firemedic

....................................................................... That is because Flight Concepts considers pull-testing healthy reserves to be too great a risk ... and i agree with their policy. Performance Designs - is the only manufaturer of square reserves that - requires pull-testing to cover their butts in the event of unusual service wear, however, I can count on one hand the number of reserves I have patched and one of them was a PD reserve that a new rigger pull-tested a hole in. I patched the hole and pull-tested the canopy in a dozen other places and concluded that the most likely explanation was that he had pull-tested on top of an earlier pull-test and the the fault lay with the previous rigger who had forgotten to mark where he had pull-tested. Remember that pull-testing first became popular when round reserves started suffering from acid mesh in the late 1980s. PD introduced their new line of square reserves during the era when riggers were frantically trying to identify and ground all the round reserves suffering from acid mesh. I have to concur with you. I don't see the need to pull test any canopy with out justification. On the other hand what is the reasoning for not using a clamp for any reason.

I wasn't concerned for me because I don't have an argus. I was just thinking of the Argus users out there. I've only repacked maybe 5 rigs this year with an argus in it. Aside from the problem with cutters. I'd also like to know why they are firing outside of normal use parameters.

I really appreciate everybodys input. First to answer BERTTs question about the data card. It was missing from the rig so there is no history for the rig. I advised the owner that it needed to go to Altico anyway because it needs an update, the base plate in the reserve container. It has the old plastic one and needs the metal one. Also, with no history for the rig it can be thoroughly inspected and any other updates performed. As for the rest of the discussion, It is my understanding of The AC that either master or senior riggers can combine components from different manufacturers if they follow all the rules. Anyone else have an opinion on this please share. I agree with whoever said lawsuits focus on "deep pockets", I don't think they'd want my pos 98 corolla. They'd probably end up pushing it to court anyway. But I would'nt put it past a lawyer going after a manufacturer for not prohibiting the use of substitute parts in their equipment. Javelin prohibits the use of any other reserve pc than theirs. If there is ever a fatality investigation that shows a reserve pc and/or freebag from different manufacturers were used, it is likely for that to become a neglegence issue. Stir the pot and the dregs will stay evenly distributed

Thanks for the chart.

I just ran into that issue with a dolphin. A guy bought a Dolphin D2 and it came with a javelin PC and an Infinity freebag. The guy who sold it to him said he is a master rigger and says the parts are compatible. I've been a rigger for a year and a half so I started asking questions. I spoke to Furry. He said that a rigger could make that determination based on AC105-2c. I'm not willing to make that decision, i.e. pack the rig that way. All the riggers I trained under always told me to use only parts made for a particular rig. You just told me the same thing. I think I'm going to heed yours and thier advice.

I know that Flight Concepts prohibits pull testing and use of clamps when packing their reserves. Do you know of any others?

Glad to hear UPT got a good tandem canopy out there. I spent the last half of the 2009 season on Sigma 370s after being on Icarus 365s the first half. Wished I'd stayed at the DZ with the Icarus'

I'm playing catch up in this thread. Just wanted to say I can't under stand why the SB was not issued requiring immediate relacement of the cutter before the next use. That picture alarms me. The second thing is that the cause of the firing has not been determined or did I miss that. Bill

I'd like to start a discussion with riggas about the interchanging of major components.

Thanks for sharing your experience with this incident. I've seen canopies twist up because the bridle's wrapped up around the canopy in side the bag and because the packer flipped it the wrong way and ended up putting a full twist in the lines rather than taking the half twist out before doing the line stows. Glad you didn't have to chop it. Theres a lot to be said about keeping the conversation..........Productive, for lack of a better term. By the time I finished reading this discussion I felt like I was drowning in a pissing contest. Keep it positive and be safe.

Does any rigger out there have trim charts for Cobalts?

Does anyone have the trim charts for the Heatwave that was manufactured by PISA until about 10 years ago. Quote

My mentor taught me to check the data panels and compair the panels to the card. If they don't match, then there is a discrepency that needs to be addressed. I haven't run in to a situation where it appears that a data card has been swapped or fabricated but I have seen the reserve serial number not copied down correctly. The serial number on the canopy was a little smeared and the number was actually a 3 but could have been mistaken for a 9. I also found the last 2 digits of the reserve transposed.

Neither have I until I caught that one.

I have been skydiving for 11 years and a rigger for almost 2 years. I repacked a couple rigs where the last number of the serial number on the data card did not match the serial number on the reserve. Simple mistake? Perhaps. Worst case I've found so far is #3 Mallion Rapide links on a reserve where the manufacturer has approved only #4 or #5s or that manufacturers' slinks. Yes we are human and make mistakes as well but it is our responsibility to ensure everything is done correctly. I've caught my mistakes by checking and rechecking my work before I preceed to the next step in the process. It only takes a minute and can be the difference in someone living or dying.

This guy sent me the same inquiry. Funny thing about it was when I quoted him the bottom line price for a container, he replied that it was too much and counter offered a price double what I'm asking. Definitely sounds like someone who doesn't know diddily about gear. Sounds more like the check/money order scheme thats been going on for quite some time.

Im not sure where the croc fits in the the scheme of things but I have to agree on the rest.

I don't know if anyone has had a similar experience as mine but I want to share it. I demoed a Cobalt 150 last fall. I really liked everything about the canopy. Openings were consistently acceptible, on heading. The canopy flew very well and the flairs and landings were fantastic. In March I ordered 2 custom color Cobalt 150s. I recieved them in April. I also had 2 new rigs on order but they had not arrived yet so I started jumping one canopy in my old rig. The openings were brutally violent. I was very meticulous with my packing according to instructions and my body position was good during deployment. I ended up with a deep bruse in my thigh so I contacted Atair. I spoke with their master rigger who sent me a larger slider. This did not resolve the problem. I made several calls but got no resolution. I made at least 30 more calls to get the opening problem resolved and I got no return calls over a 2 month period. I had a rigger inspect the canopies and the rigger said the line trim was way off in that it did not come close to the trim chart on Atair's web site. I finally got a call from Dan Preston. He sais he was busy doing test drops for the military. I advised him of the trim issue and he told the the trim had been changed for that canopy. If that is the case the published chart should have been changed as well. He had me send my canopies in, at my expense, and said he would inspect them. I made several calls over a period of 3-4 weeks. Dan told me that the canopies were ok and that he jumped one canopy and that it opened fine. They were returned to me. My new rigs were in so I put em together and jumped them. The openings were again brutal. I put 5 jumps on one canopy and the right brake line broke on opening about 18 inches down from the cascade. I had to cut it away. I called atair the following week and reported the problem. I never got a call back. I jumped the other canopy for the first time. The right brake line broke on opening on the first jump on the brand new canopy. I had to cut it away. In addition to the hard openings the stitiching on my toggle keepers on my risers were braking. It just so happens a very well known USPA regional Director was at my DZ conducting an instructional rating course. He is also a Master Rigger and a Desiginated Parachute Rigger Examiner. He inspected my canopies and his opinion is that the trim is not correct. He also referred me to another Master Rigger who has a lot of experience with Cobalts. He advised me that a skydiver at his DZ had the same problem. The canopy was returned and it was discovered the wrong line set was on the canopy. The line set was changed and the hard openings went away. I called Atair several times over the next couple weeks and finally someone there had me ship them back. I shipped them the week before Christmas. I have not heard back yet. I have spoken to several individuals in the parachute community and they have very negative opinions of Atair and Dan Preston. Now I understand why. I have recieved very unsatisfactory service as a customer and I would not recommend any involvement with Atair.