{"id":43165,"date":"2022-09-16T08:23:10","date_gmt":"2022-09-16T08:23:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=43165"},"modified":"2023-07-17T08:54:58","modified_gmt":"2023-07-17T08:54:58","slug":"so-you-wannabe-a-rigger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/so-you-wannabe-a-rigger\/","title":{"rendered":"So, you wannabe a Rigger?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The latest in our Working in the Sport series, we\u2019ve covered pilot, instructor, freefly coach, this time it\u2019s rigging\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Ted loves both to teach and to learn
Photo by Patricia MacDonald<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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We talk to Master Rigger Ted Farnsworth, who\u2019s been jumping for 42 years, and started rigging in his first year. He has over 12,000 jumps and over 4,000 reserve packjobs. Ted is a keen, talented skydiver with multiple world records and state records to his name, including the current sequential world record. <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Ted, why did you decide rigging was your goal from when you started jumping in 1980? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Ted Farnsworth by Skydive Perris<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The first season of my skydiving career I watched a friend die due to a rigger error on his reserve. I realized at that time that I did not know what I was looking at when I looked at his gear. I did not understand what had gone wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I decided I had to either quit skydiving or learn about parachute equipment. So, I took a rigging course. After the rigging course I decided to keep skydiving but I felt uncomfortable packing a reserve without direct supervision, because what happened to my friend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took me 17 years to overcome my reticence to pack a reserve without someone checking my steps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every time I close a reserve, I close my eyes and I see my friend going-in right in front of me, so I take this job very seriously. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When did you qualify as a rigger?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I packed my first reserve in 1980, during a rigger\u2019s course that I took then. But I didn\u2019t get my actual rigger\u2019s ticket until 1997. In the meantime I worked for two different rigging shops and one manufacturer, as well as packing sport mains at drop zones. I completed my Senior Rigger\u2019s ticket in 1997 and my Master Rigger\u2019s ticket in 2007. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you work in any other area apart from skydiving?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I retired from another career 15 years ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ted by Lori Hagemeister<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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What did you do for work before?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I started commercial fishing with my dad, at age 8. My last commercial fishing job was at age 30. I was a Martial Arts instructor from age 16 to 50 and a Marine Engineer from 1978 to 2007.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And what do you do now?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve been a skydiving cameraflyer from 1990 to present, Rigger 1997 to present and AFF Instructor 2000 to present. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does that role mean, what do you do day to day? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I maintain 23 tandem rigs and 14 student and rental rigs, as well as the pilot rigs for our drop zone. I also maintain sport jumpers\u2019 gear in the local area. I teach first jump classes and do AFF and coaching jumps with students, guiding them up through their A license.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tell me about your skydiving highlights<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Several state large formation skydiving records. Multiple POPs world records. Other world records , including the current 3-point sequential large formation record skydive in Eloy, AZ in 2017. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I love jumping with new jumpers. Sometimes those are the best jumps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One of Ted’s favourite jumps, the Bikini Dive at Skydive Perris
Photo by Luciano Bacqu\u00e9<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Where do you work? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I currently work pretty much exclusively at my home DZ of Skydive Oregon. But I do have a loft in my house in Washington where I take care of many different pilot rigs and sport rigs for the local aviation community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What qualifications do you need? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

To be an FAA certified rigger you must be 18 years old. Speak read and understand English. Have packed 20 reserves under the supervision of a certified rigger. And be able to do patches and repairs. This is for Senior Rigger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Master Rigger needs 100 parachute pack jobs of two different types (seat, back, chest or lap). A Master Rigger has privileges including making major repairs and alterations to parachute equipment he\/she is rated for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the \u2018normal\u2019 path of progression to that level? Did you follow it? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In my time an apprenticeship under another rigger was typical. I did this in conjunction with the rigger\u2019s course. I think nowadays with more and better courses available, more people are getting their certifications that way than through apprenticeships. I think this is unfortunate. While the courses are very valuable, they don\u2019t give you the broad experience that an apprenticeship does over time. I think a combined approach is the best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Was it easier or harder than you expected?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The actual rigging examinations were much easier than I expected. However, rigging practice in the field is much more challenging than the rigging you do for a simple rigging examination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Patricia MacDonald<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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What does the term \u2018rigging\u2019 cover? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Packing, maintaining, repairing and determining the airworthiness of parachute equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much of your work is packing reserves and how much is repairs\/altering ?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

60 % reserve packing, 39% repairs, 1% alterations. Alterations are best made by the manufacturer (if available), so it\u2019s rare that a Master Rigger would need to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What defines a good rigger from your point of view? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Knowing your skill set and understanding your limitations. Not having an ego with regard to rigging. Knowing when to call for help from the manufacturer or another reliable source. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you think you must be a skydiver before you become a rigger or can anyone interested do the job?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

