have you pulled the rsl to get the reserve out?

[wilcox 0]

Have you, or do you know anyone, who has used the rsl instead of the reserve handle to pull the reserve? I mean a situation where you pull the rsl by hand, not when the main pulls the rsl.
I'm interested to hear about your experience!

[phoenixlpr 0]

I would not even think about it. That's not the part of my EP.

[skydiverton 0]

Why would you?
You can reach the handle with your right hand. No need to complicate your EP.

Only on tandemrigs the rsl is considered as your right-hand reserve handle.

If your rsl design has velcro on it. Thy to pull the reserve with your rsl before the next repack. Pull the rsl upwards. Pulling forward or down needs a huge amount of force due to shearing the velcro instead of peeling

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Using your droque to gain stability is a bad habit,
Especially when you are jumping a sport rig

[phoenixlpr 0]

I had 5 reserve ride. First 4 had RSL installed I think. I did not have any other thoughts than practiced EP procedures.

Now I don't have RSL installed. Anyway RSL have velcro attached to keep it in place. It's not designed to pull from that direction, it's not a handle either. Why should I pull anything else than a reserve ripcord??? That should work 99.99% of the time. I can not imagine any case that would better than pulling reserve ripcord. What if I would have a broken reserve pin? Cypres might save my life, but not the RSL.

[tombuch 0]

I should have but didn't.

Many years ago I was flying a conventional Vector tandem when I had a drogue in tow. After all the normal procedures I tried to pull the reserve handle but it wouldn't budge. I was getting low, nearing tandem terminal, and struggling with both hands to force the velcro apart and pull the reserve handle. Because I was reaching over the student with my right arm the two way had a slight spin. It was ugly. Finally, I was able to get the velcro apart and pull the reserve at a reasonable altitude, and everything was fine.

Once on the ground we checked all the other tandem rigs and found that on many of them the velcro had taken a set, and it was difficult to pull either (or both) the cutaway or reserve handles.

Until that jump I had always done handle checks but had not included the RSL ball. Following that jump every handle check included a final touch of the RSL ball. I also added a peel and check of the velcro handles to my morning pre-flight equipment inspection.

In addition to all the above, I learned how important it is to pull every handle on every rig at every repack. Simply extracting a pin from the back of the rig isn't sufficient to ensure that all systems are functional. I already knew that, but this incident convinced me that the repack is about more than just exposing nylon to the air.

When I discuss the proposed extension of the reserve repack cycle I think of this inspection issue, and others, and am convinced that for some rigs, including tandems and student gear, extending the repack cycle isn't a good idea.
.

Tom Buchanan
Instructor Emeritus
Comm Pilot MSEL,G
Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

[Hooknswoop 19]

i did it on the ground on a Vector II tandem system. I wanted to see what it was like to pull in case I ever needed it. It was not easy or quick to do, even standing on the ground. It did work though.

Derek

[riggerrob 643]

I have opened a few Strong tandem reserves by pulling the RSL on the ground.
It worked fine, but tends to kink the reserve cable.
My emergency procedures include pulling the (right-handed) RSL if a student ever gets a death grip on my left hand.
So far I have been lucky and have not had a student grab my left hand that firmly.