question

[bullin82 0]

i would like to become a rigger when i get home from iraq, i am stil a student in jump school but have tons of time here to study. i ws thinking about getting the rigger study handbook and learning as much as i can about the make up and kinetics of parachutes and then when i get home maybe take the written and/or oral exam. am i over stepping my bounds here or would this be plausable?? Any and all info or comments are welcome and very much appreciated. Thank you in advance.

[hackish 8]

I started out with Poynter I then Poynter II, read each cover to cover at least twice. While one might say a lot of the stuff covered in Poynter I is old and obsolete I found it very helpful because it gave a lot of insight into why things were done the way they are as well as knowing what has already been tried, what worked and what didn't.

Couple that with an old crusty RE who taught our course - he was able to communicate many of the historical things to the class as a whole, things I had already learned the basics and history of in the Poynter manual. All the history and background really helped above the blank stares of my peers. It's no substitute for 20 years of experience but it will help.

-Michael

[Milo 0]

Here are a couple of books, The Parachute Manual volumes 1 and 2 will make for some light reading when you get some downtime and seem to be a prerequisite for all the courses.
http://www.paragear.com/templates/base_template.asp?group=23#B1876

Here are the courses that I know the web address of.
http://www.para-concepts.com/RiggingCourse/

http://www.paraloft.com/Riggers_course.htm

and

http://www.usapr.com/

I'm not a rigger but I think any skydiver can benefit from learning as much as they can about our sport and the history and current science of our gear.

[JerryBaumchen 1,048]

Hi bullin,

Go here: http://www.parapublishing.com/sites/parachute/information/ratings.cfm

Or contact him: [email protected]

Since I no longer need any of it I don't really keep up on what all he sells.

Best of luck,

JerryBaumchen

[riggerrob 558]

Studying books is nice, but you will need a letter of recommendation - from an FAA Parachute Rigger - before you can write the exam. He/she will only write the letter after you have packed twenty reserves and satisfied him/her that you know enough to pass the exam.

The Rigger Study Guide (by Poynter and Schlatter) is good when you cram for the written exam, but it would be better reading the Federal Aviation Administration/United States Academy of Parachute Rigging manual to get "the big picture."

[wolfriverjoe 1,340]

Poynter I & II
FAA Rigger Handbook (available free online)

Para Publishing's:
Rigger Study Guide (questions and answers for the written test)
Paqrachute Rigging Course (a syllabus for home study)

You will still need 20 packjobs of each type and an instructor sign-off to take the written test.

I took (and passed) Para-Concepts rigging class in May and reccommend it unreservedly. They give you what you need, but make you learn it.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo