Be a Rigger

BRITISH SKYDIVING – PROGRESSION IN PACKING AND RIGGING

For many skydivers the natural progression is to turn their passion into their career. One of the career routes is to become a rigger. A rigger is required to understand fabrics, hardware, webbing, regulations, sewing, packing, and other aspects related to the building, packing, repair, design and maintenance of canopies, containers and other skydiving related equipment.

Approved Packing Certificate

Involves gaining instruction through packing demonstrations and practice. There is no time specification and instruction is by arrangement between you and those coaching you (see Form 197: Guidelines for Obtaining an Approved Packing Certificate).

Once you are confident in your packing ability you may ask a Rigger or suitably qualified Instructor for a packing test.

To gain an Approved Packing Certificate (Form 111) you must:
- Hold a full British Skydiving membership
- Show competency in aspects of inspection, assembly and packing as detailed on Form 197
- Successfully complete a packing test for the equipment listed on your Approved Packing Certificate
Holders of an Approved Packing Certificate are cleared to assemble, inspect and pack the equipment specified on their Certificate.
Basic Rigger (BR)

Involves either: (Method 1) attending a BR course of a minimum five-day duration and 160 hours of logged rigging work (see Form 199: Basic Rigger Course Syllabus); or, (Method 2) undertaking at least 200 hours training following the BR course syllabus (Form 199) under the supervision of an experienced Rigger (at least a Parachute Rigger of two years’ experience) and who has known you for a minimum of six months.

To undertake BR training (by either method) you must:
- Hold a full British Skydiving membership
- Hold an AP(S) rating
- For Method 1, provide a written recommendation to attend the course from your supervising Rigger
- For Method 2, submit Form 138: Basic Rigger Application
Holders of a BR rating are cleared to carry out all the requirements of the Parachute Rigger Course Syllabus prior to attending a Parachute Rigger Course, and all serviceable work must be inspected and authorised by the supervising Rigger.
Parachute Rigger (PR)

Involves successfully completing a PR Course, which is held over a minimum of five days and includes completing canopy and container repair work, line replacement and manufacture of components (see Form 200: Parachute Rigger Course Syllabus).

To attend a PR course you must:
- Hold a full British Skydiving membership
- Hold a British Skydiving Advanced Packing Certificate Grade(S)
- Hold a British Skydiving Approved Packing Certificate that includes a Tandem system
- Provide a written recommendation to attend the course from your supervising Rigger
- Successfully complete BR training (either method) (Those training via Method 1 must attend the PR examination course within 12 months of the BR course. Those training via Method 2 must attend within 18 months of the initial registration)
- Submit a log of rigging work carried out since the BR course / initial registration, signed as appropriate by your supervising Rigger
- Submit a full set of previously manufactured components as detailed on Form 200
- Pass the written test
Holders of a PR rating are cleared to certify Approved Packing Certificates and for all general maintenance and repair work on main parachute assemblies and the manufacture of new components as detailed on Form 200.
Advanced Rigger (AR)

Involves successfully completing an AR Course, which is held over a minimum of five days and includes major canopy and container repair, manufacture of advanced components, presentation of a written paper on an aspect of rigging, 10 new questions for the British Skydiving Rigging Examination question pool and a talk on a subject from the Basic Rigger syllabus (see Form 201: Advanced Rigger Course Syllabus).

To attend an AR course, you must:
- Hold a full British Skydiving membership
- Have been a Parachute Rigger for at least 2 years
- Hold an Advanced Packing Certificate Grades (S) and (T)
- Provide a written recommendation from an AR who has known you for at least 6 months
- Have carried out all the requirements of the AR Course Syllabus under the direct supervision of an AR
- Provide a log of rigging work carried out in the preceding 12 months
- Submit work for inspection, including a full piggyback harness and ram air reserve container system to an approved design, with all component parts
- Pass the written test
Holders of an AR rating are cleared to undertake any work on mains, reserve canopies, reserve containers, reserve component parts and harnesses, and harness manufacture.
Rigger Examiner

Involves successfully completing the three phases of the RE Course, which are held over a period of 14 days in total and will thoroughly test candidates’ instructional ability (for more details see Form 202: Rigger Examiner Course Syllabus).

To attend a RE course you must:
- Hold a full British Skydiving membership
- Have been an AR for at least 2 years
- Have attended a ‘Methods of Instruction’ lecture on a British Skydiving Instructors’ Course or be able to demonstrate good instructional experience and background
- Provide a written recommendation from an RE who has known you for at least 6 months
- Provide a log of the rigging work carried out in the preceding 12 months
Holders of a RE rating are cleared to run, and examine on, AP and Rigging courses.