Performance Variable Omega User manual

Performance Variablee. K.,AmTower 16, D- 54634 Bitburg
Date: 30.06.2004 Manual
Revision:0 Omega US
Page: 1
PerformanceVariable e.K.
AmTower 16
D-54634 Bitburg
Ph/: [phone]
[e-mail]
www.myskyshop.de

Performance Variablee. K.,AmTower 16, D- 54634 Bitburg
Date: 30.06.2004 Manual
Revision:0 Omega US
Page: 2
Table of Contents
 
Pilot Chute Attachment, Handling 3-4
Installation of PD SoftLinks 5
Harness-Container Description, Introduction 6
TSO, JTSO & Manufacturer Authorization 7-10
Description of the Omega, Components 11-12
Hand-deployPilotChute Packing 13-15
Maintenance andCare 16-18
Periodic Maintenance for the3-ring 18-19
Pre-Jump Equipment Check 20
Instructions forRam-air Reserves
21
Illustrations 1-18(Packing the Reserve) 22-26
Assemblingand Packing the Main Parachute 27
Illustrations 1-10(Packing the Main) 28-30

Performance Variablee. K.,AmTower 16, D- 54634 Bitburg
Date: 30.06.2004 Manual
Revision:0 Omega US
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Pilot Chute Attachment

Performance Variablee. K.,AmTower 16, D- 54634 Bitburg
Date: 30.06.2004 Manual
Revision:0 Omega US
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Cock Pilot Chute

Performance Variablee. K.,AmTower 16, D- 54634 Bitburg
Date: 30.06.2004 Manual
Revision:0 Omega US
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1 2 3
6
54
7 8 9
Installation of Performance DesignsSoftLinks ©

Performance Variablee. K.,AmTower 16, D- 54634 Bitburg
Date: 30.06.2004 Manual
Revision:0 Omega US
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Container Type Main & Reserve Canopy Container
Number of Closing Flaps 6
Reserve Pilot Chute inside
Manufacturer (LBA.G.0139 / JAR-21 G) Performance Variable, Germany
AAD (Automatic Activation Device) Cypres ready
RSL (Reserve StaticLine) possible, indirect single-sided
Webbing Material Nylon Webbing Type 7/ Type 8
TSO by DAeC 1995 & LBA 2001 as NAA TSO & JTSO – C23d
# LBA.0.40.014/05 by NAA
OmegaHarness-Container Description
Introduction
Pleasereadthismanual thoroughlybefore assembling orusingyourOmega, evenifyou’ve
owned or jumped an Omega before.
If, afterreadingthismanual,you still havequestions concerningtheOmega, please contact
us. We’llbe happy to help you.
TRAINING REQUIRED
If you’ve never jumped an Omega before, or if you’re transitioning fromother types of gear,
be sure to receiveinstruction onits use fromacerti fied instructor.
Thisinstruction shouldconsist ofapracticesession inasuspendedharness or on the
ground where you practice both routine and emer gency procedures.
Thismanualisnotacourseofinstruction on howto make aparachutejump. Nor does it
contain thevarious regulations that govern sport parachuting and relatedactivities.
The harnessisconstructedof Type-7 andType-8 Mil-Spec. webbing and new–not recondi-
tioned–hardware.

Performance Variablee. K.,AmTower 16, D- 54634 Bitburg
Date: 30.06.2004 Manual
Revision:0 Omega US
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Performance Variablee. K.,AmTower 16, D- 54634 Bitburg
Date: 30.06.2004 Manual
Revision:0 Omega US
Page: 8

Performance Variablee. K.,AmTower 16, D- 54634 Bitburg
Date: 30.06.2004 Manual
Revision:0 Omega US
Page: 9

Performance Variablee. K.,AmTower 16, D- 54634 Bitburg
Date: 30.06.2004 Manual
Revision:0 Omega US
Page: 10

