Ken,
I found out today that Parachutes Australia have issued a Service Bulletin (No.PA SB9502 Rev 2) which lifes their containers,harness and canopies for the types listed, at 20yrs. The list includes most types which we normally use in gliders, including the slimpacks and thinbacks. If the equipment has exceeded that time, it is to be taken out of service.
We have 8 which are suddenly of no use, and I suspect many other clubs are in a similar situation.
I don't recall seeing any advice on this matter and note that the bulletin distribution did not include GFA, although I was told "someone at GFA office"was informed.
As there is a requirement to have a serviceable parachute for comps, this may affect some entrants to this years events.
Forwarded for your information.
Regards
Glenn Mclean
Glenn
I provided this information in an off-line reply to someone who asked about parachutes in September:
"CASA will doubtless issue an AD to back up this SB very soon: the APF have already issued an updated Rigging Advisory Circular.
"Given that these have been lifed beyond 20 years for about the past 8 years, I can see a lot of containers suddenly needing replacement."
AS you can see (and it's on the PA web page) the problem is the container systems and not necessarily the parachutes inside them. If you have the taffeta canopy, it will fail its next inspection if it was manufactured before December 1983. I guess there are a few that have reached this 20-year point since the life was made "on conditions" in about 1996 - so perhaps we should be grateful for the extra life we gained from them since this date.
The complete rig would cost between $2000 and $2600 for a new one, depending on design, but if you buy a LoPo canopy (or already have one) its life is not limited by time alone in the future, but only by how well you have looked after it. Ideally it should either be sitting in its carry bag, or on your back being sat upon - but I know several that get taken out of the bag in the clubhouse in the morning and then left on a wing tip all day!
We checked our club parachutes and have at least one container to replace, maybe two (I could not find the manufacture date of the second one and it was sent of to our packer to check .
However, some newer European parachutes were grounded earlier this year when people discovered the manufacturer's Certificate of Approval had expired. They have since been able to be put back into service following re-certification of the maker, but needed an inspection first. You can just about throw the harness away after 20 years, but there is some hope of an on-condition extension for taffeta canopies as the limitation was imposed because of a lack of information rather than known deterioration.
Wombat
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