Occupational Profile

[BuddyCasemore 0]

I am from canada and I was wondering if someone could do an occupation profile on rigging as a career. I would like to know everything from salaries, to working conditions, to training...and so on. I am from canada and currently have 20 jumps if anyone can help me out.
Thanks

[Vectracide 0]

RiggerRob is your guy. Rob is a long time rigger that has worked at container manufacturers and DZ's. He currently works at Pacific Skydivers in Pitt Meadows, BC. Look him up.....he'll talk yer ear off.

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Controlled and Deliberate.....

[2cmyzx 0]

Aiden Walters is also a regular at your dz, Eden North. He is a full time rigger and jumper and video guy and should be able to answer your questions!

[riggerrob 643]

Don't give up your daytime job!
Hee!
Hee!
Carpenters always get paid more than professional skydivers ... especially during the colder months. For example, it may be raining today, but I am spending the day re-lining two canopies, then tomorrow I start into the pile of 100 student rigs that have to be ready in April.
I work in a warm, dry loft over the winter because I hold multiple Canadian and American rigger ratings and have five years experience working in parachute factories in the USA.
Another note: the more ratings you have, the more you will work. For example, I hold a couple of CSPA Coach ratings, plus instructor ratings to teach IAD, static-line and PFF. I also hold ratings from three different tandem manufacturers.
I used to fly the jump plane, back when you only needed a Private Pilot license. So now my next challenge is whether to complete my Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (hint: I fixed helicopters when I was in the Air Force) or Commercial Pilot license next. ??????
About the only job that I avoid on the DZ is outside video, because I don't believe that it pays enough. Instead I take my hand-mounted camera on most tandem jumps.
Some seasons I have only trained static-liners and other seasons I have only sewn.

But the bottom line is that the more ratings you hold, the more money you can earn. That often makes the difference between eating and starving in the skydiving business.

Final note: if you are serious about learning how to rig, contact me privately about the rigging course in early March 2007.

[BuddyCasemore 0]

Don't you mean in the colder months rigging would be better? I haven't done my carpentry job in a while mainly because I'm in school, but on weekends it's too cold that I work my other job at tim hortons.

I'm also not sure if carpentry is the way I want to go still either, I may change a trade but I'm always keeping my options open.

Also to start rigging what are the starting points? Like for this course your talking about, anything special to start? Or for factories are those only rigger trained employees and what's the work like?

So many questions I know, but this is all great what your giving me

[riggerrob 643]

Yes, rigging is the only work that gets done on Canadian dropzones during the winter.
For example, between now and April, I have to inspect and repack 100 rigs. This includes inspecting mains, patching mains, changing Cypres batteries, etc. A lot of that is complex sewing requiring a CSPA Rigger B certificate.

The pre-levels for the CSPA Rigger A course - in early March are the same as for every other Rigger A course: B Certificate of Proficiency, ten reserves repacked under supervision (by a licensed rigger). You are also expected to purchase a few books (both volumes by Poynter, a Para-Gear catalog, a stack of packing manuals, etc.) and a partial set of tools.

Factory jobs are rare, furthermore, factories tend to hire dozens of little Mexican ladies, but only one or two riggers.

[riggerrob 643]

I'm also not sure if carpentry is the way I want to go still either, I may change a trade but I'm always keeping my options open.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The reason that I suggested keeping your day (carpenter) job is that wannabee professional skydivers are a dime a dozen.
Ho hum!
Drop zone operators prefer to hire skydiving instructors who have a bunch of other skills. They need staff who can keep themselves gainfully employed during rainy, windy, snowy, etc. days. Buildings around DZs always need some repairs. The best way to get hired at a DZ is to emphasis your plumbing or electrical or carpentry or painting or mechanical or lawn-mowing or accounting or marketing, etc. skills.
For example, Alberta Skydivers (Beiseker, Alberta) hired two carpenters in 2006. The fact that one of them held multiple skydiving instructor ratings and the other one is a commercial pilot, were "nice to know."

[BuddyCasemore 0]

So I'm trying to figure out the best way to go. I'm still somewhat confused on what direction to go, like if I decide to stick with carpentry how do I turn that into a full skydiving career? How did others start out?

I think I feel that if I stick with carpentry or any other trade that I'll just stick with it and get used to the schedule for my whole life. I see people like riggerrob that do it for a living, but I also hear that skydiving cannot sustain a person for living. I see where I want to be, but I'm trying to figure how to get there, and how long it will take.

I mean I'm only at 19 jumps (basically solo national, one more meaneuver but snow cancelled my jump to do it) so to get to a "B" CoP and then take a rigger course which may be offered at the end of the summer? Then applying the rigger rating and where to work is all what I'm trying to find out.

haha I'm asking for your life story, sorry but for my own good and we're supposed to be planning our "life career" in grade 12 at school.

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[riggerrob 643]

The good news is that wages - in the skydiving industry - will slowly rise as the baby boom retires. The bad news is that only one percent of riggers will earn enough to make a living rigging.
If you want to survive, you need multiple instructional ratings, along with outside video, packing, toilet scrubbing, lawn-mowing, etc.
It will take you a minimum of three years to acquire enough: Coach, Instructor, Tandem, rigger, videographer, etc. ratings to earn a living.
A lot of construction workers (i.e. Tom Sanders and Don Balch) have gradually transitioned from construction full-time to skydiving full-time.
Continue working in construction over the winters, but take fewer and fewer construction contracts every summer.
Most DZOs will cheerfully trade jump tickets for building repairs and that is a good way to start.