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Parachute safety and knowledge is not something that just happens. A little time and effort is needed on the part of the pilot to ensure every opportunity to successfully bailout should the need arise. Of course, no one intends to have an emergency but that is no excuse for being unprepared. I have created some hints and tips to assist you in learning all about your parachute in order to keep you safe and your parachute in good working order. Each month or so a new tip is featured on our home page. Previous hints are listed here for your convenience.

13 JUN 2002

 Don't expect your parachute to last forever. With proper care you should expect to get 20 years service out of your expensive cushion. Please don't ask me to squeeze a few more years out of it. I'm thinking of your safety not can I sell you another parachute. Studies have shown that nylon deteriorates with age whether it's used on a daily basis or stored on the shelf and never handled.
 I just attended a formation clinic and spent a lot of time adjusting harnesses for people. Many were so far out of adjustment that the potential for falling out of the harness during a bailout was quite possible. Make sure you adjust, or your rigger adjusts your harness to fit you properly. You can fall out of an improperly adjusted harness. Don't wait on this one. If not sure ask your rigger for help.
 Periodically send your parachute back to the factory or to someone like myself who can check to make sure all the latest factory upgrade mods, service bulletins etc. have been complied with. Manufactures frequently upgrade their equipment. Often this has to do with additional padding and comfort items that you maybe interested in having retro-fitted. Your local rigger is often not equipped to do these mods.
 I've mentioned having checklists for emergency bailout procedures and practice them before and after each flight. Make sure you also prepare yourself mentally and physically to be at your peak when flying. For example: Don't be in a hurry. Are you hydrated properly and have you eaten. Keep focused. If you're under a lot of stress maybe you shouldn't fly that day. All this is very important because in an emergency seconds or fractions of a second could make the difference from having an incident or an accident. I don't want anyone to ever have to bailout especially when they are not mentally prepared to do so. Please take the time to read my articles or attend a safety seminar.
When a new flying season approaches you must remember to do the following to your mind as well as your aircraft. Dust off your checklists and your mind by reviewing your emergency procedures before and after each flight, just in case. Review my bailout articles by clicking on Articles,on my home page. I can't emphasize enough that you need to be prepared before you blast off into the heavens, just in case the unthinkable happens.
 Do not use any type of tape on or near your parachute or you seatbelts. The glue can get onto the nylon webbing,container or canopy and it will weaken the nylon. Over time this can cause your parachute to fail when you need it the most. I see tape used to smooth over rough endges on seats. People tape things like cushions or knives to their parachute. All these or other ingenous ideas will in as little as six months cause major problems that may or may not be able to be repaired. Preventive care on you part will save you costly repairs or replacement of your parachute. If your not sure check with your rigger first.
 When the holidays and winter approach make sure you store your parachute properly. Some of you will be doing more skiing or sitting by the fireplace. Where will your parachute be spending the winter? Make sure you store it in a cool, dry, dark place off of the floor. A closet at home would be perfect. Some people buy plastic boxes with snap on lids. These work great. If your in a humid area make sure you put something in the box to absorb moisture.
To prevent wear to the back or bottom of your chute remember to pad the seat with something like a piece of carpeting or 1/4"felt padding. When you attach it do not use any kind of tape. All tape oozes glue from its edges and over time can severly damage the nylon harness/container. That also means do not tape sharp edges of your seat with tape. You must keep all tape from touching your parachute. If you have a cushion that you remove from the seat back or bottom to accomodate your chute make sure if you use velcro to attach it that the hook (scratchy) part is neverup against the harness or container. It also can do serious damage to your expensive cushion.
When winter approaches or your plane is in annual many of you will store your parachute until next year/season. How about sending it back to the factory or to a FAA Master Rigger who has the knowledge and equipment to make sure all the service bulletins (if any) and suggested upgrade modifications have been done. Many older parachutes as well as newer ones show signs of wear from constant use. This will give your rigger additional time to work on it when you don't need it back yesterday. Doing a little extra for your parachute can prolong its service life. These are items such as repairing binding tape coming loose, ripcord protector flaps that show wear, cleaning your container or simply replacing the elastic keepers. Fixing minor problems prevents expensive repair bills later.
 If you decide on an out landing and not bailing out with the parachute your rigger carefully packed consider sliding back or jettisoning your aircraft canopy, prior to landing. If you flip over the canopy could trap you. Those that attended my equipment seminar at Sun N Fun found out they don't break easy. They broke several used plexiglass canopies I had all with difficulty. Yes, they used the Life Hammer and other items like a Leatherman tool. Don't even think about Lexon breaking. The worst thing I could think of is being upside down and trapped with fuel dripping. Maybe the parachute wasn't such a bad idea! !
 Practice, Practice, Practice your emergency bailout procedures before and after each flight, if you want to cut your egress time down by 50% or more. Everyone seems to have a preflight and postflight check list for their aircraft. But, how many of you have one for your emergency bailout procedures? If you have one please make sure you use it and upgrade it as needed to fit your personal needs. He who hesitates may end up inheriting the earth.
