General

• Mr. Glen Brown, ADS TC Chairman, convened the meeting. A list of attendees follows these minutes. Jim Warrick filled the Secretary Pro Tem duty.

Acceptance of Previous Meeting Minutes

• The meeting minutes from the February 5, 2002 ADS TC meeting in Orlando, Florida were reviewed. (Glen Brown noted that someone volunteered him for something despite his absence at the last meeting.) A motion was made to accept the minutes with minor modification that was seconded and approved.

TC Roster, Membership

• A membership roster was circulated for corrections and additions.

Treasurer's Report

• Mr. Richard Benney distributed balance sheets showing $11, 830.86 as of May 31. The actual balance is $800 less due to scholarships payments to two students for the short course.
• Action item: Richard Benney and Mo Gionfriddo plan to make this a joint account.

Team Updates

Data Base Team (report by Mo Gionfriddo)

• Linda Hall Library (LHL) is archiving parachute technology files, but at this time has very limited search capability. Point of Contact is Nancy Day.
• Mr. Gionfriddo suggested giving LHL a grant to create a searchable database/ catalog. No objections were raised. Mr. Gionfriddo will ask for a quote from LHL and/or University of Missouri to perform this. Mr. Dean Jorgensen reported that Pioneer spent 2 man-months cataloging 1800 titles. Mr. Tom Rivellini volunteered to give referral to someone with database creation experience. Mr. Carl Petersen announced that Sandia could ship many reports to LHL after determining that their distribution is not limited. An intern, such as a high school student, can assess the distribution status.
• Carl Petersen was added to the database team.
• Glen Brown suggested a paper be presented at the '05 conference about the LHL database. This is not expected to be ready by the '03 conference.

Homepage Team (Mike Accorsi)

• The email list now has 300 to 350 names.
• Infrequent use of the newsletter on the ADS TC web site is suggested by only 400 hits recorded since February, half of which were possibly made by Mike Accorsi. This indicates that the newsletter is not being sought out by the larger community. Lengthy discussion ensued about what the newsletter should be meant to achieve, or even if it should be called a newsletter. Newsletter implies news, but the document has been more a warmed-over CVD handout. Is it too passive? Is it reaching the right audience? What audience should it reach? Would a colorful 2-sided paper mailing be more likely to reach the desks of high-level decision-makers? One suggestion was to change the name from "Newsletter" to "Outreach." Some news could be used to hook a reader's attention, and then continue with policy, etc. A Department of Commerce Report is due soon that is expected to declare the vital nature of the parachute industry. This should be promoted in the newsletter.
• Members added to the team: Mark Heflin, John Leblanc.

Specs and Standards

• Mr. Glen Brown posed a question: Would it be an appropriate project for the ADS TC to capture data on materials? Many available materials are not adequately documented (e.g., the Design Guide is circa 1975).
• Discussion suggested that users of materials (e.g. Irvin and Pioneer) have not only put new materials into service, but also created subtle variations (voodoo) to gain competitive edge and are not likely to be willing to share certain proprietary data. Manufacturers of materials are more likely to provide data, but have a vested interest to promote only positives. Among the user community, the government has the most incentive to gather an unbiased database on materials. However, the government is getting out of the spec business.
• The physical properties of the raw material and weaving and braiding details are only a fraction of properties of interest to the parachute community. A partial list of other properties include: porosity, degradation by UV and cleaning solvents, surface finishes, lubricity, twist, joint strength, tear strength at different strain rates, outgassing in a vacuum, sewn joint strength, rip-stitch data...and the list goes on. A suggestion was made to prepare a template of the properties of interest and to submit it to materials manufacturers and post-processors, with a request for them to fill in how their materials perform. There was some speculation that soft goods manufacturers may be unwilling to provide all of this data in an unbiased manner, as it would reveal information that would allow users to shop more effectively and allow competitors to improve their products. Currently, search engines do not deal well with soft goods. PIA is taking over Mil specs and has volunteers working on 60 - 100 textile specs.
• Test labs are very expensive and have a reputation of being inconsistent, especially in regard to UV tests. A forthcoming Dupont study may standardize UV test protocol. A database for materials will require funding, such as Science and Technology money spent by the Army or by government grants to Universities. This is a potential specific item that can be promoted through the CVD medium: For instance, money spent at universities in a congressman's district would be very palatable. Has the Army established a "Center for Excellence" for textiles? It is not at Natick.
• Conclusions and action items:
  • 1. Government or Academia is most likely to be the creator and repository of the data.
  • 2. The ADS TC Specs and Stds team should create a questionnaire or template to identify materials and properties that are of most interest.
  • * Distribute this list to material manufacturers and to post processors.
  • * Give the list to Natick and to NASA in hopes that some data may already be available.
  • 3. Firms represented on the TC were asked to summarize what data they need and what they are willing to contribute of their private databases to a common database.
  • 4. Identify the top 5 or 10 materials that need the closest scrutiny.
  • 5. Government would be more likely to provide funding for the database if it were promoted as benefiting more than just the parachute industry.
  • 6. A chairman for this effort is sought.

