Newsletter - Strong Enterprises

St r o n g
E nt e r p r i s e s
Newsletter
Issue 37, December 2010
This newsletter is written for:
Packers, Riggers, DZ Operators, Strong Tandem Instructors & Strong Tandem Examiners.
Your comments are welcome.
Holidays
HAPPY
2010-11
Making Memories...
As the year comes to an end we get ready for a string of holiday festivities; from
Thanksgiving to Christmas and the grand finale, New Years! It’s usually during this
time that we gather with family and friends and new special memories are created.
Some great memories will carry us through the new year, other memories we will be glad they are left behind. But more often than not, those special moments that
bring back nostalgia will warm up our hearts and bring contentment.
Making memories is what skydiving is all about. From the places you go to the
people you meet, its all a new adventure. In every jump you defy gravity, you
experience a freedom that some only dream about; for a few moments you own
the sky! In every Tandem jump you give the student/passenger a glimpse of what
skydiving is all about yet the experience will last them forever. What makes a
memory immortal is when it’s shared and kept alive. During the last few days of
2010 and a whole new beginning in 2011 we hope you make each jump count.
Keep it safe, keep it memorable.
Happy Holidays from the Strong Tandem Family to Yours!
For comments and questions please contact us at [email protected]
Strong
Enterprises
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Page 1
This Issue
On TheIn
Cover
• Happy Holidays
• Strong Enterprises
Turns 50!
• Trivia Question
Page 2
• Argus AAD,
Important Notice!
•Trivia Answer
•Maintenance on your
DHT is Crucial
• Congratulations to
Skydive Pepperell
(pgs2-3)
Page 3
•Letter from Tandem
Parachute Manufacturers
• Reminders
Page 4
• Tandem Meet &
Greet at PIA 2011
Do you know?
Do you know the proper
aircraft emergency
procedures for exits below
1,000 ft., at 3,000 ft. and
above 5,000 ft.?
Answer on page 2.
Strong Enterprises Turns
50!
Join us in 2011 to celebrate Strong Enterprises’ 50th Anniversary in business. This mile stone
marks half a century of exceptional innovative designs and an amazing Strong Team throughout
the years. Stay tuned online (www.strongparachutes.com) for information on how you can join
in our year long celebration. A special Thank You to all our customers throughout the years. Your
business and loyalty makes all the difference and we hope to continue delivering excellence!
www.strongparachutes.com •
407.859.9317 • [email protected]
11236 Satellite Boulevard • Orlando, FL 32837
Page 1
Tips, Stories & Headlines
ARGUS AAD
All DHT Systems using an ARGUS AAD having cutters manufactured before
August 2007 are not in compliance with manufacturer guidelines and are in
direct violation of Service Bulletin #22 and the TSO!
A lot of speculation on the proper function of the ARGUS cutter has come into question due to recent unfortunate events. The recent fatality
in Poland and the incident in Portugal occurred on ARGUS AAD’s using cutters manufactured before September 2007.
If you refer back to Service Bulletin #22 issued on May 20th, 1997, it states that “only components approved by Strong Enterprises may
be used on the Dual Hawk Tandem System for tandem jumping”. The ARGUS AAD cutters manufactured prior to August 2007
are not an approved component of the Dual Hawk Tandem System. Any use of them on the Dual Hawk makes the system out of
compliance and in direct violation with Service Bulletin #22 and the TSO. This represents a significant hazard to the Tandem Instructor and
student/passenger. You must refrain from using a Dual Hawk Tandem System until you have one of following approved AADs: ARGUS
(manufactured after August 2007), VIGIL or CYPRES.
In the Tandem Newsletter, Issue 36, we alerted our Tandem audience of the mandatory ARGUS Service Bulletin, requesting all ARGUS
cutters manufactured prior to September 2007 to be replaced before the next repack. Because of the high demand of these new cutters,
they will not be available until early 2011. AVIACOM has extended the “grace period” for the replacement until March 31st, 2011. Strong
Enterprises directive still stands: all ARGUS cutters manufactured prior to September 2007 need be replaced before the next jump! If the
new cutters are not available, your Dual Hawk Tandem System must be grounded until it’s in compliance. You may visit the following URL
for more information on the AVIACOM’s Service Bulletin: http://tools.emailgarage.com/Pub/16XzGAAAAAA~/ar2kmW1TT0G8rwKS-MY5xQ~~/Text/GotoLink.
ashx <http://tools.emailgarage.com/Pub/16XzGAAAAAA%7E/ar2kmW1TT0G8rwKS-MY5xQ%7E%7E/Text/GotoLink.ashx>
Answer...
(Question
on pg.1)
A) Below 1,000 feet, land with the plane.
B) For exits at 3,000 feet AGL or below, use the reserve. Remember, the Cypres AAD is set to fire at 2,000 feet, but first it must reach 3000 feet in order to arm itself. You must pull your reserve ripcord, as always.
