Choosing a Rigger

[Cornholio 0]

This thread was started because of something else that I read in another thread. Someone was talking about learning more information on the different rigger ratings and it made me wonder how you people picked your rigger. It also made me think that if I knew my rigger didn't pack mains very often, I would not have much faith in him to pack my main or my reserve.
How did you choose your rigger ? Or do you have more than one ?
At my DZ, there are at least 5 people that I know of that are riggers. One of them one is our S&TA guy, the other is a tandem JM/AFF instructor, another is a cameraman/AFF instructor, another is a full-time packer 3 or 4 days a week, etc....
I chose my packer because of a few reasons...
1. He packs all day!! I want someone that I know packs mains and reserves all the time and is quite experienced in packing.
2. He's easy to talk to. If I ever have a question about ANYTHING concerning my gear or just questions in general, he answers them politely, friendly and in detail - without making me or him feel rushed.
3. He is a little cheaper than the others - even one person that has his own packing business at the DZ.
4. Experience.... this guy has been in the sport for a long time.
5. He cares. He packed my reserve on my rig when I first got it. A week or two later he noticed that the pop-up was showing through the fabric. It was not showing per se, but it was bulging a bit through the fabric. He immediately repacked it for me, on his own suggestion. There was nothing wrong with the pack job - it just didn't "look pretty" LOL
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If first you don't succeed....skydiving is not for you.

[skycat 0]

One of my big things is one who will let me watch him pack it. I have no problem bring my rig to his/her house when it is convenient for them. In the last 2 1/2 years in the sport I have had only 2 pack jobs that I didn't get to watch be packed one was my 2nd pack job cause the DZ had just lost it's rigger and I didn't know any others, and the 2nd one was by a rigger that I had already seen pack it several times. Just from doing that I've learned so much about my gear, and how it needs to be packed to be comfortable. (ie. my reflex harness is extremely small and if not packed with TONS up in the ears I can't stand putting it on my back)
I also avoid ones that whine that my mirage is to hard to pack cause it's "hard to close". That just makes me feel like they might not do as good of a job as they could cause they don't want to be packing it. So someone who jumps the kind of rig I do is someone I will go to first. The rigger who was the best at packing my reflex where it was super comfy and the pop top never loosened up jumped a reflex. I now jump a mirage, and my current rigger jumps a micron and is planning to get a mirage, beautiful pack jobs everytime and the reserve pin cover flap is always flat doesn't do that bend thing to get into pocket.

[drenaline 0]

My opinion on choosing a rigger is to look at his card and see if he is FAA certificate in current status. I agree with all the reasons you said, except for the reason number one and the one that says "this guy has been in the sport for a long time." I think that if he managed to get the FAA rigger certification and keeps current is enough experience for me (just my point of view). I agree with you 100% on the reason 5 "he cares", I think that a rigger that cares about "looks" is a very good one, cause he is proud of his work and likes what he's doing. My rigger does the same with the looking good thing.
Oh yeah and reading another post I read that you should always use the same rigger because he knows your equipment history or something like that.
"Life is full of danger, so why be afraid?"
drenaline

[riggerrob 643]

re. rigger currency: FAA requirements are pretty lame. The FAA does not even know which riggers are still alive! The gov't only requires that a rigger have done "something" during the last 90 days. This could be as simple as cleaning his tools.
A more practical measure of currency is to ask how many containers - of your type - he has packed in the last year. Also ask when was the last time he did some refresher training. Did he attend the last PIA Symposium?

[polarbear 1]

Legally, if the guy has a certificate, it is good for life (until specifically suspended or revoked). It has no expiration. The currency requirements are that a rigger must perform "duties under his certificate for at least 90 days out of the preceeding 12 months". In other words, it is difficult to tell if a rigger is "current".
I would agree, however, that you should pick one who shows genuine interest in packing. He doesn't have to be a paid packer at the DZ; just because he doesn't pack mains all day doesn't mean he won't pack a good reserve. In fact, many paid packers I have watched obviously only know the basics. If Ram-Airs weren't so dependable, I believe that many paid packers would quickly loose business due to malfunctions.
Packing a reserve to work isn't too difficult, but making it look good can be. The rigger should be willing to take the time and make it look good, no matter what type it is. He should also be willing to go back and shorten a closing loop, etc. to make it "perfect".
I don't agree with the "find one who has the same type of rig you do" attitude. I currently jump a mirage (which has a beautiful pack job in it, if I do say so myself) but I have only packed a Mirage once. I have packed dozens of Javelins and Dolphins, but have never owned one. The rigger should be willing to put in the extra time to make it look good, no matter what type it is.
I also don't agree with the idea of finding one who has been in the sport a while. Some of the oldest riggers I know are not as familiar with new equipment as the new riggers. Also, as someone else pointed out, if they have taken the time to get a certificate, then they *should* know everything they need to. Some of the older riggers have more of a "fuck it" kind of attitude.
Find one who really cares about giving YOU a a good looking (and of course functional) pack job. Also look for a guy who inspects EVERYTHING, including the main. I have watched some riggers and have decided they are basically just reserve repackers...they pack well, but don't really inspect/service the rest of the equipment. Good riggers are patient and willing to spend the time to take care of your equipment.

[slotperfect 7]

A simple idea . . . just ask around the DZ, maybe people from 6 different groups or skydiving disciplines (especially your orimary interest) for references. Asking about their experience with your type of rig (whether he jumps one or not) is a good idea. Choosing a Rigger is quite simply a trust issue. So just get some references, ask a few questions, then give him a shot!
Respectfully,
SP