COMPANION SQR Series User manual

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www.companion.aero
V 3.0 EN – 2019#40
USER MANUAL

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION 4
2. REGISTRATION AND THE MYCOMPANION ACCOUNT 5
3. GENERAL ADVICE ABOUT FLYING SPORT 6
4. INTENDED USE AND SAFETY REGULATIONS 7
4.1 Packing and inspection requirements 7
4.2 Additional packing and inspection conditions 7
4.3 Service time, entry into service and extension 8
4.4 Water and seawater 9
4.5 Other special conditions 9
5. DESIGN FEATURES 11
5.1 SQR – Square Round: the best of two worlds 11
5.2 Structural details 12
5.3 Hangglider swivel 14
6. INSTALLING THE RESERVE 15
6.1 Installing with an integrated inner container 15
6.2 Installing in the SQR inner container 16
6.3 Installing in an external (e.g. front) container 18
6.4 Avoiding canopy damage in the harness/container compartment 21
6.5 Connecting the reserve to the harness/external container 22
7. COMPATIBILITY TEST 24
7.1 Compatibility test advice 24
7.2 Compatibility test issues 25
8. USING THE RESERVE 27

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8.1 Preightcheck 27
8.2 Releasing and throwing the reserve 27
8.3 Disabling the paraglider and descending 29
8.4 Landing 30
8.5 Aerlandingchecks 31
9. PACKING 32
9.1 General information 32
9.2 Sorting the lines, preparing the canopy 33
9.3 Verifying the layout 36
9.4 Folding the canopy 39
9.5 Matching the inner container width 45
9.6 Matching the inner container length 49
9.7 Putting the folded reserve into the inner container 50
9.8 Stowing the lines 51
9.9 Closing the inner container 53
10. PERIODIC INSPECTION 58
10.1 Checking the canopy surface 58
10.2 Checking the lines 58
10.3 Checking the bridle 59
10.4 Checking the connector link or direct looping between reserve and harness/external container 59
11. TECHNICAL DATA 61
12. STORING 62
13. SUPPORT AND SPARE PARTS 63
14. ENVIRONMENT AND RECYCLING 63
15. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT! 64

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1. INTRODUCTION
ManythanksforchoosingtheSQRreserveparachutesystem.Wearecondentthatyouwillbe
satisedwiththisproductineveryrespect.
The current manual contains all the important details about packing, storage, care, maintenance
and - if necessary - throwing your reserve. Please read through this user guide carefully before
taking the product into the air, and take the time to become thoroughly familiar with the character-
istics of your SQR reserve.
You can certainly maximise the reliability of your reserve system if you
▶regularly repack it as described in this manual,
▶deploy the reserve according to the instructions for your harness,
▶maintainandlookaeryourreserve,andtherestofyouryingequipment,asdescribedinthis
manual.
The actual version of this manual can be downloaded on www.companion.aero/manual.
Wewishyousafeightsandhappylandings!
The Companion Team
www.companion.aero

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2. REGISTRATION AND
THE MYCOMPANION ACCOUNT
Registeryourproductsothatyoucanbenetfromthecomprehensiveservicesofthe
myCompanion Online Account:
▶An email packing reminder makes sure you do not forget your annual repack date.
▶The legal warranty period of your country gains an additional year.
▶You have access to all the relevant information about your product, can direct your questions to
Companion Support and will receive important product updates.
▶You can also record your repacks online and always retrieve your packing record online as a
PDF.
▶ByscanningtheQR-Codeontheproductcerticationlabelorontheback of the Quick-Guide
Booklet, you and your packer can easily refer to successful compatibility checks, inspections or
repairs. As soon as a new packing entry has been made, your packing history is automatically
updatedandconrmedbyemail.
Register your product and activate your myCompanion account by scanning the QR-Code on
thecerticationlabelorthebackoftheQuick-GuideBooklet.Youcanalsodothisdirectlyonour
website www.companion.aero/register.

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3. GENERAL ADVICE ABOUT FLYING SPORT
Takingpartinyingsportrequiresappropriatetrainingandasatisfactoryunderstandingofthe
relevant equipment, as well as the necessary insurance and licensing. A pilot must be capable of
correctlyassessingtheweatherconditionsbeforeaighttakesplace.Beforeeveryight,allitems
ofyingequipmentmustbecheckedfordamageandairworthiness.
Every pilot bears sole responsibility for all risks associated with ying sport, includ-
ing injury or death. Neither the manufacturer nor seller of a reserve parachute can be
held responsible for, nor can guarantee the safety of the pilot.