Remember when you or someone packages your parachute for shipping to your favorite rigger. DO NOTpack it with loose styrofoam chips or popcorn. It gets into everything. It can jam your ripcord cable housing and possibly prevent you from pulling the ripcord. It's full of static and clings to everything. I charge by the hour to remove it. Get a box that your parachute fits in tightly. It will not break, so please do not use any loose packaging material. If you feel you want to or need to fill out the box use something like bubble wrap or paper.
Always pull your ripcord for practice before having your parachute repacked. Your rigger should talk you through it. If shipping your parachute for repack, pull the ripcord in a clean area (not near your priceless heirlooms. The pilot chute will fly out several feet. Put the canopy in a clean plastic bag taking care not to snag the lines or canopy on any velcro. You don't have to put it in a plastic bag, but you do have to keep it away from any velcro. While it's open check out the color of your steering handles (you do have steering handles don't you?)
When taking off your parachute get in the habit of unfastening the chest strap first, if you have one, and then the leg straps. Use the same order to get out of your chute once on the ground, if you have to bailout. In strong winds the chest strap could end up below your chin choking you, if you removed your leg straps first.
In case you can't get out of your harness while being dragged an alternative method is to hand over hand any 1 or 2 lines. Pick any 1 or 2 lines side by side and pull them hand over hand. Do not let them slip back thru your hands.This will pull the skirt of the chute towards you and will collapse the chute. Remember don't turn them loose until you have the chute under control or off you go again.
Have your IAC, EAA, SSA or whatever flying group you belong to host a safety seminar. Knowing how to properly wear and use your "Expensive Cushion" can easily cut your egress time in half. This could mean the difference of making it or not.
The two most important safety items (besides your parachute) are nomex clothing. A flightsuit and gloves can enhance your chances of a successful escape in the event of a fire and a helmet can protect your head should you strike something on exit or landing. Wearing these protective items makes good sense all the time even if you cannot bailout and must ride your aircraft in. Just before Sun N Fun 2002 one of my safety seminar attendees was saved from his burning P-47 Thunderbolt because he had all his protective clothing on and had been practicing. I now have a nice signed photo of appreciation of him on my shop wall instead of memories of him. Think Safety Always
If you are storing your emergency parachute for longer than six months (especially in hot, humid climates), pull the ripcord, take all the suspension lines out of the rubber bands and remove the rubber bands from the container. Rubber bands have melted onto lines during prolonged storage and ruined canopies.
Is your parachute steerable? Ask your rigger at the next repack and inspection what type of steering system your emergency parachute is equipped with and how to use it. A steering system is easy and inexpensive to install. It may be invaluable if you ever need to use your parachute in an actual emergency.
Do you know where your packing data card is on your parachute? If not, find it or ask your rigger. The packing data card pocket is a good place to store a small signaling mirror & flat whistle in case you ever bailout. Most aerobatics & soaring are not done over populated areas.
Have your rigger show you how to preflight and adjust your parachute harness. You can fall out of an improperly adjusted harness. If you've survived the bailout and have an open canopy, falling out of your harness can definitely ruin your day!
Cords from your headset or helmet can entangle with a deploying parachute. Consider installing a male/female type release within a few inches of the helmet. This will leave the majority of the cord inside the aircraft in a bailout. There is no need to disconnect it, the release will pull apart when you exit the cockpit.
Leaving your parachute in the sun where it is exposed to UV light can cause severe damage to the harness & container as well as the canopy inside. Many pilots tend to leave their parachutes uncovered in the cockpit for hours, not realizing that deterioration will occur over time. Always cover your parachute & protect it from direct sunlight.
In order to be certified, parachutes must be fully opened and in the slowest descent mode, in three seconds or less from the time you pull the ripcord. In other words, even if you are only six inches above the ground when your parachute is open, you are descending at the slowest possible speed.
Parachute riggers have an FAA license, similar to pilots, which include ratings & limitations. A senior or master rigger can do the 120 day repack and inspection on your parachute. Only a master rigger can make structural alterations to a parachute. Ask if the rigger has an FAA license and the correct rating (back, seat or chest) for your type of parachute assembly.
Practice your emergency bailout procedures before & after each flight. Always put on & take off your parachute outside your aircraft to avoid confusion in an actual emergency. Review your basic commands in order: 1) jettison canopy/door, 2) remove seatbelts and 3) get out of the aircraft. A helpful shortcut to remember - Canopy, belts & butt!
When you are looking for your new dream machine make sure that you fit in the cockpit wearing both a helmet & emergency parachute. A helmet is just as important as your parachute in saving your life both during egress & upon landing under an open canopy. It will also be appreciated in the event of an emergency landing in your aircraft.
Each emergency parachute has an Owners/Packing Manual. You should have one if you purchased a new parachute system in the last few years. Ask your rigger if he or she has the current manual, with packing instructions, for your particular parachute. It is an FAA requirement (FAR Part 65, Subpart F) to have current manufacturer's instructions for each type of parachute packed.
Always pull your ripcord for practice before having your parachute repacked. Your rigger should talk you through it. If shipping your parachute for repack, pull the ripcord at home in a clean area (not near your priceless heirlooms, the pilot chute should fly out several feet). Put the canopy in a clean plastic bag taking care not to snag the lines on any Velcro.