beuxbunk 0 #1 February 2, 2006 I have been searching the internet and emailing dropzones about getting a summer job packing parachutes but dont get replied or offered a job. Is it an unspoken rule not to hire people they dont know to pack? Should I need over 200 jumps to be taken seriously? Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spatula 0 #2 February 2, 2006 Not necessarily...I was hired to pack/run manifest without any knowledge of packing prior. But I started training in the winter to be ready for spring/summer. Call the DZ's, don't just email. Go there and speak to the DZO in person. You may have a different result. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 558 #3 February 2, 2006 Start by completing your profile. Aspiring professional packers are a dime-a-dozen, so DZs can afford to pick and chose. Unless you have a reputation - like Packing Kathy - prepare to start at the bottom of the pecking order (i.e. only packing for up-jumpers and only on the busiest weekends). If your pack consistently quickly and neatly, then you can expect to slowly move up the packing order. On smaller DZs you will only be able to move up when senior packers retire. Don't worry, turn-over is pretty quick in the skydiving business. You could move from junior hangar sweeper to Senior Rigger in a couple of years. Which brings us to the other issue: licensing. There is an antique American Federal Air Regulation that says that main parachutes cna only be packed by the next guy who plans to jump it or a licensed parachute rigger. Which means that larger DZs expect new packers hold FAA Riggers' Certificates or work under the supervision of a licensed rigger. This also means kicking-back 50 cents or a dollar of every pack job to the rigger who is supervising you. The good news is that packers are the best paid workers on the DZ, making up to $600 per day, often tax-free. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tink1717 2 #4 February 2, 2006 Not really. You don't say where you are looking, but if you are in the northern tier of states, you are way ahead of the season. Things don't start rolling up here until late March (even though safety day is the second weekend). Keep trying until you get a response - go there in person as well- and then follow up persistently. Good luck.Skydivers don't knock on Death's door. They ring the bell and runaway... It really pisses him off. -The World Famous Tink. (I never heard of you either!!) AA #2069 ASA#33 POPS#8808 Swooo 1717 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IanHarrop 37 #5 February 2, 2006 I noticed that you are from Norway - do you have all the proper paper work to work in the USA? If you do it might be important to make sure that prospective employers are informed of this."Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phillbo 11 #6 February 2, 2006 Quote The good news is that packers are the best paid workers on the DZ, making up to $600 per day, often tax-free. 600.00 assuming they pack around 70 chutes that day - right ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 24 #7 February 2, 2006 Quotemaking up to $600 per day, often tax-free Thats 10 hours of 10 minute tandem pack jobs at $10 each... not sure its realistic Rob....Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tso-d_chris 0 #8 February 2, 2006 QuoteQuote The good news is that packers are the best paid workers on the DZ, making up to $600 per day, often tax-free. 600.00 assuming they pack around 70 chutes that day - right ? More than that. Packing is feast or famine. When there's lots of jumpers making lots of jumps, you can make bank. When the weather sucks, so does the pay. For Great Deals on Gear Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wrightskyguy 1 #9 February 3, 2006 QuoteThats 10 hours of 10 minute tandem pack jobs at $10 each... not sure its realistic Rob.... ***The tax free part is true though, oh, and chicks dig packers. John Wright World's most beloved skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jheadley 0 #10 February 3, 2006 QuoteQuoteThats 10 hours of 10 minute tandem pack jobs at $10 each... not sure its realistic Rob.... ***The tax free part is true though, oh, and chicks dig packers. I packed on weekends for a year and I never made more than 200 dollars a day. Still 200 dollars a day is pretty damn nice... Chicks dig packers? When did this happen? Why wasn't I informed? In my experience, although packers are one of the most important people at the DZ, they are by far the most abused and the least appreciated. Oh, and orginal guy, I definitely feel your pain. I've got over 1000 pack jobs and there's not a single DZ in Florida that would hire me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites dqpacker 7 #11 February 3, 2006 You only made 200 dollars a day? You weren't packing hard enough, charging enough, or you were just packing sport rigs. Oh yeah chicks dig packers only when you don't charge them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites chachi 0 #12 February 3, 2006 pfft, chix dig swoopers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Dolph 0 #13 February 3, 2006 They're important in the sense that they provide a service. They're unimportant in the sense that the service provided is unnecessary for any licensed skydiver who doesn't have medical problems or doesn't have a very tight jump schedule. For these people, they're very valuable. My experience is that the majority of people who use packers do so because it's a pain in the ass to pack and that time could be spent chillin' with the dudes instead. The vast majority of jumpers could jump without packers. Gotta agree with you though that they don't seem to be appreciated by the people who use them and some treat them as personal slaves. I caved in on my last Russia trip and got a packer. Personally, I was extremely appreciative of his work and the conditions he was working under - and indicated my thankfulness by a rather large tip. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0 Go To Topic Listing
jheadley 0 #10 February 3, 2006 QuoteQuoteThats 10 hours of 10 minute tandem pack jobs at $10 each... not sure its realistic Rob.... ***The tax free part is true though, oh, and chicks dig packers. I packed on weekends for a year and I never made more than 200 dollars a day. Still 200 dollars a day is pretty damn nice... Chicks dig packers? When did this happen? Why wasn't I informed? In my experience, although packers are one of the most important people at the DZ, they are by far the most abused and the least appreciated. Oh, and orginal guy, I definitely feel your pain. I've got over 1000 pack jobs and there's not a single DZ in Florida that would hire me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites dqpacker 7 #11 February 3, 2006 You only made 200 dollars a day? You weren't packing hard enough, charging enough, or you were just packing sport rigs. Oh yeah chicks dig packers only when you don't charge them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites chachi 0 #12 February 3, 2006 pfft, chix dig swoopers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Dolph 0 #13 February 3, 2006 They're important in the sense that they provide a service. They're unimportant in the sense that the service provided is unnecessary for any licensed skydiver who doesn't have medical problems or doesn't have a very tight jump schedule. For these people, they're very valuable. My experience is that the majority of people who use packers do so because it's a pain in the ass to pack and that time could be spent chillin' with the dudes instead. The vast majority of jumpers could jump without packers. Gotta agree with you though that they don't seem to be appreciated by the people who use them and some treat them as personal slaves. I caved in on my last Russia trip and got a packer. Personally, I was extremely appreciative of his work and the conditions he was working under - and indicated my thankfulness by a rather large tip. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
dqpacker 7 #11 February 3, 2006 You only made 200 dollars a day? You weren't packing hard enough, charging enough, or you were just packing sport rigs. Oh yeah chicks dig packers only when you don't charge them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chachi 0 #12 February 3, 2006 pfft, chix dig swoopers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dolph 0 #13 February 3, 2006 They're important in the sense that they provide a service. They're unimportant in the sense that the service provided is unnecessary for any licensed skydiver who doesn't have medical problems or doesn't have a very tight jump schedule. For these people, they're very valuable. My experience is that the majority of people who use packers do so because it's a pain in the ass to pack and that time could be spent chillin' with the dudes instead. The vast majority of jumpers could jump without packers. Gotta agree with you though that they don't seem to be appreciated by the people who use them and some treat them as personal slaves. I caved in on my last Russia trip and got a packer. Personally, I was extremely appreciative of his work and the conditions he was working under - and indicated my thankfulness by a rather large tip. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
