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 19th Jun 97
Pro packing of Tandem reserves is not authorised.
11. A.O.B.
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Ref. BPA form 169, item 5.7, Packing lessons and practice.
NOTES: This is the end of the trail as the method of Pro Packing reserves can be included in the examiners lesson plans and as advanced packers are allowed to pack according to the training given during the course, all advanced packers are allowed to Pro Pack reserves even when the manufacturer has not included this method in the manuals.
It should also be noted that the reason some of the manuals do not include Pro Packing reserves is that it is a costly business re-writing the manuals every time they change their system, even if they Pro Pack in the factory and verbally tell riggers that pro packing is best.
It is important to note that Tandem equipment is not taught on the advanced packers course and the above (Pro Packing) does not apply to Tandem equipment.
RIGGERS 19th Jun 97
For Red Devils to use yellow reserve handle on their Tandem Vector. (Cleared for all, but only if jumpsuit/cutaway handle blend in colour).
11. A.O.B. (Cleared for all but only if jumpsuit/cutaway handle blend in colour)
- Paul Applegate advised the Committee of a letter received from Neil Dixon giving details of modification to the handles on their (Red Devil’s) Tandem Vector System.
He stated that the system incorporates two handles for use in reserve drills. One handle was coloured green for canopy release, the other handle for reserve deployment was coloured red. To make the reserve handle more identifiable against the red background of their jump-suits, they have replaced the red loop handle with a yellow one.
There were no objections raised by those present concerning this modification.
NOTE: Also see RIGGERS 31st Jul 97
RIGGERS 31st Jul 97
Tandem mod clearance must be on Agenda to be discussed as a main item at Riggers meetings.
7. A.O.B.
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Nick Johnston gave the meeting details of his request that the Flight Concept 425 Tandem Canopy be cleared for use at BPA clubs and centres. He informed the meeting that he had carried out 25 trial jumps on the canopy, including a number of bag jumps and some with experienced jumpers.
It was pointed out to Nick that he should have requested permission from the Committee before carrying out any ‘live’ jumps, as per Operations Manual requirements.
The Committee were not very impressed with the way in which this proposal had been presented and felt it should have contained more detailed information. They felt that where Tandem equipment is concerned it should not come up for discussion under A.O.B., but that we should have as much information as possible from as many people as possible. The Committee therefore agreed that as a general principal for the future, any item concerning Tandem equipment must go out with the Agenda prior to it being discussed as a main item.
RIGGERS 31st Jul 97
1. MINUTES AND MATTERS… Page 7, Item 11 – AOB (iii) – At the previous meeting the Committee were given details of a request from the Red Devils of a modification to the handles on their Tandem Vector System. To make the reserve handle more identifiable against the red background of their jump-suits, they had […]
1. MINUTES AND MATTERS…
Page 7, Item 11 – AOB (iii) – At the previous meeting the Committee were given details of a request from the Red Devils of a modification to the handles on their Tandem Vector System. To make the reserve handle more identifiable against the red background of their jump-suits, they had replaced the red loop handle with a yellow one.
John Curtis wished it minuted that should the Red Devils sell or hire this equipment to another organisation, they would change the reserve handle back to the original red. This had actually been stated in the Red Devil’s original request.
RIGGERS 4th Sep 97
Acceptance of Tandem Ultra Next.
4. REQUEST FOR ACCEPTANCE FOR USE OF THE ‘ULTRA NEXT’ TANDEM SYSTEM FOR USE IN THE UK
A request from Kim Newton had been circulated with the Agenda for acceptance of the Ultra Next Tandem system for use in the UK.
The Committee were informed that the system is approved by the German Government, a copy of the certificate, which approves the safety of the system according to German regulations was circulated to those present.
Stefan Ertler from Paratec, the German manufacturer of the equipment was present at the meeting and able to answer any questions by the Committee.
Kim gave the meeting details of her request, and also details of drop tests that had been carried out on the equipment. A set of the equipment was also available for inspection.
It was proposed by Kim Newton who had inspected the equipment prior to the meeting and seconded by John Harding that the “Ultra Next” Tandem equipment be accepted for use in the UK.
For: 5 – Against: 0 – Abstentions: Abstentions: 1 (John Curtis)
Carried
Stefan Ertler was asked if he was happy to have other canopies of a suitable pack volume installed in the equipment . He stated that he was quite happy with this.
RIGGERS 5th Feb 98
3 x Clearances specifically for Andy Parkin’s Tandem Vector. (NOT CLEARED for general use).
7. PARATEC HANDLE MODIFICATION THE TANDEM VECTOR CONTAINER – ANDY PARKIN (NOT CLEARED for general use)
Allan Hewitt gave the meeting, details of a request from Andy Parkin for his Tandem Vector equipment which he had recently acquired to be used with a number of modifications as follows:
- The equipment had been converted to have a Paratec handle
- A modification to the RSL: Instead of a ball on the RSL, a tab had been fitted.
- Instead of the drogue being attached through the deployment bag direct to the canopy, it now had the deployment bag which was attached to the canopy and the drogue which was attached to the deployment bag.
Some concern was expressed by those present with regard to the RSL being used with the tab instead of a ball being fitted. The meeting were informed that there were other systems in use with the tab fitted on the RSL instead of a ball.
After further discussion on this matter, it was proposed by Allan Hewitt and seconded by John Harding that Andy Parkin’s Tandem equipment be accepted for use with the above modifications.
For: 5 – Against: 0 – Abstentions: 2 (P. Walters, I. Curtis)
Carried
NOTE: This Clearance is for Andy Parkin’s Tandem only
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.