At 15:54 30 October 2005, wrote:

chopped out for brevity

We already have a law like this. The regulation currently
reads, 'No
pilot of a civil aircraft may allow a parachute that
is available for
emergency use to be carried in that aircraft unless...it
has been
packed by a certificated and appropriately rated parachute
rigger
within the preceding 120 days'

What does the phrase 'available for use' actually mean?
If it is in the baggage compartment of a Cessna 172.
it isn't available for use.

I'm a lightweight (in most senses of the word); I need
the 16lbs for ballast. In my early days I flew a TG-3
with a military backpack chute turned around backwards
and with the straps tucked behind it. This was nothing
more than ballast/backrest, and it was not available
for use. Was this illegal? I don't think so.

As a former practicing bureaucrat, I think the regulation
has problems, but I do understand why it was written
that way. I'd guess it was a misguided effort to keep
people from procrastinating about re-packing.

As a currently practicing procrastinator, I know that
such a regulation will not prevent procrastination.
It probably does help a little in keeping repacks
current.

I could go on, but why confess more than I already
have?