TrojanHorse

Hi Mircan, This is a first too: No request for replacement cutter etc. Send in the unit to Aviacom or Chuting star (for Miami the nearest) will give us all more insight. William

Aviacom/ Argus has still spare cutters in stock. So far no request for a replacement has been received. By my knowledge (I have to check with Karel) is this thread the first we became aware of this activation. If we get the unit, or send to someone who can do a download (for example Chuting Star) we can provide some more info. This in combination with what John suggested will shine some more light upon what might have happened. Now we are all guessing it seems. I read that the PC was in tow. This implicates it has been released IE the loop was cut or the reserve ripcord pulled. Further I read “I have the pieces of the loop to prove it” Season greetings to all, William

Nope, The Argus will inhibit itself in order to avoid a misfire. Regards, William Argus PS what is the anecdotal evidence?

Why the change in policy? When we receive Argus back for the 4 year service we find regularly units with batteries overdue for replacement as much as up to three (3!) years. This on a realtively small number of units serviced this is alarming. Also Multiple life saves on one AAD will drain the battery faster and multiple life saves on one unit without battery replacement has occurred. In order to make sure that the Argus AAD is ready when needed we decided that batteries have to be replaced at each repack cycle disregarding the repack cycle in your country. By our knowledge is the longest repack cycle set at one year. If you have any further questions about this, please don’t hesitate to contact us William Argus info@aviacom.com

We received this unit only today. The altitude was manually corrected with 1500 feet. The unit activated at an altitude of 2500 feet. In other words this was not a misfire. ***He also turned the unit on at the DZ where it misfired, so it should have calibrated to the DZ altitude anyway. *** The Argus AAD keeps an altitude correction in its memory even after switch off. Any altitude correction has to be "undone" manually too. (See the manual.) William Argus

Sebastian, This discussion is about two months too late. By now the majority of cutters is been replaced. The cutter actually (the whole incident) of Portugal is under investigation. And I receive little to none cooperation. Back then we chose for the replacement before December 31 (or next repack whatever comes first). What we have seen and know so-far we have no reason to change that. William

Hi Alex, I use this name for several years now. By now replying under another name, that would raise questions. That's why.

Sebastian, Your statements above are there for one reason only and that is to bash any other AAD than the one you are using yourself. Your comments in the past speak for themselves. Concerning Portugal: - It was not a misfire. - The unit (set in Novice mode) activated during a too fast descent because it hadn’t been switched off by the student’s instructors. - The display was blank because it was broken due to proven rough handling (cable torn out). - Because of the blank screen the instructors assumed the unit was off. This is wrong, the instructors should not have assumed but informed the pilot to make a calm approach as a student is onboard.* - This incident took place early September and you know that. You imply not to know if this is a replacement cutter that failed. You know it was not. It was a cutter that falls under the current preventive SB. - This incident is not even remotely similar to the fatality in Poland. There is more to this story that is currently under investigation. We are still waiting for a report from the DZ where the incident happened (we only received an email and the unit back) To investigate further I have requested to the DZ manager involved now four times for his report and additional information. So far no reply. All replaced cutters are tested upon return. We will inform the community about the outcome as soon as all tests have been completed. The testing is done by an independent laboratory. William Argus *(After switch on, all AADs work autonomously from their display. Blank screens are no guarantee an AAD is off)

Just a wrong box tick in a template we fortunately don't have to use that often. William Argus

No.

No loop lock, no faulty design. Oh and by the way no SB either. William Aviacom/ Argus

Argus is in the whole of Europe allowed and without any restrictions. Warm regards, William

?? please explain why you think so. William

Bill is right With army low level exits in mind we once calculated the following: Exit 1000 feet MSL Cutter activation 700 feet MSL (It takes about 300 feet to reach 78 Mph) Pilot chute and bag launch at 625 feet MSL (0,5 second after activation) Canopy open 360 feet MSL Be aware this is calculated at MSL, meaning that a bit of field elevation (flying over a small hill) makes the margin even narrower. Don’t wait for your AAD! You are loosing valuable time and altitude. Warm regards, William PS I am a firm believer in Murphy; you will see that you bail out right above that hill...

Disturbing indeed. This is the second thread about this topic. An AAD is a back up device only. It activates at an altitude that more or less all other options (by time and altitude) are over. Never ever wait for your AAD. If you can get the reserve manually DO IT! The activation altitude of a modern AAD gives no room for any further error. William Argus

I totally agree. And good you mention that. To avoid comments such as: "not proven" "no evidence" etc. I used the scientific approach. By doing so I had an outcome I could refer to. Also in this article real time conditions would have made my case even better. Again, so true William

Sorry, it was actually meant as a reply upon MjoSparky his post and then about reaction time opening time etc. Warm regards, William

http://www.argus-aad.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=182&Itemid=39

A modern day AAD activates (in "experienced" mode) by a speed of 78 Mph. If you are falling with a partially canopy out your speed can be less (let's say 75 Mph) This means your AAD will not activate and you slam to the ground with that speed (75 Mph). You probably will not survive... Never ever wait for the AAD! Especially with troubles any extra altitude you can gain by reacting yourself higher than the activation altitude of 800-100 feet might save your life! The AAD is a back up device only and activates at an altitude you may assume that if no action is taken now, the skydiver probably will die. (I.e. very low...) Warm regards, William Argus

Dear Larry, We do respect your opinion, but all things that you are writing dates back to April 2006. These issues have been dealt with in a responsible way and are history. More info you can find at our website www.argus-aad.com. If you need even more info you can contact us at info@argus-aad.com or call +32-485 868788. You also can Skype: williamargus2006. Feel free to call anytime. Warm regards, William Aviacom/ Argus

Was the incident of the argus firing in Texas on a student rig that was hanging on a rack part of the 43 recalled units?*** We never had an incident in Texas. We never had a unit that activated while hanging on a rack. This must have been an AAD of another brand. We had in April 2006 a unit that activated while being installed. That was the reason to recall the 43 units. William Aviacom/ Argus

Nonsense, I recommend all to do some (serious) fact finding. Warm regards, William Argus

I would like to add that this incident occured in April 2006 All these units (43) have immediately been recalled. Warm regards, William

Hi Pete, That's way to short. Can we get in touch because I want to have a look at it. Warm regards, William Argus

The attached is unfortunately only of any help within the USA. I attached it anyhow, maybe it helps also elsewhere. Warm regards, William