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> Regulations
and Human Factors > Rigging
Ethics > Parachute Service Life
There is no service life on the parachute;
it may be considered airworthy as long as it meets its technical
standard order. While the parachute appears to be in good condition,
there are not many non-destructive tests available to the parachute
rigger in the field to make this determination. It may be possible
to drop test the parachute, but the cost would probably outweigh
the value of the system. It is up to the parachute rigger to
make the determination as to the airworthiness of the parachute
system. When the parachute rigger seals the parachute and signs
the data card, the rigger is saying it is
ready, thereby putting the customer’s life on the line.
What should the parachute rigger do? This is not just a theoretical
situation—it is one that has been experienced many times
by many parachute riggers. All of the above information plus
economic factors complicate the parachute rigger’s decision.
If the rigger does not pack the parachute, the pilot may take
it down the road to another parachute rigger for a second opinion
who may not have the same standards. An added factor is liability
exposure. If the parachute rigger signs off on a questionable
parachute and an accident occurs later, the rigger may be exposed
to disciplinary action from the Administrator in addition to
civil action in the courts. There are no hard and fast rules
in these situations, but instead, the parachute rigger must
exercise the best judgment the rigger can summon based on experience
and the information at hand.
Most professional parachute riggers would refuse
to pack the parachute described in the scenario above, due to
a combination of age, the size of the individual, and the potential
use parameters
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