C) From 3,000 feet to 5,000 feet, deploy the drogue
and main immediately after clearing the aircraft.
D)Above 5,000 feet use normal drogue and main
procedures.
Maintenance on the DHT System is Crucial!
You should not let a component of your Dual Hawk Tandem System get this deteriorated before replacing it or sending it in for repair.
The attached photo of a recycled riser is an example of an extreme negligence on the part of the DZO, the packer, the rigger responsible
for the 25 jump inspection, and the T/Is who have been using this rig without looking at the system. The T/Is should make themselves
knowledgeable of the DZ’s DHT maintenance program as well as thoroughly inspecting any Tandem system that they are about to jump.
So, what would have happened if this riser was to break during deployment?
1. Notice it is the left riser, and it has the R.S.L. attachment, which we all should be using.
2. Upon separation the R.S.L. would have deployed the reserve into the main which was still
attached at the right riser.
3. The chances of a reserve/main entanglement would have been extremely high, making the
chances of survival extremely low.
4. Two lives could have been lost for no justifiable reason.
5. The T/I would have been responsible because he did not actually inspect the DHT system
before he made the jump.
6. The DZO would have been guilty of negligence in maintaining the equipment in accordance
with the manufacturer’s requirements.
7. The Tandem System manufacturer would be sued.
Everyone involved in Tandem operations has to conduct their business as if their life depends on it.
Congratulations to, The Skydive Pepperell Team!
Congratulations to the Skydive Pepperell Staff for
an amazing 2010 Season. Due to the collaboration
of their Tandem Instructors, Packers, Video
Photographers, Office Staff, Pilots, Riggers, Twin Otter
Owners and of course Fran, they were able to set a
new Tandem jumping record at their DZ. They ended
their 2010 Season with a grand total of 5003 Tandems.
Page 2
www.strongparachutes.com •
T/I: Dave Lane • Pass: Kevin Coyne
T/I: Dave Lane • Pass: Morgan Sullivan
407.859.9317 • [email protected]
11236 Satellite Boulevard • Orlando, FL 32837
T/I: Josh Siegel • Pass: Craig Minoff
Tips, Stories & Headlines
Letter From Tandem Parachute Manufacturers
The matter of Tandem student/passenger’s
legal age has become one of most
importance. Through misleading advertising
by Drop Zones and Tandem Instructors
it has become unclear to the skydiving
community what is the actually legal age
for this practice. To the right you’ll be able
to view a declaration letter signed by all
three US Tandem Parachutes Manufacturers.
They have jointly stated that their Tandem
Parachute Systems are not to be used
to carry student/passengers under
the age of majority, or 18 years old,
whichever is higher. If you are taking
student passengers under the age of 18 years
of age, you must discontinue that practice.
18
If anyone wishes to operate their
Tandem System outside the guidelines
of the manufacturers, that drop zone, or
individual, will no longer be supported
with parts or maintenance from Strong
Enterprises. Additionally, the Tandem
Instructor rating issued by the manufacturer
will be suspended or revoked. Notices of
suspension or revocation will be forwarded
to the FAA and USPA headquarters, where
it is expected that your USPA T/I rating will
also be suspended/revoked.
You may send your questions or comments
to [email protected].
Reminders!
• All Tandem Instructor Examiner renewal applications
are due. All TI/Es who have turned them in will received
their “Letter of Designation” in January.
• All T/Is must submit their annual T/I Questionnaire.
Form can be downloaded at www.strongparachutes.com
• If you would like to feature your DZ or a T/I’s
accomplishments you can email your info to tandem@
strongparachutes.com.
5003!!
ms
T/I: Dave Lane • Pass: Kevin Coyne
e
”It was on the last load Sunday
tand
evening (October 31, 2010), on the
last flight of the Twin Otter for the
season, in the cold, on the last day
of the season, This is a New England
record that will last for a long time.
WOW!” - Don Mayer
www.strongparachutes.com •
S k yd i ve Pe p p e r e l l Te a m
407.859.9317 • [email protected]
11236 Satellite Boulevard • Orlando, FL 32837
Page 3
TANDEM Newsletter - Issue 37
HAPPY
Tandem Meet & Greet at
You’re
Invited to...
2011
If you RSVP you will
receive a T-shirt and other
free gifts from Strong.
The Tandem Meet and Greet on
Tuesday, February 15th, 2011 at the PIA Symposium in Reno, Nevada.
Stop by our booth for location & time information.
You’ll enjoy food & drinks!
You can RSVP by sending an e-mail to [email protected].
Please include your T-Shirt size in the e-mail.
Page 4
www.strongparachutes.com •
407.859.9317 • [email protected]
11236 Satellite Boulevard • Orlando, FL 32837