skydivepete

ok thanks eric and Yann What about the cutters with the plastic protection that gave problems in the past

The French parachute association ordered an immediate mandatory cutter replacement for all new Vigil cutters (february and beyond)! pete http://www.ffp.asso.fr/IMG/pdf/CS_136.pdf

True, but the misfire has been commented by them before. It happened on 8 October last year: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2697556;search_string=gold%20Coast;guest=36807637#2697556

I don't know but plenty of eyewitnesses Pieli

There was a Vigil misfire 2 weeks ago at Skydive Flandres. Sounds like you better go for the great classic… Pieli

Are you sure? From Vigil comparison: - Expected lifetime: min 1.000 jumps or 4 years Pete

New on Vigils website: http://www.vigil.aero/whatsnew.php Pete

Thanks Chris, any idea how often this occurs? Cannot be that many. Cheers Pete

It was for the photos but I will (short version though) for now the current cutter (not the new one) causes quite some problems. Vigil seems to have a new cutter now, However replacment is not mandatory. Seeing the photos I don't understand that but OK I am not a rigger and would like to hear how a rigger feels about this after seeing the photos. I am not current and not experienced but I was once told that checking the loop is important as worn out loops are dangerous. Seeing the one on the photo is why I posted. cheers, Pete

HI just received this from France... Pete http://www.ffp.asso.fr/IMG/pdf/CS_122.pdf

OK thank you. In Europe it is not as easy to get them as in the USA. Is this by any chance the new Vigil? Pete

Hi, Does anyone know if the Vigil is available yet? I heard they had problems supplying and they will bring out a new one out soon. Pete

Well, it seems mr. Oosterveer managed to convince the Dutch Parachute Association after all. There is now an official safety bulletin on the Argus, stating that you need to ask your HC manufacturer before using an Argus. Plus you need to have at least a C-licence to use it. It is not allowed on tandem gear. Pete

Is this the Willy Boeykens sponsored by Vigil who had a msifire in Thailand wearing "special lense goggles"?? Have you seen their own statement on the Vigil misfires? BTW I phoned Spa and it was a test and not in Swoop. Maybe Vigil should start doing some testing with all those incidents. Pete PS I "Googled" a bit and Andy Grauwels is a member of Haya Busa sponsored by Cypres. Hmm.

So one service bulletin about cutters (in Germany, Holland and France mandatory before first jumps) and 3 statements about pressurized planes misfires in air and on the ground related to temperature and so on..... One statement could not be attached but can be seen on the Vigil website at http://www.vigil.aero/pdf/WorldTeamResponse_005.pdf Take also a look at the "live saves" and do the maths... http://www.vigil.aero/life-saving-list.php Pete

Maybe it already did: http://www.dropzone.com/fatalities/Detailed/196.shtml Pete

Anymore news about this incident?

Vigil maths: 42 fires of which: 15 life saves. What about the other 27 “normal”fires? 2 fires in Thailand (Worldrecord). I understood there were at least 5 fires overthere? 1 fire in a car 1 fire while travelling (also car I assume). 2 fires in the same country same date and take a look at the serial numbers: 2530 and 2531. 1 fire balloon jump????? Source Vigil life saving list http://www.vigil.aero/life-saving-list.php As I read all this and do the maths 27 unwanted openings (no life saves) out of a total of 42, and reading how dangerous these can be, I agree with Bill that it is better to shut down the aad when in doubt. Pete



 There's a statement at the website of vigil. Copy paste seems not possible with this PDF. http://www.vigil.aero/home.php In short the Vigil did what it is supposed to do. Pete

Seems to be true, check out the forum overthere: http://www.rafspa.com/ some quotes from that forum: Bad news for Vigil inthe UK... Pete

Vigil is since last week grounded at skydive weston (UK) for too many misfirings. Decision seems to be taken by Paul applegate (chairman UK Rigger committee).

This is on the German safety bulletin: Bemerkungen: Die Beschädigungen werden laut Hersteller durch unsachgemäßes Packen verursacht. Die Kosten für Containeröffnen / - schließen sowie den Austauschcutter (1 Pin: 100,- € plus Steuer und Fracht, 2 Pins: 200,- € plus Steuer und Fracht) hat daher der Kunde zu tragen! In English (sort of): Note The damage is -according to the manufacturer- due to "unequal" packing therefore all costs (opening container, new cutter (100-200 Eur.), taxes and freight are for the custormers own expense. Peter

Do you mean this SB of yesterday, because that one is not only for mirage rigs?

