MORE ABOUT PRI AND THE COURSE
Our company has been apprenticing and teaching riggers for almost 50 years. Some of the most skillful and knowledgeable parachute riggers in the world have trained at Parachute Laboratories (formerly Jump Shack).
We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to teach you. I hope that you are as enthused as we are! I can promise you two things: You will work hard. You will have fun!
You will be assigned a tool kit at the beginning of class. I recommend that you start reading The Parachute Rigger Handbook (FAA H-8083-17), especially Chapters 1 – 6 and the first 4 pages of Chapter 7. Additionally, get familiar with PIA Technical Standard 100, Definitions, at the back of the Handbook. There should be special emphasis on learning basic nomenclature.
In the past we have recommended that students obtain a copy of The Parachute Manual by Dan Poynter. It is considered “the Bible” by riggers worldwide and is still the most comprehensive treatise on parachutes. Unfortunately, it went out of print several years ago.
Some copies are available on Amazon.com. We have some hard copies here at Parachute Rigging Institute, as well as an electronic version. So, you will have ample opportunity to refer to “Poynter” while you are here.
When working in our packing area, shirts and socks and/or clean shoes must be worn. No bare feet.
Be sure to bring comfortable stretchy clothing for the morning (yoga) stretch. Yes, really. After packing all day, you will look forward to and benefit from the s-t-r-e-t-c-h! Packing square parachutes especially, can be physically demanding. You’ll discover muscles that you probably don’t use routinely. I recommend wearing blue jeans for square reserve packing. Blue jeans will protect your knees while crawling around on the carpet. Alternately, some people like to wear shorts and knee pads (we have some knee pads here). We use our knees to compress pilot chute springs, and canopies, etc. Not to worry, we’ll also be packing round parachutes (pilot emergency rigs). These are easier. Everyone begs for yoga by day three.
Passing the Written Exam:
The best program that you can put on your tablet or phone is: https://www.dauntless-soft.com/PRODUCTS/GroundSchool/rigger.asp
This one is advertised as having all the latest Q&A’s.
It costs $65. Parachute Rigging Institute has no ties, financial or otherwise to Dauntless.
We recommend the program because it’s the best. It gives you your
scores so that you can determine whether you’re ready to take the actual written exam. We have this on our tablet at the school, but there’s only one copy of the program
on one tablet. Some of you can share.
Here's a few questions that you may encounter on the written or practical exam:
1) Define these three terms: Angle of Attack: The angle formed between _________ and ___________.
Trim: The angle formed between __________ and the____________.
Angle of Incidence: The angle formed between _____________ and ______________.
(Source: FAA H-8083-17)
2) What is the maximum pull in pounds allowed for the pack opening device of a TSO C23b parachute?
3) Define a lateral band. I’ll give you a hint: it’s found on a parachute.
e-mail back your answers!