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SIGMA TANDEM SYSTEM OWNER’S MANUAL
11301 - 00.00.0000 Section 4: Malfunctions & Emergencies • Chapter 4 - Canopy Control
Closing loops should be checked every jump. If their condition is suspect, then change them immediately. (Refer to
fatality report #10).
NOTE: Do not pull the reserve prior to getting the risers released. The horseshoe malfunction can cause the risers to
cross over the reserve container inhibiting the launch of the reserve pilot chute. The RSL must be released prior to
breakaway otherwise the right main riser may interfere with the reserve deployment.
Student feels sick under the canopy:
PROBLEM: One theory suggests that the reason some Tandem students get sick or pass out under canopy is that
blood circulation is cut off at the inner thighs and the shoulders by the harness.
REACTION: Loosen the chest strap to alleviate the problem, and have the student sit back in the harness and slide
both leg pads forward several inches for comfort.
NOTE: Students who are very nervous or frail are usually those who will feel sick. Very slim frail people have very little
insulation of any kind on the inside of the thigh to shield the arteries from the pressure of the harness. When you get
a student who fits this description, consider being open at 4,000' instead of 5,000'. The canopy ride is what makes
students ill, so keep spirals to a minimum and make all turns as gentle as possible.
Top hook positioning is crucial for maximum student comfort. The farther behind the shoulder center line the hooks
are placed, the less the front main lift web will be pressing against the student’s chest. Refer to the section on student
harness adjustment.
A properly adjusted Sigma stuent harness will help eliminate most blood flow issues.
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