Dealers should pass the following information on to endusers who have purchased the Astra with serial numbers lower than 1193.

TYPES OF UPGRADE FXC subjected the Astra Expert to exhaustive testing and evaluation before FXC was prepared to release the Astra. This effort is ongoing and will continue for as long as the Astra is available for purchase. This is a dynamic and ongoing process because FXC wishes to continuously improve its product in every way that it can. No complex product is immune from the benefits of incremental lifetime improvement. Feedback from the field offers a valuable source of information for identifying potential improvements to the product. Unforseeable situations arise and, in combination with the unpredictability of humans, produce valuable information that would not otherwise be available.

There are three types of improvement: Critical, Optional, and Minor.
a) CRITICAL: Critical improvements that for safety reasons need to be immediately and retroactively applied to all units, prompting an immediate recall notice.
b) OPTIONAL: Optional improvements that are applied to all new units produced and are offered as an optional upgrade to owners of already purchased units.
c) MINOR: Minor improvements that are applied to all new units produced.

ASTRA IMPROVEMENTS TO DATE 9/4/96 :

Optional improvement: From s/n 1193 Rate of descent measurement sensitivity further improved.

Extensive and continuing research, testing, and customer feedback has revealed that a faster rate of descent setting may be preferable for some users of the Astra Expert. Very aggressive canopy pilots with high wing loadings, performing rapid descents, may be capable of exceeding the rate-of-descent setting on some early models of the Astra Expert. This will cause a "fire" condition to occur if they are below 1,200 feet above calibration altitude. In addition, FXC has developed a "sensitivity" upgrade that improves the accuracy of the sensor operating at these very high rates of descent.

OPTIONAL FREE UPGRADES FOR ASTRA EXPERT

To take advantage of this offer, check your Astra serial number. If the serial number is between 0101 and 1192, you may take the following steps to receive the free upgrade. Package your unit and send it by traceable methods( US Mail, UPS, FEDEX,) to FXC Corporation, including a note requesting the upgrade and listing a return address. The unit will be returned 7 working days after receipt.

If you send your unit in for this free upgrade before January 1, 1997 your Astra Expert battery-pack will automatically be replaced with a new battery-pack at no charge to you.

After January 1, 1997 the upgrade will still be available.

If you have any questions, please contact us anytime.

Return to Table of Contents

1. The Cutter Test Probe (P/N 811-00384) is available for purchase. The Probe is used when performing a functional test on the Astra Expert. Any accurate test chamber that shows altitude and rate of descent can be used in conjunction with the Cutter Test Probe. The procedure should only take five to ten minutes and requires only a "Phillips" head screwdriver, in addition to the items mentioned above.
2. We are investigating placing the Battery box and battery box pocket on the floor of the main container in the top right corner in a "North South" orientation. The Battery box, which is small and robust, is well suited to such a mounting location. Using such a location will offer improved accessibility to the batteries, to check serial numbers, and to run functional tests on the system without taking it off the rig.
3. Installation Kits are available at no charge from FXC..
4. The Astra Control Unit can be mounted just about anywhere, except the small of the back or the center of the belly. It can be placed on the yoke using the Cypres-type installation or, where we prefer it to be mounted, on the front-right lift web.
5. As a free service FXC can provide slightly longer cables on the Astra Control unit (31 1/2" as compared to 28"), if you need them for a particular installation.
6. To make installation easier, it is easy to pop the back of the battery box, unplug the cables, and feed them through narrow spaces on the rig "backwards". But do not forget to ground the pins before reassembly as per the instructions in the manual. We heard that an Astra cutter fired during reassembly because the pins on the battery box were not grounded. An expensive and embarrassing oversight by the parties concerned.
7. Based on feedback from independent testing, we are amending the list of approved reserve closing loop materials to include only Spectra CSR style #9512-300, CSR style #9512-725, and Cypres locking(Spectra cord). The previously approved coreless Mil-C-5040 T/2A 225 lb coreless, and Mil-C-5040 T/3 550 lb coreless proved, in some rare circumstances, to require up to 1lb of force to withdraw through the Astra Expert Cutter head. While we felt that it was extremely unlikely that this would ever create a problem, in the interest of maximizing safety, FXC decided to follow the most prudent and conservative path in this matter.

