The following considerations/steps should be used when hand washing the parachute:

Washing the parachute is not recommended and should be avoided if at all possible. Many times more damage can be caused to the assembly with an improper wash as opposed to the dirty condition of the equipment.

Now that we have determined through inspection and use of the chart what category of repair may be required, we must obtain the needed data. This can sometimes verify our determination as to the category of repair and inform us of processes or standards. Approved is the data issue or version of data that has been identified by the developer/supplier as being the master issue or version of the data subject. It is required on major repair. This data is a key element and offers the base line of all standards that must be met for completion of the task of returning the equipment to the user in a safe, continued service condition.

Riggers under FAA jurisdiction are responsible for ensuring that repairs are accomplished according to all applicable regulations under title 14 CFR part 43. Repair of damage can be classified as either major, minor, or alteration. This assessment is based on the scope and complexity of the repair, end result of the task, and the experience and capability of the operator.

As we know, the responsibility for determining whether a repair is major or minor rests with the rigger. The document needed to complete an inspection and subsequent repack is the manufacturers owners manual. The documents that offer standards for a repair are found in 14 CFR part 43 and are worded with direct application to aircraft. This allows for confusion of FAA position of repair as it applies to manufacturers and riggers. In the U.S., all repairmen (riggers and mechanics) have authority to use acceptable repair data for minor repairs without additional FAA approval. These processes are not addressed in 14 CFR part 43 as major, minor, or alteration, and no reference is found for use on parachutes or related components.

Because of this rather gray area of current repair classifications under 14 CFR part 43, many times approved data identifies directly the classification of the repair and sets forth all needed guidelines and requirements.

The standards for approved or certificated equipment apply to the reserve parachute, harness/container, and related components, and these standards can also include any Automatic Activation Device (AAD) that may be used in an approved system. With the installation of the AAD, it must meet all manufacturer service and use standards and FAA inspection limitations. This information can be found in the Rig Manufacturers Owners Manual and the AAD Manufacturers Owners Manual.

Acceptable data is often times confused with approved data.

Acceptable data has been allowed under the FAA system and generally used for minor repair. It can be applied to many minor repair practices of different types and application.

It is general in its nature and not a required process for an approved repair procedure. It is used by the FAA when considering approval for alteration and usually does not fall under the standard of certificated or approved (TSO and major repairs). Acceptable data is applied in a very broad manner and is not to be a replacement for use of approved data when addressing the FAA major repair process.

Approved data to be used for major repairs and alterations may be one or more of the following. This data can only be obtained from the manufacturer or the FAA Administrator.

This data applies to:

The rigger is responsible to confirm the information of model, type, serial number, and date of manufacture when requesting or attempting to obtain any of the above data. It is very important when confirming the following:

When contacting the manufacturer or FAA Administrator with request for information as listed for possible major repairs, it is advisable to confirm the following: