GRS Parachute Inspection and Repack

[bert]

I have a 2015 Astore' with the GRS 600 ballistic parachute.  Given the  nine year inspection and repack requirement I am planning on having that done in mid year 2024.  Is there anyone here that has gone thru this process on an Astore?  If so I would like to pick your brain re: accessibility, procedures and appropriate contacts here in the US to facilitate that process.  

[LSA Flyer]

Call these guys in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Ask for Bill Canino.


sportair.aero


Plan to send a deposit at least 2 months before you want the install so they can order the Rocket and Chute. Figure two/three full days for the removal and reinstall. Tecnam in Sebring might do it but last I checked they were also sending people to Sportair. It is not cheap. I just had them do a brand new install on my P2008 and they were very professional. They had Galaxy factory guys do thier training. I would not have just any mechanic or LSRM do the work.

[ChiMike]

It does take quite a while once you give them the initial deposit it can take 3-5 months or more before you get a slot for install-replacement.

[bert]

Thanks for the info and the quick reply.

[bert]

I am somewhat confused. The GRS website lines out a process of removing and returning to them for repack and rocket replacement and to contact them for further instructions to start that process. I have emailed them three weeks in a row to make such arrangements and have yet to get a reply. I am using the email address on their website. This is certainly not what one would expect from a "customer friendly" company and at worse they are starting to look sketchy as hell. When I contacted Tecnam I got a prompt reply which indicated that they believe the factory no longer repacks the chutes and only is now replacing the package in its' entirety. If true this is a complete deviation from standard practice with other manufacturer's and from what we were told when we bought our planes. Any one here know what is really going on or had any experience with GRS?

[ChiMike]

They (Sportair in Arkansas) do a 1:1 swap with the manufacturer in Europe. And it takes several months.

I suggest calling them for an initial contact.

[LSA Flyer]

GRS makes a good product but does not have a deep bench of english speaking customer service reps. You REALLY REALLY need to talk with SportAir. There is no "repack" with GRS, only an exchange of rocket and chute at the nine year interval. Since the clock starts to run when the factory packs the chute, no one stocks replacements here in the USA to sit growing old on the shelf. Hence the advance order with deposit paid to get things going. Given the long service life and the assurance of factory quality control, I think it's a fair trade. I think it's wrong of Tecnam not to offer chute service but they really want to be a delivery operation not a service center. There is also the issue of weight & balance with the current LSA limitations and Tecnam just won't sell you a new LSA with a factory installed chute. Maybe Mosaic will resolve that stupid contradiction but until then, you need to grab a slot with SportAir.