How long are emergency parachutes good for?

[Steve]

I've heard they have a 20 year lifespan but couldnt find anything in the regs. I guess it depends on the maker? Does the canopy age from sitting around while packed?

 

[Metro752]

Wouldn't an emergency chute, if required, fall under the same requirements as regular parachutes? Why not just tie some plastic rope to the ends of a big bed sheet and put it in a backpack from Aldies.

Wouldn't it though, if it was packed by a certified parachute rigger. I mean if it isn't required, and you just wanna have one for fun, it's like having an electronic E6B?

Sorry, I know my sarcasm probably isn't appreciated.

 

[Say Again Over]

I thought it was like an airplane, as long as it's signed off airworthy it's legal, not too sure.

 

[avbug]

Certified parachute systems are required to be inspected on a regular basis, depending on the type of material from which they're fashioned. Synthetic materials have a 120 day repack cycle, for emergency parachutes. This includes single parachute emergency systems and reserve parachutes.

The I&R or Inspect and Repack, is done by an FAA certificated rigger who holds a type rating for the type of parachute pack to be used. Full manufacturers maintenance publications and proceedures, including inspection and repair proceedures, as well as airworthiness directives and service bulletins apply.

A main parachute must also have been inspected and repacked within the previous 90 days, although a sport jumper may do this, rather than a rigger.

Any natural fiber canopy or harness systems have a 60 day Inspect and Repack cycle.

Outside of that, unless a manufacturer has decreed a life cycle for a component, system, canopy, container, or harness...so long as the canopy can pass the inspection criteria set forth, it's still good.

Some components such as the Cypress that's popular today do have life limits both for the battery, and the unit itself...at which time the entire unit, or the battery as appropriate to the interval, needs to be replaced in entirety.

 

[Hand Commander]

To legally use one, it needs to be repacked every 120 days by a FAA certificated rigger. The rigger is the person who will determine if its unairworthy. As long as you take care of the parachute and container (keep it dry, out of direct sunlight, etc) it should last for years and years. I'm not sure if manufacturers put lifetimes on their equipment but if they do, its probably just recommended and not legally required.