Congressional Visit Day (CVD)

• Mr. Mo Gionfriddo explained that a common question from a congressman at the end of a presentation is "What specifically can I do for you?" Funding for the materials database is an example of something specific. Specificity is very difficult because parachute funding is usually buried either in budgets in "Miscellaneous Under Other" or "Other Under Misc."
• The Pentagon dislikes being told what to do by congressmen. Perhaps the proactive approach would be to talk to the Pentagon with suggestions for parachute funding to maintain wartime readiness, then to talk to congressmen about supporting specific bills that contain funding the Pentagon has requested.
• One issue to emphasize is the smoothing of production to maintain personnel skills at a level necessary for wartime readiness.
• The membership agreed that continued support of CVD is worthwhile. It may be more effective if coordinated with PIA.

Short Course (Dr. Jean Potvin)

• The short course was successfully held May 20-24 at Saint Louis University. Forty-eight students participated and gave the class high ratings. Lecture notes were 3.5 inches thick.
• Dr. Potvin expressed some concern that too many topics were presented and that too much time elapses between classes (four years). Potential changes presented by Dr. Potvin include:
  • 1. Run part 1 and part 2 courses, two years apart.
  • 2. Run parallel sessions on the last day. Students would chose from 2 topics.
  • 3. "Short-Short" course occurring between the normal course.
• Demand for the course could be assessed by questionnaires at conferences and on the ADS website. Schedule a session when "critical mass" (break-even enrollment) is reached.
• The consensus of the TC was that the success of the course suggests that it doesn't need fixing. It could, however, be supplemented by additional complementary presentations.
• AIAA suggests a "Fast Track Tutorial" tailored to the interests of the general AIAA membership. This sounds similar to the "short-short" course. An advantage of offering this Tutorial would be greater ADS TC exposure.
• Two-thirds of the last students are more likely destined to be system integrators than parachute designers, judging by their company or agency affiliation. A more general "short-short" course would serve them well.
• Any new course should possibly be renamed to honor a prominent person. Suggestions are sought.
• Scholarships to the course could raise awareness of parachute technology among students. Advertisements could be placed in student AIAA publications at least 6 months in advance of the course. In general, University Aerospace Departments could also be added to our mailing or email lists.
• "New Blood" needs to be brought into the faculty. One or two new speakers will be invited to speak on one topic for one day. Action for future meeting: Authorize scholarship and determine details.

Awards Team (Dean Jorgensen)

• The Knacke award is given every other year, at the conference. AIAA rules require citation to be given at least 90 days before the conference. Internally, the TC membership decided that all nominations must be made by Dec 31, 2002. Six copies are to be sent to AIAA headquarters and one to Ken Sego (or Dean Jorgensen). Roy Fox is one nominee carried over from the previous cycle. Beware that snail mail may not be heeded. The AIAA website is a more reliable way to submit nominations.
• Copies of a publication expected to be released in the near future recognizing Theo Knacke should be sent to his surviving family.
• Encourage members to submit papers to PIA conference in January 2003.
• TC Members are encouraged to seek upgrades of their AIAA membership. "Senior" status can be obtained by writing a check. The next levels "Associate Fellow" and "Fellow" require some sponsorship.

Other AIAA Business

• Fast track tutorial: See discussion under "Short Course."
• Best Paper Award: Such an award would encourage authors to publish in more prestigious venues, such as Journal of Aircraft.
• Strategic Plan Update: No comment
• AIAA call for nominations for various awards: See document distributed by email.
• Charter for TC Pubs subcommittee: See separate doc. Info only.

Nominations and Election of Chair-Elect

• Acting in behalf of the nominating committee, Mr. Dean Jorgensen contrived that Mr. Mike Accorsi should draw the short straw, thereby being nominated. The motion was seconded, and Mr. Accorsi was elected by acclamation.

