BIGUN

Mine started at 18 Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

I just had to renew my Norton subscription and went ahead and got the Antivirus along with the Internet Security (which has an adware/spyware defense) and they chunked in the Password Manager for free. So far, I'm pretty impressed. I will admit that it was a bit of a hassle installing it, configuring it and training it. It's also quite the Resource/RAM hog. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

JT, I've been sitting back for a few days, talking with some riggers, read and re-read the SB and SB Procedures as well as Cypres' information and am trying my best to overcome some cognitive barriers. I'm not going to broach the financial side as I've made my position clear on that and there's no need to dwell on the issue since it's not going to change Mirage's position regarding direct cost to the skydiver. Cypres went though a process of R&D for several years prior to deploying the AAD. They looked at pack designs and came up with a routing system for the control and cutter units. Over the course of ~15 years, this routing has worked well, has numerous documented saves and therefore, has a proven history over the course of that timeframe. What's bothering me is that based on two obscure occurrences overseas, whereby; it sounds as though the issue is more a factor of the way the reserves were packed, rather than a functional design flaw. Cypres AAD's has had more saves in its current configuration and to suddenly change the cutter unit routing based on those two obscure occurrences seems to violate what we have come to know and trust. I question why the equipment would not be pulled back into R&D for an extended period of time to ascertain if the two occurrences were more on the probability scale of being a packing issue versus the proven history versus of what "sounds like" a range of a month to three months. By all appearances; this solution comes across as a reactive field engineered rerouting of a design that has worked well those approximate fifteen years. From a practical perspective, my concern is the positioning of the re-routed cutter unit wiring being placed on the outside of the reserve pack tray. This concern is based on experience of how rigs are treated during skydiving operations; whereby, when skydivers do gear checks, they pat someone on the reserve. When skydivers jam the door in aircraft, their reserve trays rub on the interior of the aircraft. When rigs are stacked up at a boogie at the packing tent, they are stacked on the reserve trays. When skydivers get caught in another skydiver's burble, they land on the reserve tray. To me, this rerouting moves the cutter unit cable to a more exposed area that gets knocked around considerably more than that of being between the skydiver's back and reserve for cushioning, allowing for; 1) additional stress to the wiring itself, and 2) if we look at Step 12 [SB Procedures]; the third picture, allows for a brass to metal combination. I am admittedly not a metals engineer. My exposure to brass/steel combinations is limited to instruction in the military. Some limited research on my part would indicate that, "The coefficient of friction is maximal for a high wear rate between brass or aluminum and steel and is considered unacceptable." I guess what I’m asking is; could Mirage and Cypres educate us more on 1) the specifics of the events that occurred, 2) how those events led to this solution, and, 3) overcome our concerns of a demonstrated history against this single overseas event, and 4) communicate the testing methodology of this solution; as a long-term safe solution. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

You may wish to consider resale value of a newer canopy. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

I was fortunate enough to have an instructor who wanted me to do spins for my PPL. I found them easier to recover from than a power on stall (course, he also had me take it to full rather than eminent stall). Others I've talked to found spins more difficult than stalls. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

You asked; I just grabbed the latest. Will grab more after work if you want a history. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

Latest one is: http://www.relativeworkshop.com/pdf_files/09238.pdf "Just have your rigger send us the bill..." Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

You led me to believe the question was about the sport, not the individual. I'd like the sport to receive more recognition. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

1. Your book on TQM have a title, publisher and ISBN number? 2. I'm still talking about the fact that it's not free (paying for shipping ain't free) and the history of SB's is that the cost has NOT always been passed on to the consumer. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

8) Because it is an extreme sport. A sport which demands concentration, training, effort, dedication, money and time. It's about wanting recognition. Its about wanting recognition for those who earn Gold, Silver and Bronze medals every year and yet; no one outside the community knows what they have to do to earn those. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

