NovaTTT

I've never seen a card with a " next I&R due no later than" space. But when I return a rig it comes with a little paperwork and prominently featured on that paperwork is that very date. And let's not forget that it is the gear owner's responsibility to keep up with that. It's not like the repack cycle is a kept secret. "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

I use a stamper when I sign PDCs. Just got word that this past weekend a jumper pencil-whipped a different rigger's name and info and tried to check his gear at manifest with my seal still on the rig. He jumped rental gear that day. Note to self: That stamper was a good idea! "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

Ta-daaa! And there it is, folks! The difference between Government Ethic and Reality! (uh-oh . . . SC might just be in this thread's near future!) Talk to Terry, Ski. Maybe with a little persuasion the FAA will let you work on it! "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

To make this thread easier to find, in response to another thread. Contribution: After his first jump following a I&R a few years ago, a friend showed me his main, which was mostly white, that the rigger had stained by spilling coke or coffee onto a sizeable portion it. Pretty big stain. The rigger denied it and there just wasn't anything (civilized) my friend could do about it. He sold it and bought a new main and soon after a new rig. I think he couldn't stand not only the thought of his gear being bespoiled, but also wondering if there wasn't some other agent quietly eating away at the nylon. For those who will wonder - yes, he disclosed to the buyers. "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

This is not the only thread on this, but it's the one I was thinking of when I typed that: Shit Left In Reserves "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

The FAA database lists the seal symbols of riggers. Curiously, it's found under the LIMITS heading. I don't think adding the search field would be more than a government programmer (or contracted programmer) could manage in a good day or two's worth of work. But then again, at times the government seems to thrive on finding new and unusual ways to make things difficult. I'm not going to hold my breath. "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

@ Ski: A look at the "Shit Left In Reserves" thread lends credence to your idea. @ Diablo: Got it from Sonic last night - thanks for the tip nonetheless. I'm hoping Van regularly checks his facebook messages. Maybe I can sort this out before the weekend. ETA: Hey Terry Urban! I still hope you're reading this!! "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

Well done! Worst that can happen? Some asshole is going to come and give you a blowjob! "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

A quiet storm of inquiries has been productive. It's a hell of a lot of work to go through just to identify a rigger. Perhaps the PIA will consider approaching the FAA to include seal symbols as a search field. I hope you're reading this, Terry! "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

I'm trying to track down the owner of an orphaned rig and it seems to me there ought to be a simple way to search using the seal symbol, which is often (but not always) the only legible writing riggers put on a PDC. Flippin' riggers - we're worse than doctors. I am certain there isn't such a search available, but if anyone knows of such, please post the addy. On the other hand, does anyone know "PII", who riggged at Gardiner, NY (The Ranch) as of 06 March 1998? Name appears to be Van something. FAA site requires a full last name and Landings doesn't have a listing for this rigger. Any help is appreciated! Cheers. "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

No and I'm not going to as I am already aware Airtec knows of this issue. Airtec's knowlege of the cutter issue is not the point I made in my post. "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

You're right, Bill. I'm aware of that difference and agree with you the CYPRES cutter issue isn't about a locked container. My earlier comments are about the quality of the cutters and consequently the reliability of the AAD. What follows is not directed at you, Bill, just getting my thoughts out here. Does Airtec make a better cutter? I happen to think so, and IMO the knife is better than the cylinder. But if their cutters are being damaged and/or rendered useless through common rigging practices and use then the cutter is fundamentally flawed irrespective of blade design or protection. That should alarm CYPRES owners regardless the locked container issue. Despite the locked container problem clearly being a very serious issue, using an AAD isn't about whether or not it will lock the container at 750' (an altitude that IMO makes most manual attempts at the reserve ripcord futile). That is a fault and failure, not a selling point. "Buy us, we won't lock your container closed!" Having an AAD is about reliable back-up; if a skydiver is unable to pull his RRC for whatever reason the AAD will function and that function might just result in his life being saved. An aspect of that proper functioning is having a cutter (or puller) that is securely attached to the system so a successful activation of the cutter (or puller) is possible. Airtec, in my opinion, has taken a step backward, making cutters that are less reliable than previous cutters. Just because the broken connection has been found only on Mirages doesn't mean it is exclusively a Mirage issue. Time will tell if the cutters are not able to survive a normal lifetime in other rigs, but I recall an axiom of the sport: If one can consider the possibility of a fault or failure, then it can happen. An AAD that has no chance of functioning is just a useless and expensive piece of shit taking up space in a reserve container. Although I choose not to jump an AAD I, like many others, have an interest in safety and reliability of gear. I'm not beating a drum or crying wolf. I am openly wondering why Airtec is not being scrutinized publicly for changing their known functional cutters to cutters that have been found to have a duplicatable total failure aspect. This whole AAD thing lately is making me feel like the old days when AADs were for students and chumps. "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

