Julien Peelman introduced a refreshingly simple and potentially game-changing approach to estimating when to replace your lines.
The PIA Symposium delivered some standout presentations this year, but one that truly stood out was Jyro’s session on line wear and safety. This video is a must-watch for anyone flying a canopy, regardless of brand.
How do lines get damaged?
As outlined in the video:
- Abrasion from the grommets – 15% faster wear when using an RDS
- Dust, sand, salty air: Packing in poor conditions wears the lines about 20% faster
Formula for line life expectancy
Julien shares a simple formula to estimate the number of jumps your lines can handle:
Vectran Weight – Exit Weight (lbs) = Expected Jump Number
You can expect about a one-pound decrease in line strength with every jump.
Why Visual Line Wear Isn’t Reliable
As explained in the video, a skydiver with a lower exit weight will get significantly more jumps from the same lines than a heavier skydiver—even if both jump under identical conditions.
So relying on visual wear alone isn’t a reliable tactic. Some jumpers may need to replace their lines while they still look fine, simply because their higher weight exposes the lines to higher loads. Meanwhile, a lighter jumper might continue using theirs safely until the lines appear visibly worn.
Want to understand how this formula works and why visual checks aren’t enough? Watch Julien’s full presentation below to learn the data behind it and how to apply it to your gear.
