Quote:
Originally Posted by bkilby
Would you wear an older parachute (+ 20 years old)? Or is this a case of no way would I buy/wear a 20 year old parachute? Assuming it has been stored properly and inspected and repacked on schedule. Just curious what others think.
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This is from Allen Silver of Silver Parachute Sales:
"There is no hard and fast FAA rule as to the service life, in years, for your parachute.
The FAA rules basically say that every 120 days your parachute is no longer airworthy and must be
recertified. As an FAA certified master rigger I feel you should not have your chute packed after 20
years of age. As a member of the Parachute Industry Association (PIA) I've heard talk among several
riggers and manufacturers of parachutes and they agree that this should not exceed 20 years,
regardless of the condition of the parachute. Throughout the industry, particularly because of the
threat of lawsuits, everyone has the tendency to lean towards the conservative side."
Allen has over 35 years of experience in the field. I would trust his judgement and advice.