AviPack

The AviPack - Avalanche Airbag System

Avalanche airbag system constructed from custom rip cord and a 3/64 lined longitudinally braided conduit with black polypropylene cover

Standing on top of the summit looking down at the world, a blanket of untouched snow beckons for your descent. As you drop in, the snow beneath gives way and you are swallowed up like a stone in a river.  A large avalanche in North America can trigger almost 300,000 cubic yards of snow. That’s the equivalent of 20 football fields covered in three feet of snow rushing down a mountain. On average, 28 people are killed annually by avalanches, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. Winter athletes who push themselves through these rugged conditions need avalanche safety equipment that can stand up to freezing temperatures and dangerous snowfall.

skier

The AviPack, an avalanche airbag system created by the Wary allows skiers and snowboarders to ride down the most dangerous winter terrain with peace of mind. The material used for the Wary avalanche safety airbags has to withstand extreme cold temperatures and some of the parts must be custom-made. Tyler Madison Inc. helped the Wary engineers design a custom rip cord and a 3/64 lined longitudinally braided conduit with black polypropylene cover. Polypropylene is used to coat the outer conduit of the avalanche airbag system to protect it from cracking. What makes this particular polymer special is its ability to hold up in a wide range of temperatures. Polypropylene coating, can withstand temperatures approximately 30 to 40 degrees below freezing.  The longitudinal braiding prevents separation when bent over the shoulder of the user. John Bowker, the owner of the Wary, worked extensively with Calvin Hom, a sales engineer from Tyler Madison to develop these custom avalanche airbag safety systems.

John said, “Working with Cal has been awesome, he was willing to sit down and really listen to what I wanted. Cal did extensive research on different materials, provided us with test reports and brought us information that would have better application towards the AviPack.”  This relationship was a major factor in completing the lanyard to the right specifications. “The relationship and service along with proximity, being able to work one on one with Calvin was a huge factor in the design process”, said John.

Tyler Madison can create custom cables, like braided conduit, to fit specific products that perform in severe conditions. They work closely with their clients to design custom cables and security wire rope lanyards specific to their needs and assure their customers that Tyler Madison always keeps their best interest in mind.