foam padding deteriorating

[Deimian 43]

On 8/2/2024 at 10:45 PM, Deyan said:

[...]

400-600 jumps a reline is expected. At the same time, a new PC and risers might be needed and maybe the chest strap will need to be replaced

700-800 jumps a new Dbag will probably be needed  and maybe new leg straps and kill line.

1000-1200 jumps second lineset and again maybe PC, risers and chest strap

[...]

 

I am a bit surprised about the chest strap and leg strap points. I think I know of just one or two cases where chest straps or leg straps were replaced. My own container has 8 years, about 1200 jumps, and its chest strap and leg straps are still in very good condition. It never crossed my mind that I would need to look at replacing them. I jump very close to where you are based (big fan of your beast videos!), and of course everyone treats their gear with different degrees of care, but these estimations are new and surprising to me. Am I missing something? Is there any hidden point of wear and tear I am overlooking, or are people really that careless handling their gear?

[fcajump 164]

Sorry Jerry... not a straight forward number here either, but my $.02...

Time - doesn't work for me, but is a major concern:

   - Many of us have seen closet queens or well cared for rigs that are in very serviceable condition after almost any age (here I'll limit myself to man-made materials, not silk, cotton, or pongee... what is pongee anyway???)  A friend of mine regularly/only jumps a pair of Sweethogs, that look better than many at the local DZ.  BUT, he was a rigger when they were new, and he KNOWS the systems and their limitations... One was modified by Cliff to have a Cypres in it (try retrofitting one now with the old manuals with their "if you have the 3" plastic renforcing on slot 2, then do...")  He has ROL, but there are rigs out there with belly band throw-out...  At _some_ point, these rigs need to be handled/packed/jumped by those who have the experience and understanding of the rig's characteristics and limitations.  Kind of like Antique plates (in some states) place limitations on how the vehicle could be used, maybe we need an antique designation (over 20 years maybe) where they can be used under additional stipulations.  I would hate to say you can't drive your Model T in the parade and car show, but it should not be permitted on the Interstates.

 

Number of jumps - maybe better option, but still limiting:

   - here I would compare a canopy that is used for mostly hop-n-pops in the mid-Atlantic (mine), and a "lightly used" canopy I was sent from a jumper at a large AZ dropzone.  The Spectre 210 might have only had the 450 jumps claimed, but if so it was packed in the sand after being drug back from landing...  (I have traveled to AZ, but never had the chance to jump there, but I understand the grit is very hard on fabric... locals are invited to correct me).
   I could see jump count limits on the line set, PC, soft links, maybe even the harness.
    But I think we would then have individuals pushing to make those numbers despite condition.

So, free thinking here...

Stress components: harness (not container), soft links, lines, bridle, kill line, PC to be given jump count limits by the Mfg dependent upon material. (and how are you going to track this??)

Under 20 years: routine inspection by a rigger who can ground based on condition

Over 20 years: routine inspection by a rigger who is personally knowledgeable with the rig/components with an owner/jumper who is verified to know the rig and its unique issues/limitations.

But when these ideas are boiled down... it looks a lot like what we have in place currently...

Now, anyone know where I can get (pulling this from memory) 1000#  Dacron in different sheath colors so I can reline my Delta II with OSI?

JW

 

[riggerrob 643]

Backing fcajump,

May I suggest that equipment age be linked to jumper age?

For example, only people who skydived during the 1970s and 1980s should be allowed to jump with pilot-chutes mounted on their belly-bands.

Only skydivers with “X” number of jumps on round mains should be allowed to jump with round reserves. My personal experience with round mains was all during the 1970s and early 1980s. My last jump on a round reserve was in 1986 and I missed the country! Hah! Hah!

Note how few POPS still jump round canopies.

Riggers should only be allowed to work on parachutes that were in production when they earned their first rigger rating. This limit is mainly to discourage young riggers from repacking gear that was made before the internet became widely available. Finding Service Bulletins, Airworthiness Directives, etc. published before 1990 is difficult or impossible.

[riggerrob 643]

3 hours ago, Deimian said:

I am a bit surprised about the chest strap and leg strap points. I think I know of just one or two cases where chest straps or leg straps were replaced. My own container has 8 years, about 1200 jumps, and its chest strap and leg straps are still in very good condition. It never crossed my mind that I would need to look at replacing them. I jump very close to where you are based (big fan of your beast videos!), and of course everyone treats their gear with different degrees of care, but these estimations are new and surprising to me. Am I missing something? Is there any hidden point of wear and tear I am overlooking, or are people really that careless handling their gear?

Consider how chest straps need to be completely un-threaded and re-threaded for every jump. Every time they slide through a buckle, they suffer a tiny amount of wear, hence chest straps wear out first.

Also consider that leg straps need to be tightened before every jump. Again, every time a leg strap slides through a friction-adapter, it suffers a little friction. 
20-some-odd-years ago Aerodyne published a Service Bulletin recommending adding a layer of Type 12 webbing to leg straps to increase friction/reduce slippage. I have sewn that update into harnesses made by Aerodyne, Altico, Flying High, Mirage, Relative Workshop, Strong, Sun Path, etc.

I have worked at a few skydiving schools where all the student rigs hade been re-harnessed when the containers were only half-life.

The worst was when (around 2001) when we bought out a school that had dozens of Javelin student rigs. This was just after Sun Path published a Service Bulletin about fraying main lift webs. That winter I replaced frayed MLWs on 20 harnesses, plus 20 chest straps and a few frayed leg straps. I also did a bunch of container repairs …. replacing cracked stiffeners, etc. I could only return half of them to service. Talk about hiding behind a sewing machine all winter!