Chapter 2
HARNESS/CONTAINER
The harness and container assembly includes all the
remaining parts necessary to complete an airworthy parachute
system except for the canopies. The basic harness/
container assembly is what remains when all items
that can be removed without unstitching have been
removed. Most sport parachute assemblies have the harness
and containers integrated into one assembly, but
many military assemblies may be disassembled into separate
harness and container subassemblies. The following items are subcomponents of the harness/container assembly
and are shown in figure 2-2.
PILOT CHUTES AND BRIDLES FOR THE
MAIN AND RESERVE PARACHUTES
The pilot chute is a small parachute or similar device,
which enters the airstream when released to act as a drag
device and withdraw the canopy from the container. As
such, it maintains tension on the canopy and lines during
the deployment process. Pilot chutes are either springloaded
or manually thrown into the airstream as a “hand
deployed” pilot chute. Some military or emergency pilot
chutes are ballistically deployed. A bridle is a piece of
line or webbing that connects the canopy or deployment
device to the pilot chute.
RIPCORDS OR EQUIVALENT DEVICES FOR
THE MAIN AND RESERVE PARACHUTES
The ripcord is a device for securing the container closed
prior to use. It usually consists of a handle, a flexible
cable, one or more pins, and a device for securing the
cable to the handle. Some modern ripcords use a stiffened
cable instead of a pin.
DEPLOYMENT DEVICES FOR THE MAIN
AND RESERVE PARACHUTES
Deployment devices are designed to provide an orderly
and controlled deployment of the parachute during use. Typical devices include bags, sleeves, pockets, straps,
and sliders.
MAIN PARACHUTE RELEASE MECHANISM AND ASSOCIATED HANDLES OR STATIC LINES
The main parachute release mechanism has two parts.
One part is attached to the harness and the other to the
risers. These types may utilize a separate release handle.
In addition, the reserve may employ a static line to
activate it.
RISERS, MAIN OR RESERVE,WHEN NOT INTEGRAL WITH THE HARNESS OR CANOPY, AND THEIR ASSOCIATED STEERING TOGGLES
Risers are part of the suspension system between
the lines and the harness or load. Generally made
of webbing, emergency parachutes usually have the risers
integral to the harness. Risers used on sport or military
systems used for intentional jumping have release
mechanisms installed. Steering toggles are usually
design specific to the riser for the type of canopy
installed.
OTHER HARNESS/CONTAINER ASSEMBLY
COMPONENTS
Other components designed to function as part of the
harness/container assembly, such as closing loops, also
may be used. Closing loops used with automatic activation
devices (AADs) on reserve or emergency parachutes
are usually design specific to ensure proper operation of
the system.
TSO STANDARDS
The original TSO C23b for parachutes came into existence
in 1949. The specifications were revised in 1984 to
C23c and again in 1994 to C23d. The TSO is a simple
two-page document that specifies the requirements for
certification. This document also references a performance
standard that the parachute must meet. C23b parachutes
were tested to standards under National Aircraft
Standards Specifications NAS-804. When the TSO was
revised in 1984, the specification document was drafted
under the auspices of the Society of Automotive
Engineers (SAE) S-17 committee as Aerospace Standard
AS-8015. When the TSO was revised again in 1994, the
revised document became AS-8015b with the original as
AS-8015a. Figure 2-3 is a table showing the pertinent
points of each of the TSO certifications. For a more thorough
study of the documents, refer to Appendix I.
The TSO system consists of two parts. The first is the performance
standards listed above. This ensures that the
parachute will perform as specified. The second is the
production approval, which ensures that the manufacturer
is able to produce the parachute as designed and tested.
While minor design changes are allowed, any major
design change must be submitted to the FAA for approvalbefore implementation. A major change is any that will
affect the fit, form, or function of the parachute.
For the aspiring rigger, the primary purpose of knowing
the TSO system is determining the compatibility of components
when assembling the parachute system. This is
necessary in order to ensure that, besides fitting together
properly, the performance standards are compatible.
Under Advisory Circular (AC) 105-2—Sport Parachute
Jumping, “the assembly or mating of separately approved
components may be made by a certificated and appropriately
rated parachute rigger or parachute loft in accordance
with the manufacturer’s instructions and without
further authorization by the manufacturer or the FAA.”
Under these guidelines, there are certain parameters that
must be met. One of them is to ensure that “the strength
of the harness must always be equal to or greater than the
maximum force generated by the canopy during the certification
tests.” Full knowledge of the TSO documents
ensures that the above requirements are met.
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