Everything you ever wanted to know about your AAD, in one place…
I have a confession…
Every time I get a new piece of life-saving gear, it comes with a manual… but I’ve never read any of them! Canopy manuals, rig manuals, audibles, AADs .. I know I should read them cover to cover, for my own safety and knowledge. But I never get past the first couple of pages. I’m sure I’m not alone with this bad habit. Later, on a dropzone, I want to know something about my gear and it’s hard work to find it.
The new CYPRES App solved this problem for good! Just get the CYPRES App and everything is at your fingertips.
Getting the App
It’s easy to download the App. Just point your phone camera at the QR code on your CYPRES test card, a few clicks later your phone will download a personalised version that includes your serial number, service data and expiration date. Or, head to the CYPRES App info page. Or use the QR code at the end of this article. You can start with the general App and add your specific CYPRES data later by scanning your test card.
The App is not available on the Apple Apps or Google Play store, it’s a web-based PWA (Progressive Web App). This means it works offline or with a poor internet connection, which can easily be the case at dropzones, especially exotic boogies or large events. It performs just like a native app, with instant transitions, smooth animations, and a mobile-friendly user interface.
Menu
The App, which has been developed by Airtec, the manufacturer over eight months, includes:
- My CYPRES
- ‘How to’
- Display Info
- Travel documents
- Maintenance
- FAQ
- Contact CYPRES
Everything is very friendly, clear and easy to use. There’s everything you want to know, absolutely nothing else, and navigation is intuitive.
Functions
The ‘How to’ section has a series of short videos showing every adjustment you’d ever want to make. Particularly useful is the DZ offset, for landing at a different elevation. Every time I’ve been involved in a jump taking off in one place and landing somewhere else – innhopps, demos, exotic boogies – the discussion about how to do the altitude offset is long and fearful!
Changing the CYPRES activation altitude permanently is shown on video, perfect because this process is complicated to avoid it happening accidentally. (BTW, I absolutely recommend that every skydiver makes a considered decision about their activation altitude; even if you keep with the manufacturer’s pre-set, it should be an active choice.)
Changing modes in the ‘C Mode’ CYPRES is also covered, how to switch between Expert, Student, Tandem or Speed (canopy piloting). The FAQs raise all sorts of questions I’d never thought about, such as:
- When is the right time to switch from Expert to Speed?
- Can I use my CYPRES when jumping from a balloon?
- Are loaner CYPRES units available?
‘Travel documents’ has a range of files designed for the aviation authorities of different countries. This is a very useful feature, as the wiring of an AAD looks very like a bomb in an airport scanning machine. I always carry the card Airtec provides to show at security, but having country-specific versions on your phone is so much better.
The ‘Display’ section (below) gives every error code there is, what they mean and what to do if any of these codes are displayed.
Development
Development of the App is still ongoing, with more features in the pipeline, such as adding more than one CYPRES unit. We asked Jochen Voss from the Marketing department in Airtec how the App came to be.
“Our service portal, which had been dormant for quite some time and was largely unknown to many CYPRES users, needed an update. We also wanted to expand its functionality and improve the service experience. We formed a team to develop a vision for this new offering. It quickly became clear that we needed a mobile application that would work smoothly across as many smartphones as possible. We created a survey to learn what skydivers expect from such an app. After evaluating about 100 responses from various drop zones, our planning became much more concrete.
“We decided to develop a PWA (Progressive Web App), built in-house using HTML5. As with many things, the journey quickly showed us how long the road to completion can be. But it’s part of Airtec’s DNA to be creative, persistent, and thorough. Without these sometimes contradictory traits, CYPRES itself would never have come to life.
“One major advantage of the PWA format is that users don’t need to install updates manually. As soon as we release a change, it’s available the next time the app is opened and the smartphone connects to our server — just like with a website. Users will always have the latest version automatically.”
Jochen Voss, CYPRES Marketing
Goals Achieved
The goals of the App are stated as, “To make using a CYPRES easier for skydivers, help them choose the optimal settings for their jumps, and providing the maximum level of safety that our AAD can offer.” I’d say they nailed it! The App has significantly increased my knowledge about the CYPRES unit, I found myself reading the FAQs and browsing the Maintenance pages. I’m a lot more informed because the manufacturer made it so nice to use. I bought one of the first CYPRES units, when they were released in 1991. At that time the unit was very simple, Helmut Cloth had designed it to avoid user error! There were three types at that time; Expert, Student and Tandem. As the sport has progressed so quickly in the last 30 years, the requirements of a reliable AAD have become much more complicated. For example, we now have a Wingsuit Cypres, a Speed Cypres for Canopy Piloting, the C-Mode (changeable) Cypres, the ability to change your activation altitude and offset DZ altitude. This App makes it easy to understand how to use these features for maximum safety. Thank you Airtec!
FFI
- Check the CYPRES App Info Page here
- Or Scan the QR code below to get the App, instructions below
iOS
- Open the QR code with your camera.
- Tap the icon with the arrow at the bottom to open the browser menu.
- Select Add to Home Screen from the menu.
- You can now set a custom name for the app, which will later appear alongside the app icon on your phone. The app name is prefilled by default.
- Tap Add in the upper right corner.
- The app icon is now on your home screen, and you can open the app anytime by tapping the icon.
Android
- Open the link/QR code (https://service.cypres.aero/fakeapp/index.php) in your Chrome browser.
- Tap the three dots in the lower right corner to open the browser menu.
- Select Add to Home Screen from the menu.
- A popup will appear – tap Add to save the app to your phone.
- The app icon is now on your home screen, and you can open the app anytime by tapping the icon.
Further Reading
A range of prominent people in our sport discuss their decision about their AAD activation altitude, by Alethia J Austin, click the link below:
