I have no idea about Parachutes Australia, my chute is a National.
Ron

On 23 April 2016 at 16:53, John Parncutt <[email protected]> wrote:

> As I understand it Parachutes Australia have placed a 20 year life on the
> harness, due to concerns over UV exposure and the difficulty in measuring
> the effect it has had on a particular harness.
>
>
>
> My own parachute was manufactured in the mid 1980's and is assessed at
> each repack, whereas the harness is about 8 years old with another 12 years
> to run before mandatory replacement.
>
>
>
> I'm assuming nothing has changed with PA's policy since I updated the
> harness?
>
>
>
> John Parncutt
>
> Melbourne Gliding Club (VMFG)
>
>
>
> *From:* Ron Sanders [mailto:[email protected]]
> *Sent:* Saturday, 23 April 2016 12:40 PM
> *To:* [email protected]; Discussion of issues relating to
> Soaring in Australia.
> *Subject:* [gfaforum] Parachute lives
>
>
>
> Also guys just saw this on Rec-soaring
>
> *Oscar-Hotel-Mike*
>
> *[image: Inline images 1][          ]*
>
> *[          ]*
>
> Apr 19
>
> [          ]
>
> [          ]
>
> An interesting article found on a parachute vendor's web site.
>
> - John
>
> ==================================================
>
> http://www.parachuteshop.com/service_life_limits.htm
> <http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.parachuteshop.com%2Fservice_life_limits.htm&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFX9CS55d3tZa9eIUmApeCtljQRLA>
>
>
> Parachute Service Life Limits
>
> There have been rumors out there for years that there is a 20 year service
> life on parachutes used by pilots, skydivers and military. These are
> parachutes certificated under the FAA's TSO (Technical Standard Order)
> certification, which include TSO C23b, NAS 804, TSO C23c (Categories A, B &
> C), and TSO C23d.
>
> Folks - THERE IS NO 20 YEAR RULE, LET ME SAY IT AGAIN FOR CLARITY,
> "THERE IS NO 20 YEAR LIFE RULE".
>
> The parachute system airworthiness you are using is not affected by the
> number of years, it is affected by the care you give it. Do you take it in
> regularly for service, do you keep it out of the sun, do you use a carry
> bag, and do you keep it clean & protected. This stuff makes the parachute
> unairworthy, not the age.
>
> Recently the FAA was requested a clarification on parachute service life,
> (Letter from the FAA), and the FAA stated that any parachute under a
> certificated TSO does not have a maximum service life. Ongoing service life
> of a parachute system is established by the Certificated Parachute Rigger
> at the time of Inspection and Repack cycle (Repack Cycle 180 days).
>
> The FAA further said in its letter,  a parachute manufacturer who wants to
> establish a maximum service life after receiving their TSO certification,
> (under the above TSO's), the FAA says the manufacturer will have to submit
> their request, with backup data, so the FAA can review the data and
> possibly issue a (AD) Airworthiness Directive for that model.
>
> The FAA issuing this type of AD hasn't happened to date, and I doubt it
> ever will. The request to add a service life by the manufacturer to their
> manual after their TSO was issued has been determined by the FAA as a
> non-regulatory requirement. So service life is determined by the
> Certificated FAA Parachute Rigger on inspection of the parachute system.
>
> Service Life assigned to a parachute must be included as part of the
> INITIAL TSO  certification for that model, with supporting data to support
> the request, and will be in the manual for parachutes from the day forward
> but does not include parachutes prior to that,  unless the AD process is
> followed.
>
> FAA Certificated Senior or Master Parachute Riggers refusing to inspect
> and repack your parachute due to age are ignorant and lacking in foresight
> and doing you a disservice, take your parachute to another Parachute
> Rigger.
>
> Letter from the FAA ==>
> http://www.parachuteshop.com/faa_service_life_limit_parachute.htm
>
> Best regards,
>
> Donald V Mayer II
>
> FAA Certificated Master Parachute Rigger
>
> FAA/CPL/MEL, Skydiving Instructor, Glider Tow Pilot,
>
> Owner of the Parachute Shop, Saving Lives Since 1973
>
> Click here to *Reply*
>
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