العربية
中国
Français
Deutsch
Ελληνική
हिन्दी
Italiano
日本語
Português
Русский
EspañolPARACHUTE RIGGER
A 'parachute rigger' is a person who is trained and licenced (civilian) to pack, maintain or repair parachutes. A rigger is required to understand fabrics, hardware, webbing, regulations, sewing, packing, and other aspects related to the building, packing, repair, and maintenance of personnel parachutes.
Militaries around the world train their own parachute riggers to support their airborne or paratrooper forces. These military riggers often also pack parachutes for aerial delivery operations, through which military supplies and equipment are delivered by aircraft to combat zones.
Parachute riggers in the Australian Army are responsible for the preparation, maintenance and supply of parachutes and other aerial delivery components.
Prior to commencing the parachute rigger course, all trainees must be static-line parachute qualified. Parachute riggers frequently make parachute jumps, and at any time may be required to jump with any parachute they have packed. This is to help them better understand how the equipment they prepare and maintain works, and to help ensure that each parachute is professionally packed to a safe standard.
Riggers have played an important role in the American military since the advent of the use of the parachute for aerial insertion of troops, supplies, and equipment into combat zones. In lieu of the maroon beret worn by soldiers in other airborne units, riggers often wear a distinctive red baseball cap as their military headgear.
'U.S. Army'. When the Army formed its first paratrooper unit in 1940, a parachute test platoon, the paratroopers themselves prepared and took care of their own parachutes. The test platoon had only 3 men, two enlisted soldiers and one warrant officer, from the Army Air Corps serving as the precursors of the Army's parachute riggers.
When the Army created five Airborne divisions for World War II, the Army stopped training each paratrooper how to pack his own chute and started support organizations for parachute packing and rigging. The first riggers received their training at Fort Benning, GA.
After 1950, the Army assigned the Quartermaster Corps with the mission of aerial delivery, including parachute rigging. A parachute rigger course was established at the U.S. Army Quartermaster School at Fort Lee, VA in 1951, and has continued since then.
Army Parachute Rigger recruits start their training at Airborne Orientation Course (AOC), a course designed to prepare 92R0 recruits for success at Airborne School. AOC was, in the past, a three week course at Ft Lee, VA, but is now a much shorter course at Ft Jackson, SC. From AOC, rigger recruits go to Airborne School at Ft Benning, GA. If a rigger recruit does not pass Airborne School, that soldier is reclassified, as all US Army Parachute Rigges must be airborne qualified. After Airborne School, the 92R0P recruits head to Ft Lee to attend the 10 week Parachute Rigger Course. The course is divided into three parts: Personnel Pack, Aerial Delivery, and Air Item Repair. During their first three weeks they must complete a parachute jump using a chute that they packed themselves.
Service members from other branches of the U.S. Armed Forces also attend parachute rigger courses at Fort Lee.
'U.S. Air Force.' United States Air Force Parachute Riggers are trained at Sheppard AFB, Texas. The 12-week course labeled as Air Force Specialty Code 2A734 gives recruits fresh from USAF Basic Military Training the basic skills of the "Survival Equipment" career field. Students are instructed on the inspection and re-pack of several types of life preserver and life raft, as well as multiple parachute systems. Once graduated from the technical school students are assigned to a duty location where they are further instructed using on the job training. USAF Parachute Riggers are not required, or offered the chance, to complete any parachute jump training.
'U.S. Navy.' The United States Navy Parachute Riggers are trained at Naval Air Station Pensacola during a 6-9 week school. When they graduate, they do become PRs, but the rating is called Aircrew Survival Equipmentman. While in school they go through 6-9 courses, 6 courses for O-Level, 9 weeks for I-Level. Students who are O-Level designated for overseas will receive 9 weeks as well. The first week is sewing, dubbed by students and instructors alike as "Combat Sewing". Students will sew a handbag completely from scratch and will learn about tool control and FOD management. The next course is Survival, which students will learn basics of survival gear such as inspection cycles and nomenclature. Then Life Preservers is next, followed by "SKU" Survival Seats, and the final "O" level subject is NB-8 Parachute assemblies. NES-12 will begin for all students, but only some will finish this class as the class final exam will be taken, and students with "I" strand will continue on, while students from "O" strand will graduate and go to their designated squadrons. "I" strand will finish NES-12s and move on to Life Rafts, where they will graduate upon completion. Classes average to about one week per class.
During the entire time of study students will undergo physical training at least twice a week, be subjected to rigorous inspections every Monday, and will march to and from the building, being accountable for showing up on time, cleanliness, and homework.
Riggers who work on the parachutes of sport parachutists are usually certified by the local aviation authorities, a local aviation association, or a parachuting association. The licencing system varies from country to country, but usually there are several levels of licences, the higher licences giving the rigger more privileges in the field.
In the US, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) licences the riggers.
The FAA issues two levels of civilian parachute rigger ratings: senior and master. Entry-level riggers start by apprenticing - under another licensed rigger, then test for the Senior Rigger rating. The Senior Rigger test involves three parts: written, oral and practical. The written test is usually done at a computerized learning center and results are available immediately.
