mark

Does he want a rig to satisfy an aerobatic or soaring requirement? If so, surplus military gear would work. A Para-Phernalia Sofie with a C-9 would be legal for your customer's exit weight, although your he would likely be injured, perhaps even seriously injured, in the landing. Alternatively, the largest Rigging Innovations Aviator is TSO'd to 300 pounds and is equipped with a square canopy appropriate to a novice. Mark

That's interesting. I wonder how similar the fabrics are, and how the effects of design, environment, and operation compare. FWIW, I don't think Optimum users have much to worry about. PD has demo Optimums (same as reserves but with a pilot chute attachment) that have quite a few jumps. Also, PD Pulse canopies with light-weight bottom skins seem to be holding up well. Mark

During inflation, the stabilizer panels are first pressurized inward. Obviously, it doesn't hurt to clear them to the outside, but it doesn't make any difference as to whether you get a line-over. Mark

Yes, that's the one. Mine is in color. Mark

The 6-page manual would be easy to mistake for a product brochure. Heck, it probably is a product brochure. The straight-pull instruction is on page 3. 2.2 megs is too big to attach. Let me know where to email your copy. Mark

The manual calls for the power cable to be pulled straight. You would still need to do a partial disassembly. Mark

Do you need any shot bags?

Actually, his set-up was identical to the system used by Air Force Academy cadets: FXC 12000 on the main, Cypres on the reserve. The FXC 12000 can be easily set to activate at altitudes up to 4000 AGL. The Astra fires at 1000' above the altitude it is turned on at; no adjustment is possible. Mark

The "K" key.

What Gary said, more or less. Blow into the 1-quart heavy zip-loc plastic bag to expand it; no need to pressurize above ambient. Hold the mouth of the bag closed tight around the braided hose with one hand. Squeeze the bag briskly with the other hand. Mark

I assembled and packed a brand-new one a couple days ago. Mark

It doesn't matter who is the owner or the renter. Legally, you may pack for yourself regardless of who owns the rig. You may also pack for someone else if you are supervised by a certificated rigger. You may not pack any rig for someone else to jump, unless you are supervised by a certificated rigger. Even if it's your own rig. You may not jump someone else's pack unless that someone else is a rigger or under the supervision of one. Even if it's your own rig. In the situation you describe, when you are packing for yourself, you are not legally required to be supervised. From your description, the rental shop would like the rig returned with a pack job another rental customer could legally jump, which means the pack must be done by a rigger or under the supervision of one. Mark

Looks like a common sample case: http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/stebco-classic-tufide-salesman-76763940. Maybe he was selling Occam's Razors. Mark

The riser tuck tabs not only need to stay closed when you want them to stay closed, they need to open when you need them to open. In the US, changing the stiffness of the riser tuck tabs is an alteration that needs approval from the FAA or the manufacturer. Without that approval, the rig is not legal to jump. Also, if the riser covers do not release on opening, or if they release unevenly, your rig may be unsafe to jump. Changing the tuck tabs on the reserve pin cover flap is also an alteration. This is less likely to be a safety issue, but is still illegal in the US unless approved by the FAA or manufacturer. You will be a test jumper. Get video. Mark

No. Is that specific enough? Mark

Except that paratroopers don't do that. For freefall and static line jumps, the load is secured to the jumper until the canopy is open. Only then is the load lowered. Otherwise, the jumper has a very good chance of entangling with the load. The exception is for tethered bundle freefall jumps, a technique not developed until much later. Mark

While they aren't tandem canopies, Airborne Systems' ram-airs, including Mega-fly and Giga-fly, are also pro-packed. I don't know exactly how big the Giga-fly is, except that the slider is about 400 square feet.

Here you go. Mark

Where does it say that? Mark edited for format

Sure it does... Look at the works "has knowledge of...." versus "Demonstrates" that is in each area of operation. The senior rigger only has to have knowledge of a seam construction and a master rigger has to demonstrate the ability. BS, MEL Task VI-N: RAM-AIR CANOPY PATCH REPAIR ADJACENT TO A SEAM REFERENCE: PPM Vol. II. Objective. To determine that the applicant demonstrates fabrication of a patch on a ram-air canopy in an area that requires the opening of a seam to accept the patch material. The applicant: 1. indicates the personnel certification requirements for this repair to both a certificated and non-certificated canopy. 2. selects materials for the repair (fabric and thread). 3. selects sewing machine. 4. selects other required tools. 5. lays out canopy and removes stitching. 6. lays out patch and pins. 7. sews patch and seam. 8. inspects work. There is no differentiation between senior and master rigger. We are required to test the task in its entirety, so if we select this task for a senior rigger, he or she will perform step #7. This FAA publication implies that there are different certification requirements for patching mains and reserves. These different certification requirements are also shown in Poynter, which is the standard FAA reference. Mark

The PTS does not distinguish between senior and master rigger tasks, except for Area 7, Alterations. Thus per the PTS, all the tasks in Areas 1 through 6 are possible senior rigger tasks. That is a problem with the current PTS, and one I hope will be clarified with the next edition. Mark

The reference most frequently cited by the FAA, Poynter Vol 1 7.14.1 (repeated in Poynter Vol 2 7.15), is ambiguous. It says patches on main canopies may be made by Senior Riggers, but does not differentiate between basic patches and patches that require opening a seam. The illustrated example shows an opened seam. I don't see anywhere that it says main canopy patches involving seams must be done by Master Riggers. Ambiguity gets resolved to the most generous interpretation. I'd say if you have the skill, equipment, and materials, you'd be okay doing the repair. Mark

Rob -- I think you and I agree. I'm just trying to get MEL's take on this, why the meaning of "supervision" should change between the beginning of 65.125(b)(2) and the end. I think he's saying it has two different meanings even though it is used only once. It sounds like the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland, "It means what I say it means. . ." Mark

I don't understand what you mean by this, except possibly that the meaning of "supervise" changes to "train" when it comes to packing. Mark

Yes. The difference is that there is not a rule that states the person doing the repairs has to have a certificate. MEL I'm trying to establish the meaning of "supervise." What is the difference between "supervise" in the context of repairs, and "supervise" in the context of packing? The clause in the regulation uses "supervise" only once. Does the meaning of the word change after a comma? Mark