The Parachute Rigger Handbook was produced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with the assistance of Safety
Research Corporation of America (SRCA). The FAA wishes to acknowledge the following contributors:
Parachute Labs, Inc., for images used in Chapters 1, 2, and 4
Ilse Ungeheuer, for images used in Chapters 3 and 5
Tim Taykalo, for images used in in Chapter 6
Tom Dolphin, for images and content used in Chapter 7 and the Appendix
Acknowledgments
Change 1 (December 2015)
This is an updated version of FAA-H-8083-17A, Parachute Rigger Handbook, dated August 2015. This version contains
error corrections, revised graphics, and updated performance standards. All pages containing changes are marked with the
change number and change date in the page footer. The original pagination has been maintained so that the revised pages
may be replaced in lieu of repurchasing or reprinting the entire handbook. The changes made in this version are as follows:
• Updated Table of Contents page numbers (page ix).
• Replaced Figure 2-12 (page 2-8) with version from previous version of the handbook (FAA-H-8083-17, Figure 2-10).
• Revised the third sentence in the second paragraph in the left column of page 2-14: changed “3⁄8"” to “1⁄2".”
• Revised the caption for Figure 3-17 (page 3-7): changed “Tape” to “Webbing.”
• Revised the caption for Figure 3-18 (page 3-7): changed “Tape” to “Webbing.”
• Revised the last sentence in the first paragraph in the right column of page 7-2: changed “FAA-licensed” to “FAA-
certificated.”
• Revised the third bullet under Square Canopy – Rib Repair in the right column of page 7-25: added “—mains and
reserves; FAA Senior Parachute Rigger—mains.”
• Revised Figure G at the bottom of page 7-82: removed “+2"” after “X = Required length.”
• Revised Appendix A Table of Contents (page A-1): revised titles of new documents and updated page numbers.
• Revised Appendix A: replaced PIA TS-100—Standardized Nomenclature for Ram-Air Parachutes with latest version
(pages A-3 – A-10).
• Revised Appendix A: replaced SAE AS 8015B—Minimum Performance Standards for Parachute Assemblies and
Components with Personnel PIA TS 135—Performance Standards for Personnel Parachute Assemblies and Components
(pages A-26 – A-43)
• Revised Appendix A: updated page numbering for all documents (pages A3 – A-65).
Record of Changes