How long before jumpers are able to train / take tandem jumps?

[untoldfox 0]

Hey guys

Just wondering what kind of qualifications must you have to be able to train AFF or take people out on tandem jumps?

On average how many jumps do these people have? what kind of training do they have?

Also I've heard the term 'Jump master' could someone explain that? and 'Master rigger' What, or how does one get that title? apart from being really good at what they do.

thanks again!

[dragon2 2]

The exact regulations vary which country you're in, but for AFF it's usually 500 jumps plus a few other requirements like accumulated freefall time, coach rating, and you have to pass the course, for tandem it's usually either 500 or 1000 jumps minimum, some other requirements like a reserve procedure performed and of course the course.

Jumpmaster is the easiest rating to get, at least over here it means you're responsible for anyone not yet A-licensed and not with an instructor (AFF, tandem), you make sure they get out of the airplane at the correct location, sign off A-license requirements like specific exits, etc, this rating can be obtained at 50 jumps or so in some countries. In some cases/countries/military, jumpmaster means a greater responsibility with probably higher requirements to get the rating.

Riggers, you take a course for that, in some countries you don't even have to be a jumper at all.

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[popsjumper 2]

For the U.S., it's all in the Skydiver's Information Manual:

http://www.uspa.org/publications/SIM/2008SIM/SIM.htm


...and in the Instructional Rating Manual:

http://www.uspa.org/publications/manuals.pdf/2008IRMEssentials.pdf

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[JohanW 0]

Saskia, you do realise that with since latest revision of the rules over here, the jumpmaster rating no longer exists?

I'm back to being an unrated up-jumper again.

Jumpmaster is anyone the I says is (may need B, but since the last-but-one craze I stopped keeping up with the rules a bit). Dropping static liners takes an HI-rating (something like coach. has passed a course and can teach FJC).

All of this is local Dutch rules and may, or may not, apply to the OP (I didn't check). They get both more and more and less and less crazy every revision. Maybe I'm just getting older ..

Johan.
I am. I think.

[riggerrob 643]

To become an FAA Master rigger, you need three years experience repairing parachutes, have packed more than 200 reserves (or pilot emergency parachutes), pass written, oral and practical exams.

Canadian Rigger B has similar privileges/responsibilities, but has to pass a more formal training process (i.e. submit a bag of a dozen sewn samples to CSPA's Technical Committee).

[skytash 0]

In the UK the jumpmaster is the second in command to the pilot on any plane. It's part of the B-licence requirements, so you can be a jumpmaster at 50 jumps. Normally it's the most experienced jumper on the plane.

Responsibilities include determining exit point for the first group to exit (everyone should spot for themselves anyway shouldn't they!) and in the event of an aircraft emergency make sure that the other jumpers follow the instructions of the pilot. They are also responsible for checking that everyone has had a kit check which is signed for, making sure helmets and seatbelts are on before the plane takes off and generally be the designated 'adult'.

They usually get to sit in the cold spot by the door, which can be good or bad depending on the time of year!

tash

Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe

[skydived19006 4]

Quote

To become an FAA Master rigger, you need three years experience repairing parachutes, have packed more than 200 reserves (or pilot emergency parachutes), pass written, oral and practical exams.

Canadian Rigger B has similar privileges/responsibilities, but has to pass a more formal training process (i.e. submit a bag of a dozen sewn samples to CSPA's Technical Committee).

I am not a rigger, but as I understand there is also a requirement for Master Rigger to have packed 25 of a second "type". Type being back, seat, chest, and lap, which makes it a bit difficult since there are not many chest, lap (what's that anyway), or seat rigs around anymore. I think that many simply get an old belly container, and practice packing, signing off on it. This is another archaic FAA rule, it would be much more logical in this day to have the types being ram air, and round.

"FAR Section 65.115 provides that applicants for a senior parachute rigger certificate must have packed at least 20 parachutes of each type for which a rating is sought. The parachute must have been packed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and under the supervision of a certificated parachute rigger who holds a rating for that type or by a person holding an appropriate military
rating.


Applicants for a master parachute rigger certificate must have had at least 3 years of experience as a parachute rigger and have satisfactorily packed at least 100 parachutes of each of two types in common use, in
accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions."

Martin

Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else.

AC DZ

[riggerrob 643]

Martin,

Your first paragraph contradicts your last paragraph and your last paragraph is correct.
An aspiring FAA Master Rigger must repack 100 each of two different types of parachutes (back, seat, chest or lap) before applying.
Back type parachutes are by far the most popular.
Chest type was fashionable when I was a student (late 1970s).
Seat packs are limited to antique airplanes and a few homebuilt aerobatic airplanes.

For comparison, I have packed 3,700 back type parachutes, 361 seat and 60 chest type parachutes. The only reason I have that much variety is that I worked for Butler and Para-Phernalia, two leading manufacturers for Pilot Emergency Parachutes. Both Butler and Para-Pernalia make seat packs for Warbirds. The only reason I have packed more than a handful of chests is that Butler used to built chest packs for the United States Coast Guard.

Lap types were made briefly during the 1930s - for military gunners. So lap type disappeared 60 some odd years ago, but the FAA has not updated the regulations. Updating an American Federal Air Regulation is slow process.
Hopefully, with the new FAA Parachute Rigging Manual, they will start updating standards for parachute riggers, but don't hold your breath.

You are correct in saying that the FAA should update their rating system to consider round versus square canopies, etc.
However, that raises the huge American fear of "things not invented here."
CCPA modified standards for certifying parachute riggers more than a decade ago.
Young Canadian rigges can chose whether to be certified to pack rounnd or square canopies. They can also chose between: 1-pin sport, 2-pin sport, Pop-Top, chest or pilot emergency parachutes. Canadian Rigger A (entry level) must be approved to repack all the other types before they can do a packing test on PEPs.
Canadian Rigger B applicants must be approved to pack all types of canopies (round and square) and all types of containers and packed a couple hundred.

A couple of years ago, the European Economic Community considered adopting common standards - for certifying parachute riggers - similar to the Canadian model - but the process bogged down into a struggle to "preserve privileges."