Skydiving equipment must be inspected on a fairly regular basis and the benefit of this routine is fewer malfunctions. Malfunctions are just what they sound like, failures in various materials and functions, and failure is not an option for most people. Not that all malfunctions have life changing outcomes, but the rule goes that the fewer malfunctions you have the better chance you have of a successful landings. Success, of course, can cover a broad range of landings, we will qualify it as walking, limping or crawling off the landing area. Whether or not you have dirt, grass or red ants all over your jump suit is not of particular concern. Welcome to skydiving.
Recently, FAA rules have been reviewed regarding the frequency of these inspections and the public was rewarded with a long contested change giving skydivers less frequent reserve repacks. Regulations per the FAA are observed at all US dropzones and skydiving gear is routinely checked to ensure safety is job one. The reserve is not supposed to be needed, just like an air bag, but once its out it better work.
To see the article, visit the official USPA website story:
http://uspa.org/NewsEvents/News/tabid/59/Default.aspx#4832
