Unhook or not to unhook RSL with two canopies out?

[airtwardo 7]

chuckakers

******

I think it's best to have ALL the knowledge, but still use the fool-proof method like the "release in any two-out situation" strategy you have.

Actually to make it even more foolproof you should, according to jumpshack, disconnect the RSL any time you have a good canopy over your head.

Seems if people did this it would eliminate any issues with fumbling to disconnect the shackle.

I don't know anybody who jumps a racer with a double sided RSL, so I don't know if people actually do this or not.

That is potentially very deadly logic.

My guess is - though John Sherman would probably deny it - that Jump Shack encourages the disconnection of the RSL on every jump more as a statement to protect against liability than anything else.

An RSL should not be disconnected as a way to avoid a situation that has not happened and likely won't. Besides, having the reserve deploy with the RSL connected isn't a problem anyway. Only cutting away without disconnecting it (potentially) is.

Keeping it connected is essential in case of a malfunction after the deployment of a clean canopy. Historically there have been many canopy collapses, turn or turbulance-induced line twists, canopy damage from collisions, etc. in which an RSL could have or did make the difference between a reserve repack and death. Having a good canopy at deployment in no way insures it will stay good. Jumpers should keep every piece of safety equipment at the ready in case something goes awry on the trip down - especially any device that minimizes the altitude necessary to get a reserve out in a low altitude emergency.

If a reserve doesn't deploy before, during, or shortly after main deployment (most typically because of an AAD activation), the odds of it coming out thereafter are miniscule at best. It makes no sense to disconnect the RSL to guard against a highly improbable scenario when doing so also removes it from possible and much more likely scenarios in which it might make all the difference in the outcome of the jump.

Well stated Chuck...I was thinking the same thing.

How about a canopy collision at 1500' that requires a chop & reserve...I'd really rather have it connected in that instance.

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[Southern_Man 0]

chuckakers

******

I think it's best to have ALL the knowledge, but still use the fool-proof method like the "release in any two-out situation" strategy you have.

Actually to make it even more foolproof you should, according to jumpshack, disconnect the RSL any time you have a good canopy over your head.

Seems if people did this it would eliminate any issues with fumbling to disconnect the shackle.

I don't know anybody who jumps a racer with a double sided RSL, so I don't know if people actually do this or not.

That is potentially very deadly logic.

My guess is - though John Sherman would probably deny it - that Jump Shack encourages the disconnection of the RSL on every jump more as a statement to protect against liability than anything else.

An RSL should not be disconnected as a way to avoid a situation that has not happened and likely won't. Besides, having the reserve deploy with the RSL connected isn't a problem anyway. Only cutting away without disconnecting it (potentially) is.

Keeping it connected is essential in case of a malfunction after the deployment of a clean canopy. Historically there have been many canopy collapses, turn or turbulance-induced line twists, canopy damage from collisions, etc. in which an RSL could have or did make the difference between a reserve repack and death. Having a good canopy at deployment in no way insures it will stay good. Jumpers should keep every piece of safety equipment at the ready in case something goes awry on the trip down - especially any device that minimizes the altitude necessary to get a reserve out in a low altitude emergency.

If a reserve doesn't deploy before, during, or shortly after main deployment (most typically because of an AAD activation), the odds of it coming out thereafter are miniscule at best. It makes no sense to disconnect the RSL to guard against a highly improbable scenario when doing so also removes it from possible and much more likely scenarios in which it might make all the difference in the outcome of the jump.

I am not advising people to do it but it is the official jumpshack advice. Actually John Sherman's article says you should do this with any RSL system, not just the racer. Just so people can look at the article and read for themselves:http://www.jumpshack.com/default.asp?CategoryID=TECH&PageID=2SQUARESOUT&SortBy=

"What if there were no hypothetical questions?"

[chuckakers 425]

Southern_Man

*********

I think it's best to have ALL the knowledge, but still use the fool-proof method like the "release in any two-out situation" strategy you have.

