This site contains all British Skydiving Approved Tandem parachute equipment modifications that have been approved, recorded in the minutes and subsequently ratified at Riggers or Safety and Training Committee meetings. The modifications may be selected and viewed using three criteria; Type, Search, and Sort. Individual modifications have a brief description and may be expanded to show full details. Modifications may also have attached files including text, image and video as appropriate.
‘Type’ refers to a tandem system container and comprises all modifications for that equipment type that have appeared in the British Skydiving Riggers or Safety and Training Committee minutes since 1993. Each modification is as quoted in the applicable minute and sometimes, where necessary, there are references to other items to facilitate a fuller understanding of the modification The ‘Search’ and ‘Sort’ criteria are self-explanatory.
RIGGERS 05th Feb 15
That all Aircare Tandem Student Harnesses (made to Paratec design) be cleared for use with all Vector, Paratec and Aircare systems (Cleared for all).
5. STUDENT PARACHUTIST EQUIPMENT CHANGE PROPOSAL
A proposal from Nicky Johnston together with supporting paperwork had been circulated with the Agenda requesting that the Tandem Student Harnesses manufactured by Aircare to the Paratec Next design be accepted for use on all Relative Workshop Dual Container Tandem Vector Systems.
Following consideration, Pete Sizer counter proposed, seconded by Kim Newton that the Tandem Student Harnesses manufactured by Aircare to the Paratec Next design be accepted for use on all Relative Workshop Dual Container Tandem Vector systems, Paratec systems and Aircare systems.
Carried Unanimously
RIGGERS 04th Jun 15
That Ex-Military Vector Tandem system (SN 35845) be accepted with VTC 421 reserve and UPT Student Harness (NOT Cleared for all).
4. TANDEM HARNESS & CONTAINER SYSTEM – INITIAL CLEARANCE
A proposal from Rick Boardman together with supporting paperwork had been circulated with the Agenda requesting that the Ex-military UPT Vector 2 Tandem TV14 Container (serial no: 35845) with the UPT MVTC-3R (421) reserve canopy (serial no: VR-421-005445) be accepted for use.
Rick had stated that Nicky Johnston was the independent Advanced Rigger who had endorsed the application.
Rick Boardman gave the meeting further details of his request and the equipment concerned was made available for inspection.
It was pointed out that the above canopies were currently grounded by BPA Safety Notice 02/2014.
The Chair reported that correspondence from Mark Procos of UPT regarding the use of the MVTC-3R reserve had been tabled to those present, together with an e-mail from Chris Gilmore who had pointed out that the MVTC-3R, which was a non-TSO’d 421 sqft Ex-Military Reserve canopy had not been accepted for sport parachuting in the UK.
Following discussion, the Committee agreed that the Student harness as presented be used with this specific combination of equipment, providing it was given an identification mark. Rick Boardman agreed to undertake this task.
Following further consideration, it was proposed by Rick Boardman and seconded by Nicky Johnston (proxy) that the Tandem container and reserve canopy (with serial numbers as stated above), which are currently grounded by BPA safety notice (SN 2/14) have their groundings individually lifted and that they be accepted for use together with the UPT Vector 2 Student harness as presented.
For: 8 – Against: 1 (Kim Newton) – Abstentions: 0
Carried
RIGGERS 30th Jul 15
That Ex-Military Vector Tandem system (SN 39605) be accepted with VTC 421 reserve and UPT Student Harness (NOT Cleared for all).
6. EQUIPMENT CLEARANCE REQUESTS FOR EX-MILITARY TANDEM EQUIPMENT AND TWO EX-MILITARY STUDENT HARNESSES
A proposal from Ralph Mitchell, together with supporting paperwork and a covering note from the STO has been circulated with the Agenda requesting the following equipment clearances:
- System #2 That the grey Relative Workshop Ex-military Tandem Vector II TV14 (serial no. 39605) be accepted for use with the VTC 421 reserve and the UPT Student harness.
The Advanced Riggers endorsing/recommending the above equipment clearance requests are Andy Page and Malcom Knox.
Following discussion it was proposed by Andy Page (proxy) and seconded by Malcom Knox (proxy) that the above proposed equipment clearance requests be accepted.
For: 7 (incl 2 by proxy) – Against: 0 – Abstentions: 1 (John Curtis)
Carried
RIGGERS 30th Jul 15
That Ex-Military Vector Student Harness systems (System #3 & #4) be accepted for use with Tandem Sigma containers (SN 52193 & SN 52194) (NOT Cleared for all).
