Key Information
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students should:
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Complete at least 20 supervised pack jobs for one parachute type rating.
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Be prepared to take the FAA Practical Rigger Examination.
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Be prepared to take the FAA Written Examination.
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Leave with greater knowledge, confidence, and practical rigging experience.
General FAA Eligibility Requirements
Applicants for either a Senior or Master Parachute Rigger Certificate must:
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Be at least 18 years old.
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Be able to read, write, speak, and understand English.
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Complete all FAA examinations in English.
Senior Parachute Rigger Requirements
Applicants seeking a Senior Parachute Rigger rating must:
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Complete at least 20 pack jobs for each parachute type rating sought.
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Perform all pack jobs under the supervision of a qualified rigger and according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
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Pass the FAA written examination covering parachute construction, packing, maintenance, and applicable regulations.
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Pass an oral and practical examination demonstrating the required packing and maintenance skills for the desired type rating or ratings.
Master Parachute Rigger Requirements
Applicants pursuing a Master rating who do not already hold a Senior Rigger Certificate must first complete the applicable Senior Rigger requirements.
Experience requirements for Master certification include:
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At least 3 years of experience as a parachute rigger.
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Satisfactorily packed at least 100 parachutes of each of two types (in common use) in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. These pack jobs must be completed under the supervision of a certificated and appropriately rated parachute rigger (or a person holding appropriate military ratings). This is required for the initial certification and the specific type ratings sought.
The Master certification process includes:
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Passing a 50-question written examination with a minimum score of 70%.
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Passing an oral examination administered by a Designated Parachute Rigger Examiner (DPRE).
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Passing a practical examination demonstrating proficiency in at least three areas. These may include harness repair, container repair, canopy repair, or a pack job.
The specific practical examination requirements may vary depending on the DPRE.
SCHEDULE:
Class is from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
If you are a U.S. citizen, you must bring one form of I.D.
(driver license or passport).
If you are a non-U.S. citizen, you must bring 2 forms of I.D. (a passport and driver license
or some other photo I.D. such as a visa or military I.D.).
Typical Examination Schedule
Week 1: Document Review
An FAA representative will visit the facility to verify your identity and review all required documentation in person. You must successfully complete this review before proceeding.
Week 2: Written, Oral and Practical Examinations
You will take the written examination at an approved testing facility. After passing the written examination, you will complete the oral examination with the DPRE. Once the oral examination is successfully completed, you will proceed to the practical portion of the exam.
Standard Courses Offered
Senior Parachute Rigger Course
Master Parachute Rigger Course
Continuing Skills Course
Additional Parachute Rigger Ratings Course
Sewing Machine Operation and Maintenance
Parachute Rigger Military Troop Parachutes
Parachute Rigger Military Tactical Parachutes
Optional customized Course to meet exact needs
Parachute Rigging Course Outlines
FAA Regulations
AAD assembly and maintenance
Canopy repair
Component & compatibility
Hand tacking and knots
Hardware
Suspension line maintenance and replacement
Parachute maintenance, manufacturing & alterations
Parachute materials
Parachute testing
Ram air parachutes
3-Ring maintenance
Record keeping
Rigging ethics
Round parachutes
Service Bulletins & AD's
Sewing machines & maintenance
Tool identification and control
REQUIREMENTS:
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(Normally) Eight to ten course attendees.
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Students are encouraged to show up for the course with the following items completed to be able to complete all of the projects.
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Have completed 5 - 10 reserve pack jobs under the guidance and supervision of an FAA-licensed rigger (bring logbook stating that this requirement has been met). *Some students have done all the packing during the two-week course, but there will be more time for sewing and learning to pack a greater variety of rigs if some of the packs are already completed.
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Have read the Parachute Manual by Dan Poynter - available in our shop
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Practiced the written test on www.exams4pilots.com or Dauntless Written Knowledge Test Prep
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Pre-Requisites:
Be able to pack a square main or reserve parachute . Actual jump experience is not necessary, but is helpful.
Theory Lecture Content
I WILL BE SURE ALWAYS
Safety
Brief on use of tools and of the potential for injury during the process, we can discuss and expand on what safety parameters we must have. Items such as hot knives, sharp blades, seam rippers, sewing machines can all pose the potential for injury.
Sewing Machine Adjustment, Maintenance, and Tuning
Sewing Machine Basics: a section on the operation of the machine and what can go wrong and how to fix it is a good idea before the student actually gets behind the machine.
Basic Sewing Techniques
Three or four projects will be assigned to each student, such as:
• Basic patch
• Slider kill line channel replacement
• Grommet hole repair
• Main riser toggle keeper replacement
• BOC replacement
• Stitch patterns and intro to harness repair
Material Identification
Be able to identify common webbing, materials and hardware.
Inspection
The purpose of the 180 repack cycle is inspection. Developing a methodology; use of checklists; common wear points.
Grommet Setting, Removal, and Repair
Grommet Setting: basic removal and replacement and removal and replacement of stiffeners.
Structural & Functional Compatibility
Determining compatibility between approved components, understanding FAA Advisory Circular 105-2c, the importance of bag extraction forces vs. effective pilotchute size and drag, understanding the TSO and placarding of major components.
Knots
Learn basic knots used in parachute rigging: Larks head, Bowline, Surgeons, Clove Hitch, Half Hitch, etc.
FAR’s
Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 65 governing parachute riggers and Part 105 governing parachute jumping; you’ll see questions pertaining to this on the written exam and the oral exam.