• We are attending major skydiving events providing information and support to skydivers in the field.
• We are concentrating "in house" on an improved, high quality level of customer support from the Astra team.
• We are creating a fresh, energetic, advertising campaign in the Skydiving press worldwide with a variety of new ads featuring distinctive artwork and local language copy.

Return to Table of Contents

Return to Table of Contents

For example: There have been isolated reports of cracks appearing in the outer cable sheathing, at the top of the stress relief, in the Astra Control unit. We believe that this is a cosmetic issue only. We have engineered a long term solution that will prevent this problem occuring. However, in the interim, we will replace any units if and as required, at no charge.

We are pleased to provide a reliable, robust, cost effective, electronic AAD - enhancing safety and serving the Skydiving community into the 21st century. Being a dealer allows you to contribute to, and benefit from, this effort. Please contact FXC to receive a dealer application package.

Return to Table of Contents

Should you need it, we have an emergency paging system so that you can contact us anytime, anyplace.
From within the United States and Canada: just dial 1 800 454 6586 and follow the prompts. Outside the United States, dial the country code for the United States, then (601) 960 9547. When prompted for a Personal Id Number (PIN) enter 4546586 and follow the prompts from there.

Our rapid response E-mail address is fxc@pia.com. Visit our Website FXC Home Page with its E-mail hot link. Otherwise contact us at (714) 556-7400, fax (714) 641-5093. You can send mail to us at:
FXC Corporation
Att. Stella Peyton
3410 So. Susan St.
Santa Ana, CA 92704.
We will always be very pleased to promptly forward to you whatever information you need, by whatever method suits you best.

Return to Table of Contents

• FXC's philosophy of designing the Astra, so that it is well suited to external mounting for high visibility, allows for easy "Gear check" on the Astra and is therefore a significant improvement to safety. This helps to ensure that the batteries have not run down unnoticed and that the AAD has actually been turned on.
• The Astra is easily field tested, using the Cutter Test Probe, for firing accuracy and function by any approved rigger using any test chamber that shows altitude and rate of descent. Because the Astra can be functionally tested in the field there is no requirement for mandatory factory overhaul.
• Field-replaceable modular components allow any rigger to do all field changes on the Astra. Modular components facilitate installation allowing cables to be disconnected and the narrower ends easily fed through sleeves etc.
• Easy to install in most rigs using the approved "Cypres" type installation method.
• Simple and quick to operate, accessible but well protected. Astra On/Off-switch operation is an advantage e.g. in a descending aircraft or under canopy, compared to a time consuming "multiple response" system, while at the same time preventing accidental operation.
• The flashing indicator light, that shows correct program function, is a positive indication that the Astra Central Processing Unit is actually checking altitude and rate of decent.
• Sensors are in the Altitude Control Unit, so the Astra is not attitude sensitive. If the sensor unit were in the battery pack inside the container, an "adjustment factor" would need to be added, leading to erroneous readings if unusual attitudes occur.
• The Astra has a capacitor in the battery box to ensure that, as long as the indicator light is flashing, there is always sufficient charge to fire the cutter. Without a capacitor, it would be possible for a unit to indicate a satisfactory battery condition but, there may not be sufficient charge to fire the cutter.
• Robust machined aluminum Astra Control Unit case prevents breakage. A similarly machined aluminum battery case prevents the hazard of leaking acid into the reserve container. The smooth rounded corners on the space saving low-volume battery-pack prevent wear spots in the reserve container.
• Robust heavy-duty cable connections prevent accidental disconnect or breakage.
• High level of EMF protection.
• US manufactured and locally serviced, with a low recommended retail price and low replacement battery price.
• The program design allows recovery of firing altitude data for later analysis

Return to Table of Contents

ASTRA AAD
PEGASUS APADS
FXC Home Page
The Parachute Industry Association

CORPORATION
3410 South Susan Street
Santa Ana, California 92704
(714) 556-7400
FAX (714) 641-5093
E-Mail: fxc@pia.com