While skydiving is not mandatory to be a rigger, I think it is best if the person doing the rigging has some \u201cskin in the game.\u201d All the best riggers I know have a skydiving or military jumping background. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ted changing a canopy
Photo by Patricia MacDonald<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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What reward do you get?<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The satisfaction I get from knowing that my friends and acquaintances and students are jumping safe, solid, and reliable parachute equipment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you feel when someone comes down safely from one of your reserve pack jobs? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I am relieved that they are ok! All I do is pack the parachute. They are the ones who have to initiate proper emergency procedures, at the appropriate time and altitude. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How hard is it keeping up to date with all the different equipment? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Good rigging practices haven\u2019t changed substantially for decades. But, keeping abreast of the current manufacturer\u2019s instructions requires a little research and the occasional phone call to the manufacturer. Rigs are more complex than they used to be. When in doubt, call the manufacturer, or another reliable resource. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you created some things for the sport of your own? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In 1981 I created a mesh slider for faster openings, which the BASE community immediately adopted. I don\u2019t know if I invented that, but I was one of the first. I invented a system for an AAD deployment of a hand-deploy pilot chute. This idea never went anywhere until I saw an Eastern Block country\u2019s deployment system on their HALO equipment, which was very similar to what I invented. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foam-filled puffy sleeves for slow fall rate; Tony Suits now offers a similar option. I helped designed a simple bridged leverage tool for closing reserves, which makes pin access much easier. I designed a lead weight pouch (rather than a belt) which attaches to the harness, rather than the waist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ted’s weight pouch (on the red jumper)
Photo taken over Skydive Algarve by by Ioannis Vlachiotis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Who taught you the most along the way? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The person who had the largest influence on my rigging is probably the rigger who made the error which causes my friend\u2019s fatality. I learned not to be complacent. I learned to check every step, and then double-check every step. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a rigger? What do they need to consider?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

First, what\u2019s your motivation? Do you want to learn about parachutes in general and use rigging as an avenue for that? Or do you want to pack your own reserves to save money? Or do you want to help the community you jump with? Motivation is very important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All those reasons are valid and will shape the career path you take. Be aware that with this certification comes tremendous responsibility and liability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What problems might they encounter along the way and how can they overcome them? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

75% of the people who decide to start rigging under my tutelage fall down when it comes to the paperwork. They get their 20 pack jobs and they learn how to sew a patch, the basic anatomy of a parachute system and what to look for during an inspection, and learn how to look up the appropriate regulations and instructions \u2013 but they don\u2019t move forward with the actual testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reasons for this are varied, but it mostly comes down to being intimidated by the government testing procedure and the bureaucracy, in my opinion. The way I try to overcome this with my rigging students is by offering them a partial rebate (from the fees I\u2019ve charged them) if they get their rigger\u2019s ticket by a target date. It doesn\u2019t really help them, but it motivates them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ted by Dennis Sattler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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What\u2019s the most important thing to remember about your role?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

First: The responsibility that someone is going to trust their life to this equipment. Second: That I don\u2019t know everything and I need to continuously review manuals and learn from other riggers. That\u2019s why I attend the PIA Symposium whenever I can. I always learn something that makes the trip worthwhile. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What was your best rigging experience?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I have many positive experiences in parachute rigging. But something I really enjoy is seeing someone do something differently than the way I do it, and learning from them. Maybe it\u2019s a rigging technique or a trick. Maybe it\u2019s a tool that I hadn\u2019t used or thought of. Maybe it\u2019s a new piece of parachute equipment that I\u2019m not familiar with. I really enjoy LEARNING about the gear in our wonderful sport. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And your worst?! <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Many years ago I was packing a very tight reserve. When I tried to put my temporary pin through the loop on the second to the last flap, I poked the loop with the temp pin and damaged the loop. The loop broke while I was pushing on the pin. The pilot chute spring jumped and hit me in the face, and I jammed the temp pin under my thumb nail. It hurt like hell and and elicited from me some colorful vocabulary not appropriate for publication!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does your future look like? How long do you see yourself as a rigger? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Barring future injuries or illnesses, I plan to continue rigging at least in some capacity until I can no longer physically do it. I may reduce the number of rigs I take care of every year, mainly because I\u2019m getting older and it hurts to bend over, but I just enjoy it so much I can\u2019t see me quitting any time soon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ted landing his Sabre at Perris
Photo by Dennis Sattler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Anything you\u2019d like to add, Ted?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Parachute rigs in general are becoming more complicated. The simple procedures that we learned back in the day are no longer adequate. To be a good parachute rigger now, requires a broader base of knowledge than it did in the late \u201870s and early \u201880s. This is something that should be addressed by the manufacturers, and the various rigging schools around the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do not become a rigger thinking you\u2019re going to make a living packing reserves. You won\u2019t. At least not a very good one. Do it for the love of parachutes. It can be a very rewarding vocation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Working in Skydiving Series<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Working as a jump pilot<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Here are other articles aimed to help you work in your chosen area of the sport:<\/p>\n\n\n\n