Performance Variablee. K.,AmTower 16, D- 54634 Bitburg
Date: 30.06.2004 Manual
Revision:0 Omega US
Page: 11
Description ofthe Omega
The Omega isapiggybackharness and container systemdesignedforfree-fall,sportand
military parachuting. It isavailableinawidevariety of containersizes tofitpracticallyany
main or reserve canopies, either round or ram-air. It is manufactured in accordance with the
FAA TSO C23d.
MainParachuteSystem
The mainparachutesystemof your customOmega was builtforeitherahand deploy, rip-
cord orpull-out deployment. Refer tothe applicablesectionpertaining toyourdeployment
system.
The maincanopy may be jettisoned fromthe harness by its patented 3 -ringrelease system,
a single pointsystemthat is activated by a soft handlelocated on the right mainlift web.
Reserve Parachute System
The Omega reserve container canbe manufacturedto accept roundor ram-airreserve
canopies.
The reserve parachute container isheldclosed by asinglepin. Thereserve ripcord handle
ismade of metal andfits inapocketontheleft-handmainliftweb. Thereservesystemac-
cepts allpopular automatic activation devices produced by Air Tec.
About Modifications
It is common for jumpers to “improve” their rigs by altering them. A high percentage of these
alterations can cause malfunctions or make the rig harder to use correctly.
Typicalalterations include conversionto apull-out pilotchute,changingthedimensions of
the harness,changing the length of the bridle,installing automaticactivation devices and so
forth.
Check with PV before youmake any changesto yourOmega. It was designedandbuiltthe
way itisafter years of testing and development. There are reasons for having things the
way they are—reasons thatmight not beapparent at first.
Check with us beforeyou allowany changesbe made; even “insignificant”alterations may
have dangerousand unforeseen effects.

Performance Variablee. K.,AmTower 16, D- 54634 Bitburg
Date: 30.06.2004 Manual
Revision:0 Omega US
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Second-hand Omegas
If youobtainedyourOmega second-handfromaprivateparty,besureitisairworthy before
usingit. Have a rigger orloft inspected it before you jump it.
If you prefer, PV willinspect your second-hand Omega. There isareasonablechargefor
this service.
If you obtainreplacement parts fromasource other than aPV dealer, besure they exactly
match the parts they replace. (For example, be sure the reserve ripcord is long enough. If it
isn’t,therigmightopenprematurely.)Consultariggerorloft wheneveryoureplace any
component of your Omega.
COMPONENTS
The Omega comes complete with these components:
¨ Harness and container
¨ Hand-deploy main pilot chute
¨ Main pilot chute bridle
¨ Main deployment bag
¨ Mainlocking loop
¨ Omega reservepilot chute
¨ Reserve ripcord
¨ Reserve locking loop
¨ Reserve deployment free-bag
¨ Reserve pilot chute bridle
¨ Main risers and steering toggles
¨ 3-ring release handle
¨ Omega Owner’s Manual

Performance Variablee. K.,AmTower 16, D- 54634 Bitburg
Date: 30.06.2004 Manual
Revision:0 Omega US
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Once youare sureyouhavethesecomponents, checktobesurethecontainersaresized
properlyfor your mainandreserve canopies. Contact PV or aPV dealer to find outwhich
canopies willfitin your Omega.
If you use components that were notsuppliedto theharnessand container, besure they
have the correct dimensions and aremade of the samematerials.For instance, besure
the breakaway cablesare of the proper length.
Replacement components for the Omega are readily available fromthe PV.
German and U.S. FederalAviation Administration regulations requirethat reserve para-
chutes beinspected, maintained,assembled and packedby an appropriatelyrated rigger.
Other countries may have similar regulations.
The packingdatacardpocket ison theback of the 3-ring cover on theleft mainlift web of
most Omegas.
Hand-deployPilot Chute
Your Omega comes with a24-inch kill-linehand-deploy pilotchute. Forsafeandreliable
openings, you haveto foldand stowyour P/C accurately. Please followthe steps below:
A) Lay thepilot chute (P/C) out over
the leg strap, mesh side up, so the edge
of the circleisat the mouth of the span-
dexpouch. S-foldthe bridleon halfof
the P/C.
B) Fold the P/C inhalf over the bridle

Performance Variablee. K.,AmTower 16, D- 54634 Bitburg
Date: 30.06.2004 Manual
Revision:0 Omega US
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E) Fold the trianglein thirds forming a
skinny triangle.
D) Foldthetriangleinhalf, forming a
smaller triangle.
C) Bring thecorners up to forma
wide triangle.
F) Foldonce more inhalf, makinga
very skinny triangle.
G) Nowfold the pilot chute to the length
of the pilotchute pouch and tuck the bri-
dleunder the rounded cornerof the main
containerflap.Thenmake a90-degree
foldin the bridle.

