Jul 26, 2016

A New Standard for a Globally Popular Sport

Since its development in the 1960s and '70s, parasailing has become a go-to water sport for people around the world.

In recent years, a dedicated group concerned with making parasailing as safe as possible have worked together as Subcommittee F24.65 on Parasailing, part of ASTM International Committee F24 on Amusement Rides and Devices.

F24.65 has recently approved a comprehensive standard, F3099, Practices for Parasailing. Aspects of F3099 inform a new Florida state law on parasailing that went into effect on Oct. 1.

Larry Meddock, ASTM member and executive director of the Water Sports Industry Association, notes that F24.65 was formed after the U.S. Coast Guard approached WSIA in January 2012.

F24.65 approved its first standard, ASTM F2993, Guide for Monitoring Weather Conditions for Safe Parasail Operation, in April 2013.

A series of parasailing marine casualties that occurred from 2006-2012 had been a motivating factor for standardization. "The one common thread that stood out in these parasailing incidents was bad weather," says Meddock. "The subcommittee went straight to work on developing ASTM F2993, and after several months of robust dialogue and industry meetings, consensus was achieved documenting safe weather conditions for parasailing."

Following F2993's implementation, F24.65 began drafting standards for equipment, operations, crew proficiency and patron responsibility. This effort culminated in combining the already approved weather standard with the draft standards into a new ASTM document, F3099.

The new standard provides guidelines and procedures for the operation and maintenance of parasail equipment and standards for crew proficiency and flying passengers aloft. F3099 is organized into five sections:

Weather - weather monitoring equipment and weather conditions in which parasailing activities may be conducted;

Equipment - equipment required to be aboard a parasail vessel, including maintenance and record keeping;

Operations - pre-flight and in-flight operations as well as emergency procedures;

Crew - crew member training requirements, duties and responsibilities and record keeping; and

Patron Responsibility - provides a list of inherent responsibilities that passengers engaging in parasailing have.

The weather section of the standard served as the basis for the Florida's White-Miskell Act. The act makes compliance with operating within certain weather conditions enforceable under state law.

Florida State Senator Maria Lorts Sachs, a sponsor of the White-Miskell Act, says, "Without the help of WSIA, the Coast Guard, the parasail industry and ASTM International, this law would not be a reality. Due to the advocacy, willingness and cooperation of all parties involved to help craft common-sense safety measures, parasailing will be safer for residents and tourists all across the great state of Florida."

According to Coast Guard statistics, since Subcommittee F24.65 began their work, the rising trend of injuries/fatalities has taken a sharp nosedive, with only six injuries and no fatalities recorded over the past two years - equaling the lowest injury rate in 19 years.

"These results show the positive impact and effectiveness of the ASTM standards and how an industry has worked together to improve safety through voluntary compliance," says Meddock.