Cypress and repack cycle

[baron_68 0]

My Cypress expires in Mar 09. That worked out with my re-pack cycle until the cycle was extended. Can I continue to jump with the cypress installed until the repack is due or do I have to have it removed?

[councilman24 36]

My opinion and my interpretation is that you cannot jump with a cypres which has not been maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions. Some do include the service life under 'maintained' but most do. It's not only you on the hook, it's your pilot and DZ owner. Your rigger is off the hook because it's YOUR duty to use your rig in a legal manner.

Legally take it out. Does it stop working on the next day? No, just like your reserve doesn't stop working in day 181. But they're both illegal to jump. IMHO

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[ChrisClark 0]

Have you taken in account the extra 3 months? What is the date of manufacture of the Cypres?

[riggerpaul 1]

Quote

My Cypress expires in Mar 09. That worked out with my re-pack cycle until the cycle was extended. Can I continue to jump with the cypress installed until the repack is due or do I have to have it removed?

As Chris Clark said, you want to be sure you've taken into account the "+3 months" part of the allowable CYPRES (1) life.

Maybe the extra 2 months from the repack change is covered by the "+3 months" that is allowed in the "12 years + 3 months" life of a CYPRES (1).

But even if you get the extra time on the CYPRES itself, you must also be careful about the life of the battery that's in there.

There is no grace period on the battery life. The battery life is limited to 2 years or 500 jumps.

Even the recent FAA document about National Policy is clear that if the battery expires before the repack does, it is not legal to jump the rig.