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I read some thread discussing some mechanisms for opening rigs in case of pc in tow mals and didn't see anything that seemed simple. I am sure its an idiotic idea I have but I still wanted to suggest it. You know how modern aad's use a ballistically powered cartridge to cut the loop? It would seem that using that cartridge and hooking it up to a conventional cut away handle type pillow that if pulled triggers the cartridge might be a very effective and reliable way to open the container in case of a pc in tow malfunction.

the closing loop will jam in the grommets even if it is cut, keeping the container closed

the best thing you can do is make sure your gear is in perfect working order and configured properly before each jump

K.I.S.S.

Hm, interesting idea: the cutter. What if you place the cutter at the base of the loop. Then it shouldn't interfear with anything.
That said, I agree with grayhghost: checking & maintaining gear is #1

Depends why you're towing your pc I guess. If you have an elastic band around the pilot chute, holding it closed, by the time you pulled the handle it probably wouldn't have enuf drag to pull the parachute out of the container even if the container does open. If however the problem is a hard pull for some reason, then it could work....

Well Im not sure whether the problem arises because of the cut part of the loop or the part of the loop which is still attached to the rig. Either way there seems to be a solution for each possibility.

why would you jump with an elastic wrapped around your pc? Accident? Function Im missing? Further, tugging with both hands would turn your back thus increasing the windflow over the back increasing the chances of survival in a pc malfunction. If the pc can't pull the pin somebody better do it. I agree though gear check and maintenance is paramount.

 Why PC in tow happens? Especially because of a bad packing of the PC?

I think there was a similar device way back before the turn of the century called a Jesus cord or something.
The Cypres and other AADs work on loop cutting technology, so that means that I either misunderstand what you mean about "loop jam" or....Can you show a photo of a loop jam to clarify? I´ve not heard of this term as an active rigger.
There has been some other ideas floating around such as cutting away the container from the harness and a "reserve PC". Loop cutting technology wouldn´t work well with low extraction forces which seem to be the majority of PIT specials.
KISS is the way but of course it is not nescessarily efficient IMHO.
Take care,
space

study the BFL.
jumping a "restricted" pc has happened, more than once.

I was told by a container manufacturer that if the top closing loop was cut at its base it would still hang up in the grommets. This was their conclusion after testing. This may only apply to floorplate closing loops which are a bit longer than standard.

Which manufacturers. Are you referring to skydiving rigs like Mirage and a Micron?

There's no way a typical 2 pin base rig would hang up if the loop was cut. The only problem is unless you're pulling at 1000 feet , you probably won't have time to pull the cutter actuator by the time you realize nothing happened.

No, this was a popular european base rig manufacturer. Are you familiar with floorplate closing loops in base? There is very little pressure on them, so I could see them staying closed.

Since this style of closing loop is popular with wingsuiters (less drag) and since wingsuiting is pretty much the only place a cutter would help you, I think the cutter is not viable.

i think this has been made before:
yellow cable runing through the flaps where the loops are. the closing loops would be endless like a SOS riser system. If the pins come out then the loop stays. if the pins dont come out. then you pull the yellow cable and the loops are free to go. free to go that is if there is sufficient drag.

opinion1: functional backup, yet its another added thing straying your system away from simple

opinion2: you wouldnt need this if you didnt rig yourself a damn pc in tow.

~Jake

ps-if this hasnt been made, then patent pending mother fuckers.

the assumption youd need to pull at 1000 feet for such a system to become effective I find questionable... considering that people have talked about rocking from side to side to clear malfunctions...i.e. this presupposes that they pitched...nothing happened...noticed... and took action (quite timeconsuming process imho)

I rarely jump above 300ft on my jumps, i guess us slider down guys are fucked.

Not that I'm impressive by any means.... but I've jumped from 320' stowed with a light delay( not unlike previous jumps there) and still felt that I had a tow...

truth be told, I may have been hallucinating.... But I rocked and reached (felt nothing) and finally got canopy just above the building under me (~100' lower than usual).

Again, I very well could be just losing my mind since i felt nothing on the reach, but I'm a firm advocate that if it doesn't feel right- freak out!!!

Again, whay happens this PC in tow?? bad packing? bad deployment?
I had once a Pc in tow for 3 sec..still can't figure out WHY!!!

There is a US BASE manufacture working on a cutting loop system. Still in the test phases.

But it's not a "cutting" release system.

Still the pilot needs to be aware.

Emergency pack job opener. http://www.basejumper.com/..._reply;so=ASC;mh=25;

Also discussed here! http://www.blincmagazine.com/...ncy-pack-opener.html

^^ and ^ thx for heads up

I have no idea if this would jam or not. But what about a dual sided closing loop? pull a cut away type handle to release the other end of the closing loop like the older style emergency release on a vector tandem rig!! Just a brainstorm

If the loops were cut with the PC still in the BOC wouldn't that cause a horse-shoe ?

I've been thinking about two hypothetical approaches ..

1) pack the PC the way Brian Germain suggests and hope it works http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axCeYlY_6io
or
2) stow the PC under container flap

I think horseshoes mainly occur with bagged canopies, when the PC is not deployed and the d-bag leaves the container but the canopy does not leave the d-bag. When a freepacked base canopy leaves the container into the airstream, I think it most propably causes so much force (drag) to the bridle that the PC will be pulled (or torn) out of the BOC pouch. Might be wrong though.

V

It's not.. because its in the burble, plus when puled down by the PC bridle the cells inlets are not presented to the air flow and the whole canopy takes a, stream like, low air resistance shape.
The drag from the inverted canopy is actually so small that it can be unnoticed as it was in the Miha Kalmar accident (sorry if misspelled)
[when his velcro rig got undone he never noticed it until he threw the PC and nothing happened. (he could have heard it but he was wearing earphones).. . RIP]

I wouldn't fold my BASE pilot chute that way shown in the video. It has a higher chance that it will hesitate as it unfolds at low speeds.

I also don't like that method for my skydive rig. my reasoning is, in the off chance the bridle escapes during freefall, it will streamer a nice loop behind you. I would rather contain the bridle in the pilot chute and toss it out quickly in hopes to eliminate the arc of bridle before PC release.

BTW: For skydiving I use a pull-out (I don't wingsuit my everyday skydiving rig).