skytribe

As a number of canopy manufacturers have requirements to return canopy for validation or testing after a certain number of jumps or pack jobs but only one has a panel on the canopy that is marked how is the rigger/owner meant to be compliant with this if you leave the card with the container. I was told packing data card goes with the reserve. Making a copy and leaving it with the container may be useful if there are container SB that have been recorded as well.

How about the packing data card with the deserve ?

After some discussion with Mike Rinaldi at Strong Enterprises about the commandments and this is his response. Take that as you will - it seems to be pretty straightforward and is the general opinion I got at the Tandem presentation at Symposium with all the representatives from the manufacturers there. They showed a video of a tandem instructor hooking a tandem and killing the student. Very graphic. You think it wont happen to you - don't delude yourself. It can happen to anyone. So that answers your question who came up with the commandments. The tandem equipment manufacturers....

The DZ I learnt at in UK many years ago spent a lot of time on PLF's. On the ground, from the top of boxes, running up and jumping off ramps and finally on a fan trainer. I've used them a couple of times under squares. My current DZ in the States does include them in the 1st jump course but quite frankly the standard is minimal. ie jump off fall on the floor and we can say you did it. I believe that is because that's what many of the young instructors believe this is a PLF and therefore teach to that standard. Not saying its the best technique for squares but a common issue for students is flaring high. Hence it can be quite useful for early jumpers as they hold there toggles and PLF.

Something snags on camera mounted on helmet you can easily get rid of helmet. Some countries require cutaways on camera helmets.

How about ask the instructors at your drop zone rather than complete strangers. Each person is different and the best advice is probably going to be from those that have observed/taught you.

Exactly - and how are we meant to determine these figures accurately if there is no history trail or it is being deliberately obscured by rigger actions of not marking the data panel. While I can believe that cards may be lost/mislaid as gear is split out and sold, the data panel I believe is intended to be the definitive record as it stays with the canopy.

So why bother having the panel and requirements if riggers simply chose not to use it. I'm not saying its foolproof but marking a box is not exactly rocket science either. And where do you draw the line on what manufacturer requirements/instructions to follow or not ? Still haven't heard any real benefits for NOT doing what is required and marking the panel. My belief is the items B and C are the main reasons for a panel not being marked.

Seems to have been discussed before. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4319028;search_string=reserve%20pack%20card;#4319028

A Lost card is one thing but what I'm talking about is pack jobs on the data card that are not marked on the panel. The data panel is NOT lost. So not marking the panel is really not following the manufacturers requirements providing a history of the canopy. As far as I'm aware the card goes with the reserve canopy not the container. Can you give me good legitimate reasons for not following the manufacturers requirements and marking the data panel.

I see this a either a. Being lazy b. Being dishonest (and allowing the owner to mask the true history of the canopy upon resale) c. Paper packing reserves (possible taking monies and not doing the work) d. Being incompetent and not following manufacturers instructions. The manufacturer wants this recorded so that when conditions are met the canopy can be tested and re-certified. This provides them with useful data on used or long time reserves. How can this reflect reality when riggers chose to ignore.

I didn't buy it but am repacking it for a customer who has just purchased it. As it isn't the usual block colors it peeked suspicion and with nothing to really verify a history all I have is what is in front of me. It looks in ok shape when inspected.

That was my suspicion but as there is no bridle attachment and no sign of their ever being one I'm fairly confident that this was not a demo canopy. The data card with the reserve only goes back 4 pack jobs, the reserve data panel indicates 17 pack jobs. And even the last 4 pack jobs don't tally with the data panel. ie. Dated data panel square indicates one pack job in these last 4 was not marked. I see this all too often where the data panel and packing cards do not match up - aren't riggers required to mark the data panel on each PD reserve repack ? Perhaps the riggers in question think they are doing there customers a favor by not marking the pack jobs and therefore when there customer sells it will have a higher resale value. This is almost tantamount to winding the odometer back on a used car.

Thanks its the first time I've seen such a multicolor pd reserve.

I just got a PD reserve from 91 to pack and its a multi colored reserve. I mean it Green/Black/Purple and Pink. I've seen many PD reserves but normally they are a solid color. I know some manufacturer like Precision allowed custom colored reserves just not seen anything like this from PD before. I'm a little bit suspicious as there is not a full packing card with history on this reserve and only 17 pack jobs since 91 marked on the data panel.

Can you point me to the necessary parts I'd need. I can barely get 4 pieces of type 17 under the presser foot at max. The needle has loads of clearance.

Couldn't agree more. I'm out there doing best for me and my student. A novice jumper wanting to geek my student adds an increased risk for me. Risks I don't want to take and open myself up to legal implications if anything happens. I have no problems when someone asks - telling them no !!!. If you meet the requirements then I'll consider your request. 500 jumps is really not that much. Nobody thinks that they will fuck up - I guess the guy that killed his mother thought that as did that tandem instructor.

This doesn't happen to be a certain DZ in the Northeast ? Well known for making it difficult to get paid for work already done....

I think its industry thing - contacted Phoenix twice for info on there zippers they use on their wingsuits - No response....

I think more of the issue with dropzone requiring LLC etc. and using instructors as independent contractors is more to avoid having claims on there workman's comp insurance. I know the last place I worked required you to provide proof of workman's comp for them to pay you. It triggered an audit by the state virtually every year as the owner and sole employee the workman's comp was worthless to me. After explaining why I had it the state official would leave me be. My current DZ is currently having issues with a workman's comp claim which was re-opened despite the instructor in question re-injuring himself over the winter when he wasn't working. This increases rates for DZ and often why DZ's chose to employ instructors as Independent contractors rather than employees.

And that is the reason why knowing what was done maybe is important. Back in the days people chrome plated hardware on rigs and problems occurred. Knowing what was occurring led to advice. People not familiar with the mechanics of the device can then provide additional thoughts on the process which may not have been considered by the original poster. As you said the holes are crucial to an altimeter and any modification should be verified prior to use.

So you showed the before and after but didn't really say how or what you did ? That may be a bit more useful.

The strands are not visibly damaged from the outside but this thing is coiled up somewhat - hand straightening it really takes the worst out but its still pretty coiled up. esthetic make it look like crap. I'm asking because the was nothing visibly wrong on the outside - ie. both ends are attached, no broken strands but as it doesn't look good and makes threading the ripcord through the housing more difficult I was questioning whether it should be replaced as there was nothing obvious wrong but it is stressed to cause the kink/bend. All my own reserve rides have been non RSL, so I'd not seen such damage and rigs brought to me after deployment have not exhibited such noticeable deformation hence the question. So it sounds like if I can't find anything wrong with it then its ok to continue to use - even if it looks like crap.

Had a customer bring be rig to be repacked after another deployment. The deployment was RSL activated and as the cable is yanked during the deployment it ends up being less than straight. I'm not sure of the best term to describe it as being kinked/bent/deformed/twisted in comparison with an unused cable. The is no visible signs of fraying on the cable and both ends are secure but I've suggested that the ripcord assembly be replaced as has clearly changed from its original spec. Any guidance from others as to when a ripcord should be changed ?

Thanks MEL That cleared it, and rethreading and got tensions set up so its working. When I got it powered it seems happy. When I turn off and repower - sometimes it throws an E7. Try repowering a couple of times and once I get it up and running seems to work fine. The cable look like it had been squished a bit as someone had crushed the cable running from the control box to the head unit. As it looks like E7 code can also occur with a power fault this may be something I look at replacing.