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riggerrob

SB Parachutes de France ATOM reserve containers

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Parachutes de France just published a Service Bulletin about single-layer ATOM reserve containers. Coated (urethane?) Cordura container fabric might adhere to reserve canopies and prevent deployment.
The problem is aggravated by the fabric coating (urethane?) melting in conditions of high heat (70 degrees Celsius) and high humidity (95 percent) for 2 weeks or more.
Inspection due at next repack or if suspected that it was stored in hot and humid conditions.
Parachutes de France is expected to produce repair kits in the near future.

Javelin, etc. have reported similar problems before. The problem is caused by the urethane coating melting. The urethane coating was originally designed to water-proof Cordura fabric when used as luggage/backpacks, etc. In parachute containers, the urethane coating helps stabilize fabric and lengthen lifespan.

PIA just published the Service Bulletin in English, French and German. The first two versions are easy to understand, but the English version is garbled.

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I had a customer with a Javelin with a coated reserve free bag. He worked construction and then went to the DZ most evenings to throw students so he'd leave his rig in his trunk most of the time. After 5 months of summer he brought it in for repack. It took 35lbs of force to pull the free bag off the canopy stack after the locking stows were out. This was 15 years ago.
I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

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Yes, I remember a similar, heavily-coated free-bag on another Javelin of that vintage. The white oxford cloth felt " thicker" than most other free-bags. Fortunately that Javelin stayed in Canada, so it never got hot enough to melt the urethane coating.

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The temperature and humidity thing is pure bullcrap.
Their material is often bad.
I had in my few years of rigging A vast majority of them stick, even when kept in 18C and 40% humidity.
scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

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Thanks, got it. I had a customer contact me and ask me if his new used rig was affected. I still can't answer him, but at least I know what to look for when he brings it.
Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

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gowlerk

Thanks, got it. I had a customer contact me and ask me if his new used rig was affected. I still can't answer him, but at least I know what to look for when he brings it.

also check the toggle SB
scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

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