Specification:
Tear/breaking Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-C-7020, 1.1 oz
5 lb/42 lb
120 x 120 balanced weave
24', 26', 28' military canopies
Standard colors: white, orange,
olive green, sand
Specification:
Tear/breaking Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-C-44378, 1.12 oz
5 lb/45 lb
Ripstop nylon
Ram-air canopies and some
round reserves
F-111™, Exacta-chute™,
Silktique™
Specification:
Tear/Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-C-44378, 1.2 oz
5 lb/45 lb
Ripstop nylon
Lopo reserve canopies
N/A
Specification:
Tear/breaking Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
Commercial, 1.13 oz, 0 cfm,
silicone coated
12.6 lb/43 lb
Ripstop nylon
Sport main canopies and some
reserves
Trade names include Zero P3™,
Soar-Coat™, Ultrasil™
Figure 3-1. Cloth, parachute, nylon, Type-1.
Figure 3-3. Cloth, parachute, nylon, Type-1, Lo-Po, .5-3 CFM.
Figure 3-2. Cloth, parachute, nylon, Type-3, 30-50 CFM.
Figure 3-4. Cloth, parachute, nylon, Type-1, zero porosity.Webbing and Tapes
While many webbings and tapes have the same specifications,
they still have different designations. The difference is a
common rule of thumb where anything 1 inch or wider and
over 1000-lb strength is webbing. Anything less is a tape. There
are, however, some examples that fall outside of this criterion.
The primary use for webbing is for load bearing purposes,
such as harnesses and risers. Tapes are for use as support and
reinforcing for canopies and containers. Most webbing and
tapes, when manufactured, are left in their natural, untreated
condition (condition U), or treated with a synthetic resin
named Merlon, for stiffness (condition R). A newer treatment,
called “Ecco,” is similar to a light condition R. This is a newer
treatment that is ecologically friendlier than using Merlon.
It also results in a medium stiffness that is easier to sew.
This is for use primarily in the lighter weight tapes, such as
3⁄4" Ty-3. Recently some harness/container manufacturers
have begun to replace 3⁄4" Ty-3 binding tape with 7⁄8" Ty-3
because modern container designs are getting thicker with
the application of more stiffeners and more padding. There
are pros and cons to this trend.
Specification:
Tear/breaking Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-C-26643
3 lb/25-35 lb
N/A
Military pilot chutes
Ph: 6-8
Specification:
Tear/breaking Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-C-7219 class 3, 7.25 oz, 420
denier
20 lb/275-325 lb
1-1 plain weave
Sport and military containers
Has a urethane coating on the
inside
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
Commercial, No. 94040
N/A
N/A
Sport pilot chutes, some round
reserves
Ph: 6-8, 96" wide
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
MIL-C-43734, class 3
1,000 denier
N/A
Sport and military container
systems
Has a urethane coating on the
inside
Figure 3-5. Cloth, netting, nylon (marquisette).
Figure 3-7. Cloth, duck, nylon (Para-pak).
Figure 3-6. Cloth, mesh, large hole, nylon.
Figure 3-8. Cloth, nylon, Cordura®.
The reason for this limitation is because of the reaction of the
webbing when “edge nicked” while under tension. In tests
of the most advanced needle weave products several years
ago, it was dramatically demonstrated, numerous times, that
the webbing would fail catastrophically when the edge was
nicked with sharp metal while under tension.
Webbing Selection
When a repair requires replacement of webbing and tapes,
care must be taken to use the correct webbing or tape for
the job. Generally, there are two types of webbings used
in industry: needle weave and shuttle weave. Remember
this: “Needle Never, Shuttle Sure.” This is because
needle weave webbing is rarely, if ever, used in personnel
parachute assemblies.
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
MIL-C-43734
500 denier
N/A
Sport container systems
Has a urethane coating on the
inside
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
Commercial
N/A
N/A
Main pilot chute pockets
N/A
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-C-3953, class 2
1,100 lb, 20 oz/yd
3 x 4 basket weave
Stiffening material for containers
Uses a melamine resin for stiffness
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-T-43618
60-75 lb
Ripstop weave fabric with adhesive
backing, various colors
Field canopy repair
May degrade canopy fabric over
time.
Figure 3-9. Cloth, nylon, Cordura®. Figure 3-11. Elastic fabric, Spandex®.
Figure 3-10. Cloth, duck, nylon, ballistic.
Figure 3-12. Pressure sensitive adhesive tape—ripstop tape.
One should never be substituted for the other in a repair.
The rigger should have material certification and lot
tractability for any materials used in the repair. The
material certification should additionally identify the type.
[Figures 3-17 through 3-32]
The two types may be identified by comparing their edges.
Fold the webbing in half and align the selvage edges. They
should be identical in weave. If they are, then it is shuttle
weave and acceptable for use. If they are not, then it is
needle weave.
