Okay, reserve packing might not have much to do with Newfies at first glance, however what affects me, affects Kin, also owing to the reserve course I was gone for several hours (apologies to David, who waited 2 1/2 hours for me to finish, and even (kindly) came up to the house to let Kin out before getting thoroughly cheesed off and going home... we were supposed t o be taking a ski trip); then in for an hour to feed him before sneaking off to Veraland Nord, with May, to get a late flight in:
This meant that Kin was alone for eight hours... i.e. a proper work day.
Should be pointed out that everything in this post, after the above is to do with paragliding.
Reserve Packing Summary:
Firstly the name of the course isn't correct - the course was intended to illustrate why you would need your reserve, when you would throw it, and how you'd throw it. The reserves were checked and re-packed after throwing, but the course was not to show how to pack a reserve from scratch... Theory being that you want someone to have packed your reserve properly so it opens, and opens in the least possible amount of time.
Pointed out on the course were that most folk only think about their reserves during the SIV course... as that's when we are quite likely to need them.
Some video clips were shown, illustrating situations that reserves are required.
Following points regarding reserves were brought up:
- fly into and out of thermals with speed (i.e. NO BREAKS), this is when the glider is likely to react owing to air moving at different speeds, chap in first video put breaks on, stayed in the 'funny air', wing collapsed on one side, not corrected, got a cravat and then went into a stup spiral, causing the reserve to have to be thrown. Had he flown through the boundary quickly inklap would have been less likely;
- IF LOWER THAN 100 m THROW THE RESERVE - above this you can try to get out in various methods as taught on the SIV course, if below... THROW...
- After throwing the reserve, pull in on one side of the glider until you have the whole glider bundled. This stops the glider getting tangled in the reserve, and in the event of a tree landing, it prevents the glider from being shredded;
-If you end up in a tree, get into a safe position, to avoid falling to the ground. I.e. grab the biggest branch and work your way to the centre of the tree, or try to tie yourself on/get to the ground safely (mobile phone/radio, and a GPS are helpful for this eventuality to call for help);
- Reserves all act differently, you might have a lot of vertical speed when returning to 'Mother Earth', try to do the parachute roll to take out some of the energy/avoid injury;
- It's worth working through/visualising scenarios when you might need to throw your reserve, and moving your body through the motions so that you fix them in your head and (hopefully) you will react correctly and quickly if you find yourself in a position when you have to throw your reserve;
- As one of the take off checks, it's useful to put your hand on the reserve handle, so it's position is fixed in your head... different harnesses have the handle in different positions and the feel is different with thick or thin gloves on.
Procedure for throwing the reserve:
- HANDLE
- LOOK
- PULL
- LOOK
- THROW
- PULL
This is an eight minute vid clip in Norwegian going through the whole sequence and explaining why the 'D' ring between the harness and the reserve should be removed. Filming by Marco, I'm throwing the reserve. (After lots of flaffing I managed to get a 350 MB clip down to 42 MB for streaming, but might still take awhile, but worth the wait for the clarifications).
- HANDLE
Know where it is/look at it as you grab it.
- LOOK
Check the air space where you are going to throw your reserve (and direction of rotation), if there is someone in your way, don't throw the reserve and get two of you tangled...
- PULL
This will pull your reserve free from the harness, but may not pull your reserve free from it's packing bag.
- LOOK
Check airspace again.
- THROW
- PULL
on a riser for the reserve, this speeds inflation and canopy deployment.
This is a 40 second clip in English showing the main features. Carlos is throwing his reserve. (2MB clip)
Reserves were not completely opened before being replaced in harnesses:
Do not try this at home!
For more information please see:
http://www.apcoaviation.com/
(which {apparently} has info on how to pack reserves and also specifications on the reserves, i.e. area, speeds, mass capacities, and so on...)
If you need your reserve packing you can contact the instructor who held this course:
Ole Andreas Haddeland
90 11 34 58
the.next.base(at)gmail.com
(Lives in Haugesund but is regularly in Stavanger)
or
"Burre"
92 22 25 15
rs(at)saltdalshytta.no
(He packs all the reserves for the parachute club, he's packed my reserves before, he lives in Hanna and works in Forus, and is quite flexible with regarding dropping off and picking up reserves).
Both charge 400 kr for reserve packing.
Last word on the course:
Part of the SIV course is to throw your reserve in a simulated environment; this reserve throwing course went into much more detail. Ole and Tina are knowledgeable and communicated the points clearly. Anything that makes us safer flying is a good thing.
Thumbs Up..
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it..