A trained and licensed professional, the parachute rigger packs, maintains or repairs parachutes. You must understand fabrics, hardware, webbing, regulations, sewing, packing and other aspects related to parachutes. You constantly build, pack, repair and provide maintenance of parachutes. To become a parachute rigger you must be thoroughly trained. Then you can apply to take the required tests for a license from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Civilian parachute rigger
Civilian riggers work on parachutes for sport parachutists. To become a rigger, you must be trained and certified by local aviation authorities. The licensing system varies from country to country, but several levels of licensing exist. In the United States the Federal Aviation Administration oversees all rigger licensing and regulations.
Federal Aviation Administration licenses
The Federal Aviation Administration has two license ratings given to civilian parachute riggers: senior and master. To begin as an entry-level rigger you must apprentice under a licensed rigger until you have logged 100 or more parachutes packed. At this point you can apply to take the senior rigger license test.
Senior rigger license test
The senior license test has three parts: written, oral and practical. The written test is completed at a learning center and results are given immediately. Both oral and practical exams include questioning about rigging practices. During the practical test you must inspect and repack 20 parachutes. Then demonstrate hand sewing and simple machine sewing to patch a canopy of your choice on a back, chest, seat or lap type parachute. After three years of licensed work and a logbook showing a minimum of 200 packs you can apply for a master rigger endorsement.
Master rigger license test
The test begins with an extensive oral exam including identification of material samples. During the practical exam you must assemble a parachute, adjust a sewing machine, perform major canopy repair on a seam and reinforce a line attachment. Then you must demonstrate the ability and knowledge needed to repair a harness.
Army parachute rigger
Around the world, militaries train their own parachute riggers to support their airborne or paratrooper forces. These highly trained individuals also pack parachutes for aircraft delivery operations of military equipment and supplies during combat. In the United States Army, riggers play an important role in the advent of aerial insertion of troops, supplies, and equipment. While actively working, Army riggers are required to wear a distinctive red baseball cap as part of their military uniform. With a letter from their commanding officer, an Army rigger can earn the Federal Aviation Administration ratings by only taking the written test.
Air Force parachute rigger
To become an Air Force parachute rigger, an airman must attend a 3 ½-month course learning how to inspect, pack and repair parachutes. After technical school, airmen are transferred to a duty location for further on the job training. During peacetime, USAF aerial delivery riggers pack airdrop loads for airlift units. However, in wartime airdrop missions are performed by the Army’s riggers.
Navy parachute rigger
In 1924 at Lakehurst, New Jersey the US Navy and US Marine Corps parachute materials school was founded by two Navy Chiefs, Samuel Young and Randolf Myler. Until 1942, the Navy referred to parachute riggers as PR. Sometime in the 1960s the PR designation was changed to aircrew survival equipmentman. Today, the Navy trains their parachute riggers for 55 days. During their training they learn organizational skills, combat sewing, foreign object damage management and tool control. Each student will also manufacture a rigger bag from scratch. Over the course of their training each person will learn the basics of parachute rigging, inspection cycles, general survival and maintenance concepts unique to squadron work.
A parachute riggers’ tool kit
Twenty-eight tools compose a parachute rigger's tool kit. Inside this kit are everyday tools such as a butane lighter, 6-inch metal ruler, ink pen, and a crescent wrench. However the remaining 24-tools are all specifically designed for one or two functions to help a parachute rigger perform their duties. Whether they are in the field or in a hangar the rigger’s tools help them inspect, repair and/or repack a parachute.
The components of a riggers tool kit are: a packing fid, T-bodkin, finger trapping wire, Navy end tab, cypres temporary pin, rigger field data card, packing data card, mini knee plate or paddle, positive leverage closing device, lead seals, closing loops, cypres disc, cypress pull-up cord, main pull-up cord, curved hemostats, tacking and seal thread, tacking needles, finger trapping fids, power tool, pilot chute flex rod and a mini multi-tool.
Manual dexterity, meticulous behavior, great organization and tons of patience are needed to become a parachute rigger. This studious person will learn over several years the procedures needed to pack a parachute, identify problems in fabrics and webbing, plus be able to repair harnesses in the field or in a hangar.
Chuting Star
Cypress
USAPR Professional Parachute Rigger Training
US Air Force; Life Support, Survival Equipment Career Fields Merging; Scott Halliford; August 2007
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