gear maintenacnce

[cmnorris 0]

Looking to put together a small class for new skydivers on basic gear maintenance, such as cleaning cutaway cables once a month and keeping gear out of sunlight. Does anyone do something similar to this? I would like to find an outline to adapt for our club members' experience levels.

Thanks.

[CanuckInUSA 0]

Talk to Hooknswoop. He may be able to help you?

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[rigging65 0]

We did this for a while. Called it the "Junior Rigger's Course" (as opposed to our Senior Rigger's Course).

I basically did a reserve repack to quickly show the process to the class, then went over 3-ring construction and hook-up, complete main canopy inspection, function and design of a kill-line p/c (so they'd know what it looked like when it wasn't in proper spec. anymore), basic exterior rig inspection, and did a Q&A after that.

It went over pretty well, but it's kind of a tough row to hoe. If you do it on a Saturday, you loose people because they would rather go jump. If you do it on a Friday (like we did) folks have to take off work to make it happen...which is also tough.

Our class was about 4 hours long. I think it might work well if you had a group lined up, then waited for a bad weather weekend during the winter and let them know a day or two ahead of time.

To be honest, we basically discontinued the course because of lack of interest. Seems most folks would rather be jumping or making money than learning about their gear...oh well, seems to be a trend lately, doesn't it?

"...and once you had tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward.
For there you have been, and there you long to return..."

[cmnorris 0]

This would be a class for the University of Florida skydiving club members. I was thinking about just going over some of the basic stuff that many new skydivers are not aware of. Time isn't a problem...we can get a classroom on campus whenever we want. This idea has come up in meetings before and it seems like there is a genuine interest in the subject. Now, I just need to come up with the material.

[rigging65 0]

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Now, I just need to come up with the material

I'd say stick to a very detailed function/inspection routine for everything that a regular jumper can get their hands into (exterior container, 3-ring, risers, links, lines, canopy, bridle/pc).

Alot of times, less is more with this kind of stuff. Be sure to set up a large block of time for Q&A (or send out an email ahead of time and ask them to tell YOU what they want to learn about...this seems to work really well with interested groups).

"...and once you had tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward.
For there you have been, and there you long to return..."

[riggerrob 643]

Sounds like the old CSPA "Know your gear" seminar.
Unfortunately that seminar was dropped for lack of interest.

[rigging65 0]

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Unfortunately that seminar was dropped for lack of interest.

Sounds like an unfortunate theme....

"...and once you had tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward.
For there you have been, and there you long to return..."

[councilman24 37]

Start with the USPA Safety Day checklist. www.uspa.org Under Safety and Training and Safety day. (don't know how to clicky a frame.) PIA also has posters on how to maintain a three ring. Find a friendly rigger that wants to generate some business and good will. No offense, but at 110 jumps you need someone else to teach the course. Some who knows what a too soft harness ring is, why ripcord stops are bad, why slider bumpers should be tied down, what an unfastened quick link looks like after it's been jumped, etc. In others words some one with a little more experience. I do a very short version at safety day. If time is no option ask a rigger to pack a reserve for the session. Without full inspection and paper work it'll take about an hour.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[RTB 0]

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Some who knows what a too soft harness ring is, why ripcord stops are bad,...

I should probably know this but is the harness ring you are talking about metal? Too soft? Don't get it. And what are ripcord stops and why are they bad?

René

[PhreeZone 20]

Ripcord stops are going WAY back and I would'nt expect any non rigger thats under 35 to know what one is. Basically in the old days they placed stops on the ripcord to prevent losing them after pulling them (before the hand deployed PC for the most part), due to some bad designs they killed a few jumpers by preventing opening of their canopies. If someone is required to know about these might as well make them know all about blast handels too. Soft ripcord houseings went the way of the Dodo's in the mid 90's for the most part. Instead of having a hard housing they were just channels of fabric that were a pain to route on some rigs and allowed the cutaway cables to get pinched and increased the cutaway force. Indirectly or directly related to a few incidents in the 90's.

For teaching new students the IRM and the SIM have the majority of the info you need in them.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[councilman24 37]

I was just showing off how moldy I am. The soft rings I was taking about were some RW hmmmm 3? harness rings of the three ring that didn't get heat treated. They were stretching. So all rings with that part number needed to be hardness tested or replaced. This was in 1984. But, I found a rig that wasn't tested or replaced about 5 years ago.

I've also seen ripcord stops revisited not long ago.

The point was that there is lots of stuff that could be taught and trying to gather information for the first time might be less efficient then to get the help of someone that's seen most of the things that can go wrong.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[ladyskydiver 0]

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This was in 1884.

Wow! You remember way back then and are still skydiving?

Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile.

[councilman24 37]

oops

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[cmnorris 0]

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No offense, but at 110 jumps you need someone else to teach the course. Some who knows what a too soft harness ring is, why ripcord stops are bad, why slider bumpers should be tied down, what an unfastened quick link looks like after it's been jumped, etc. In others words some one with a little more experience.

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None taken...however I feel that I should point out that you should not judge based on jump numbers alone. There are quite a few people around that are riggers, but don't jump and then there are others that have fewer jumps than one would expect.

Thanks for the USPA tip, I hadn't thought of that.

Anyhow, since this class would be for new skydivers (ie college kids) I don't know how wise it would be to potentially confuse people with more advanced concepts. I was thinking along the lines of going over what a thorough gear check is and some of the basic maintenance procedures, such as cleaning the cutaway cables. Many of these students have just received their A license or they are in the process of becoming certified.

Another problem is that the closest rigger is about 2 hours away.

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[PhillyKev 0]

Check out the DZ.com safety checklist for equipment.

http://www.dropzone.com/safety/resources/safetychecklist/equipment.shtml