This is exactly the point. Perhaps you and Diablopilot should take it from the top. It's really not about money, it's about the current trend of issuing an SB and expecting the customer to pay for it. It's about not taking responsibility for your design. If the consumer gives the manufacturers' permission to pay for it's own design flaws, then who holds them accountable for their quality processes. If they had to take financial responsibility for each SB issued, their quality control process would improve, their costs would go down, much happier customer base = greater sales. Read a book on TQM, then we can discuss the matter. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

hehe Ron... I had the same thought and started to write that. In that single adrenaline induced moment, nobody remembers that... Hence... carry a knife. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

http://www.dropzone.com/safety/emergencies/emergency_canopy_malfunctions.shtml#twocanopies As Dan Poynter suggests in his article; talk with your instructors about your specific system... My own personal advice is; always carry a hook knife. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

Yeah, but they knew how to do a PLF. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

Of that 50%, probably 95% of them were preventable. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

I'm not sure I follow. The SB affects the specified series of rigs whether the rig is used correctly or not - and is mandatory. If it were a matter of correct usage, Mirage would have issued the SB to have them checked to ensure they were done correctly and safely - not unlike the Capewell Pins of last year. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

http://www.storesonline.com/site/603595/page/45031 Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

Me too. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

You sure that its your reserve that gets your rigger that way.... Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

You and your wife would be mistaken. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

Thanks, John. I didn't know Feisty was a Master Rigger. I'll pass that on. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

Your friends may not fit in the category of socially-disconnected misfits. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

First, I'd like to say that for the most part, manufacturers do a pretty good job of making things right on a case-by-case basis. And, in some cases, they go above and beyond the call.... Mirage has. It just so happens that Mirage is the current focus. My point is that I see a growing trend of issuing an SB that has an effect on a wide spectrum of customers. No doubt most of us remember how the -M situation was handled (or mishandled). Same as the situation with Reflex. All manuafacturers were doing their grommets the same way and after the Reflex incident, IIRC almost every manufacturer came out with the same SB, but a senior rigger could perform it. For me, I have used my position as an Instructor to recommend gear and did so several times last year which resulted in sales for Mirage and others. I do not use the Instructor incentive from any of the manufacturers because I feel like it's a conflict of interest. I want to recommend the best rig for that particular student based on financial situation, body type, abilities, etc. That said, if the trend continues of a manufacturer issuing an SB at the expense of the owner, then I can no longer recommend them. Second, if the manufacturers took the financial burden of an SB, they would in turn increase their quality control methods, which would result in greater sales. What happened to -M sales after that SB? What happened to your willingness to recommend a -M? I still jump a -M, but if a student asks me now, what reserve to buy, I tell them another manufacturer. I currently have three former students who bought Mirages last year based on my recommendation, now I get to tell them, "Well, we don't have a Master Rigger in the neighborhood, so your only choice is to send it to Mirage and pay the shipping, plus $60.00 (rather than the usual $45.00) for the repack. That's a $100.00 bill to them out of their pocket - on top of the $1200-$1800 they just spent for the H/C. When the SB for capewell pins came out, you know how many riggers did the test for free? And, I know more than one that bought the proper equipment to do the pin test and never charged a dime... because they thought it was the right thing to do. The right thing to do is not make your customers pay for an SB. Anybody who's been in business or dealt with a business, knows that mistakes are made. How the business handles those mistakes determines whether they can maintain the customer relationship. The right thing to do is eat it in the name of safety, learn from it, handle it properly and have a reputation for doing things right. I just ask that the trend of all manufacturers making the customers pay for an SB - stop. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

1. Why should it cost the skydiver one dime when a manufacturer issues an SB? I get a recall from the vehicle manufacturer, I drive in with a notice, the dealer fixes it, they sign, I sign, they get paid by the manufacturer. 2. What is there about this that requires a Master Rigger over a Senior Rigger? We don't have a Master Rigger in the state. So, it's about $60.00 out of pocket to ship and insure it. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

You may have a point, I've asked lawrocket for his thoughts on the matter. For me personally, disclosure is always the best course. But as mentioned, times are changing. Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.