how to become a packer

[tvo7 0]

I was wondering what it takes to become a packer.
ALso, how much do they usually make? Is it by the hour or by how many packs they do?

[Elisha 1]

Well, probably just to be reasonably good at it.

Usually it is 5$/regular, 10$/Tandem, but rates vary by dropzone. So NOT hourly, but per pack job.

[bch7773 0]

unless you find a really nice or desperate packing concession, you are expected to know how to pack before you can become a packer.

MB 3528, RB 1182

[PaulProbuild 0]

Practice is what is needed then when you think you are ready do your packing test

I got my approved packing cert in less than a month, I can pack, Flat pack, pro pack, student & experinced rigs & tandem rigs with all deployment methods

Cirrent rate of pay is £5 for ordinary rigs & £15 for tandem rigs @ my local DZ

[BRYANGOESBOOM 0]

i had the hardest time learning to pack ......and i hate it so what i did is got my wuffo girlfriend to learn how she is picking it up really fast

Not only will you look better, feel better, and fuck better; you'll have significantly increased your life expectancy. --Douva

[Harksaw 0]

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I was wondering what it takes to become a packer.
ALso, how much do they usually make? Is it by the hour or by how many packs they do?

In the US, you need to have a rigger on the dropzone "supervising" you. So, get good at packing, make friends with the DZ rigger, and tell him you want to start packing. In my experience, if you're good at packing sport rigs, dropzones are more than happy to help you learn packing tandems since they always need tandem packers.

If you're in the UK, I believe there's a packing certification you have to get from the government, but I'm not sure. Edit: 15 GBP for packing a tandem? I gotta move there!

__________________________________________________
I started skydiving for the money and the chicks. Oh, wait.

[mr2mk1g 10]

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If you're in the UK, I believe there's a packing certification you have to get from the government, but I'm not sure.

Strictly speaking you need a packing certificate signed by the CCI (center chief instructor) and then sent to the BPA for their records (they endorse it and send it straight back to you).

There are very few DZ's who actually enforce this rule though... but it is there and I think it's growing in importance.

You'll also need to be a paid up member of the BPA as you're then covered by the BPA insurance policy... although I can imagine this going unchecked at a lot of places... but like I said, that's the rule.

In order to get a packing certificate you need to take a packing test. Basically this involves demonstrating a good ability to pack. In practice it will probably involve an instructor cutting a canopy away and messing it up completely and you having to fix any rigging problems with it to his satisfaction before packing it. This is sometimes waived at some places if you have a large number of jumps and they'll simply issue you with the certificate.

The old certificate stated each combination of main and container with which you were familiar. I believe the new certificates simply list the mains and containers seperately as opposed to actual combinations of the two... but I'm not 100% sure as I have the old style.

If you want to progress here to being an advanced packer who can pack reserves you have to have held a packing certificate for 2 years before you can take the relevent exams.

[PaulProbuild 0]

Here in the UK my Packing Certificate (June 2005) has all the Canopy's, Containers & Deployment methods listed separately so you can do any combination of Container, Canopy & deployment methods listed on it

[pacncathyjr 0]

I don't know about most people but my mom charges 6 for sport rigs and 12 for tandems.

[CrazyL 0]

pack your own alot,according to parachute manufacturers instructions. learn to pack every rig you know of by reading the parachute manufacturers instructions first. i've packed over 100 in one day on 5 seperate occasions plus some tips at $5 a piece.You can do the math. are you of spanish origin? if so go see the head packer in perris.

[nicknitro71 0]

In the US a lot of packers are actually violating FAA regulations and here is why:

§105.43 subpart C

a) The main parachute must have been packed within 120 days before the date of its use of a certificated parachute rigger, the person making the next jump with that parachute, or a non-certificated person under the direct supervision of a certification parachute rigger.

Memento Audere Semper

903

[packerboy 3]

huh?

Is directly of that quoted? I find it of confusing very.

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In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

[JohnMitchell 16]

My kid gets $7 for a sport rig, doesn't do tandems yet. Sure beats mowing lawns.

[nicknitro71 0]

I guess you have never read the FAR part 105

It's not confusing at all. if you are going to jump the main next you can pack it. If you are a rigger you can pack the main for anybody. If you are not a rigger and want to pack for someone else then a rigger must supervise you directly. By directly means keeping an eye on you all the time not just having a rigger somewhere at the DZ.

The vast majority of the packers are not riggers and they are not directly supervised by one hence they are breaking an FAA regulation.

If someone dies after a non-rigger non-rigger-supervised packer has packed the main and FAA finds out, the packer, the DZO and the S&TA could face criminal charges.

My recommendation is, if you want to become a packer in the US get your rigging ticket.

Memento Audere Semper

903

[packerboy 3]

No I just read it wrong. I thought there was a grammatical error, but upon further inspection it seems that a parachute rigger may jump any parachute regardless of who packed it and regardless of whether or not the pack job was supervised, as long as it was packed within the last 120 days. Seemed odd, thats all.

I do understand the rules as they were clearly explained to me when I became a packer by my supervising rigger.

I am directly supervised at my workplace, which means that there is a supervisor on the floor at all times, and at any time my work may be scrutinized by such a person. It does not mean that the supervisor has to watch every step of my work at all times during every shift. It just means that due diligence has been followed to ensure that the work is being done properly.

Edited to say: It should say "by a certified rigger" not "of a certified rigger"

Edited again to say: It was just a friendly jab at the typing.... "certification parachute rigger???"

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In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

[malboy 0]

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Cirrent rate of pay is £5 for ordinary rigs & £15 for tandem rigs @ my local DZ

where do you pack? £15 for a tandem is big money!

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[bigway 4]

If you are serious about becoming a packer, i am in a position to help you see that dream through. I am currently able to offer you a position as my personal packer over a 4 month work experience contract where you can develop your skills of packing my rig to begin a future in paid employment next year as a packer.
For the first month of work experience i will pay you nothing but teach you how to pack and let you practise on my rig, every month after i will pay you a pound more each month until you are up to a good safe level of packing. Here you will be able to move on to other dropzones as an experienced packer and earn your fortunes.

.Karnage Krew Gear Store
.

[skydivadee 0]

hey bigway, thats a great idea !!!!!!!

if your serious about becoming a packer heres what to do....

cover your practise area in old bungies, dirt, and other pieces of shit, drink 10 beers, then go to bed. get up at 8am, sweep your practise area clean, then pack and unpack your main no stop all day until 2 hours after sunset, during the day, play loud music and try and do minor mathmatical calculations, and above all smile !!

if you feel great the next morning and gagging for more, then do it again.

If you can get your packjobs down to 4 minutes, and still love it.... then you can be a packer !

It is the toughest job on the dz, and one of the most important.