Performance Variablee. K.,AmTower 16, D- 54634 Bitburg
Date: 30.06.2004 Manual
Revision:0 Omega US
Page: 15
I) Insert the P/C into the pouch until
onlythehandleisexposed. Onceagain,
pat the pouch intoaflatter shape which
willreduce the amount of forceneces-
sary to extract the P/C.
H) Before insertingtheP/C into the
pouch, pat thebottomof the rigtoflatten-
out thepoucharea. Doing sowillallow
more roomto insert theP/C and prevent
a difficult extraction.
!WARNING !
The forceneededtoextract thecurvedpinmust not
exceed 12 lbs. Adjust the lengthof the locking loop
accordingly.
Never open themaincontainer ofapacked Omega
and re-close itwithout removing the P/C fromits
pouch and extendingthe entire bridle. Doing so in-
creases the likelihood of re-closing the Omega incor-
rectly and causing a pilot-chute-in-towmalfunction!

Performance Variablee. K.,AmTower 16, D- 54634 Bitburg
Date: 30.06.2004 Manual
Revision:0 Omega US
Page: 16
MaintenanceandCare
INTRODUCTION
Your Omega willlast longer, look better and function correctlyifit ismaintained.An Omega
actuallyrequiresverylittle maintenance unlessitissubjected tounusualconditions such as
a jump into salt water or a muddy landing.
INSPECTION
The best approachinmaintainingyourrigistoperiodicallyspendafewminutes examining
every detail on it.This inspectionshouldbedone atleastevery month. Ifanywear ordam-
age is found, haveit fixed immediately. Putting off repairs might resultin a malfunction.
In addition to inspecting the rig yourself, ask your rigger to inspect the entire assembly every
time the reserveis repacked.
Particular attention should begiven tothese areas:
1.BreakawaySystem. Refer to the 3-ring section inthischapterfordetailedinfor-
mation on inspectingthe canopy releases.
2.Reserve System. Thisincludesthe reserve ripcord, locking loop,pins, handle,
housing, containerandassociated stitching.You shouldnotattempt any repairsormodifica-
tions toany of these itemsunless you arearigger. You can, however, spot littleproblems
before they becomemajor.
3.Harness. The harness shouldbe inspected periodically for broken stitchingor frayed
webbing.
4.Main Container. Inspect the plasticstiffeners inthe containerflaps and replace any
that arebroken. Replaceany grommets that arebadlydeformed orarepullingoutoftheir
setting.
5. MainPilotChute. Check the center line (the length of nylon tape inside the pilot
chute that extends fromthe handleto the base) of the mainpilot chute. It must be firmly
sewn at each end; thereshould be no broken stitches or torn fabric.
Inspect the seamthat joins the pilot chute mesh to the pilot chutefabric. If the mesh is
torn or badly frayed,replace the pilot chute.
6.LockingLoop. The maincontainer isheld shut witha lockingloop made of nylon
suspension-linesheathing. This loop issubject to wear. If itwears out and breaks, the main
canopy may release prematurelyand a malfunctionmay result.Replacethe loop withanew
one if wear isnoticed.
CAUTION: Never jump an Omega with a worn locking loop.