6. EQUIPMENT CLEARANCE REQUESTS FOR EX-MILITARY TANDEM EQUIPMENT AND TWO EX-MILITARY STUDENT HARNESSES
- That the Relative Workshop/UPT Ex-military Wonderhog Dual Container / Tandem Student Harness system (serial no. #3) be accepted for use with the UPT Sigma container (serial no. 52193)
- That the Relative Workshop/UPT Ex-military Wonderhog Dual Container / Tandem Student Harness system (serial no. #4) be accepted for use with the UPT Sigma container (serial no. 52194)
The Advanced Riggers endorsing/recommending the above equipment clearance requests are Andy Page and Malcom Knox.
Following discussion it was proposed by Andy Page (proxy) and seconded by Malcom Knox (proxy) that the above proposed equipment clearance requests be accepted.
For: 7 (incl 2 by proxy) – Against: 0 – Abstentions: 1 (John Curtis)
Carried
RIGGERS 30th Jul 15
BPA approval of Manufacturer approved soft links on Tandem Main canopies.
5. THE USE OF SOFT LINKS ON TANDEM AND STUDENT EQUIPMENT
A paper by the BPA Safety & Technical Officer (STO) has been circulated with the Agenda concerning the use of soft links on Tandem and Student equipment.
Also tabled was correspondence from Bill Sharp with his comments on this issue for consideration.
The STO stated that at present there was nothing written down to clarify the use of soft links on Tandem or Student equipment and he would like some clarification from the Subcommittee. Discussion took place amongst those present and proceeded to discuss the different aspects starting with the use of soft links on reserves. It was highlighted that the Subcommittee could only work with what was written down in the Rigging Technical Manual and therefore realised that that the current procedures / rules written down in the Rigging Technical Manual regarding the use of rigging line connector links / soft links was in need of an update to fall in line with the newer equipment on the market. Pete Sizer agreed to look in to the areas concerning the use of soft links and bring these up to date.
Further consideration was given to the use of soft links on Student reserves and the Subcommittee agreed that this was acceptable providing these were approved by the canopy manufacturer. The subcommittee agreed that the use of soft links on Tandem reserves would not be accepted and if anyone knew of any Tandem reserves that came with soft links to please make them aware of this. You can email Pete Sizer on pete.seizer@btinternet.com
It was also highlighted that any Student equipment that was to be cleared by the Riggers Subcommittee should include all component parts including soft links.
Further discussion took place to consider the use of soft links on Tandem main canopies and those present were asked if they had any objections to the use of soft links on Tandem main canopies. Those present saw no objections providing these were recognised by the canopy manufacturer. It was therefore proposed by Paul Stockwell and seconded by Noel Purcell that the Subcommittee accept the use of Tandem main connector links (soft or metal) providing they are acceptable to the canopy manufacturer.
Carried Unanimously
RIGGERS 30th Jul 15
General info about Velcro on Next secondary release handles.
10. A.O.B.
Paul Applegate reported on a Tandem incident involving a Next Tandem system, where the instructor had difficulty locating the primary deployment toggle due to his student’s awkward position.
The instructor located the secondary handle and tried to pull it, which was very hard to pull. He pulled harder, succeeding, however this took out the cutaway pad, and as the main bag extracted from the container, the reserve deployed via the RSL.
It was later discovered that the secondary handle had Velcro on both sides of the securing tab, causing the hard pull which pulled both the secondary and cutaway pad.
Further investigation resulted in the discovery that some Next secondary release handles have Velcro on both sides of the tab and some (more modern ones) have Velcro on one side.
It had been decided by the Subcommittee that Velcro should only be fitted to one side of the tab – the harness side.
Summary
Last Update: From Riggers and Safety and Training Committee meetings 1st Feb 2018.
Download
Form-212 Approved Tandem Parachute Equipment Modifications
Detail
To ascertain which canopies are cleared for use with a specific container, reference must be made to the modifications for that container type. A type of ‘Canopies Only’ has been included for any individual canopies, main or reserve, which have been approved for Tandem use by STC/Riggers but have no formal Tandem container system associated with them. These have been included for information only as the canopies have not had any modification applied to them.
Officially, any British Skydiving Tandem Modification that is cleared for use at any particular Riggers or STC Committee meeting must be formally ratified at the following Riggers or STC Meeting. These meetings are normally eight weeks apart and ‘officially’, any such Tandem Modification item will not be formally cleared until that ratification.
Important
Some previously recorded clearances have been removed. For the full wording see the item ‘RIGGERS 15th Feb 01’ under type ‘General’.
No reference is made to any formal Safety Notice, Safety Information or Update, that has been issued by an individual manufacturer, unless they require the Riggers or STC to intervene. This is because a manufacturer’s update is not part of the British Skydiving modification programme. Safety Notices and Safety Information sheets may be issued by British Skydiving but these have their own recommendations and/or instructions.