up in time to use for that repack. Thanks for the idea, buddy! "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

The Y is right at the plug on the field replaceable cutter. http://www.cypres-usa.com/pr_2pin1.jpg "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

I do the same, but don't loop the ends back through the seal a second time - drawing attached. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg

The Argus swwop mode does exactly that - it disarms after detecting a canopy deployment. My wish list item: a magic pocket with an unlimited supply of jump tickets and cold beer. "It's amazing what you can learn while you're not talking." - Skydivesg