The oral and practical exams include questions - about common rigging practices. The practical test consists of inspecting and repacking 20 reserves, along with hand sewing and a simple machine-sewn patch on a canopy.
Candidates have the option of testing on back, chest, seat or lap type parachutes.
Also note that the FAA does not distinguish between round and (modern) square parachutes.
After three years experience - including packing at least 200 reserves, Senior Riggers can test for the Master Rigger rating, which allows them to do most major repairs. There is no written test for Master Riggers, but the oral exam is far more extensive, including identifying dozens of material samples. The - Master - practical exam starts with assembling and adjusting a sewing machine, then doing a major canopy repair that includes a seam, reinforcing tape and line attachment. Master candidates are also usually asked to demonstrate a harness repair.
FAA riggers are tested by Parachute Rigger Examiners (government employees) or Designated Parachute Rigger Examiners (independent civilians, usually highly-experienced Master Riggers).
US military riggers only need a letter from their commanding officer and the written test to earn FAA rigger ratings.
In the United States, aspiring riggers both civilian and military may train at the US Academy of Parachute Rigging, located in Eloy, Arizona. Courses in rigging include:
FAA Senior
FAA Master Rigger
Para-Flite Maintenance
Parachute Product Orientation
In Australia, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has authorized the Australian Parachute Federation(APF) to licence the riggers.
In Canada, parachute rigger ratings are issued by the Canadian Sports Parachuting Association's Technical Committee. CSPA issues two levels of rigger ratings: A and B.
Entry level includes packing ten reserves under supervision then attending a one-week course given by a CSPA Rigger Instructor. Canadian Rigger As are limited to assembling and packing parachutes - for which they ar approved. They can replace components and do simple hand-sewing, but are not trained to use sewing machines. At the end of the Rigger A Course, candidates can chose to be tested on round or square parachutes and they can chose which type of container for their practical test (one-pin sport, two-pin sport, Pop-Top or chest. Certification for packing Pilot Emergency Parachutes (PEP) can only be obtained after passing practical tests on all other types.
After two more years of experience - including learning sewing machine operation - riggers can challenge for Rigger B ratings. The SOLO program includes sewing a bag of samples and submitting them to CSPA's Technical Committee. CSPA Rigger Bs enjoy the same privileges as American Master Riggers and are allowed to do most major repairs that can be done outside of a factory.
★ U.S. Army Parachute Rigger History
★ Defence Jobs Rigger Parachute Information
| Contents |
| Military parachute riggers |
| Australian Defence Force |
| U.S. Military |
| Civilian parachute riggers |
| United States |
| Australia |
| Canada |
| External links |
Military parachute riggers
Militaries around the world train their own parachute riggers to support their airborne or paratrooper forces. These military riggers often also pack parachutes for aerial delivery operations, through which military supplies and equipment are delivered by aircraft to combat zones.
Australian Defence Force
Parachute riggers in the Australian Army are responsible for the preparation, maintenance and supply of parachutes and other aerial delivery components.
Prior to commencing the parachute rigger course, all trainees must be static-line parachute qualified. Parachute riggers frequently make parachute jumps, and at any time may be required to jump with any parachute they have packed. This is to help them better understand how the equipment they prepare and maintain works, and to help ensure that each parachute is professionally packed to a safe standard.
U.S. Military
The U.S. Army Parachute Rigger's Badge
Riggers have played an important role in the American military since the advent of the use of the parachute for aerial insertion of troops, supplies, and equipment into combat zones. In lieu of the maroon beret worn by soldiers in other airborne units, riggers often wear a distinctive red baseball cap as their military headgear.
'U.S. Army'. When the Army formed its first paratrooper unit in 1940, a parachute test platoon, the paratroopers themselves prepared and took care of their own parachutes. The test platoon had only 3 men, two enlisted soldiers and one warrant officer, from the Army Air Corps serving as the precursors of the Army's parachute riggers.
When the Army created five Airborne divisions for World War II, the Army stopped training each paratrooper how to pack his own chute and started support organizations for parachute packing and rigging. The first riggers received their training at Fort Benning, GA.
After 1950, the Army assigned the Quartermaster Corps with the mission of aerial delivery, including parachute rigging. A parachute rigger course was established at the U.S. Army Quartermaster School at Fort Lee, VA in 1951, and has continued since then.
Army Parachute Rigger recruits start their training at Airborne Orientation Course (AOC), a course designed to prepare 92R0 recruits for success at Airborne School. AOC was, in the past, a three week course at Ft Lee, VA, but is now a much shorter course at Ft Jackson, SC. From AOC, rigger recruits go to Airborne School at Ft Benning, GA. If a rigger recruit does not pass Airborne School, that soldier is reclassified, as all US Army Parachute Rigges must be airborne qualified. After Airborne School, the 92R0P recruits head to Ft Lee to attend the 10 week Parachute Rigger Course. The course is divided into three parts: Personnel Pack, Aerial Delivery, and Air Item Repair. During their first three weeks they must complete a parachute jump using a chute that they packed themselves.
