text: Chapter 5
  SERVICE LIFE OF AERIAL-DELIVERY SLINGS
  5-33. The first person to use a sling must date-stamp it with the calendar or Julian date in
  1-inch letters. He can use orange-yellow parachute-marking ink, strata blue parachute-marking ink, or an
  orange-yellow tube-type marker. He marks near the first keeper at both ends of the sling. This date
  determines the date of the next inspection. Every six months, the current user reinspects the sling; strikes
  through the last date in the same color it was written in; and in either of the other two colors, marks the
  date he reinspected the sling. Every single user inspects every single sling before and after every single use.
  If the condition of the sling seems questionable, he removes the sling from service (Figure 5-7).
  Figure 5-7. Unserviceable slings.
  GENERAL INSPECTION
  5-34. When inspecting nylon air items, note that if you find more than three consecutive broken or loose
  stitches, or five or more broken or loose stitches overall in the sewn portion, the item is unserviceable.
  After rigging the load with any nylon air item, put cotton buffers in place to prevent any nylon-to-nylon or
  nylon-to-metal contact. Look for the following:
  y Inspection date that has already passed (an inspection is overdue).
  y Foreign matter or chemicals such as mildew, paint, or grease.
  y Cuts.
  y Frays.
  y Burns.
  y Broken stitches.
  y Missing cotton buffers, sliding keepers, or permanent keepers.
  y Rust.
  CARGO STRAP
  5-35. The A7A cotton or nylon cargo strap measures 188 inches long and has a rated capacity of 500
  pounds. A friction adapter located on one end of the strap has a thick-lipped metal floating bar. Supply
  issues this strap with one metal D-ring. Inspect this piece of equipment for cuts or frays.