From: pvf@alantec.com (Paul Fries)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: Re: AFF rigs with TWO AAD's:comments?
Date: 17 Dec 92 17:17:13 GMT

toby@hobbes.nas.nasa.gov (Toby E. Harness) writes:

>In article <1992Dec16.014214.29993@leland.Stanford.EDU>, eap@leland.Stanford.EDU (Eric Perozziello) writes:
>> I wonder why no AAD manufacturer has installed a "cutaway, then yank 
>> the reserve" type of system.  The cypress says it doesn't do anything 
>> below 130 ft. that's a good idea for this type of system.  
>
>A better idea is to have the reserve do an automatic cutaway as it
>deploys.  This would then work with or without an ADD.

I don't think I would want such a system.

Presumably, something that is attached to the reserve or its
deployment system would activate the main cutaway mechanism.

However, there have been situations where a RESERVE has gotten
out by mistake.  Having a system that chops the main, especially
if the main had not been deployed, could really ruin your day.

So (and this is certainly a personal thing), I would prefer to
take my chances with an AAD that fired a reserve into a main.

The AAD is really there to deploy something in the case that the
jumper is UNABLE to do it himself.  Our job is to do our best to
get something out at the right time.  The only thing I want the
AAD to protect me from is UNCONSCIOUSNESS, or something else
that makes me UNABLE to perform my duties.  At such time, it is
reasonable to assume that I am going to die if nothing is done.
Firing the reserve into the main at least gives me a chance.

BTW

This brings to mind a discussion I was having at the DZ this
weekend.  A couple of us were talking to a less experienced
fellow who was asking about how much time you have to do
something about a mal.  He was under the impression that there
was very little time from 2000 AGL to the ground.  I reminded
him that there could be as many as 14 (although I'll grant you
it is probably more like 11-12, and maybe as few as 10) seconds
before impact.

We (the more experienced people) said this is not a "little"
time, but in fact, it is PLENTY of time.  We only have 3 things
to pull on the rig (and some rigs only have 2).  It doesn't take
12 seconds to pull all of them.  The problem is that you need to
DECIDE what to do quickly.  Once the decision has been made (and
if the decision was made at the proper time), there is plenty of
time to execute the required actions.

Once again (and I do apologize for boring repetition), we are
responsible for getting something out at the right time.  Safety
systems may back us up, but the safety systems SHOULDN'T BE
DEPENDED UPON!  They are there to prevent a death, not necessarily
to prevent an injury.

Later,
Paul Fries
pvf@alantec.com

PS
Just to put things into perspective, I AM giving strong consideration
to the CYPRES.  Especially in light of the Piras accident.  If it
can happen to him, it can happen to anybody!

Does anybody know if Airtec GmbH (makers of CYPRES) have Internet
access?  I would love to get information about container compatibility
and the like.  The Airtec add in Parachutist has a list of places
that distribute CYPRES.  Are any of them on the Internet, either?