In France it is mandatory to replace. It concerns in the US vector 1 and 2, mirage g3 and g4 and talon. AAD nv/sa Advanced Aerospace Designs 193 Bld A. Reyers, B-1030 Brussels, Belgium • T: +32 (0) 2 732 65 52 • F: +32 (0) 2 732 06 27 info@vigil-aad.com • www.vigil.aero VIGIL AAD SERVICE BUL LETIN #2 Date : 18th April 2006 Subject : Damages Stated on the Plastic Loop protection Heads of the Cutter Status : Replacement of damaged cutters and loops Identification : Any reserve parachute of which the cutter is located above the pilot chute and which has been closed by mechanical means to increase traction force or closed with a temporary pin directly placed on the cutter. __________________________________________________________________________ A particular attention is requested to look carefully that the small plastic loop protection heads of the cutter(s) are not damaged during the repack of the reserve. If any degradation sign is detected on the plastic loop protectors, it is imperative to replace the cutter unit and the loop to avoid any reserve loop deterioration. We would like to remind you that it is not allowed to use inadequate mechanical tools (force reduction systems) to close the reserve parachute. Those mechanical systems could implement a too important traction effort (above 10 daN maximum according to the TSO norms) to release the pin of the reserve parachute (see pictures #1, 2& 3 of Russian + South American + European Tools). The use of an inadequate mechanical system or the wrong placement of a temporary pin can cause the crushing of the cutter against the grommets or the temporary pin during the closing of the reserve (for example: using a temporary pin placed above the pilot chute, then placing the flap with the cutter and start traction on the closing loop with the temporary pin still in place). Those closing techniques could create such forces that the pressure between metallic grommets or pin could damage the plastic protection ring as even the stainless steel cutter body (see picture # 4). Any damage of these plastic heads could provoke a deterioration of the reserve closing loop by friction during transport or use of the equipment. Those deteriorations could cause an inopportune opening of the reserve container (see picture #5). For your information, a new cutter body is currently in test phase and will be implemented after test finalization. This new design will be without plastic protection heads. Hereby AAD also would like to remind you that the cutter location above the pilot chute is not in question here. We even recommend to place the Vigil cutter as close as possible to the reserve closing pin and this on all types of parachutes. If your equipment has a Vigil cutter located under the pilot chute, you are not concerned by this bulletin. Jo Smolders Managing Director Advanced Aerospace Designs FEDERATION FRANÇAISE DE PARACHUTISME 62 rue de Fécamp - 75012 PARIS Tel 01.53.46.68.68 - Fax : 01 53.46.68.70 e-mail : ffp@ffp.asso.fr - Web : www.ffp.asso.fr COMMISSION TECHNIQUE ET PEDAGOGIQUE CIRCULAIRE DE SECURITE N° 107 Le 19 avril 2006 Référence : JMS / 06 / 0959 OBJET :Dommages constatés aux bagues de protection plastique du sectionneur Vigil et précautions à prendre lors de la fermeture du parachute de secours Matériels concernés :TOUT ÉQUIPEMENT DE SAUT AVEC UN SECTIONNEUR VIGIL SITUÉ AU-DESSUS DE l’EXTRACTEUR DE SECOURS MESURES A PRENDRE : Pour tous les équipements concernés et susceptibles de sauter dans les structures affiliées à la Fédération Française de Parachutisme : 1° Arrêt immédiat des sauts 2° Ouverture sur table du conteneur de secours sans nécessité de repliage de la voilure de secours. 3° S’il n’est pas constaté de dégradation de la bouclette ou du sectionneur : A – Refermeture sans utilisation de système d’augmentation d’effort B - Noter l’action sur le livret matériel ( cette action ne vaut pas repliage périodique) 4° S’il est constaté une dégradation de l’état de la bouclette ou un endommagement de la bague de protection ( même minime) -Arrêt de vol pour le matériel -Contacter le revendeur ou l’industriel pour avis et action -Informer la fédération ( Eric FRADET) Personnel qualifié : PLIEURS Date d’application : AVANT LE PROCHAIN SAUT Texte : voir ci-joint le bulletin service de la société AAD DIFFUSION : - Président F.F.P, DTN, Directeurs Techniques, CTP, Plieurs / Réparateurs - Advanced Aerospace Designs - Etats Majors de : l’Armée de Terre - l’Armée de l’Air - de la Marine - C.E.V.A.P, E.T.A.M.A.T Montauban - DGAC Monsieur JOUBERT,DGA Monsieur PERRIN - Direction des Sports Monsieur MORLET - Paramag, FFP Contacts