Skydiving with Un-Tested Equipment ?

Hi I'm, Colin Scott Thomson,
This is my first Video upload.
It's on the subject of Skydiving, parachute equipment maintenance,
this one in particular, is about Hard Pulls.
The intention is to make a series of videos, covering skydiving equipment safety and training.
My ignorance is overwhelming, but I try to have a curiosity to match.
I hope you follow me though the series of videos and find them of some interest and help.
(Not Just for a cure for insomnia)
As my videos improve, I hope your knowledge dose too.

[@mgphotography3074]

Test pull should be mandatory at any reserve repack..a two minutes job which garantee a perfect repack and consolidate the confidence between costumer and rigger especially if the test is done by the owner of the rig. Thanks Colin for you professionalism.

[@guyinsas]

Wow, that is some scary hard pulls. I've never seen the 2 hands, 1 leg technique, but will definitely keep that in my mind from now on. Great video.

[@thomson1963]

Thank you for watching Elliott Brown, My objective of the video is so you won't need a can of spinach, or a helping leg. Insist on the opportunity to perform a Test Pull after the reserve repack, or frankly when ever you want to practice a wee bit closer to reality, with your own Rig, of rental Rig. Its not exactly open heart surgery, get your rigger to follow the simple instructions in the video. The trick is to, have the surprise with two feet on the ground, not two hundred feet above the ground.

[@roelmayol191]

As always, appreciate all your very informative videos. Thank you for serving the skydiving community

[@danyportillo3536]

Thank you, thank you very much Colin for this, your first video, I/we hope more videos, thanks for the videos and your lessons. A pleasure!

[@sivonparansun]

Excellent video. I am horrified but so glad I tuned in. SUBSCRIBED

[@riggingservicesarielrodrig2505]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge Collin. I will keep tuned for the next video! Thanks again.

[@sebastiencamuzet]

The best riger in the world ! thanks a lot

[@BlackVad]

Wonderful lesson, Colin, thanks. Looking forward to see more!

[@saifal-manea1354]

Woohooo 👍🏼 Hope to see more videos.

[@shaynel9720]

Thank you for the share

[@amith2947]

it was really helpful lesson. Looking forward to learn more from you.

[@cyfraplus]

Great video! Please keep them coming!!! :-)

[@project4182]

I always loved your attention to detail to everything you did and it has served me well over the past few years, i incorporate it into my work life. I do not skydive anymore due to my neck operation but now paraglide. I still continue what i learned from you and one of the few fliers that checks my equipment before and after flight. All the best Colin. Gary ex empuriabrava worker

[@thomson1963]

Hello Gary, I hope you are happy, healthy and pain-free. The SnapOn decals are still looking like new :) I with you high pitch tones from your variometer and soft landings. Thank you for your kind words.

[@RXEXTREMEFLY]

perfect lesson

[@steffen3382]

Thanks for sharing these excelent tips!

[@FedericoF]

thank you

[@olsky2627]

I had such situation when I had a total mal.

[@lucianlucian3624]

Great job Colin!! Congratulations 🤘🤘🤘

[@quest4adventure495]

Glad someone is addressing this issue

[@marcelopqd5566]

i love your job man!!! Great video! Thank you for sharing with us!!!

[@thefilthygringo9228]

Very informative videos!

[@caseyskydive]

Great information, thank you for making this video Colin!

[@thomson1963]

Thank you for watching Casey, there are several others, next time I see you, there will be a short test to see if you were paying attention :)

[@caseyskydive]

@@thomson1963 I would expect nothing less when stepping into the Grand Wizard Rigger's Magical Realm. I better watch these videos a few more times.

[@orwork1453]

Thank you!

[@mohammedskydive]

Thank you so much

[@thomson1963]

I'm happy you made the time to watch and comment, thank you, Mohammed Adil, Happy landings.

[@wildeyestudios5]

thank you for all that wise knowledge

[@thomson1963]

Thank you for taking the time to watch.

[@jimday666]

Wow, this was super useful! Thanks! @10:01 Never seen one of these hard pull solution tricks, but come in handy if it really is a must.

