mark

When I tried it*, I was touch-typing at nearly QWERTY speed in a couple weeks. I eventually switched back to QWERTY because my average speed was better if my fingers weren't confused by which keyboard I was using. I don't think Dvorak is any faster on a computer keyboard, despite enthusiasts' claims. It might be faster on a manual typewriter -- but you weren't going to use one of those, were you? Mark *on an Apple IIc. There was a switch to change the keyboard assignments, but you had to pop the key caps off and rearrange them.

I'm having trouble thinking this is a good idea, because I'm imagining that on some jumps the student pulls a ripcord, and on others he doesn't; on some jumps a PRCP is a touch of the handle, on others it's a pull or throw. What am I missing? Mark

Good stuff to know. What should I do if I get such a reserve but without a packing card? Mark

The intent is clear: a rigger should be current if he or she is working on life-support equipment. And yes, it does mean you need to do "rigger work" 90 days per year, work you need a rigger certificate to do. But I don't think anyone has defined what a day of rigging work is. I don't know if that's 90 8-hour days, or 90 days in which each day you do some rigging task (and does it count as a full day if the task of the day takes only 5 minutes); and is that 90 days out of the 250 or so weekdays per year, or is working 40-hour weeks for 3 months sufficient? I don't know of any case where the FAA has attempted to enforce this regulation. You're probably on the safe side if you are an active rigger. And you're probably safe from enforcement if you work only on your own personal gear, even though you are less likely to be up on current best practices. Mark

Yup, valid concern. Not just a valid concern, but a legal issue as well. Here's FAR 65.129(f)(1): "No certificated parachute rigger may exercise the privileges of his certificate and type rating unless he has performed duties under his certificate for at least 90 days within the preceding 12 months." Packing your own main parachute does not require exercising the privileges of a rigger certificate, so it's unlikely a "I just pack my own rigs" rigger could stay current enough to legally pack any rigs at all. The libertarian in me says as long as you're doing only your own rigs, there's no harm. Mark

FAR 105.43(c) If installed, the automatic activation device must be maintained in accordance with manufacturer instructions for that automatic activation device. Mark

My pdf packing instructions for EB80, Security 350, 650, 750, 850, 950, and 1050 all specify a life of 10 years for the system. For all but the 1050, the instructions say a factory inspection may result in an extension to 15 years. There were some previous versions of the instructions that did not specify a life limit, and it is not clear to me that new packing instructions necessarily supersede the instructions that originally accompanied a TSO'd product, even though best practices would be to use the most current. Mark

Couldn't you just dowse for better prices and availability? Oh. Wait a minute. I can feel the spirits gathering. I sense an "R" or is it an "M"? No, no, it's an "S." Sylvia? Sylvia Browne? She's expecting your call. Mark

The line that is outboard at the link is the one most "polished" by the slider grommet. If the lines are in otherwise good shape, why not change the order on the link to even out the wear? I'm thinking particularly about PD tandem line sets which include a sacrificial line stub to protect the outboard lines from premature wear. If it were okay to change the order of lines, the sacrificial line would be unnecessary. Neat idea! Thanks! Mark

Cazers? Mark

As long as the lines go through the correct slider grommet to the correct riser, would it matter for function or durability if the lines were out of order at the links? I'm especially interested in responses citing experimental data; I'd settle for anecdotes. Thanks! Mark

In the US, equipment manufactured under TSO-C23c is limited to 254 lbs exit weight (= jumper + clothing + equipment). It doesn't matter if the weight is in good shape or not. Equipment manufactured under TSO-C23d may have a higher limit, but only some student equipment is certified to TSO-C23d standards. Mark

I was in Eloy last month, and took my rig with me through security at Phoenix on the way back. There were pleasant folks on duty, like the ones doing security in Minneapolis and Orlando and other airports I've been through recently. I've never had to show an AAD card or airline letter or TSA letter, and never had a problem with carrying a rig. I noticed that many of my fellow passengers treated the security people poorly, though. Lots of scowls, not much eye contact. It was impossible not to see how much the TSA folks brightened up when someone made eye contact, smiled, and was cheerful through the process. Accept that your rig is going to get stopped by the scanner. Have you looked at your Cypres or Vigil card? If you'd been looking at laptops, cans of shaving cream, and zippers all day, wouldn't all those rings, cable housings, spring coils, and wires scare the heck out of you? So make it easy for yourself and them. If you have a weight belt, pack it somewhere else. Pack your rig so they can get to it easily to swab it. Leave yourself enough time so you can give an impromptu lesson on skydiving equipment -- everybody's curious about skydiving (it's something they all want to do, but aren't sure they have the nerve). And believe that we're all on the same team. Mark

