Hooknswoop

Reserves are designed to open in 300 feet or less, regardless if you are at terminal or sub terminal. Given the choice between a malfunctioning main and not much time under the reserve, take the reserve. To prevent self-induced line twists, be smooth. Full input it OK, but must be input smoothly. Jerking a toggle down too far too fast can cause that side of the canopy to stop too fast and the other side fly's around it and you have self-induced line twists. Self-induced line twists can be unrecoverable if the steering line that was pulled down gets caught in the twists. Derek

We have a new rigger in the house! Jessica passed the Rigging test and is now a certificated Senior Parachute Rigger. Congratulations! Derek

You are right, I meant the argument about having to follow the manufacturer's instructions was thin (my argument). It is required by the manufacturer, and recommended by the FAA. Is it a FAR violation to not do the test? No, it isn't. It is a violation to do an alternate, non-approved test and not log anything on the data card or personal logbook. It is definitely a bad idea to pull on the pin and see if it bends, especially if the bend goes undetected afterwards. It would be a difficult position at best to defend if someone went in because a pin broke and the rigger hadn't completed this SB that had packed the rig. "I didn't feel it was necessary and I didn't want to bend the pin." Is going to sound very weak in the face of a fatality investigation. We must remember, there is what is legal and what is right, and they don't always mesh. I can legally put a MA-1 reserve PC in my Micron, but I sure wouldn't. Derek

Are they going to use them for training only? Real-world HALO jumps you don't take off where you are going to land and it may take a while to fly to the DZ, right? The Cypres can't do that, at least not the civilian version. Will the military continue to use their current AAD's for missions?Is there a military version? Do you know if they are getting Cypres1's or 2's? Derek

USMC Looks like the USMC is buying Cypres's. Derek

You are correct. Technically it is not mandatory. There is the grey area of 'manufacturer's instructions', but that is thin. I can understand that they don't want their pin bent, but i would think they would want to make sure that their pin is OK too. Except for this pin, the 2 or 3 others that failed the test were replaced by the manufacturer for free. I do feel their FAQ's answered most of my questions, except for the '.005-inch bend criteria'. You have definately informed the jumpers.

Yesterday, I was going to supervise someone re-packing a reserve. The rig wasn't their, but a friend's. We started the paperwork and popped the reserve. I asked if the ripcord handle had any markings on it indicating whether or not SB CW-03-01 had been applied. It didn't. I checked the handle and it had been manufactured in 2002. Then he explained that a rigger at a DZ they had gone to had tried to bend it with their hand and when it didn't bend, signed it off on their waiver and they were allowed to jump. I looked over the pin and it was bent. It was the off-set pin style, like in the picture on page 2 of the SB. Instead of the pin being angled downward like the picture, it was bent up, past the plane of the swaged shoulder. I called the manufacturer and we agreed that 1) the ripcord was grounded and 2) it was most likely caused by the rigger trying to bend the pin by hand. Because the ripcord was probably fine until the rigger applied their own field test, they felt they shouldn't have to supply a new ripcord at their cost. I agreed and feel that the rigger should pay for it. The rig was grounded as of 15 July 2003 until the SB was complied with and had been packed after that date, without the SB being completed. The rig should not have been packed after July 15th without the SB being completed. The rigger that did the hand 'field test' should not have done that, nor allowed the rig to be jumped, nor neglected to enter any information on the packing data card. The rigger that did the 'field test' could not or did not detect that the pin was bent. I have no way of knowing how many, if any, other pins were bent by the rigger's 'field test'. The rig is down until a new ripcord can be ordered and shipped. There was probably nothing wrong with the ripcord before the 'field test' was applied. If your pin has not been tested according to CW-03-01, get it done. The SB is here: CW-03-01 FAQ's , is Capewell's FAQ's for CW-03-01. FAQ #10, explains that Capewell will send a rigger the block described in CW-03-10 for free. Derek

Front riser pressure does increase in a front riser turn/dive. Too short of steering lines adds to the perceived front riser pressure. The steering line(s) pull on the toggle, in the jumper's hand(s), at the same time they have the front riser(s) in their hand(s). The steering lines should not pull on the toggles or tail during a frint riser turn/dive. If they do, they are too short. So, I am saying; " in the case of short brake line / bucking canopy the increase is abnormaly high?" Hold a piece of string between your hands and pull it tight. Have someone push on the string and the string will transmit that pressure to both of your hands, even if the direction of the force applied isn't 90-degrees to the string. Derek

Easy to measure?-yes All the same length when new?-depends on the canopy. You have to have the line trim specs from the manufacturer to know. Derek

Are the housings long enough so that they are not being stretched/loaded when the 3-rings are loaded? Derek

Spectra is not 'dimensionally stable'. This means it shrinks when heated. The heat source is friction with the slider grommets, and to a lesser degree, the guide rings on the rear risers. The outer lines and steering lines recieve the most friction and therefore, heat. So they shrink more than the inner lines. Eventually, the outer lines and steering lines are much shorter than spec and the inner lines. The canopy's shape is distorted from spec and the canopy doesn't open or fly as it did when the lines were new/in trim. 725 lb Spectra lines are usually badly out of trim after 400-500 jumps. The smaller Spectra, 525, shrinks faster. Derek

