Betty Pfeffer HIGH ENERGY SPORTS, Inc. Reserve Parachute Clinic

Revised March 31, 2004

The USHGA and Dave Broyles, USHGA Safety and Training Chairman have delegated Dutcher Stirling the task of modifying the BHPA Chute Deployment Clinic Manaul, as proposed by Betty Pfeiffer... leading, we hope, to not just USHGA, but world wide Chute Deployment Clinic Standards, Grandfathering of clinic instructors and appointments of new clinic instructors. So by this time next year, "Betty's" clinic could be even better!!! Imagine! (-:

Thank you for considering me for your parachute clinic.

Below is a quick outline of what I cover. The clinic usually is a 1.5 day event with
a) the first day being nuts and bolts and
b) the second day covering more of the technical issues.

It is better to focus either on HG or PG since each sport has it's own unique situations
- i.e. in HG we have 5 levels of decision making whereas in PG there are 13!

Let me know what you think and about how many pilots to expect. If you want to cover HG and PG on the same day Bill Gargano and I work well together. Bill designed the Quantum Series parachute and is considered a leading parachute designer in the country.

Thanks again, Betty

PS We only charge transportation and accommodation costs. We do repack the chutes and/or help your local packers.

The clinic will include video and seminar presentations on:
• Parachute types, Para-swivels
• How a parachute works
• Decision to deploy
• Hypothetical (and real) scenarios to consider
• How to execute proper deployments
• Problems after deployment and strategies to handle them
• Strategies for preparing for landing
• How to avoid being hurt on landing
• How to avoid being dragged after landing
• Water landings, power lines, and other major hazards
• Inspecting harnesses & parachute systems for proper materials, workmanship, maintenance, installation• How to repack you own parachute
• Size and weight considerations
• And many other topics

Parachute Operation

1. Hand Deployed systems
2. Ballistically deployed systems

1. Evaluate Situation

Pilot awareness

1. of body
2. of control bar
3. of forces in play i.e. spin, tumble
4. of options available to deal with the situation
5. Plan A
6. Plan B

1. visual inspection
2. controllability

1. Visual Confirmation
2. altitude
3. parachute
4. Prepare for Impact
5. With a Control Bar
6. Without a Control Bar

1. Deflate parachute
2. Disconnect from glider/parachute
3. Use Your Radio
4. Request Assistance
5. Relate Your Condition
6. Relate Your Position

1. In Flight Reaching for your handle
2. In the Simulator
3. In your mind?s eye

1. Harness
2. Hardware
3. Bridle Routing
4. Practice Deployments
5. Wear All of your Equipment
6. Throw Right & Left Handed
7. Throw With and Without Control Bar
8. Note Direction & Distance Thrown
9. Note Time to Throw

1. Simulate launching unhooked
2. Practice egress (getting out of your harness while hanging)

1. Outside in the wind

Leading Causes of Problem Deployments

1. The Pilot
2. Weak throw
3. Inadequate care and maintenance of parachute system
4. Waiting too long to deploy

Leading Causes of Problem Deployments

1. The Situation
2. No clear air in which to throw
3. Blacking out i.e. severe spin or tumble
4. Entanglement
5. Leading Causes of Problem Deployments
6. The System
7. The parachute bridle routing
8. The deployment bag/diaper problems
9. The harness

1. Know your equipment and its limitations
2. Keep up with new developments
3. Inspect often
4. Repack regularly
5. Do the knee test
6. Upgrade your equipment
7. Preflight!!!!
8. Your Responsibility to Other Pilots
9. Dealing with
10. Pilots who refuse to fly with a parachute
11. Preflight warning (curved pins not in place, Velcro open, etc.)
12. Viewing a pilot from the air coming down under canopy.
13. Providing air space for rescue equipment
14. Parachute Packing
15. Brief demonstration

Thank you for attending

Above all else....Fly Safely!

What is a HG Emergency Parachute System?

1. Landing Chest Pad
2. Recovery System
3. Life Saving Device

1. Cheap
2. Light weight
3. Survive 40 mph deployment

1. Light Weight
2. Packs into existing parachute containers
3. Slow Rate of Descent
4. Evolution of HG Parachutes 2001Design Requirements
5. Minimal altitude loss for full inflation
6. Ability to open with a slow descending suspended weight
7. Ability to withstand high speed deployments (90 mph+)

1. Flat Circular
2. Conical
3. Tri-conical
4. Polyconical

1. Extended Skirt
2. High Technology (Round Airfoil)
3. Next Generation
4. Parachute cloth
5. Parachute Construction
6. Deployment Device

1. Cross Seams
2. Main Seams / Radials
3. Vent Band
4. Circumferencial Reinforcement
5. Skirt Band
6. Evolution of HG Parachutes Lines
7. Vent Lines
8. Line Attachments
9. Suspension Lines
10. Center Line(s) (PDA)

1. MIL-C-44378 (0-3 cfm)
2. Exacta Chute, Sportchute, F 111 (0-3 cfm)
3. Soar Coat (0 cfm)
4. Spinnaker Cloth

1. Nylon
2. Dacron
3. Kevlar
4. Spectra

1. Construction
2. Material
3. Swivels
4. Protection

1. Handle Location
2. Closing Pins
3. Compartmented
4. Construction
5. Material

1. Size & Shape
2. Closure
3. Velcro
4. Closing Loops

1. Parachute Location
2. Rocket Location
3. Activation Handle Location
4. Evolution of HG Parachutes Harness
5. Bridle Routing
6. Bridle Protection
7. Integrity

1. Learning How to deflate a Canopy without getting hurt
2. Dangers
3. Getting Dragged
4. Line entanglement and reinflation
5. Helping your Buddy
6. Comparing the Pull on Parachutes
7. The Clinic Quiz

Thank you for attending.