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4. INTENDED USE AND SAFETY REGULATIONS
Thisreserveparachutesystemwasspecicallydevelopedasahand-deployedreserveparachute
forparagliding,paramotoringandhanggliderying.Itsuseisnotpermittedinconjunctionwith
otheraerialactivitiessuchasparachuting,skydivingandbasejumping!TheSQRreservesystemis
certiedaccordingtoEN12491andLTFNFLII91/09standards!
Do not deploy a SQR reserve at airspeeds exceeding 115 km/h (32 m/s)
4.1 Packing and inspection requirements
Every 12 Months the reserve must be opened, aired and repacked. This packing event should be
noted (online) in the reserve packing and inspection record.
Every 24 Months the SQR reserve must have a periodic inspection and this event entered (online)
in the packing and inspection record.
4.2 Additional packing and inspection conditions
Whenever the reserve has been exposed to sand, dampness, water or other external threats, a
repack must be considered, or the packing interval shortened.
If the reserve has been strongly compressed when packed in order to achieve mini-
mum volume, we recommend a reduced repack interval of 6 months!
Ifyouareuncertainabouttheeectsofthesefactorspleasecontactaqualiedorganisation.To
review your repacks, packing intervals, inspection and repair history you can refer to the online
record that was automatically set up at product registration (www.companion.aero/register).

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4.3 Service time, entry into service and extension
The expected service time of a reserve is 10 years. Even if the reserve has never been used, it must
bereplacedaerthistimespan.
The oicial service time of a reserve starts when it is rst installed, known as the Entry into Ser-
vicedate.Thisdatemustbenotedonthecerticationlabelonthebridle,bywhoeverinstallsthe
reserve. The 10 year service time, and the dates for the repacking schedule all refer to this Entry into
Service date.
Dealer repack exception: if a reserve remains in a dealer’s possession for more than a year he
must air and repack it before sale to a customer. If the reserve remains in the dealers possession for
2 years it is deemed to have entered service on this 2 year date.
Two year extension: at the end of the 10 years service time, a two year service time extension
can be granted by the manufacturer. This must be arranged online, see more information on our
website. The work requires a comprehensive factory inspection and measurement of the reserve. If
satisfactory, a two year service time extension will be granted and documented.

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4.4 Water and seawater
Aeralandinginwaterthereserveshouldberepacked,butonlyaerithascompletelydriedoutin
the fresh air. For best drying hang up your reserve upside down in a symmetric state. If any part of
thereserveisnotcompletelydry(canopyorlines),thecompletedevicecanshrinkasymmetrically!
Never use a heat source to speed up the drying process.
Seawater: if any part of the reserve gets wet with seawater the whole reserve must be rinsed sever-
al times in fresh water, then dried.
If seawater has not been rinsed away within 36 hours, the reserve must be declared
NON-AIRWORTHY AND DANGEROUS – not own again!
4.5 Other special conditions
Ifacanopyshowssignsofmildewormould,itsstrengthcanbeaected.Itmustbesenttoadealer
or the manufacturer for inspection and test.
Your reserve should be sent for a factory inspection whenever any of the following situations apply:
▶20 deployments or
▶40 repacks or
▶Adeploymentat,closetoorabovethemaximumcertieddeploymentairspeed
(115 km/h – 32 m/s – 71 mph)

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Afactoryinspectionshouldonlybecarriedoutbyacertiedorganisation.Yourlocaldealercan
adviseonthissubject.
To be sure that the correct materials and techniques are used, any repair should be done by the
manufacturer.

