I think the 180 day requirement would actually
result in the sale of MORE parachutes, and an increase in their use.
USPA among others seems to have figured this out too.
The vast improvements in materials and techniques for
manufacture have really made the 120 day requirement silly.

In article .com,
wrote:
Yes. This push for 180 days repack cycle is in place for past 4 or 5
years. The Parachute Industry Association, the USPA are all pushing for
that. In Europe the repack cycle right now is 180 days and there are no
problems. If we can get more organizations like the SSA and AOPA to
support that, maybe the FAA will change its bureaucratic approach and
make the changes to the FARs. The fact of the matter is that I have not
seen a modern parachute with a mold or fungus issue even though I
repacked quite a few rigs. It just doesn't happen. But on the other
hand tandem jumps were made in the U.S. for over 20 years before the
FAA accepted the findings and change the rules. Go figure.



--

------------+
Mark J. Boyd