Used Reserve Canopies

TSO certification — what it means

All airworthy skydiving reserves must hold a Technical Standard Order (TSO) certification from the FAA (or equivalent from EASA in Europe). The relevant standards are TSO-C23d (the standard applicable to most reserves currently in service) and the newer TSO-C23f. TSO-C23f introduces updated deployment performance standards and is required for new reserves manufactured after its effective date.

When buying a used reserve, verify the TSO marking on the data card or reserve itself. Any reserve without a valid TSO cannot legally be used as a reserve in most jurisdictions — regardless of its apparent condition.

The 40-repack limit and 180-day repack cycle

Most reserve manufacturers impose a 40-repack lifetime limit. Each time a reserve is repacked (whether or not it was deployed), the rigger records the repack on the data card. Once a reserve reaches 40 repacks, it is typically retired — regardless of age, jump count, or apparent condition. Always check the repack card before purchasing any second hand reserve.

The 180-day repack cycle is a regulatory requirement: reserves must be repacked by a certificated rigger every 180 days, whether jumped or not. A reserve that has not been repacked within 180 days cannot legally be used. Factor in the cost of an immediate repack (typically £50–£90 in the UK, $50–$120 in the US) when pricing a second hand reserve.

Unlike mains, the date of manufacture (DOM) matters more for reserves than total deployments. Fabric and risers age regardless of use. Most manufacturers recommend retiring reserves after 20 years from DOM, and many DZs and governing bodies have stricter policies. A reserve with a 1998 DOM has very limited remaining service life regardless of its jump history.

Deployment history and LPV reserves

Ask whether the reserve has ever been deployed. A reserve that was deployed in an emergency (as opposed to during a repack or test) may have been subjected to unusual stress — though properly inspected post-deployment reserves are often perfectly airworthy. A rigger should always review the deployment history and inspect for any wear, snags, or damage before approving the reserve for service.

LPV (low-porosity vented) reserves pack down to a smaller volume than equivalent ZP reserves, which is useful when fitting a reserve into a tighter container. If you are sizing a container for a specific reserve, verify both the packed volume and the compatibility with your specific container model — manufacturers publish this data.