Follows Special Report Findings Released Earlier This
Month
On Thursday, the National Transportation Safety Board formally
recommended the Federal Aviation Administration take a series of
steps to make parachute operations safer. The action stems from the
Board's findings in a special investigation report, released earlier this month, identifying
several recurring safety issues with parachute jump operations, and
recommending improvements in aircraft maintenance and pilot
training.
The NTSB urged the FAA to:
Require parachute jump operators to develop and implement
Federal Aviation Administration-approved aircraft maintenance and
inspection programs that include, at a minimum, requirements for
compliance with engine manufacturers' recommended maintenance
instructions, such as service bulletins and service information
letters for time between overhauls and component life limits.
(A-08-63)
Develop and distribute guidance materials, in conjunction with
the United States Parachute Association, for parachute jump
operators to assist operators in implementing effective aircraft
inspection and maintenance quality assurance programs.
(A-08-64)
Require parachute jump operators to develop initial and
recurrent pilot training programs that address, at a minimum,
operation- and aircraft-specific weight and balance calculations,
preflight inspections, emergency and recovery procedures, and
parachutist egress procedures for each type of aircraft flown.
(A-08-65)
Require initial and recurrent pilot testing programs for
parachute jump operations pilots that address, at a minimum,
operation- and aircraft-specific weight and balance calculations,
preflight inspections, emergency and recovery procedures, and
parachutist egress procedures for each type of aircraft flown, as
well as competency flight checks to determine pilot competence in
practical skills and techniques in each type of aircraft.
(A-08-66)
Revise the guidance materials contained in Advisory Circular
105 2C, Sport Parachute Jumping, to include guidance for parachute
jump operators in implementing effective initial and recurrent
pilot training and examination programs that address, at a minimum,
operation- and aircraft-specific weight and balance calculations,
preflight inspections, emergency procedures, and parachutist egress
procedures. (A-08-67)
Require direct surveillance of parachute jump operators to
include, at a minimum, maintenance and operations inspections.
(A-08-68)
Conduct research, in conjunction with the United States
Parachute Association, to determine the most effective dual- point
restraint systems for parachutists that reflects the various
aircraft and seating configurations used in parachute operations.
(A-08-71)
Once the most effective dual-point restraint systems for
parachutists are determined, as requested in Safety Recommendation
A-08-71, revise Advisory Circular 105-2C, Sport Parachute Jumping,
to include guidance information about these systems. (A-08-72)
Additionally, the NTSB recommends that the United States Parachute
Association:
Work with the Federal Aviation Administration to develop and
distribute guidance materials for parachute jump operators to
assist operators in implementing effective aircraft inspection and
maintenance quality assurance programs. (A-08-69)
Once Advisory Circular (AC) 105-2C, Sport Parachute Jumping,
has been revised to include guidance for parachute jump operators
in implementing effective initial and recurrent pilot training and
examination programs that address, at a minimum, operation- and
aircraft-specific weight and balance calculations, preflight
inspections, emergency procedures, and parachutist egress
procedures, distribute this revised AC to your members and
encourage adherence to its guidance. (A-08-70)
Work with the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct
research to determine the most effective dual-point restraint
systems for parachutists that reflects the various aircraft and
seating configurations used in parachute operations. (A-08-73)
Once the most effective dual-point restraint systems for
parachutists are determined, as requested in Safety Recommendation
A-08-71, educate your members on the findings and encourage them to
use the most effective dual-point restraint systems. (A-08-74)
FMI: Read The Full Recommendation Letters To The FAA Here And Here
(.pdf). Read The NTSB's Recommendations To The USPA Here And Here.
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