New Year, new parachute oxygen system

The technicians have followed an Airborne Systems course (Photo: BRIPAC)

The new year brings with it the modernisation of the oxygen supply system used in high-altitude parachute jumps, which is the specialty of the members of the Parachute Brigade (known as BRIPAC). The company Airborne Systems has stopped manufacturing the PHAOS (Parachutists’ High Altitude Oxygen System), which is being substituted by the SOLR (Special Operations Long Range) system.

Four technicians from the Oxygen Team of BRIPAC’S Jump Unit followed a course at the company headquarters in Philadelphia (NJ, US) in December, in order to familiarise themselves with the new system. After this training they have become certified in both systems and are able to carry out repairs, maintenance, calibration and commissioning – i.e. the equipment does not need to be sent to the US for any of those tasks, as used to be the case.

The process of substitution will be gradual; while the SOLR system is being introduced, the PHAOS will continue to be used. The technicians are permanently certified in the latter, but will have to travel regularly to the US to renew certification in the former.