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5. DESIGN FEATURES
5.1 SQR – Square Round: the best of two worlds
The Hybrid SQR founds a new generation of reserve parachutes, which combines the advantages
of a classic round canopy with those of the cross parachute. An innovative and forward-looking
technology has been so created.
TheSQRwasafundamentalredevelopment,specicallyintendedtomeettheneedsofpilotsand
packers alike. Countless computer simulations and in-practice tests were an essential part of this
exhaustive development process.
Advantages of the SQR in brief:
▶Improved opening behaviour as a result of comprehensive practical testing.
▶Low sink values and high pendulum stability (swing resistance) thanks to an aerodynamically
optimised canopy with Air-Jets.
▶Low weight as the result of careful choice of materials.
▶Straightforward and reliable packing – similar to a round canopy – with comparatively fewer
lines for easy sorting, with useful coloured packing aids.
▶Nodirectionaltrackinginight.
▶Testedforwaterlandings!Amixoflow-shrinkmaterialsmeansthatfullfunctioningis
guaranteed–evenaerawaterlanding.
▶CertiedtobothEN12491:2015andLTFNFLII91/09ightstandards.

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5.2 Structural details
Fig 1 – Structural view from below
Canopy
Packing Loops on topsail
Air-Jets
Base Lines
Centre Lines
Bridle Line
Suspension Lines
Bridle

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BRIDLE
At one end this connects the reserve to the harness, at the other to the canopy suspension lines.
THE SUSPENSION LINES can be divided into two main groups:
Base lines (all the same length to simplify packing) connect the bridle to the edge of the canopy.
Centre lines connect the bridle to near the middle of the canopy.
Bothgroupsaremadefromdierentmaterialsofdierentdiameters,sotheyareeasiertoseparate
and sort. In addition, the lines on the le and right sides, as well as in the centre, are coloured
dierently,tomakethemeasiertoseparate.
CANOPY
Main canopy: madeupofdierentpanelswithonered corner panel, to make packing and sorting
easier.
Reinforcing tapes: at the edge of the canopy and specially chosen places on the canopy surface.
Air-Jets: ideally at the four corners, to provide active aerodynamic stability.
Packing loops: blue-coloured and numbered – on the canopy top surface (see Fig 1).
Coloured line attachment tapes: red, green and white – these distribute the loads to the canopy
edge, and also act as sorting and packing aids.

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Fig 2 – Swivel device fitted to the SQR Hangglider version
5.3 Hangglider swivel
SQR Hangglider versions come with a swivel included in the bridle (connection line). This item is
testedandcertiedupto5000kgbreakingload.Theswiveleectivelypreventsaspinningwing
fromtwistingtheparachutesuspensionlines.Thisisanessentialsafetyfactor!
TheSQRHanggliderversionshavetheswiveldevicettedatthefactory.Alaterinclusionofaswivel
isnotpermitted!Ifareservedoesnothaveabuilt-inswivel,itisaparagliderversion.Conversionfor
use with a hangglider is not permitted.
To maximise safety against a carabiner or other equipment failure, we recommend that the reserve
be connected also directly to the hangglider harness by a suitable connector link (minimum break-
ing load 2500kg).

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6. INSTALLING THE RESERVE
Werecommendthatinstallingareserveinaharnessbedonebyaqualiedorganisation.
If any part of a harness/container/reserve combination is new or has been changed, the correct
installation and deployment of the harness/container/reserve combination MUST be proven by a
test release, also known as a Compatibility Test - See details in chapter 7.
Every reserve/harness/container combination has its own characteristics. It is essential that both
pilotandpackerhavecondenceinthesystemanditsabilitytofunctioncorrectly.Onlysocan
reliable functioning be assured.
There are various possibilities for combining the reserve with a harness or external container.
Please ask an experienced person if you unsure about the best solution for your harness/reserve
container system. Correct installation of the reserve in a harness or external container is described
in the manufacturer’s manual for the relevant harness/container.
6.1 Installing with an integrated inner container
Modern harnesses mostly have their own integrated inner container to install a reserve. For some
harnessmanufacturers,theuseoftheintegratedcontainerisobligatory!Ifyourharnesshasan
integratedcontainer,thisistherecommendedttingmethod.
Thecertiedreservecompartmentvolumeoftheharness(seemanufacturer’smanual),
must complytothecertiedpackingvolumeofthereserve!Thereserve’scertiedpackingvolume
isshownonthecerticationlabelofeverySQRreserve.

