USA-NPRM on Parachute Repacking cycle comment period open.

[Frank Whiteley]

The NPRM on the parachute repacking cycle comment period is open
through August 20, 2007.
This change would extend the parachute repack cycle from 120-days to
180-days. Note
that your comments (apart from what is stated in the copy on the SSA
web site) may be
made online. You do not have to register and login to submit
comments.

See
http://dms.dot.gov/search/document.cfm?documentid=470180&docketid=21829

Regards,

Frank Whiteley
SSA Governor, Colorado

[ASM]

On May 26, 8:10 am, Frank Whiteley > wrote:
> The NPRM on the parachute repacking cycle comment period is open
> through August 20, 2007.
> This change would extend the parachute repack cycle from 120-days to
> 180-days. Note
> that your comments (apart from what is stated in the copy on the SSA
> web site) may be
> made online. You do not have to register and login to submit
> comments.
>
> Seehttp://dms.dot.gov/search/document.cfm?documentid=470180&docketid=21829
>
> Regards,
>
> Frank Whiteley
> SSA Governor, Colorado

It is about time. I don't remember for how long the repack cycle was
"in works" but the 180 days would be great. AOPA also had this
information in their e-letter. The info goes as follow:

"FAA PROPOSES 180-DAY PARACHUTE PACKING INTERVAL
Pilots who fly with parachutes--whether soaring in gliders, while
performing
aerobatics, or for any other reason--could get a longer interval
between
required packing inspections. The FAA is proposing to extend the
packing
interval ( http://www.aopa.org/epilot/redir.cfm?adid=11522 ) from 120
days
to 180 days because the industry has shown that modern parachute
materials
last longer and actually hold up better with less frequent handling.
This
proposal stems from a request for an exemption from a number of
groups
representing pilots who use parachutes. The notice does not change the
60-day
packing requirement for natural-fiber parachutes. To weigh in on the
topic,
send your comments by August 20 to the Docket Management Facility,
U.S.
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, West Building,
Ground
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, D.C., 20590-0001. AOPA will be filing
its
own comments in support of the move."

Some riggers might be upset about the 180 day repack cycle, couple of
them stated that this will take away some of their income but I don't
buy that. I am a Senior Parachute Rigger and I think that this will
give us a chance to perform the repacks with better peace of mind: no
phone calls in the middle of March from pilots needing the repack done
"right now because the season is just about to begin" and also this
will let bunch of pilots fly almost the entire season without
repacking and worrying about it. This ruling will improve the wear
aspect of canopy fabric throughout the life span of a parachute system
simply because it is not handled as frequently.

Jacek
CFI, -G, Senior Parachute Rigger
Washington State