Softie Parachute for Schleicher gliders with a seat back cutout

You don’t re web harnesses after 10 years, wow, just wow.
Its mandatory here in .au, and none compliance means the glider will fail the annual inspection.

When last I went for a regular inspection, my rigger deemed my harness not-airworthy due to corrosion on the fittings and sweat/wear on the straps. At his suggestion, I purchased a new container and harness from the manufacturer. The rigger then transferred my 15-year-old canopy from the old container into the new. He says he has no problems with canopies several decades old, as long as they're undamaged.

Price of a new harness and container is well less than half that of a new chute.

Aussies do things differently, Mike.

One one trip to The Alice (Bond Springs), when I went to preflight my
glider I was told that I was not authorized to do that.Â* Only the
"engineer" was allowed to do the morning inspection.Â* In the US, it's
the pilot's responsibility to insure that the aircraft is safe for flight.

On 6/11/2019 5:40 PM, Charlie Quebec wrote:
You don’t re web harnesses after 10 years, wow, just wow.
Its mandatory here in .au, and none compliance means the glider will fail the annual inspection.

--
Dan, 5J

On Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 12:10:47 AM UTC+10, Dan Marotta wrote:
Aussies do things differently, Mike.

One one trip to The Alice (Bond Springs), when I went to preflight my
glider I was told that I was not authorized to do that.Â* Only the
"engineer" was allowed to do the morning inspection.Â* In the US, it's
the pilot's responsibility to insure that the aircraft is safe for flight..


The person that told you that was wrong for Australian glider pilots in Australia, at least since I have been gliding.The daily inspection can be done by anyone with a DI rating, which is most post-solo pilots. This inspection will be noted in the Maintenance Release kept in the glider and is valid for the day. The pre-flight inspection is done by the pilot. I'm not actually sure how the DI would work for "foreign" pilots, as the recognition of foreign qualifications seems to be challenging everywhere, but I assume the DI qualification would be assumed as part of your reciprocal licence as I suspect it is not a separate rating elsewhere in the world.

Originally Posted by Mark Morwood

On Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 12:10:47 AM UTC+10, Dan Marotta wrote:
Aussies do things differently, Mike.

One one trip to The Alice (Bond Springs), when I went to preflight my
glider I was told that I was not authorized to do that.Â* Only the
"engineer" was allowed to do the morning inspection.Â* In the US, it's
the pilot's responsibility to insure that the aircraft is safe for flight..


The person that told you that was wrong for Australian glider pilots in Australia, at least since I have been gliding.The daily inspection can be done by anyone with a DI rating, which is most post-solo pilots. This inspection will be noted in the Maintenance Release kept in the glider and is valid for the day. The pre-flight inspection is done by the pilot. I'm not actually sure how the DI would work for "foreign" pilots, as the recognition of foreign qualifications seems to be challenging everywhere, but I assume the DI qualification would be assumed as part of your reciprocal licence as I suspect it is not a separate rating elsewhere in the world.

Hi

Adding to the drift...Bottom line is whether or not I can 'sign out' the glider I sure as heck am doing my own preflight to satisfy myself that I want to park my butt in it and commit aviation.

Some years back at the Auckland Gliding Club I checked the daily log in a glider before flying it mid afternoon. No one had signed out the DI and it had already been flown several times....D'oh!

I rest my case lol
Colin

On Wednesday, June 12, 2019 at 5:09:10 PM UTC-7, Mark Morwood wrote:
On Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 12:10:47 AM UTC+10, Dan Marotta wrote:
Aussies do things differently, Mike.

One one trip to The Alice (Bond Springs), when I went to preflight my
glider I was told that I was not authorized to do that.Â* Only the
"engineer" was allowed to do the morning inspection.Â* In the US, it's
the pilot's responsibility to insure that the aircraft is safe for flight.


The person that told you that was wrong for Australian glider pilots in Australia, at least since I have been gliding.The daily inspection can be done by anyone with a DI rating, which is most post-solo pilots. This inspection will be noted in the Maintenance Release kept in the glider and is valid for the day. The pre-flight inspection is done by the pilot. I'm not actually sure how the DI would work for "foreign" pilots, as the recognition of foreign qualifications seems to be challenging everywhere, but I assume the DI qualification would be assumed as part of your reciprocal licence as I suspect it is not a separate rating elsewhere in the world.