Performance Variablee. K.,AmTower 16, D- 54634 Bitburg
Date: 30.06.2004 Manual
Revision:0 Omega US
Page: 17
7. Velcro Tape has many applications withinparachuting. Even though it can eventually
wear out, there exist fewmaterialsthat can compete with Velcrowith regard toits flexibility,
adaptability and wide variety of possible applications.
8. HookVelcro often attracts dirt, bits of grass, hair and otherdebris. Cleaningthe hook
can befacilitatedwith theuseof afine-toothcomb. The pile sectiongenerallyremains
clean but the nylonfibers tend to getpulled out of place. When you find that your Velcro is
losing itsadhesivequalities, itshouldbe replaced.
Althoughthe Performance Variable strives to find better alternatives to Velcro, there stillre-
main some areas on the Omega where nothing else willdo, namely the Velcro for the break-
away handles,ripcord pockets, steering toggles and reserve staticline lanyards.
Care
Your Omega ismanufactured mostly fromnylon. Nylon is very durable but is susceptible
to damage fromseveralsources:
1. Sunlight. The ultraviolet rays in sunlight quickly and permanently weaken nylon.
Keep your Omega out of direct sunlight as much as possible.
2. Acids. Nylon is also damaged by acids. Keep your Omega away fromhangar floors,
dirty cartrunks andsimilarareas where acidsmay be found. If suchcontaminationdoes
occur, immediatelyand thoroughlywash the rigwith plenty of warmsoapy water. Until arig
can be washed, baking soda willquicklyneutralizemost acids. If aciddamage occurs or is
suspected, a rigger should thoroughlyinspect your Omega.
3. Oil andGrease. Most petroleumcompounds do not weaken nylon; they simply
stainit. Such stains shouldbe promptlyremoved by arigger using the properpetroleum
solvent.
4. Water. Waterwillnot structurallydamage your Omega, but prolongedagitation in
clearwater weakens webbing or may cause somefabricand tape colors to run. Salt water
may damage nylon and rust hardware ifnot promptlyand thoroughlywashed offwith plenty
of fresh water. Your rig willmaintainits newappearance longer ifitis kept dry.

Performance Variablee. K.,AmTower 16, D- 54634 Bitburg
Date: 30.06.2004 Manual
Revision:0 Omega US
Page: 18
5. Soil. Soil may damage your Omega. Brush off the soilafter ithas driedand gently
wash with warmsoapy water.Besurethat the soil isnotinthehousings,snaps,3-ringre-
leases or reserve ripcord pins orloops. Consultarigger ifyourrigisheavilysoiled orex-
tremely dirty.
6. Sand. Fine sand willweaken and abrade webbing and fabrics of allkinds. Pro-
longed exposure to sandwillshorten the life of the entire parachute assem bly.
7. Abrasion. Nylon quickly frays ifdragged over concreteor other roughsurfaces. Do
not drag yourrig onthe concretewhile packing.
8. HighTemperatures. Cumulative prolonged exposureto hightemperatures (as in
the trunkof a car) may weaken nylon.
FAA regulations require that reserves worn in the USA be inspected every 120 days by a
certified rigger.
REQUIRED PERIODIC MAINTENANCE FOR THE3-RING
The 3-ringreleasesystemhas beeninuse formany years withexcellentresults. Although
the systemisas durableas the rest of the rig,itrequires periodicmaintenance and inspec-
tionto ensure proper operation.
Generally, it isNOTrecommended that the risers be attachedto theharness when newand
“forgotten.”Like all skydiving gear,the 3-ringrelease shouldbe carefullyinspected and op-
erated on a regular basis.
The procedures belowshould be doneat least every month. Thisisespeciallyimportant if
the rig has not been used for a month or more, such as during the winter. Immediate inspec-
tionisrequiredifithasbeensubjected tosomeabuse such as adrag acrossthe runway, a
water landing or exposure to alot of dust orsand.
It‘s important to maintain the systemeven more frequently inhumid, muddy or freezing con-
ditions.If theOmega becomes immersed inmud or muddy water, clean the3-ring release
systemwith a mild solutionof soap and water.Any rusted components must be replaced.
1. Every month operate the 3-ring releasesystemon the ground.Extract the cable com-
pletelyfromthe housings and disconnect the risers.
2. Whilethe systemis disassembled,closelyinspect it for wear, Check the white locking
loops(the ones that pass overthe smallest ring andthroughthegrommet) to besurethey
are not frayed.

