hackish

Can you point to any threads here about vigils popping when trunks are slammed? On the ground they wouldn't be in active mode no matter how hard you slammed the trunk. From the vigil website: http://www.vigil.aero/vigil-how-it-works I'm all about discussion here but when you make statements please make sure they have some semblance of accuracy. -Michael

I get a little annoyed when people claim product XYZ opens slower because it feels softer or that it might not open in time if you have an AAD fire. Gauging opening speed with your butt is like using your eyeballs as an altimeter. The TSO process sets out a number of tests to ensure the reserve canopy meets all the criteria. If your reserve doesn't open on an AAD fire, then the problem is more likely to be the packing, rig compatibility or the firing altitude than the reserve design that had to be tested and instrumented very scientifically to ensure it passes the tests for its TSO. Talk to the manufacturer of the rig to ensure the LPV reserve you're considering is a compatible and recommended fit. -Michael

I think this is a bigger problem we all need to start preparing for. What do you do when knockoff rigs, canopies and such start polluting our industry? The aviation industry ran into this a number of years ago when a knockoff part spilled some blood. How can we avoid the same situation? Should all the manufacturers provide a means of registering and assigning serial numbers? May not be a stupid idea before someone goes in under a reserve that's only meant to "look" like the real thing. -Michael

I have a 112W140 and the main thing that annoys me is that it doesn't lift the foot very high for binding corners. I got screwed buying the machine and ended up spending several hundred on parts to fix it up properly. I'm curious to know what someone would expect from a more modern design? -Michael

I believe the last vigil I sent in at the owner's option cost $80 but I don't recall exactly. Up in Canada it's expensive to ship an AAD down for service and locally it's rare for me to see a cypres anymore. Turns out everyone replaced them with Vigils when they expired at 12 years. While I have a Vigil in each of my rigs I wouldn't be against using a Cypres or MARS as I believe all those products are safe enough. -Michael

For the benefit of the community here is what UPT told me: Poor Ken probably gets tired of me asking these types of questions but the manufacturer really is the best source of authoritative answers on these things. Now we all know as will future searchers. -Michael

I'm enjoying the exchange only because the details coming out are educational. The clarification on how to interpret something as being an alteration or repair is also touched upon in 105-2E. -Michael

I agree it is not regulatory but it is the FAA's published opinion on how the regulations ought to be applied. I agree with you 100% that it gives senior riggers too much latitude but just wishing it weren't so doesn't change the FAA's published opinion. The manufacturer, as stated in the AC105 can dictate whether a repair on THEIR gear is major or minor. They are not in any way changing your privileges. They are merely dictating the privileges required to make the repair. The difference is subtle but important. Cars on some fictional highway can go 70mph and trucks only 60mph. The manufacturer of the El Camino says look it's a car and here is why. Did they change the speed limit on the road or did they just class their vehicle so it can legally go faster? Same idea. -Michael

Funny thing, a few minutes ago I just used up all the lines i'd taken off to tie up tree branches. 1500lb vectran is awesome for pulling the bundles as tight as I can pull! Next week I'll probably do another reline so you'd have to let me know how much you want. -Michael

Unfortunately there is a rift in the opinions of a number of DPREs. For example Mark Lancaster is very passionate about the issue of line changes. I agree with the idea that Sr. Riggers should be limited to repairs appropriate to their training and skills. The trouble is, AC105-2E is the only guideline that the FAA gives us and they are explicit in their advice. Them's the rules. Perhaps Sandy's opinion is very liberal, but at the end of the day it was the FAA who contracted to have the manual written and they published it. Whether they did their due diligence or not the second it was published, the document became their "opinion". If the rules were to be changed there are a number of definitions that would need to be explicitly specified and the FAA book revised. The biggest example I can think of is a main canopy. It is not a certified part and therefore has no quality of airworthiness or not and subsequently the definition of major or minor repair cannot be applied. AC105-2F anyone??? In Canada there are a number of levels. Rigger A, Rigger A1, Rigger A2 Rigger B. The Rigger A can only pack sport reserves and do hand sewing. Simple as that. A1 and A2 is a gradual progression to the Rigger B which is equivalent to the Master Rigger. With each level there is training and testing. I'm not saying it's better, just that it is more clear. The FAA system could use some clarifications but until they come out we only have AC105-2E to give guidance. -Michael

Are you going to call UPT about it then let us know? If not I probably can ask. -Michael

I just opened a brand new 340 to have a look. If you check closely you can see the vectran line passes inside so I believe that the spectra on the outside may be to protect the line against wear. I'm not sure how the shrinkage of spectra affects this but you can bet it was well tested before going into production. -Michael

