To All:

I replace the rubber stows holding your lines in place every time I am
repacking a chute. They only cost a few cents. Keep in mind that in the
past there wasn't any standards in place to which the parachute systems
were designed and build. Nowadays we have TSO. So, your older canopies
are not TSO'd...but when you get your rig back from your rigger ask him
this: "would you put this rig on your back and go make a jump in it?"
If he is not hesitant you are probably a OK but if you hear "well, I
don't know.." well, that parachute is probably not as airworthy as it
might sounds. Another aspect of using emergency parachutes is the speed
of deployment...in many cases the speed will be in excess of 200 kts.
It is hard to determine some outcomes, but myself I rather have a good
rig on my back. Some canopies are designed to be deployed at 130 kts.
and some at 150 kts. If you have sufficient altitude to slow your
freefall down to about 120 you are fine. But how about those low level
openings? Do you think that your chances of survival are the same
regardless of the age of the canopies or do you think that new(er)
canopy will give you a better chance?

Jacek Kobiesa
Washington State