Introduction
Certificated parachute riggers represent a professional cadre
within the parachute community. According to Title 14 of
the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 65, section
65.129(f)(1), “No certificated parachute rigger may exercise
the privileges of his certificate and type rating unless he
understands the current manufacturer’s instructions for
the operation involved and has performed duties under his
certificate for at least 90 days within the preceding 12 months.”
Manufacturers of main parachutes have packing techniques
that they have developed for their products. Most of them
follow established methods in common use. Experience
has shown that if the packing techniques required for a
specific main are too complex, the market may not receive
them favorably.
Throughout the chapter, each component of the parachute is
discussed along with its function and how it applies to the
entire assembly. One component can have a significant effect
on the performance of another. For example, a pilot chute that
is too large may result in too fast of an opening; and a pilot
chute that is too small may not be able to overcome a bag lock.
Operations
Chapter 4
Figure 4-1. Rectangular plan form canopy.
Figure 4-2. Tapered tip plan form canopy.
Figure 4-3. Elliptical plan form canopy.
Figure 4-4. Check line continuity and separate line groups. Cock
the slider.
Sport Parachute Main Packing
Techniques
When we talk about “square” parachutes, what we really
mean is rectangular plan form, semi-elliptical, or elliptical
plan form. [Figures 4-1 through 4-3] Plan form refers to the
shape of the canopy from a “birds eye view.”
There are essentially two ways to pack a square parachute:
flat packing or proper ram-air orientation (PRO) packing.
When flat packing, the canopy is laid on its side so that you
are viewing it in profile. The canopy is S-folded stacking the
line groups on top of one another. Variations to this method
include rolling the nose from the leading edge to the A line,
toward the tail, or splitting the nose cells in half, rolling them
inward, and tucking them into the center cell. The tail is then
split and cocooned around the rest of the canopy.
The most common method of packing “square” mains and
reserves, however, is PRO packing. Developed by John
Sherman in the early 1970s when “squares” were first being
introduced, the premise was to pack them the same way one
would pack a round parachute—that is, to separate the four
line groups and flake the perimeter of the parachute with
the nose facing forward and the tail of the canopy facing
rearward. If one were tall enough to raise the round parachute
off the floor, it could be PRO packed. The advantage of
PRO packing is that it results in a more even distribution
of forces during opening shock and on-heading openings.
Figures 4-4 through 4-35 illustrate PRO packing. There
are several variations to this technique designed for special
purposes. Free fall cameramen may require a slower opening
to reduce the opening shock. Canopy Relative Work (CRW)
parachutists may want faster sub-terminal openings. The
rigger should be able to provide guidance to the parachutist
for the type of opening required.
Figure 4-5. Set the brakes and walk up the lines pushing the slider
ahead of you. This is also known as “Doing a 4-line.”
Figure 4-6. The nose of the canopy is facing the packer. The tail of
the canopy is facing outward.
Figure 4-7. Flake out the cells of the canopy at the nose, pressing
them against your thigh.
Figure 4-8. Tuck the nose of the canopy between your legs.
Figure 4-9. Flake the canopy fabric between the A-B, B-C, C-D line
groups following the perimeter of the canopy.
Figure 4-10. Separate and clear the material between the line
groups.
Figure 4-11. Note the staggered order of the line groups. The As
are the highest; the Ds are the lowest except for the upper control
lines at the very bottom of the picture.
Figure 4-12. The slider can be quartered or simply halved with the
slider grommets resting up against the slider stops at the stabilizers.
Figure 4-13. Pull the tail up over the canopy and hold it under
your thumb.
Figure 4-14. Roll the tail to prevent the canopy from splaying out
when it is laid down on the ground. Be sure to prevent the upper
control lines from coming around to the nose of the canopy. Keep
them centered and back.
Figure 4-15. Press the air out of the canopy.
Figure 4-16. Lay the canopy down on the ground.
Figure 4-17. Cocoon the canopy making it a uniform width.
Figure 4-18. The “cocoon” should be slightly wider than the
deployment bag.
Figure 4-19. Pull the kill line out of the bag at this time.
Figure 4-20. Use a knee to keep control of the top of the canopy.
Figure 4-21. Make the first “S” fold.
Figure 4-22. Use a knee to maintain control of the canopy.
Figure 4-23. Make an additional “S” fold.
Figure 4-24. Most canopies take two S folds. Pull PCA ring outward
so that it is up against the grommet inside the bag.
Figure 4-25. Insert the canopy into the bag one side at a time.
Figure 4-26. The objective is to fill the corners of the bag and keep
the center of the pack job soft.