Hooknswoop

Derek

A very good chance. The name of the company changed. Same canopy. Derek

Flight Concepts International. Derek

I wouldn't care if a rigger pencil packed a reserve. Then it is on them, not anyone else. If they pencil packed a reserve and it had a problem because another rigger packed it last and made a mistake, the pencil packing rigger gets the blame. If they are willing to do that and take that risk, it's on them. That is different from someone without a rigger's ticket pencil packing a rig. Derek

But not the rigger. Derek

Cadium plated hardware has always chipped under normal use, like the paint on your car. It isn't like only some of the cadium plated hardware chips, it all does. It's 'normal'. If you can make cadium plated hardware that doesn't chip, you could probably make some money. Canopy fabric gets porus with use, line sets wear out with jumps, cadium plating flakes off with use, closing loops fray. It's all normal wear and tear. Derek

That would qualify. The rig is good for 120 days after I pack it. If it is jumped after that, fine. But if the card is altered or forged, then I will not pack for that person anymore. I put a re-pack due sticker, along with maint and batteries due sticker on each reserve data card. The jumper has zero excuse for not knowing that their reserve was due in time to get it re-packed. Derek

I use a stamp for this very reason. If someone pencil packs (forges my signature) my reserve pack job, I will charge them for that re-pack and refuse to ever pack their reserve again. Derek

The jumper said "no" and left. I got a PM from another jumper at the same DZ saying they have delt witht he same issue because they don't use the DZ rigger either. Derek

If they just wanted the jumper to get it re-packed, why offer to let him jump it for the day but only if the DZ rigger re-packed it after jumping? Why not just tell him to get it re-packed, by any rigger, and he can jump? Why the stipulation that it had to be re-packed by the DZ rigger? Derek

2 reasons; 1) FAR Part 105: "§105.43 Use of single-harness, dual-parachute systems. No person may conduct a parachute operation using a single-harness, dual-parachute system, and no pilot in command of an aircraft may allow any person to conduct a parachute operation from that aircraft using a single-harness, dual-parachute system, unless that system has at least one main parachute, one approved reserve parachute, and one approved single person harness and container that are packed as follows: (a) The main parachute must have been packed within 120 days before the date of its use of a certificated parachute rigger, the person making the next jump with that parachute, or a non-certificated person under the direct supervision of a certification parachute rigger." 2) The FAA can take action against a pilot. They can't take away your "A" license, etc. The FAA places a lot of responsibility on pilots, sometimes for things they have no control over. Since it isn't feasible for the pilot to check reserve data cards, they must trust the DZ to make sure reserves are in date. Doesn't seem like too much to ask. You have to be able to trust the pilot, they should be able to trust the DZ. Derek

They were pressuring him by dangling the 'carrot’ of being able to jump that day, because a rigger that isn’t from that DZ packed the reserve. They were trying to get the jumper to change to a DZ rigger. This was in manifest, no pilot involvement. Derek

Right, but what about using/breaking the FAR's to generate rigging business? Derek

What would think of a DZ that would allow someone to jump an out of date reserve if they agreed to leave it at the DZ to be re-packed at the end of the day, but would not let them jump if they didn't? The reserve was not packed by the DZ's rigger(s) previously. Derek

Were any of the times you had spinning line twists, did they include twisted risers? Were the yellow cables cleaned within the last 30-days? Were the 2 hard cutaways with twisted risers? Did the risers have metal inserts? Derek

You can toss a military smoke grenade into the water and it'll still work just fine. Purple in a swamp at sunset gives a great effect. Derek

What is the difference between the cutaway forces for yellow with inserts vs. red without inserts vs. red with inserts, all with the same number of riser twists, say 6 twists? That is the question. If twisting the risers increases the friction on the cutaway cables and inserts reduces/eliminates the friction from twisted risers, it should make a difference even for the red cables. Derek

Cadium plating isn't indestructable. You bang 2 pieces of cadium plated hardware together enough and the plating will come off. Derek

They still use it. Derek

Riser inserts obviously lower cutaway forces by reducing friction when the risers are twisted together. There is no down side for properly manufacturer. Why not have them? Derek

Then go through old issues of parachutist and skydiving magazines. Or do it yourself. Use your rig in a hanging harness test. Twist up the risers, get two people to hang off the harness, and use a spring scale to pull the cutaway handle. Slide some inserts into the risers and repeat. If manufacturers were never wrong, there would be no AD's/SB's. Derek

No, it says June 23, 2005, todays date. The article date is May 03, 2004. Derek

No, I discussed it with Mirage. They said they were going to talk to their rep at the FAA and get back to me in a couple of days. that was a couple of weeks ago and they did not return my call about a week after I originally talked to them. I have been waiting for a reply for over 6 months for a legal interpretation of FAR Part 65.111, specifically who may alter a main parachute. The FAA doesn;t give a damn about this stuff unless they have too, like after an incident. Then you can;t get rig of them. So I don't see the point in asking the FAA and waiting 6+ months for a reply. Derek

This doesn't apply to this issue. The PD-113R and Mirage are both TSO'd. They just are not compatable. Derek

There was an article in Parachutist with test data and it is well-documented. Try it in a hanging harness. It is the reason housing inserts in risers are common today. A search for 'Hard Cutaway' will provide some info too. Derek