That would be the Reuter wrap: a piece of (Type 4?) tape sewn to one line near the skirt. The tape wrapped around the lines and was held in a place by a straight closing pin (similar to a pull-out pin) attached to a suspension line and inserted from the bottom. At line extension, the pin pulled out and the wrap opened. You could get the pin to stay in by inserting it from the top down. Mark

Mid to late 80's. A rigger I had trained was laying out a round with a 2-bight diaper (Pioneer?), previously packed by an unrated rigger with a borrowed seal. Both line groups were routed inside the diaper, which would have made for a hard opening, but should not have contributed to the lock. The diaper locked as she stretched the canopy out, and would not release as she applied tension. I do not recall the exact mechanism of the lock. I think a reserve pilot chute at terminal would apply more tension than a rigger at a packing table, so I believe even this lock would have cleared at line stretch -- a much better alternative to clearing before line stretch. I have not seen or heard of any other cases of diaper lock, either on the table or in actual use. That includes both reserve and main (raeper, frap strap, etc) diapers. Mark

I sent a new Infinity to VSE because of the wrinkles. Kelly sent it back with no changes except in how the main was packed. His explanation: the main needs to be packed as wide as possible. I tried packing the main as wide as possible, and it greatly improves appearance. There still isn't much clearance between the side flaps and the midflap, though. I would prefer to see the side flaps and midflap fit together more like a Javelin, more tolerant of so-so pack jobs. Thread hijack: How would you replace the BOC on an Infinity? Mark

I have. Mark

I remember a little bit different: A freepacked (no deployment device) Unit as the direct-deployed canopy. And I heard from a FOAF that Jump Shack's "at 2000 feet the last thing you need is pretty gear" ad photo depicts the beginning of a direct-deploy sequence. I don't recall jumpers being cocooned in canopies, and I don't see why that would be any more likely for direct-deploy than for pilot chute methods. I vaguely recall complaints of squirelly openings. I think it's an idea whose time has come again, but I'd recommend at least a frap strap to control the canopy and hold the slider up until line stretch. Mark

That plastic insert in the Vigil cutter demands more care on the part of riggers to ensure that the closing loop length is correct and that the cutter is adjusted to exactly the right position. On a Mirage like my G3/PD126, it is possible to get the grommets to line up so there is no pressure on the Vigil plastic cutter insert. Damage may occur when a rigger uses a positive leverage device, crank, or other assist device to compress the Mirage #3 (bottom) flap. If you are not careful, you can compress the cutter against the temp pin holding the pilot chute in place; withdrawing the temp pin under pressure between the cutter and the pilot chute cap may be what damages the plastic. A better design for the cutter would be more tolerant of rigger technique, but that's true of many rig design issues. Mark

Absolutely! The freebag/pilot chute arrangement makes a pilot-chute-under malfunction much less likely. As for freepacking the lines, they already are freepacked in most freebags! Packing lines on a full diaper or in a freebag pocket means deploying lines are farther away from potential snag points as the lines extend. We need deployment devices (diaper or bag) to meter the openings. There are still a few folks around who have tried jumping without one, but they didn't do it much and they don't do it any more. Once you have a diaper with a locking stow or two, you wind up with a big wad of canopy that doesn't distribute well in the container, so it doesn't look good and you run into trouble with the fashion police. Mark

Noriega/Ortega/Panama/Nicaragua. Or was it Commandante Zero? Don't cry for me, Argentina? It all gets to be blur after a while, doesn't it. We're lucky to remember anything at all. Mark

The ParaFoil spider slider was attached to the pilot chute via a bridle that ran through the canopy. Is the Matrix spider slider similar? The web site says "lower surface pilot chute retraction", but it also says "brisk openings", which is what you would expect if the spider slider were slowed only by the aerodynamic drag on a couple pieces of webbing unconnected to the pilot chute. Mark

I have to ask: did you free pack everything, or did you use a bag, frap strap, or raeper? Mark

IIRC, tubular nylon. Mark

So a "working jump" entitles someone to be ungrateful? Jeez! Mark