Ram-Air Parachute Training Guide

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Ram-Air Parachute Training Guide Ram-Air Parachute Training Guide 2018 A Comprehensive Guide to the USFS Smokejumper Ram-Air Parachute System This page intentionally left blank. RAM-AIR February PARACHUTE TRAINING GUIDE 2018 The intent of this guide is to standardize the training of USFS students on the ram-air UNITED STATES parachute system. FOREST SERVICE SMOKEJUMPER PROGRAM Suggestions for all modifications of the USFS Ram-Air Parachute Training Guide (RATG) are submitted to the USFS Ram-Air Parachute System Training Specialist. All procedure and terminology changes will be approved and catalogued through the Ram-Air Change Management Action Team (RACMAT) and appropriate committees. All proposed changes and revisions must be submitted by January 1st so that they can be forwarded to receive the appropriate approvals and be finalized by February 1st on an annual basis. The USFS Ram-Air Parachute Training Guide (RATG) is Appendix 11.3 to the Forest Service Section of the Interagency Smokejumper Operations Guide (ISMOG). This page intentionally left blank. REVIEW SIGNATURES This 2018 update of the Ram-Air Parachute Training Guide (RATG) for the USFS Smokejumper Program was reviewed by the following: _Tory Kendrick_______________________________ _2/17/2018______ Tory Kendrick Date Missoula Smokejumper Base Manager _ Pete Lannan________________________________ _2/17/2018______ Pete Lannan Date West Yellowstone Smokejumper Base Manager _ Chris Young ________________________________ _2/17/2018______ Chris Young Date Grangeville Smokejumper Base Manager __Joe Brinkley_________________________________ _2/01/2018______ Joe Brinkley Date McCall Smokejumper Base Manager _ Bill Selby___________________________________ _2/17/2018______ Bill Selby Date Redmond Smokejumper Base Manager __Daren Belsby ______________________________ _2/17/2018______ Daren Belsby Date North Cascades Smokejumper Base Manager __Josh Mathieson _______________________________ _2/17/2018______ Josh Mathieson Date Redding Smokejumper Base Manager __Nate Hesse __________________________________ _2/09/2018______ Nate Hesse Date NTDP Ram-Air Parachute System Specialist _ Mike Fritsen__________________________________ _2/17/2018______ Mike Fritsen Date Ram-Air Project Leader __Roger Staats _______________________________ _2/22/2018______ Roger Staats Date National Smokejumper Program Manager i This page intentionally left blank. ii USFS RAM-AIR PARACHUTE TRAINING GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS REVIEW SIGNATURES ........................................................................................................................... i TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................................................... iii REVISION AND AMENDMENT LOG………..……………………………………………………………………………………………….v INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 1 CHAPTER 1 – Jump Equipment ....................................................................................................... 4 Lesson 1-1 – Issue of Jump and Fire Line Gear ................................................................................ 5 Lesson 1-2 – Main Parachute Nomenclature .................................................................................. 6 Lesson 1-3 – Harness Nomenclature .............................................................................................10 Lesson 1-4 – Drogue Parachute Nomenclature ..............................................................................12 Lesson 1-5 – Reserve Parachute Nomenclature .............................................................................14 Lesson 1-6 – SMJ CYPRES AAD Nomenclature and Function ...........................................................15 Lesson 1-7 – Deployment Sequence ..............................................................................................21 Lesson 1-8 – Gear Care .................................................................................................................25 Lesson 1-9 – Parachute Hook-Up...................................................................................................26 CHAPTER 2 – Equipment Checks ........................................................................................................34 Lesson 2-1 – Suit-Up .....................................................................................................................35 Lesson 2-2 – Equipment Check ......................................................................................................36 Lesson 2-3 – Secondary Equipment Check .....................................................................................38 CHAPTER 3 – Aircraft Procedures .......................................................................................................46 Lesson 3-1 – General Aircraft Safety ..............................................................................................47 Lesson 3-2 – Standard Aircraft Briefing ..........................................................................................55 Lesson 3-3 – Aircraft Mock-Up ......................................................................................................57 CHAPTER 4 – Exits and Opening Checks ..............................................................................................59 Lesson 4-1 – Ram-Air Exits ............................................................................................................60 Lesson 4-2 – Opening Checks ........................................................................................................64 CHAPTER 5 – Malfunctions.................................................................................................................71 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS USFS RAM-AIR PARACHUTE TRAINING GUIDE Lesson 5-1 – Ram-Air Emergency Procedure ................................................................................. 72 Lesson 5-2 – Types of Malfunction Procedures.............................................................................. 74 Lesson 5-3 – Malfunction Television (MTV) Training ...................................................................... 83 Lesson 5-4 – Explanation of Units Training .................................................................................... 84 Lesson 5-5 – Tower Training ......................................................................................................... 85 CHAPTER 6 – Letdowns ..................................................................................................................... 87 Lesson 6-1 – Tape and Carabiner Letdowns .................................................................................. 89 Lesson 6-2 – Special Jump Spot Situations .................................................................................... 94 CHAPTER 7 – Parachute Landing Falls ................................................................................................ 99 Lesson 7-1 – Parachute Landing Fall Performance Standards ....................................................... 100 Lesson 7-2 – Class Demonstration .............................................................................................. 101 Lesson 7-3 – Roll Simulation ....................................................................................................... 103 CHAPTER 8 – Ram-Air Flight Theory ................................................................................................. 105 Lesson 8-1 – Ram-Air Flight Theory ............................................................................................. 107 Lesson 8-2 – Flight Performance, Characteristics, and Techniques ............................................... 110 Lesson 8-3 – Patterns ................................................................................................................. 120 Lesson 8-4 – Jump Spot Selection ............................................................................................... 127 Lesson 8-5 – Fundamentals of Spotting ....................................................................................... 133 Lesson 8-6 – Jump Spot Weather and Terrain ............................................................................. 141 Lesson 8-7 – High Wind Jumps.................................................................................................... 142 CHAPTER 9 – Training Jumps ........................................................................................................... 145 Lesson 9-1 – Parachute Performance Standards .......................................................................... 145 APPENDIX A – Jump Currency Protocol ............................................................................................ 149 APPENDIX B – Smokejumper Ram-Air Fatalities................................................................................ 151 APPENDIX C – MARS Reporting ........................................................................................................ 152 GLOSSARY ....................................................................................................................................... 155 iv USFS RAM-AIR PARACHUTE TRAINING GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS Revision and Amendment Log The following chart summarizes revisions and amendments made to the Ram-Air Parachute Training Guide for 2018. Editorial changes such as formatting
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