Puchaz spin count 23 and counting

"Todd Pattist" wrote in message
...
Derrick Steed wrote:


I've never seen a requirement from the BGA - but then maybe I'm not
reading
the right things. It's not a suggestion I'm making, I was concerned that
I
maintained my pack properly in the event I needed to use it.

I was asking if you faced a penalty for flying with your
parachute 4 months and 1 day after your last repack. In the
U.S., if I was to do that, I could (at least in theory) lose
my license to fly. I take it that you face no such
sanction.

My experience in the UK has led me to believe that parachutes should be
repacked every 6 months. That is certainly what is done at my club. I
thought I'd check before posting and got a surprise. Laws and Rules for
Glider Pilots contains the following on parachutes:

"RP16. A parachute is considered to be personal equipment and not part of
the aircraft. The owner should ensure that it is checked regularly by a
competent authority. The interval should not be greater than three months
or the manufacturer's recommendation, but if the parachute has become wet or
had oil or acid spilled over it, or the release pins under the flap are
bent, it should be sent for re-packing and servicing forthwith.

RP17. Serviceable parachutes should be worn by the occupant(s) of gliders
operated from BGA sites, subject to the glider being fitted to accept the
occupant(s) wearing parachute(s)."

The above is in the Recommended Practices section which means that it's not
compulsory.

As an aside, RP16 seems to me to have daft wording. Why not use the term
"contaminated or damaged" instead of getting into specifics about
substances?

Stephen