[@thomson1963]

Hello JD, I really hope you never need to use two hands and one leg, to get your reserve ripcord pulled. The object of this video is to get everyone to insist on making a test pull after the reserve is packed (or any time you like), you see how simple it is to set-up the equipment for this test. Keep your surprises with two feet on the ground, not two hundred feet above the ground. Wish you all the best.

[@johnmilner6484]

I once had a rig come into the shop with a reserve pull of 65+ pounds!Turns out on his previous pack job,the loop was too long."Somebody" shortened the loop at the as resulting in a loop that was so short the pull force became excessive

[@nikent10244]

I like what your doing here for the testing. I was wondering if you have seen any fraying or damaged fibers to the cypres loop due to the extra pull cord usage on the loop and the shock load to the loop it self once the pin is pulled? I know the travel is not much but no mater how close that knot is it’s going to have a small shock to it. It’s a pain in the rear but why not really pull the handle and let the PC launch the. Replace the loop and reset the pilotchute. It’s extra work but less wear to the loop and the pull test was still done.

[@thomson1963]

Thank you for the question Nicholas. No I haven't seen anything like loop fibers damage resulting from this technique, (since 1991) I'd recommend you run your own tests and see what you find. The issue I have if you actually launch the pilot chute (post repack) and then re-close the container, there is a chance the pull force will change, not to mention when working on an externally mounted extractor. It is not unusual for me to have the user make several test pulls, giving them the opportunity to polish their procedures. The loop is exposed to a higher force pre-instillation, before marking the length I preload the loop to +-77kg, then when the first knot is made its loaded with 77kg again to make it snug then the second knot is added and the loop is installed on the disc. If you remember the "soft" Disc report (see:Airtec Disc Update Nov 22 2010) Some power tools used for closing,(in the wrong hands) have a better chance of overloading the loop and as we found even distorting the disc. The damaged fibers I come across are more often as a result of contact with flap grommet burrs. Please persevere with this Test Pull, at least for a little while, like most things we are unfamiliar with its hard to see its benefits at first. As Frank Zappa observed, "The mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open."

[@nikent10244]

Colin Scott Thomson thanks for the reply I am interested in trying it out.

[@skydiver333nacer2]

great

[@mikeodell5915]

Wow

[@Dionisio181]

This is a saving life video

[@MrJkd2013]

thank you please make more videos

[@thomson1963]

Thanks for making the time to watch and comment, today I started working on The Ripcord, hopefully will be ready to see soon.

[@maldi_tof2910]

What scale do you use to measure the force?

[@eberthrojas66]

Greetings from Argentina dear Mr. Collings, I am beginning to train myself to become a parachute rigger, would you recommend any theoretical or visual material that can contribute to achieving it? thanks for the material you have on your channel.

[@thomson1963]

Hello Eberth, All the set books for the FAA airman exams, Dan Poynter Parachute Manuals, Parachute Rigger Handbook (US Academy of Parachute Rigging Manual), etc, At the same time practice, practice and practice a bit more. Like Frank Zapper said, "The mind is like a parachute, it doesn't work if it is not open"

[@matninja123]

This is scary 😨

[@LifeAtTerminalVelocity]

This is sobering. I have pulled the handles on all my reserves when I turn them into my rigger for a repack but never before taking them for their 6 month cycle.

[@jfortiz62]

When you need to crank down the pack job to close it with special tools, I assume there will be a hard pull! This is becoming more prevalent when jumpers are wanting smaller containers because they "look good" on their backs. People need to stay within their limits and buy gear that is in accordance with their level of ability.

[@archangel9114]

Don't forget to update your fb status 😂😂😂😂😂

[@jonasghafur4940]

if you shoot me a private message i would be able to coat reserve pins with TiN for you if thats something you would be interested in

[@thomson1963]

Hello Jonas Ghafur, Thank you very much for taking the time to watch the video and what sounds like fantastic news, it will be a dream come true to have reserve pins with Titanium Nitride surface coating. (or one of the other amazing coatings, if you have recommendations) I’m a bit of a neanderthal and have not managed to work out how to get a privet message to you, but I shall work on it. In the meantime thank you very much again, greatly appreciated. Wish you all the best.

[@jonasghafur4940]

@@thomson1963 hi! sorry for the late comment, but i just read and answered your mail. :)