It's necessary for a foreign rated pilot to get GFA Form 1 training and certificate. I have one for composites. Also a GFA Glider Pilot Sertificate.
Jim

My experience was in the mid-1980s and things may very well have changed.

My US license was never an issue as I obtained a temporary GFA
membership which allowed me to fly Australian gliders.Â* I was not
allowed to fly Australian registered airplanes on my US license and my
visit time did not allow getting an Australian license.

The "Daily Inspection" is what I was talking about and, to my knowledge,
there's no similar requirement in the US.Â* My experience has always been
that the Pilot in Command is responsible for the airworthy condition of
the aircraft.Â* Of course there are maintenance and inspection programs,
annual, 100-hour, etc for commercial or rental aircraft, but no daily
inspection requirement beyond the preflight inspection conducted by the
pilot.

Sorry for any confusion I may have caused.

On 6/12/2019 6:09 PM, Mark Morwood wrote:
On Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 12:10:47 AM UTC+10, Dan Marotta wrote:
Aussies do things differently, Mike.

One one trip to The Alice (Bond Springs), when I went to preflight my
glider I was told that I was not authorized to do that.Â* Only the
"engineer" was allowed to do the morning inspection.Â* In the US, it's
the pilot's responsibility to insure that the aircraft is safe for flight.

The person that told you that was wrong for Australian glider pilots in Australia, at least since I have been gliding.The daily inspection can be done by anyone with a DI rating, which is most post-solo pilots. This inspection will be noted in the Maintenance Release kept in the glider and is valid for the day. The pre-flight inspection is done by the pilot. I'm not actually sure how the DI would work for "foreign" pilots, as the recognition of foreign qualifications seems to be challenging everywhere, but I assume the DI qualification would be assumed as part of your reciprocal licence as I suspect it is not a separate rating elsewhere in the world.


--
Dan, 5J

No apologies necessary from my perspective. I think it is interesting and helpful to understand the differences between how gliding operates in the different countries around the world. Both in case of travel which can be complicated, but also just to learn from others.

On Friday, June 14, 2019 at 2:07:19 AM UTC+10, Dan Marotta wrote:
My experience was in the mid-1980s and things may very well have changed.

My US license was never an issue as I obtained a temporary GFA
membership which allowed me to fly Australian gliders.Â* I was not
allowed to fly Australian registered airplanes on my US license and my
visit time did not allow getting an Australian license.

The "Daily Inspection" is what I was talking about and, to my knowledge,
there's no similar requirement in the US.Â* My experience has always been
that the Pilot in Command is responsible for the airworthy condition of
the aircraft.Â* Of course there are maintenance and inspection programs,
annual, 100-hour, etc for commercial or rental aircraft, but no daily
inspection requirement beyond the preflight inspection conducted by the
pilot.

Sorry for any confusion I may have caused.

On 6/12/2019 6:09 PM, Mark Morwood wrote:
On Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 12:10:47 AM UTC+10, Dan Marotta wrote:
Aussies do things differently, Mike.

One one trip to The Alice (Bond Springs), when I went to preflight my
glider I was told that I was not authorized to do that.Â* Only the
"engineer" was allowed to do the morning inspection.Â* In the US, it's
the pilot's responsibility to insure that the aircraft is safe for flight.

The person that told you that was wrong for Australian glider pilots in Australia, at least since I have been gliding.The daily inspection can be done by anyone with a DI rating, which is most post-solo pilots. This inspection will be noted in the Maintenance Release kept in the glider and is valid for the day. The pre-flight inspection is done by the pilot. I'm not actually sure how the DI would work for "foreign" pilots, as the recognition of foreign qualifications seems to be challenging everywhere, but I assume the DI qualification would be assumed as part of your reciprocal licence as I suspect it is not a separate rating elsewhere in the world.


--
Dan, 5J

Updated my Softie chute this year.

I went to the aerobatic harness. Not the one with the ratchet system, but the one that crosses over and the metal clips are up on your chest. WHAT A GREAT IMPROVEMENT IN COMFORT. On the normal configuration I would always have to leave the chute very loose to get the hardware from under the seat belt of the glider, and it would at times still dig in.

If you are considering a new chute or container check out the aero harness.

Kevin
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