skydiverek 63 #26 April 19, 2007 QuoteI understand your concern but I'm in Brazil and you don't have to be a rigger to pack your reserve It used to be the same in Germany. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BKR 0 #27 April 19, 2007 QuoteQuoteFor those of us who don't know much about TSO testing, is doing 99 tests good or bad? How many are suggested/required? Does additional testing mean there was something wrong with the initial testing, or that a company went above and beyond the requirements (i.e. is more testing good or bad)? Plus, does any third party observe the tests? I mean, the company could drop the rig 100 times, it would work only 10 times, and note these 10 times in the book, as "it worked 10 times out of 10!". How is this prevented...? I believe in France it is the government that does the tests, not the manufacturer. It is not the government, it is the manufacturer, but: We have to provide a video of all testings, ground and launchings. At least one person from NAA will come to see at least, high speed drops and cutaways. They can ask either to be there for any of the testings.Jérôme Bunker Basik Air Concept www.basik.fr http://www.facebook.com/pages/Le-Luc-France/BASIK-AIR-CONCEPT/172133350468 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billbooth 10 #28 April 19, 2007 QuoteQuoteI was sitting in Henri's office about a week ago talking about TSO testing and he showed me the book for the 23-D tests on the Wings. They did exactly 99 tests. For those of us who don't know much about TSO testing, is doing 99 tests good or bad? How many are suggested/required? Does additional testing mean there was something wrong with the initial testing, or that a company went above and beyond the requirements (i.e. is more testing good or bad)? All you learn from 99 test jumps is the malfunctions that happen every 50 jumps or so. However, some parts of a parachute system can be almost fully tested on the ground, before the first jump is made. A canopy release or ripcord system are two examples. However, a pilot chute, or especially a canopy, must be proven exclusively by drop testing. It seems to take about 1,000 jumps or so before you can have much confidence is a new canopy design...and then only if it is packed the same way, by the same people, and deployed out of the same rig. The real problem is mis-rigging, and incompatible components being mixed. Because there are nearly infinite possible combinations, it probably takes about a million jumps, under all conditions, before you really find out how reliable a canopy or container system is. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
