Parachutes

[Stoney]

Folks,

FYI, we published a notice of proposed rule-making
this morning to take parachute repack intervals from 4
to 6 months. If you want to comment on this proposed
change, you can comply with the following procedure:

The closing date for comments is August 20, 2007. You
can send comments electronically:

Go to http://dms.dot.gov

Click on "Comment/Submission" (one of the buttons near
the top of the page)
You don't need to register, just click "Continue."
Docket ID: FAA-2005-21829
The Operating Administration is: FAA
Fill out as much of the remaining form as you wish
Click "Continue"
Enter your comment and click "Submit."


You may also submit comments via fax: 1-202-493-2251
(be sure to include the docket number FAA-2005-21829)

Or you can mail your comments to:

Docket Management Facility
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.
West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12–140
Washington, DC 20590–0001

(be sure to include the docket number FAA-2005-21829)

Hope that's helpful.

Dave Bowen

[RickH]

Those would be sport type chutes, right Dave ?

[King]

Those would be sport type chutes, right Dave ?

If I am correct, all chutes have to be repacked at 120 days. This really gets the soaring guys every year at contests.

[Forgotten Field]

Is this measure to take some of the sting out of all the un-traceable made-up canopies out there that no one will re-pack?

[Chuck Gardner]

I think it is to take the pain in the ass out of the parachute repacking process that pilots want since they are not traditionally skydivers.

[RickH]

I agree, Chuck. Chutes not used for skydiving should fall under a completely different guideline.

For instance, if chutes are considered part of an ejection seat they should be required to be repacked under the original military guideline. Of course there are periodic interval external checks that need to be completed as well as items to look at during each preflight. If an anomaly is found then a repack and inspection may be required.

The Navy has changed the NES-12 chute system from a 420 day repack interval to a 1000 day interval. There are intermediate external and preflight checks that allow that to extension.

The chute system used in the T-45 seat is something like 5 years, of course that pack is vacuum bagged and sealed so it is well protected

[Bill Greenwood]

If this actually ever comes to pass it will be a help. Having one less pack time each year would save me $100, over the last 24 years I could have bought 2 new chutes. It is also a big hassle since there is not a packer at any airport near me.

[ffuries]

In the USAF the parachutes installed on the ACESII ejection seats are given a annual repack and a 30 day visual inspection between repacks. Backstyle chutes that are used in heavy's and our MC-130E's are given a 180 day repack and a 30 day visual inspection between repacks. They are also combining the Aircrew Life Support and Parachute Shop career fields. For me this means I will have to get my rigging certification in the near future.

Mike in Florida
Aircrew Life Support
"Your Life Is Our Business"

[RickH]

Just checked the 2006 version of the Navair 13-1-6.2. The NES-12 system has been changed to a 1232 day repack with periodic external inspections. This chute fits the Escapac 1G3 seat as found in the TA-4, S-3, A-6, EA-6 and the A-7.

The Navy NES-8 is the same as the chute system found on all F-4 with the MB MK-7 seat. We've been inspecting and repacking on a 12 month cycle per our maintenance program. The Navy has now gone to a 630 day repack cycle, again with periodic external inspections.

As stated before any anomalies found during a periodic or preflight inspection might necessitate an earlier indepth inspection and repack.