At 14:42 11 February 2004, Todd Pattist wrote:
Bruce Greeff wrote:
SOuth Africa is 12 Months. [parachute repack interval]
Thank you. Any other pilots want to tell me the repack
requirements in their country? I know there are lots
of
non-U.S. pilots here, and most fly with chutes. When
do you
repack them?
Todd Pattist - 'WH' Ventus C
(Remove DONTSPAMME from address to email reply.)
Todd
Until I am shot down, in the UK there are no government
regulations on repacking dates for glider pilots personal
reserve parachutes.
About 15 years ago my own club went through the clubs
parachutes and found a moltley collection on chutes
in a wide variety of cases, with unknown repack dates.
After careful research it was found that the repack
recommendations varied from manufacturer to manufacture
and was dependant on the type of 'chute.
As a result we approached one UK manufacturer Thomas
Sports who specialise in sports parachutes. We agreed
a 6 months repack for all club owned parachutes. This
is strictly observed and any 'chute that is damaged
or suspect is sent earlier.
Cases and contents are changed in line with the manufacterers
recommended life, generally 20 or 25 years dependant
on material.
18 months ago one club member found reason to jump
from about 1000feet and the 'chute worked. He landed
without a scratch.
My own personal 'chute is repacked every 12 months,
but I know its history.
I have taken many 'chutes for repacking some with no
known last repack date but believed to be several years.
Bench test showed that the drogue 'chute worked there
was nothing to suggest the main would not have opened.
I heard one story of a UK jump club who's members jumped
'chutes that had not been repacked for several years
and they worked fine (Note to doubters I cannot support
this with evidence). They did have recently packed
reserves
I believe that where 'chutes are given to first time
pilots and club members, the club has a duty to ensure
they are servicable.
Our club system has been proven to be satisfactory.
Hope this helps
Dave
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