Have a rigger look it over and check the line trim. You have time to get it relined before the x-mas boogie. If the trim is acceptable, then have them replace the one line and have fun. If the trim is bad, get it relined. Rule-o-thumb is 10% of the total thickness worn/frayed, similar to closing loops. Derek

Line-overs are steering lines and, rarely, "D" lines. Derek

Umm, go ahead, no on is going to stop you. Derek

If I could find an aircraft altimeter that is accurate, my test chamber would be operational. From FXC: MAINTENANCE The FXC Model 12000 is a delicate instrument. To maintain its reliability the user must not: * Drag it through sand * Submerge it in any kind of liquid * Alter, misuse, tamper with or strike the device * The FXC Model 12000 must not be fired without a load. If the user has any doubts as to the operational reliability of his FXC Model 12000, return it to FXC Corporation for a functional test. This is free of charge if under warranty. FXC Corporation will perform a complete functional test (free of charge, if under warranty). Should any repair or replacement parts be necessary, FXC will advise the customer of costs involved before repairing the unit. If a FXC Model 12000 is ever submerged in any kind of liquid, it must immediately be returned to FXC for complete disassembly and recalibration. WARRANTY Warranty is one (1) year from the date of manufacture for parts and labor. Warranty after servicing is one hundred twenty (120) days for parts and labor. PERIODIC INSPECTION & TESTING The FXC Model 12000 must be functionally tested in an altitude chamber ever 120 days. A physical inspection of the following items is also required: * Free and easy movement of the Safety Lockout Knob * Free and easy movement of the Altitude Control Knob and Altitude Indicator * Power Cable fraying at the end fitting and torn and/or abraded cable coating near the Power Cable Housing * Condition of Altitude Control Housing at all terminals and for kinks and/or excessive bending * Condition of Power Housing The FXC Model 12000 Revision ‘A’ thru Revision ‘G’ requires annual factory servicing, while Revision ‘J’ and later require factory servicing every two (2) years. INSPECTION CRITERIA FXC MODEL 12000 P/N 811-00042 INSPECTION INSTRUCTIONS Using an FXC Altitude Test Chamber, PN 711-07146 or equivalent, set up and test per instructions provided. Assure that the test set altimeter is set at 29.92 in. Hg. The following functional tests must be accomplished: Test 1. 65 fps - Must Fire Test chamber rate of descent: 3900 fpm. Altitude control setting: 1000 ft. The unit MUST fire at 1000 ft. +/- 300 ft. Test 2. 40 fps - No Fire Test chamber rate of descent: 2400 fpm. Altitude control setting: 1000 ft. The unit MUST NOT fire at any time. Test 3. Freefall Verification Test (175 fps) Test chamber rate of descent: 175 fps. Altitude control setting: 1000 ft. The unit should fire at 1000 ft. +/- 300 ft. If an FXC Model 12000 fails any of these tests, it should be sent directly to FXC Corporation or to an FXC authorized repair station for calibration. PUBLISHED 24 MARCH 2003 Derek

Don't fall down. You can still Scotch Guard the leg straps and mud flaps. You can wait until it gets dirty and have your rigger dis-assemble and wash it and then Scotch Guard it before re-assembly/re-pack. Derek

w/ 450-500 jumps on the line set, it is either out of trim if it is Spectra or worn out if it is Vectran. A new line set would be the way to go. If your line set is Dacron, you are probably OK to just replace the one line. If you have HMA lines, they are still in trim, but some of them are probably worn and it would be a good idea to get a new line set. Derek

Consider sending it back and having different leg strap buckles put on. The new buckles from PdF are very nice. Derek

Even then, they may say it is comfortable, and then you try it on and it isn't comfortable to you. Comfort is relative. I think my rig is comfortable and I've had other people try it on and say it isn't comfortable. (Most say it is comfortable). Derek

What type of rig? How do you stow them? Do you have elastic 'keepers'? Are the keepers new? Derek

Rig comfort is subjective. What is comfortable to one person is uncomfortable to another, hence the "sleep number" bed. A small rig is usually more comfortable than a larger rig. A rig that is 'understuffed' or has canopies smaller than it was designed for in it makes it softer. The opposite is true for 'overstuffed' rigs. A harness container that is custom built is going to be more comfortable than one that isn't. If you are shopping for a new container, remember that asking others for their opinion of the comfort a rig your interested in isn't very helpful. Derek

-Sabre2/Spectre/Safire2/Hornet/Triatholon main canopy -PD Reserve -Mirage/Vector3/Javelin/Velocity container (limit your options) -Cypres1 AAD For a first rig, definately get a used main/container/reserve. Buying a new Cypres is a good idea because you can transfer it to a new rig. Derek

$4500.00-ish for a new container, Cypres, ZP main and PD reserve. Like cars, if you pay retail, you got screwed. Derek

Altimeters are sensitve, fragile instruments, whacking them tends to throw them off and eventually cause them to stop working. I cringe when I see students/experienced jumpers clap, give each other high fives, etc with altimeters on. Contact alti-2, they should hook you up. Derek

Thanks. I made it "sticky", so it stays at the top of the list for now. Derek