Jun 30, 2003, 11:07 AM
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How to properly check chest straps
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Besides looking at them, there is one method that I've seen that is fairly fool proof.
Grab at the MLW on either end of the chest strap (both MLW) and pull both to the side.
This works great in catching misrouted chest straps. Even the ones that look like they're routed properly but are not. For example, if a student routes a chest strap completely backwards (through the top part of the lock and out the bottom). If you grab the chest strap and pull out (as a lot of people do) it can bind enough that it will feel routed, BUT it may not have enough friction through the lock to keep the chest strap there during deployment.
Alright. Any other instructors or jumpers out there have a good method (besides the obvious of just looking at it)?
Jun 30, 2003, 1:34 PM
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Re: [AggieDave] How to properly check chest straps
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I just hook my thumb behind the middle of my chest-strap and pull out. If its not there, or comes out of the buckle... There is a problem. I do this every time I check my handles on the ground and in the plane.
Jun 30, 2003, 5:04 PM
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Re: [AggieDave] How to properly check chest straps
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How is a visual not sufficient? Why do people tug on the chest strap? (an honest question, Im not saying what experienced folks do is wrong, its just that it seems like a thing that you could examine visually more accurately...)
Jun 30, 2003, 6:29 PM
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Re: [andy2] How to properly check chest straps
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How is a visual not sufficient? Why do people tug on the chest strap?
Because sometimes you see what you expect to see, instead of what you are actually looking at. I give mine a good tug while checking my 3's before exit.
Jun 30, 2003, 6:47 PM
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Re: [KenKnight] How to properly check chest straps
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Because sometimes you see what you expect to see, instead of what you are actually looking at. I give mine a good tug while checking my 3's before exit.
I couldn't have said it better myself. I'll even look, then tug, on the chest straps of my friends on my dive to make sure theirs are properly routed as well.
Also, when I have a Cessna full of IAD students I follow this same procedure every time: At 1000' their seatbelts come off & get stowed, their radios get turned on, I tug on all of their chest-straps, then I give the last frontal gear-check to the student in the #1 spot. When the next student gets into the #1 position, they get their last frontal check as well.
Jun 30, 2003, 7:02 PM
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Re: [KenKnight] How to properly check chest straps
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On the money Ken. I have a method of routing the chest strap that I use during evaluation jumps that appears to be just fine until you pull on it. Surprise!
Jun 30, 2003, 7:36 PM
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Re: [sducoach] How to properly check chest straps
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Evidently my coach had a similar method, but he'd harped on both looking and physically checking each piece of the gear before each jump so I caught it.
Jul 1, 2003, 7:31 AM
Post #9 of 14
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Re: [KenKnight] How to properly check chest straps
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One of the keys is to touch and look. Most of the time we are looking for a correct route, not looking for a miss-route. Our mind sometimes lets us see what we are looking for not looking at.
On the money Ken. I have a method of routing the chest strap that I use during evaluation jumps that appears to be just fine until you pull on it. Surprise! 