Here we go again - the same old argument that it's OK some of the time, but not OK other times. With all the hoopla regarding Argus and the fact that some of their cutters might not work some of the time, why is the fact that Airtec has produced an inferior cutter OK? I'm not trying to stir up Rhys; this is a very serious point. Either the CYPRES cutters are OK or they are not. The "they might not be damaged if they're rigged by magical hands" isn't good enough. It's not about good or bad rigging if the design is susceptible to stress and fracture. Repeated I&R packing forces and stresses applied during use of the rig causing a component to structurally fail prematurely does not seem to me to be a very good selling point. Even less so a safety point. Maybe I'm missing something here, but why is Airtec not painted with the same brush as Aviacom if they both are producing shitty cutters? N "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

Thanks, Rob. The machine I'm considering is powered by elbow grease, not elec. or air. It's similar in appearance and operation to a single-stage cartridge reloader and is more or less inexpensive. Surprising, I know! "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

Wondering if anyone uses a grommet setting machine rather than the hand tools, and how do you find them in comparison to the hand tools? "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

And yet, still nobody knows where he is "hiding". We do know, however, the address and appearance of the bungalow where someone with a boat in the driveway lives, because an anonymous asshole posted the info online. Is that Gary's bungalow? I don't know. What I do know is that it is not only incredibly childish to post this information online, it will probably constitute sufficient cause for prosecution if anything malicious happens at that home and/or to the people who live there. Frankly I'm very surprised the mods haven't removed the post. Seems to me, given their strict axe-weilding ways, they would have removed that potentially injurious posting soon after it was published. I feel badly for those who were ripped off by KK and Gary, but keep it in the courts where it belongs. Unstable7, you're not just an anonymous asshole moron. You're just a garden variety asshole moron. "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

The result is sort of the same, except the V3/CYPRES set up has the very real possibility of being deployed. The loop was cut - the CYPRES performed its job. An Argus would have had the same result in the same rig but maybe it would have locked the loop in the cutter. So it's not about possible results, it's about causes. The video shows the effect of an overstuffed rig with a too long closing loop trying to escape through many grommets. The Argus issue has to do with the AAD locking the container closed! That is not a container issue, that is an AAD issue. So I think you're mistaken when you conclude the V3 video is related in any way to the Argus issue. .02 "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

While modifications might take place, they will not be sufficient to violate the TSO under which the gear was authorized. My understanding is sufficiently different configurations and/or changes would require a new TSO. But the manufacturer certainly can change their manuals and instructions retroactively, if they so choose. It's their equipment and they have the FAA's blessing to set standards and procedures for the maintenance, repair and alteration of TSO'd gear. It makes an interesting philosophical discussion, getting between the lines of these issues, but the only way to challenge the certainty of the FARs and their foundations would be in a court of law. I can't believe anybody would willingly go there. "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

The fallback is FAR 65.129.e: (No certificated parachute rigger may) Pack, maintain, or alter a parachute in any manner that deviates from procedures approved by the Administrator or the manufacturer of the parachute; Does that mean the written instructions in the manual? Does that mean SBs that are issued by manufacturers? Does that mean what the mfgr's house rigger says? I suppose in the end that's up for a court to decide. As for me, I'm not willing to be a test-case in a court of law. But more importantly, I'm not willing to put someone's life at risk. Were I to knowingly pack a banned piece of equipment thinking it's technically legal and someone were to die because of that piece of equipment the legality of the matter would be the least weight on my conscience. I'm comfortable with the manufacturers deciding what is OK and what is not with their gear. FWIW.

@ Ryoder: Pat is fabulous! Talk about sonic transendentalism. I agree - major thumbs up! @ John: America, surprisingly, blew me away! The whole place was dancing and partying, really getting down. And that was just "Sister Golden Hair"!!!! "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

Best Ever: Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra performing the full choral of Beethoven's #9. Best Rock: Iron Maiden. Honourable Mention: Rolling Stones. Best Jazz: Pat Metheny Group. Best Indie: Swimming Pool Q's Best Surprise Rockers That Kicked Serious Ass: America "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

I don't know how they've rearranged themselves but they are definately still in NJ. The NY addy might be a PO Box just to establish residency, as they formed a domestic (NY) corporation last October. Their customer service and ordering are in NJ but everything is being shipped from (manufactured in?) CA. Just not sure what all that means. "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

That's part of what is missing, but not the whole. One wonders, for example, can the shot ball be exclusively traced back to the cutter head prior to the incident? or is it post-incident handling transfer? Like many, I'll continue watching to see how this continues to unfold. "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

I'm not saying it is not a lead shot ball, but they labeled the image "steel" and in the report say it "looks like a small steel ball". This is a very interesting report, but it is still lacking. I also would like to see close images of the shot ball as well as a determination if it is actually steel. I'm also curious how this relates to the other cutter-related incidents. "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

Got it on the laptop, now. Thank you, Peter! "Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73