Actually to make it even more foolproof you should, according to jumpshack, disconnect the RSL any time you have a good canopy over your head.

Seems if people did this it would eliminate any issues with fumbling to disconnect the shackle.

I don't know anybody who jumps a racer with a double sided RSL, so I don't know if people actually do this or not.

That is potentially very deadly logic.

My guess is - though John Sherman would probably deny it - that Jump Shack encourages the disconnection of the RSL on every jump more as a statement to protect against liability than anything else.

An RSL should not be disconnected as a way to avoid a situation that has not happened and likely won't. Besides, having the reserve deploy with the RSL connected isn't a problem anyway. Only cutting away without disconnecting it (potentially) is.

Keeping it connected is essential in case of a malfunction after the deployment of a clean canopy. Historically there have been many canopy collapses, turn or turbulance-induced line twists, canopy damage from collisions, etc. in which an RSL could have or did make the difference between a reserve repack and death. Having a good canopy at deployment in no way insures it will stay good. Jumpers should keep every piece of safety equipment at the ready in case something goes awry on the trip down - especially any device that minimizes the altitude necessary to get a reserve out in a low altitude emergency.

If a reserve doesn't deploy before, during, or shortly after main deployment (most typically because of an AAD activation), the odds of it coming out thereafter are miniscule at best. It makes no sense to disconnect the RSL to guard against a highly improbable scenario when doing so also removes it from possible and much more likely scenarios in which it might make all the difference in the outcome of the jump.

I am not advising people to do it but it is the official jumpshack advice. Actually John Sherman's article says you should do this with any RSL system, not just the racer. Just so people can look at the article and read for themselves:http://www.jumpshack.com/default.asp?CategoryID=TECH&PageID=2SQUARESOUT&SortBy=

Yes, Southern. I did understand that. I believe it's bad advice on the part of Jump Shack intended as protection should someone kill themselves by chopping with 2 out before releasing the RSL - which happened many years ago to a seasoned Racer jumper who purchased an RSL equipped Racer after years of jumping without one.

Know your gear, folks.

Chuck Akers
D-10855
Houston, TX

[JeffCa 0]

I had seen that advice from Jump Shack and chose to ignore it for the same reasons that Chuck suggested above. Though I did make a practice disconnect of the RSL on my 2nd jump with the rig when I was under canopy, just so I knew how to do it and what it feels like.

But about the suggestion from Twardo that you might want it connected in the case of canopy collision.... isn't the first step after canopy collision supposed to be disconnection of the RSL?

"So many fatalities and injuries are caused by decisions jumpers make before even getting into the aircraft. Skydiving can be safe AND fun at the same time...Honest." - Bill Booth

[airtwardo 7]

JeffCa

I had seen that advice from Jump Shack and chose to ignore it for the same reasons that Chuck suggested above. Though I did make a practice disconnect of the RSL on my 2nd jump with the rig when I was under canopy, just so I knew how to do it and what it feels like.

But about the suggestion from Twardo that you might want it connected in the case of canopy collision.... isn't the first step after canopy collision supposed to be disconnection of the RSL?

You're confusing a wrap with a collision that may either damage or collapse the main...

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[JeffCa 0]

Thanks Twardo, you're correct that I was confusing them.

"So many fatalities and injuries are caused by decisions jumpers make before even getting into the aircraft. Skydiving can be safe AND fun at the same time...Honest." - Bill Booth

[chuckakers 425]

GLIDEANGLE

***A two out is a pretty unlikey scenario. If ou do have one it will most likely be due to a low pull with an AAD fir.

In that scenario you will be less than 500 feet from the ground and probably too busy to fuck with your RSL.

Unlikely, yes. However, I know of AT LEAST four people who have had them. Yes, all were low pulls with AADs. As you said... not likley time to even think of RSL.

Sounds like you have friends that need a little (or maybe a lot of) remedial training.

Chuck Akers
D-10855
Houston, TX