On Friday, August 31, 2018 at 12:29:34 PM UTC-7, wrote:
On Friday, August 31, 2018 at 11:22:54 AM UTC-4, Dan Marotta wrote:
I believe the FAA rule is that there's no life limit on a parachute
unless it is unairworthy (by inspection) or the manufacturer specifies a
life limit at certification.Â* If your rigger won't inspect/pack your
chute due to age, find another rigger.Â* My previous round parachute was
42 years old when I removed it from service and bought a square rig.

On 8/30/2018 8:58 PM, JS wrote:
On Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 7:32:15 PM UTC-7, wrote:
There are riggers packing 20+ year old parachutes. Shipping is cheap compared to a new parachute. Of course if you can afford going square it is smart.
Yet to see the 20-year rule on paper, other than something like "paraphernalia won't pack our own chutes beyond 20 years" which is their option but not a rule.

A friend just donated two 20-year-old chutes to our pilot mentoring group. I saw them opened, and the containers, harnesses and chutes looked well taken care of. Picked them up from inspection and repack a couple of days later.
This was a great donation, since the pilots learning XC do not have parachutes and the mentors fly XC with their own.
Jim

--
Dan, 5J

Thanks, Dan. Philosophically I agree with you, as I have jumped many old but airworthy rigs over the years.

All: I'm wondering if this is just a way for the parachute manufacturers to extract more money from us. I finally found the letter given to me by the skydiving center here in Miami. It is just an OPINION from National Parachute Industries, but it has enough weight to it that it has scared both my Miami rigger and my Pennsylvania rigger into refusing to repack it...so I need the name of a good rigger who will, if you know one.

I'm speaking from a non expert side, but have spoken to a rigger who is going to help me find a parachute, and has provided the insight to this exact question.

As you mentioned, the 20 year lifecycle is a guideline brought to you by the manufacturers of the parachutes. It is most definitely a way of keeping a sustainable income coming in. As such the FAA doesnt view this as any sort of requirement.

On the other hand, in the European Union, they do consider the 20 year cycle as law. And if you combine those two scenarios together, it turns out there is a very good second hand market in the US for previously European owned parachutes. I'm anticipating spending ~$500-$600 for a basically never used parachute. Sure it may be 15+ years old. But as long as it inspects as mint condition, it'll be just as good as anything that is considered brand new.

You are also correct that some riggers wont pack them for whatever reason. In that case you just have to find a rigger who will. I've already worked that out, so I dont think this is going to be a problem for me.

I'm hoping to find a softie with a square parachute. Ideally one that has the cushion you can sit on.