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
Commercial
N/A
N/A
Padding for leg and back pads
Various thicknesses: 1/8" and 3/16"
most common
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
Commercial
N/A
1/8" thickness
Lining of container systems
Bonded to various fabrics such as
Oxford cloth
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
Commercial
N/A
N/A
Padding for leg and back pads
Does not degrade like some foam
does and will float the rig if the
jumper lands in the water;
however, it does not replace a
PFD.
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
Commercial
N/A
Taffeta weave
Reserve deployment bags
N/A
Figure 3-13. Foam, Volara®. Figure 3-15. Foam, ester liner.
Figure 3-14. Foam, ¼" closed cell athletic foam.
Figure 3-16. Oxford cloth, 200 denier.
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-W-4088
500 lb
2/2 HB twill, 9/16" width, no color
code
Stow band retainer loops on main
deployment bags
N/A
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-W-4088
2,500 lb
2/2 HB twill, 123/32" width, red
centerline
Buffer strips, harness attachment
straps on Navy containers
N/A
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-W-4088
1,800 lb
2/2 HB twill, 3" width, some slider
edge tapes
Confluence wraps, container
reinforcing
Not to be confused with 5038 Ty-4
square weave.
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-W-4088
6,000 lb
Double plain weave, 123/32" width,
1/16" thick, with yellow tracer thread
at each selvage edge
Modern sport harness, risers
Originally intended for cargo
netting use; also used in sport
harnesses
Figure 3-17. 9⁄16" Type-1 Webbing. Figure 3-19. Type-6 Webbing.
Figure 3-18. 3" Type-4 Webbing.
Figure 3-20. Type-7 Webbing.
Change 1 (December 2015)
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-W-4088
4,000 lb
2/2 HB twill, 123/32" width, black
centerline
Main risers, harness construction
One of the most common
webbings in use today.
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-W-4088
7,000 lb
Double plain weave, 123/32" width,
3/32 thick, with black tracer thread at
each selvage edge
Modern sport harnesses, military
harnesses
Designed to be specifically
compatible with MS22040,
MS70114, and MS22019
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-W-4088
1,200 lb
2/2 HB twill, 123/32" width, red lines
at each selvage
Harness buffers, confluence wraps
N/A
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-W-4088
2,500 lb
2/2 HB twill, 1" width, no color
code
Sport main risers, chest straps,
carry handles
N/A
Figure 3-21. Type-8 Webbing.
Figure 3-23. Type-13 Webbing.
Figure 3-22. Type-12 Webbing.
Figure 3-24. Type-17 Webbing.
Cords, Lines, and Threads
The most common uses of cord and lines are the suspension
lines of the canopy. There are many different types in use.
Today, the most common are nylon, Dacron, and Spectra®.
The rigger needs to know the different types and their uses.
Each may have special techniques to work with them.
Almost all cords, lines, and threads are constructed of Nylon,
again because of its inherent strength and relative elasticity.
[Figures 3-33 through 3-43]
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-T-5038
A. 3/8", 200 lb; B. 3/4", 400 lb; C. 1",
525 lb
Ribbon weave, various widths as
above
Binding tape, canopy-reinforcing
tapes, and line attachment tapes
One of the most common tapes in
use; condition U, R, and Ecco are
the current treatments.
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-W-5625
A. ½", 1,000 lb; B. 5/8", 2,250 lb;
C. 1", 4,000 lb
Various widths, yellow or black
lines at the center or edges
Bridles, static lines
N/A
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-T-5038
A. ½", 550 lb; B. 1", 1,000 lb;
C. 1½", 1,500 lb
Plain weave, various widths
Bridles, reinforcing, buffers
One of the most versatile tapes
available, called “square weave.”
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-T-6134
525 lb
Plain tubular, 1" width, black line at
center
Lower lateral bands for round
canopies
N/A
Figure 3-25. Type-3 Tape.
Figure 3-27. Tubular webbing.
Figure 3-26. Type-4 Tape.
Figure 3-28. Type-1, 1" Parachute construction tape.
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
Commercial, No. 1655
1,200 lb
Herringbone weave, 2"
Reserve free bag bridles
N/A
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-T-87130
A. 550 lb; B. 525 lb; C. 3,000 lb
N/A
Tandem drogue bridles, canopy
reinforcing
A. Ty-1 Class 2; B. Ty-6 Class 2;
C. Ty-9 Class 5.
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
Commercial, No. 7282
N/A
Black dotted line down center of
tape
Slider reinforcing
N/A
Specification:
Strength:
Identification:
Common Use:
Comment:
PIA-W-5664
N/A
A. 1½"; B. 1"
Harness keepers and ripcord
pockets
N/A
Figure 3-29. Tape, polyester, 2".
Figure 3-31. Kevlar® tape.
Figure 3-30. Tape, nylon, 3".
Figure 3-32. Cotton elastic webbing.