Service members from other branches of the U.S. Armed Forces also attend parachute rigger courses at Fort Lee.
'U.S. Air Force.' United States Air Force Parachute Riggers are trained at Sheppard AFB, Texas. The 12-week course labeled as Air Force Specialty Code 2A734 gives recruits fresh from USAF Basic Military Training the basic skills of the "Survival Equipment" career field. Students are instructed on the inspection and re-pack of several types of life preserver and life raft, as well as multiple parachute systems. Once graduated from the technical school students are assigned to a duty location where they are further instructed using on the job training. USAF Parachute Riggers are not required, or offered the chance, to complete any parachute jump training.
'U.S. Navy.' The United States Navy Parachute Riggers are trained at Naval Air Station Pensacola during a 6-9 week school. When they graduate, they do become PRs, but the rating is called Aircrew Survival Equipmentman. While in school they go through 6-9 courses, 6 courses for O-Level, 9 weeks for I-Level. Students who are O-Level designated for overseas will receive 9 weeks as well. The first week is sewing, dubbed by students and instructors alike as "Combat Sewing". Students will sew a handbag completely from scratch and will learn about tool control and FOD management. The next course is Survival, which students will learn basics of survival gear such as inspection cycles and nomenclature. Then Life Preservers is next, followed by "SKU" Survival Seats, and the final "O" level subject is NB-8 Parachute assemblies. NES-12 will begin for all students, but only some will finish this class as the class final exam will be taken, and students with "I" strand will continue on, while students from "O" strand will graduate and go to their designated squadrons. "I" strand will finish NES-12s and move on to Life Rafts, where they will graduate upon completion. Classes average to about one week per class.
During the entire time of study students will undergo physical training at least twice a week, be subjected to rigorous inspections every Monday, and will march to and from the building, being accountable for showing up on time, cleanliness, and homework.
Civilian parachute riggers
Riggers who work on the parachutes of sport parachutists are usually certified by the local aviation authorities, a local aviation association, or a parachuting association. The licencing system varies from country to country, but usually there are several levels of licences, the higher licences giving the rigger more privileges in the field.
United States
In the US, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) licences the riggers.
The FAA issues two levels of civilian parachute rigger ratings: senior and master. Entry-level riggers start by apprenticing - under another licensed rigger, then test for the Senior Rigger rating. The Senior Rigger test involves three parts: written, oral and practical. The written test is usually done at a computerized learning center and results are available immediately.
The oral and practical exams include questions - about common rigging practices. The practical test consists of inspecting and repacking 20 reserves, along with hand sewing and a simple machine-sewn patch on a canopy.
Candidates have the option of testing on back, chest, seat or lap type parachutes.
Also note that the FAA does not distinguish between round and (modern) square parachutes.
After three years experience - including packing at least 200 reserves, Senior Riggers can test for the Master Rigger rating, which allows them to do most major repairs. There is no written test for Master Riggers, but the oral exam is far more extensive, including identifying dozens of material samples. The - Master - practical exam starts with assembling and adjusting a sewing machine, then doing a major canopy repair that includes a seam, reinforcing tape and line attachment. Master candidates are also usually asked to demonstrate a harness repair.
FAA riggers are tested by Parachute Rigger Examiners (government employees) or Designated Parachute Rigger Examiners (independent civilians, usually highly-experienced Master Riggers).
US military riggers only need a letter from their commanding officer and the written test to earn FAA rigger ratings.
In the United States, aspiring riggers both civilian and military may train at the US Academy of Parachute Rigging, located in Eloy, Arizona. Courses in rigging include:
FAA Senior
FAA Master Rigger
Para-Flite Maintenance
Parachute Product Orientation
Australia
In Australia, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has authorized the Australian Parachute Federation(APF) to licence the riggers.
Canada
In Canada, parachute rigger ratings are issued by the Canadian Sports Parachuting Association's Technical Committee. CSPA issues two levels of rigger ratings: A and B.
Entry level includes packing ten reserves under supervision then attending a one-week course given by a CSPA Rigger Instructor. Canadian Rigger As are limited to assembling and packing parachutes - for which they ar approved. They can replace components and do simple hand-sewing, but are not trained to use sewing machines. At the end of the Rigger A Course, candidates can chose to be tested on round or square parachutes and they can chose which type of container for their practical test (one-pin sport, two-pin sport, Pop-Top or chest. Certification for packing Pilot Emergency Parachutes (PEP) can only be obtained after passing practical tests on all other types.
After two more years of experience - including learning sewing machine operation - riggers can challenge for Rigger B ratings. The SOLO program includes sewing a bag of samples and submitting them to CSPA's Technical Committee. CSPA Rigger Bs enjoy the same privileges as American Master Riggers and are allowed to do most major repairs that can be done outside of a factory.
External links
★ U.S. Army Parachute Rigger History
★ Defence Jobs Rigger Parachute Information
This article provided by Wikipedia. To edit the contents of this article, click here for original source.
psst.. try this: add to faves