I think it's worthwhile to note that equipment designers attempt to see how someone may mis-rig or mis-pack something and thus make their design tolerant to these situations. I know some of my work has been heavily driven by how a rigger "might screw it up". -Michael

Another way to look at it is that any change that results in a factory approved configuration is a repair - either major or minor. If the chest strap doesn't come in that dimension from the factory then it's going to be an alteration so it automatically falls into master rigger territory. -Michael

I just have a bluetooth transmitter that I've been testing. Costs $30 USD and with a special antenna it has about 200 yd range. Unfortunately I feel like this idea chose the wrong technology. If there were a way for a single SIM to be active on all canopies and there were a $10-$20 per year subscription and a $30-$50 up-front cost then yes it would be a go and there would be profit for the designers. Hate poo pooing on someone's idea/design but the cost is simply too high. -Michael

I've never seen it before but I've spent a good deal of time looking at the sliders. Personally I believe it was caused by poor packing. If you don't fully open the slider and have poor line control then yes that is more likely to happen. I would expect fully opened the lines should not be sticking out if they have tabs on them. -Michael

First crack at it goes to the manufacturer. If they say minor then it trumps the FAA rigger handbook and poynter. Many rigs use a bartack to terminate the chest strap. c. Major or Minor Repair Determination. When there is a question about whether a particular repair is major or minor, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. In the absence of the manufacturer’s instructions, riggers should use the FAA’s Parachute Rigger Handbook (FAA-H-8083-17) and Poynter’s Parachute Manual Volume I and II as guides. If the procedure calls for a master rigger, it should be considered a major repair. If the procedure allows for a senior rigger, it should be considered a minor repair. There ya have it. -Michael

The tough part is finding a good spot for each. I have a dex that I put on my arm. Goes at the top of the tricep and bottom of the deltoid. The only risk is doing RW if someone docks hard on the arm gripper. I use skintac so it's probably not going to be completely ripped off ($800 for a new transmitter is an expensive skydive). I'm on the omnipod pump. I've had reasonable results with it on my thigh but it was ripped off once when someone slid back with their rig on my lap. I've put them on my stomach with good results. High enough that a leg strap won't catch it and low enough that it's well away from the chest strap. You can also get something called vet wrap that's a stretchy wrap to cover the site if it's on your arm or leg. I know parents use it on their diabetic kids for sports. Hope that helps -Michael

I'll second that. We had to bring in a whip to flog anyone caught putting rubber bands on. We had to replace a piece of webbing because of this. -Michael

I've tried purchasing the cotton elastic material from paragear. I have not been satisfied with the durability of the material. The elastic webbing keepers on the tandem harnesses had to be replaced every second week to keep it in good shape. I also tried purchasing ready-made units with even less success. They were frankly garbage and many fell apart in a single day of jumping. What material should be used for these and where do you get it? I'm told I need nylon elastic, not cotton. Any ideas? -Michael

The advice I give to most young jumpers is to purchase some used gear with the view that you'll use it for a season before downsizing to the canopy/rig that really suits you. I also think it's worthwhile to consider more popular containers like Vector or Javelin because they're easier to resell than some others. I did 280/260 for the IAD program, a couple jumps on a 210 then 170 for about 200 jumps, then 150 for 600 jumps now on a 129 and I'm not interested in going smaller than that. I don't recommend such a rapid downsizing at the beginning but it gives you an idea of how the curve generally works. 170 and 150 will generally fit in the same size rig 210 and 170 would be extreme. -Michael

I use a 20U and make an end start/stop bartack. Technically I can do center start/stop but it's just too much work. For doing a couple canopies it's acceptable. If you need I can send you a video of how I do it but the manufacturer approves a simple zig-zag stitch so I'm already overkilling it. I just like to close my eyes and in my head imagine it's an electronic tacker going 100x faster than manually :) -Michael

I don't know but I wonder if the idea comes from aircraft lighting on the wings? -Michael

Wow, awesome! This is exactly the stuff I was looking for. Price was $35 for 100 yards which is still a good deal even after $20 S&H. Thanks! -Michael

I noticed that icarus does this folding with their channel tape like this while PD used some reinforcement tape with a bartack across the spot that would wear. Here are the tabs I made, instead of 3/4" I used 1" because people complain that the factory collapsible is too hard to collapse. My plans to buy a tacker were thwarted by the boss of the household who does not agree that there is a significant time cost doing it with a 20U. It was hard to get both pieces of tape folded to exactly the same dimensions but I think next time I'll just roll it around a 3/32 TIG rod for consistency. I did speak with Bally finally and they have the tape I need. Really helpful people to deal with. -Michael