Becoming a packer

[sovietskee 0]

Whats the best way for a newbie skydiver to become a parachute packer. I will be able to relocate to virtually anywhere in the country and was wondering what the best way to go about this would be

[monkycndo 0]

Get taught well and practice practice practice.

50 donations so far. Give it a try.

You know you want to spank it
Jump an Infinity

[UDSkyJunkie 0]

Step 1: spend a year packing your ass off.

That's really all there is to it. Once you know what you're doing getting work isn't rocket science, although you'll want to get your rigger rating eventually. I learned to pack at 13 years old, and it was the best high school/college job EVER.

"Some people follow their dreams, others hunt them down and beat them mercilessly into submission."

[Andrewwhyte 1]

You need to go where you are in demand. If you try to learn in the south during the winter you will probably not have much luck. With all the northerners looking for work they don't need you. During the summer there is a shortage of packers at a lot of drop zones; you stand a much better chance of someone taking you on.

[lilchief 1]

It's a great advantage to be a rigger, but not mandatory. However, you SHOULD have more gear knowledge then the average skydiver IMO. I'm saying this because I had a bad experience this year. A packer didn't know how much it's required to have a pc cock'ed. I told the packer nicely about my rig and how to do it right, because we had received several rigs that were not properly cocked after packing. The packer insisted that the pc was properly cocked, even though is was clearly on the limit. I told the packer that I was going to make a jump then report back to the packer the result.

The pc took a LONG time getting my canopy out of the bag, at the limit of a pc in a tow! I got down and told her, still calm and nicely, that it wasn't good enough. The packer replied cold that she wouldn't pack my rig anymore and then completely ignored me.

I got confused about her reaction, and the chief packer told to just leave my rig to her rest of the time I was there.

Now, if you don't know how a pc should be at the end of a packjob, you're not qualified to be a packer, IMO. In this single incident all the packer needed to do, was to cock the pc after bagging the canopy, I always made sure that my pc was properly cocked before handing it off.

Just think about it when you get in to packing that you have a responsibility.


Good luck

"Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci
www.lilchief.no

[Andy_Copland 0]

I know you are just using an example but im sure that most skydivers know how to cock (haha) and complete the packjob without fucking it up.

If not i'd say they are not even worth their salt and should have no business touching any rig.

1338

People aint made of nothin' but water and shit.

Until morale improves, the beatings will continue.

[MagicGuy 0]

Don't do it!!

Just kidding. Being a packer is hard work. It takes it's toll on your body big time, and while all of your buddies are planning the next hybrid, big way or tracking dive, you're stuck trying to get the 4 way team up on the next load.

Think long and hard about it. Get a lot of practice. Familiarize yourself with every kind of rig out there - Racers, Mirages, Vectors, Javelins, Wings, Infinities. Know the names of the parachutes and whether they are 7 or 9 cells, ZP or F-111. Have plenty of pull-up cords in your pockets and at least 2 power tools, as well as lots and lots of rubber bands...

i could go on for a while. The basic answer - PRACTICE!!!

Good luck. Packing can earn you some great money, but just know that it's probably the least glamorous job on the DZ (other than manifest!!!).