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Measurement of opening speed and the shock test parameters required during certi-
cation were carried out using the original SQR inner container as delivered from the
factory. A deployment in a dierent inner container could lead to dierent results!
If installing into an integrated inner container, the reserve should be removed from the factory de-
liveredinnercontainer!Dependingonyourconguration,sometimesapartialorfullrepackofthe
reserve is required, so that it matches the shape/size of the integrated container to be used.
The packing section (Chapter 9) of the manual gives detailed instructions how to do this. A look at
the Companion online video about packing and folding to size is strongly recommended:
https://youtu.be/f6M1KMbGZ70.
To conrm that the reserve has been correctly installed, a compatibility test is abso-
lutely essential in case of a new installation or if any element of the complete har-
ness/container/reserve system has been changed!
6.2 Installing in the SQR inner container
The SQR reserves are delivered from the factory in the SQR inner container. If your harness does
not have its own inner container for the reserve compartment, or the manufacturer allows the use
of third party inner containers, you should use the SQR inner container, as supplied from the
factory.
Take care to choose the correct inner container attachment loop. There is a choice of two loops for
attaching the reserve handle (see Fig 3). Which to use depends on the length of line from the handle
and the shape and position of your harness reserve compartment. Please follow the advice in your
harness manual.

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The reserve handle to inner container connecting line, should never be under ten-
sion, until the reserve is released from the harness compartment. This line must
have enough free length, to allow the reserve handle to rst activate the release
system (e.g. pull out the release pins), before pulling the inner container! A compati-
bility test is mandatory!
Fig 3 – SQR inner container
Attachment loops for the reserve handle
Harness connection attachment point Certicationlabel

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Thecertiedreservecompartmentvolumeoftheharness(seemanufacturer’smanual),
must complytothecertiedpackingvolumeofthereserve!Thereserve’scertiedpackingvolume
isshownonthecerticationlabelofeverySQRreserve.
To conrm that the reserve has been correctly installed, a compatibility test is abso-
lutely essential in case of a new installation or if any element of the complete har-
ness/container/reserve system has been changed!
6.3 Installing in an external (e.g. front) container
There are scenarios, where an external container could be the best solution to install a reserve, like:
▶yourharnessisusingexternalcontainersystem,likesomehikeandygears,
▶you do not want to use the reserve compartment of your harness for the reserve,
▶thereservesizeisnotcompatiblewiththecertiedharnesscompartmentvolume,
▶you carry a second reserve as backup, in an external container,
▶ergonomic issues, e.g. you could not reach the reserve handle of the harness,
▶front container placement of the reserve is more favourable for the pilot (e.g. quicker
deployment time, or by habit),
▶paramotors, trikes and older harnesses may not have a built in reserve compartment at all.
Depending on the construction of the external container, in most cases the SQR inner container will
be used to install the reserve into the external container. Please refer to the manufacturer’s manual
for the right procedure.
If using an external container, it could be necessary to remove/reattach the container to the harness

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before/aereachight!Refertotheusersmanualofthecontainermanufacturerandtheconnected
harness system.
Make sure your external container is securely and correctly connected to the harness
assembly. If not, you risk an opening malfunction!
Thecertiedreservecompartmentvolumeoftheexternalcontainer(seemanufacturer’smanual),
must complytothecertiedpackingvolumeofthereserve!Thereserve’scertiedpackingvolume
isshownonthecerticationlabelofeverySQRreserve.
Measurement of opening speed and the shock test parameters required during certi-
cation were carried out using the original SQR inner container as delivered from the
factory. A deployment in a dierent container could lead to dierent results!
Take care to choose the correct inner container attachment loop, in case you use the SQR inner
container. There is a choice of two loops for attaching the reserve handle (see Fig 3). Which to use
depends on the length of line from the handle and the shape and position of your harness reserve
compartment.
The reserve handle to inner container connecting line, should never be under ten-
sion, until the reserve is released from the external container. This line must have
enough free length, to allow the reserve handle to rst activate the release system
(e.g. pull out the release pins), before pulling the inner container! Understanding is
everything! A compatibility test is mandatory!
If the packed Companion reserve has to be taken from the SQR inner container, sometimes a partial
or full repack of the reserve is required, so that it matches the shape/size of the container to be
used.

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The packing section (Chapter 9) of the manual gives detailed instructions how to do this. A look at
the Companion online video about packing and folding to size is strongly recommended:
https://youtu.be/f6M1KMbGZ70.
To conrm that the reserve has been correctly installed, a compatibility test is abso-
lutely essential in case of a new installation or if any element of the complete har-
ness/container/reserve system has been changed!