councilman24 37 #1 October 28, 2003 Some of this I know, and most I could find out. But I want to ask here to fill in some blanks and reinforce what I think is true. Don't need the U.S.A., that I know. Please give your details on your countries inspection and repack cycle for skydiving reserves and pilot emergency rigs. Also, if this is the original cycle or if it has changed at some time. If it changed, who initiated the change and what data was used to support it. Also I would like to know your countries governing body, and how to contact them. Just trying to fill in some PIA rigging committee data. Thanks for any help. Thanks for your help.I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tombuch 0 #2 October 29, 2003 Terry: It sounds like you are working on a proposal to change the FAR. there is another issue along the same lines that needs addressing. Right now visitors to the USA are required to follow FAR's or their home country repack regulations. Dropzones here do not know what the various rules are (cycles, who can pack a reserve) in the home countries, so enforcing the reg is a challenge. If you could get your notes compiled and made available to drop zones that would be helpful. Perhaps when you have the basic "who can pack and on what cycle" in each country you could write a feature for the home page of DZ.com. It would be a great help to drop zones and visiting jumpers. Tom Buchanan Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and EasyTom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chrisky 0 #3 October 29, 2003 Germany: 1 year Was only changed one or two years ago, as the cycle was 6 month back then and most jumpers had it packed in spring to last through the season and winter break. Further info from the DFV/GPA AFAIK Belgium: 180 days/6 monthsThe mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymick 0 #4 October 29, 2003 Australia is 6 months (180 days) currently. AFAIK this has always been the length for a reserve repack cycle. The governing body for Oz if the APF (Australian Parachute Federation) goto http://www.apf.asn.au/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonto 1 #5 October 29, 2003 South Africa - 6 Months, and it's always been that way, at least for the last 18+ years. Governing body is PASA (Parachute Association of South Africa) tIt's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZigZag 0 #6 October 29, 2003 of this very same web-site has some information on "gear regulations" for foreign jumpers in this country. The link can be found at the bottom right hand corner of the home page. Just a side note. Ziggy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazyfrog 0 #7 October 29, 2003 switzerland : 6 months ---------- Fumer tue, péter pue ------------- ourson #10, Mosquito Uno, CBT 579 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BMFin 0 #8 October 29, 2003 Finland: 6 months, unless manufacturer suggests less.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rainman 0 #9 October 29, 2003 In the Netherlands we have an inspection and repack cycle of six months for skydiving reserves. This was changed very recently, it used to be three months. As far as I know this change was initiated completely by the skydiving department of the Royal Dutch association for aviation (KNVvL). The skydiving department of KNVvL can be reached by Email at knvvlpa@xs4all.nl. You can read this in the Dutch BSR's, found at BVR 2003 but unfortunately this document is in Dutch only. Edited to provide more information about the governing body.Rainman Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andy1 0 #10 October 29, 2003 Norway - 6 months for skydiving reserves Governing body http://www.nak.no/fallskjerm/index.htm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skytash 0 #11 October 29, 2003 UK - skydiving rigs 6 months, governing body BPA. If a rig was repacked in a different country with a shorter cycle, this will apply to this re-pack. eg, my rig will be repacked in the US in a weeks time under the 120 day rules. This means that I can't jump it in the UK on day 121. If a rig is re-packed in a country with a longer cycle (eg Germany) the 180 day UK rule applies. If you are looking to revise the FAR it would be useful to make it clearer what the rules are for rigs brought to the US repacked in a different country. I know people who still sometimes have problems with UK packed reserves in the between 121 and 180 point in the re-pack cycle not clearly understanding what the rules are with their gear. I must admit I'm not 100% sure what the current rules are, but as I have a Javelin and PD main, I have always made sure I stay in the 120 day US cycle just to be on the safe side. tashDon't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FreeFlyFridge 0 #12 October 29, 2003 Hey Chris, the DFV page is only in german! Terry do you speak german? If not, try this, for more information: info@fallschirmsportverband.de------------------------------------------------------ ROCK ON,.....HARD! Proud European!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Divingdude 1 #13 October 29, 2003 In Sweden we have a 6 month repack cycle for the reserve and a 1 year cycle for complete inspection of the main, harness/container, and reserve. For a while we were looking to change the repack cycle to 1 year as well, but that didn't happen. The governing body is the Swedish Parachute Association, see http://www.sff.se/ Unfortunately, it's all in Swedish. However, do not hesitate to contact me for further information as I am a member of the "Rigging and Equipment committee". /Håkan Andersson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ypelchat 0 #14 October 29, 2003 In Canada, we have a 6 month repack cycle. Yves. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