Performance Variablee. K.,AmTower 16, D- 54634 Bitburg
Date: 30.06.2004 Manual
Revision:0 Omega US
Page: 19
3. Check the Velcro onthe breakaway handle and mainlift web to be sure itis clean and
adequatelyholds the handle.
4. Check thecableendsforasmooth finish.Theendsarefinished atthefactory to
have asmooth, tapered surface. Thisprevents thecablefromhangingupin theloop.
Check the cable ends and consult a rigger or the manufacturer if aburr or “hook”is present.
5.Check the stitching, including that which holds the large rings to the harness.
6. Check the 3-ring release housings for solidhand-tackingand proper stretch. The
housing ends lay at the chest strap area—pulldownward on thesehousingends and check
that they do notmove downwards more than1/2 inch. Pullthe housings fromthe free end
and expect 1-2 inches of movement.
7. Take each riserand vigorouslytwist andflexthe webbing near where itpasses
through each ring. The idea isto remove any set or deformation inthe webbing.Do the
same thing to thewhite loop.
8. Check the housings for dentsor other obstructions. Use the cable to do this.
9. Clean and lubricate the release cable with a light oilsuch as “3 -in-1” brand or silicon.
Put afewdropsonapapertoweland firmlywipethecable a fewtimes. Athin, invisible film
should remain—too much willattract gritanddirt, or the oilcouldbecometacky incold
weather. Too much oilwillrequiremore forceto extract the cable during a breakaway.
10. Inspect the fittings at the endof each housing.If one ofthese fittings were to come
off the housing, ariser might release prematurely.
11. If any wear isfound, consultPerformance Variableorarigger beforeusing the
Omega.
12. Reassemble the system. Double check it. Make sure the risers aren’t reversed.
REPLACEMENTPARTS
Performance Variablesuppliesreplacement parts for itsrigsatareasonablecost.Whenor-
dering parts for yourrig, include theserialnumber, type and date of manufacture of your
Omega so the properitems can be quickly supplied.

Performance Variablee. K.,AmTower 16, D- 54634 Bitburg
Date: 30.06.2004 Manual
Revision:0 Omega US
Page: 20
Pre-jump Equipment Check
The equipment check should followa logicalorder like top to bottom, front to back.
Startingat the front:
1. Make sure the 3-ring systemisassembled properlyandfree of dirt or other foreign
matter.
2. Checkthepositionof the breakaway andreserve ripcordhandles.Don’tremove them
fromtheirpockets unless you suspectaproblem,because the Velcro will wear out quickly.
Insure the chest strap isnot threaded through the reserve ripcord handle.
3. Check the leg straps tobesuretheyarethreadedproperly(ifyou stepintothe har-
ness), oriftheyareunthreaded, make surethey arenotwrappedaround the mainliftweb
but hangstraight (if you chooseto thread them up every jump.)
4. Open the reserve containerpinprotectorflapby graspingthesides ofthe flap, and
pulling straight up. Do not grasp the bottomedge of the flap. Thiswill cause the end of the
flap to curlup, becoming permanentlydeformed and more easilysnagged. Uponchecking
the pin, it shouldbe straight and seated wellinto the locking loop with the end of the pin cov-
ered by the pinprotection pocket.
Note: When asking for apincheck by another jumper, brief them on the properproce-
dure.
5. Slide the reserve ripcord cable backand forth inits housing to be sure it moves freely.
6. Lift the maincontainer pin-protectorflapand check the curved locking pin. It must be
at least halfway through thelocking loop.
7. Be sure the bridleisrouted correctlyfromthe lockingpin, under the right -hand flap
and into thepilot chutepouch.Routing the bridlearound theleg strap willcause apilot-
chute-in-towmalfunction.
8. Check the 3-ring release(breakaway) handle. It should be mated to the Velcro on the
harness properly. No more than 1/2 inchof yellowcableshould be visible between the
breakaway handleand the cable housings.
9. Calibrate and armthe AAD (ifinstalled)according tothe instructionsprovided by its
manufacturer.