2003 ADS Conference

• Mr. Tony Taylor reported on the selection of the hotel in Monterey, California for the 2003 Conference. The selection was made during a reconnaissance mission by Tony Taylor, Mark Heflin and Glen Brown. Two hotels in Monterey were considered. The Marriott offered conventional facilities. The Doubletree has been chosen, because of its outdoor banquet facility and because guests flow naturally from its lobby to the restaurants and tourist attractions of Cannery Row. Everything is within walking distance of the Doubletree. Papers will be delivered in two rooms separated by an atrium. Part of a third room will be used for refreshments.
• The awards banquet will be held outdoors in the "Memory Garden." Space heaters will be available to warm the cool, damp ocean breezes. If rain is expected, an indoor Banquet room is available as a back up.
• Reservations are made and room rate set. Break-even point needs to be set, as it affects conference fee.
• Attendees may fly into Monterey or into San Jose, which is about 2 hours away by car.
• Three members of the TC volunteered to loan projectors. The TC agreed to give each owner a replacement bulb in return for use of the machine.
• Microphones and PA systems will be provided by the hotel. Some members expressed dissatisfaction with such systems at some previous conferences.
• Spouses should have a good time. Activities within walking distance include restaurants, the famous Monterey Aquarium, a culinary school, kayak rentals, toy stores, wine tasting, and beer tasting. Other activities for wives and members include swimming in the ocean (rental wet suits are available), watching seals and sea lions, and bike rentals. A suggestion for a pre-planned group activity is an excursion to Carmel for shopping and site seeing.
• The industry reception is subsidized by member contributions. Recognition of the donors can take many forms: a poster listing the donors, a chance to distribute brochures, continuous videos, or a projector cycling through promotional slides provided by the donors. At the next conference, non-contributors who put out brochures will not be tolerated and might even be fined.
• An alternative to the usual session boards was proposed: to use projectors. Objections to this included visibility problems and delays while waiting for all the announcements to cycle through.
• A lengthy discussion occurred about quality versus quantity of papers. In the past, sixty-six papers have been planned for three days. The "quality papers" could be presented in 21/2 days. Rather than schedule authors who have earned a reputation as being unreliable on the last afternoon, a decision was made to schedule them for the morning after the awards banquet. The last session should be a grand finale, not a deadbeat session that has high probability of being cancelled.
• Timely submission of papers must be encouraged. Sessions chairs insist on seeing the papers enough in advance of the Conference to have an opportunity to exert quality control. Authors should be made aware of the new policy: "No paper by deadline, no podium."
• CD versus paper: Some members insist on paper.
• Give special sessions subjects to Mike Accorsi.

Conference -Seminar

• The purpose of the Seminar is to go deeply in one topic, which this year will be Materials. Representatives of major manufacturers who will be invited to speak are:
  • DuPont, to be contacted by Ken Sego
  • Toyobo to be contacted by Tony Taylor
  • Elizabeth Stoner of Celanese, to be contacted by Glen Brown
  • Honeywell (formerly Allied), to be contacted by Glen Brown.
• To get beyond the usual Marketing spiel, the reps should be asked to respond specifically to items on the Materials Questionnaire to be prepared by the Specs and Standards Team. Although Marketing people from these companies have budgets to perform activities such as this, they would be more likely to adhere to our agenda if they were paid an honorarium.
• Representatives of post processors will also be asked to speak and show slides and video of their weaving and braiding machinery, which will educate and entertain. It was reported that Ken Sego has contacted Dick Bohannon as a representative of the weaving industry.
• An unbiased independent consultant might be recruited to speak. The names Irwin Wooster and Albany International were recommended.

Next Meetings

• Two sites were discussed for the Fall meeting: Monterey and JPL. Mr. Tom Rivellini convinced the membership to select JPL, as two spacecrafts in the final stages of assembly can be viewed. A date in October will be set that does not conflict with the SAFE Symposium.
• The Winter meeting will in Jacksonville Florida to coincide with the PIA Conference at the end of January.

Attendee List

• Jim Warrick, W&A
• Jean Potvin, Saint Louis University
• Roy Haggard, Vertigo, Inc.
• Carl Peterson, Sandia
• Jim Strickland, Sandia
• Scott Dellicker, YPG
• Dave Rubenstein, Draper Labs
• Mo Gionfriddo, MPG Consultants
• Rick Howard, Naval PG School
• Michael Accorsi, University of Connecticut
• Alec Dyatt, AFFTC
• Hamid Johari, WPI
• Tom Rivellini, JPL
• Koki Machin, NASA-JSC
• Mark Heflin, YPG
• Tom Bennett, Pioneer
• Dean Jorgensen, Pioneer
• Tony Taylor, Irvin
• Bob Francis, Capewell
• John LeBlanc, Performance Designs Inc.
• Ken Desabrais, Natick
• Richard Benney, Natick
• Glen Brown, Vertigo Inc.
• George Barnard, CDR Parachute Systems
• Jim Moore, JM Technologies Inc.