voidlizard 0 #15 October 29, 2003 Russia - 6 months ( AFAIR, 3 months for the old Russian PZ-81 triangular reserves which are not wings ) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Unutsch 0 #16 October 29, 2003 SLOVENIA: 90 days. hasn't changed for decades... and by law, only skydiving instructors are allowed to repack it, which in real life can and is a bit obscene, since a lot of them don't have a packer's licence... Check out the site of the Fallen Angels FreeflY Organisation: http://www.padliangeli.org Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Supergeil 0 #17 October 29, 2003 In Denmark we have reacently changed it to a 6 months repack before that it was 120 days. We still got a 1 year cycle for complete inspection of the main, harness/container, and reserve. Torben Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dima39 1 #18 October 30, 2003 Ukraine - 120 days (for ram-air reserve, for round reserve - 30 ? days, 3 months for the old Russian PZ-81 triangular reserve). Some dropzone changed 120 cycle for 180 days - i think it will be good for low time jumpers (they don't jump in Nov-March). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chrisky 0 #19 October 30, 2003 Well, i figure people here are smart enough to figure out writing an email for further info is the thing to do...The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chrisky 0 #20 October 30, 2003 Oh and the governing body for skydiving in Germany is the DFV, because it was entitled so by the german ministry for traffic (including aerial).The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #21 October 30, 2003 QuoteIn Canada, we have a 6 month repack cycle. Yves. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The Canadian Sports Parachuting Association changed the repack cycle in 2000. It is rumored that this change followed a similar move by the (defunct) CAPS. In practice this works out to one repack per year as few Canadian DZs are open more than 6 or 7 months per year. Repack rules are still vague for pilot emergency parachutes, but I believe that the glider pilots and aerobatic pilots still follow the 120 day repack cycle. I believe that it would be bad for Americans to switch to a longer repack cycle. The key issue here is how much wear and tear the outside of a harness/container can endure before it ceases to be airworthy. With hard=core jumpers in desert states making more than 1,000 jumps per year, their rigs are liable to experience life-threatening wear before they are due for repack. My opinion was formed after rigging for 6 years on Southern California. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alain 0 #22 November 6, 2003 france : 6 months Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alain 0 #23 November 6, 2003 Quote.... With hard=core jumpers in desert states making more than 1,000 jumps per year, their rigs are liable to experience life-threatening wear before they are due for repack. don't you think that those few peoples are enough experienced to look after their rig and have it inspected before if needed ? anyway they do have to bring it to a rigger every 500 skydives if using a cypres, that might be the oportunity to check the rig airworthyness (does this word exist ? just made it up ) very few peoples are doing more than 500 jumps/year... just my humble thoughts (not a rigger) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tombuch 0 #24 November 6, 2003 QuoteQuote.... With hard=core jumpers in desert states making more than 1,000 jumps per year, their rigs are liable to experience life-threatening wear before they are due for repack. don't you think that those few peoples are enough experienced to look after their rig and have it inspected before if needed ? I tend to hold with the concerns expressed by RiggerRob, especially with regard to student gear. I can understand that experienced jumpers should be able to evaluate and maintain their own gear for six months (of course some experienced jumpers don't even know how to pack, another issue), but our students deserve more regular repacks. And, like the hard core jumpers, student gear is heavily used and abused, and at least a few DZO's place maintenance at the bottom of their priority list. So, I'd be delighted to have a longer repack, but I want the 120 day to remain for student equipment and rental gear. Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) Senior Parachute Rigger Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and EasyTom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rigging65 0 #25 November 6, 2003 Quote -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Reply To -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Reply To -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- .... With hard=core jumpers in desert states making more than 1,000 jumps per year, their rigs are liable to experience life-threatening wear before they are due for repack. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- don't you think that those few peoples are enough experienced to look after their rig and have it inspected before if needed ? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I tend to hold with the concerns expressed by RiggerRob, especially with regard to student gear. I can understand that experienced jumpers should be able to evaluate and maintain their own gear for six months (of course some experienced jumpers don't even know how to pack, another issue), but our students deserve more regular repacks. And, like the hard core jumpers, student gear is heavily used and abused, and at least a few DZO's place maintenance at the bottom of their priority list. So, I'd be delighted to have a longer repack, but I want the 120 day to remain for student equipment and rental gear. Ya know, just because the max limit might be 180 days, it doesn't mean that a DZ (or an individual jumper, for that matter) couldn't keep their gear on a 120 day cycle... It's just the maximum time between repacks, not the minimum, that is being regulated. If you think 180 days is a problem, keep your gear on the 120 day cycle. "...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..." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
