Assembling my own gear.

[jdathome 0]

I see a lot of mixed reviews concerning my original post. I love a good debate!

I’ve only been in the sport a very short two years. Even with my short tenure, I am a Certificated Senior Rigger. My idea to be able to afford this addiction we all share was to invest money into rigger school in order to be able to make a little back over time. Rather than blow my savings on a rig and not be able to afford to jump it. Now I can pack reserves for my club and fellow club members. I can pack mains for anyone without having the whole “being under a riggers supervision” thing hanging over my head. In return I have become a contributing member to my club and drop zone. I believe I am also a better skydiver because of my knowledge of the equipment and how it works. But the flip side is, I’ve sacrificed being able to afford to buy my own rig for now.

Anyway, I was just surprised that someone was being told it was a good idea for them to assemble their own gear. Although it may seem easy to attach a main to the risers and hook up the three rings, there are little things I have been trained to check that he may not think of. I understand the OP said he would have a rigger check his work when it goes in for the reserve pack and if that rigger misses something, he is a questionable rigger at best.

My question is, in an effort to understand the boundaries of “okay” and “not okay”, if a rig needs a new main pilot chute, isn’t this considered a minor repair? Isn’t it mandated that a rigger should do minor repairs and why would a brand new installation be any different than a remove and replace repair? Just like anyone else, I am trying to learn and become a better, safer, skydiver/rigger. I know as a Senior Rigger, I can’t alter or change a harness, for instance. So I won’t do that. But as a skydiver/owner of a rig should I be assembling mains, risers, soft links, pilot chutes, kill line settings, checking brake settings and attaching toggles without having proper training, or authority? Not to mention, I want to know the guy/gal next to me on my next load isn’t going to kill me because they thought they could figure it out!

Let the flaming begin! Great subject though. Lots of good discussion and comments.

Blues…

Marriage is like a deck of cards. You start with two harts and a diamond only to discover you wish you had a club and a spade!

[jbred74 0]

Well I'm glad I was able to create a good discussion. I remember reading somewhere (probably here on DZ.com) to compare rigging and assembling/repairing gear to mechanical work on your car such as the brakes. If done improperly, brake repair/replacement/etc can cause your brakes to fail and you to go flying 70mph into a barrier.

But there is no regulation stating that the brakes on your car must be maintained by a certified mechanic. I worked on and changed everything regarding my cars brakes without ever having done it before. Sure it may have taken some extra time and a lot of reading and referencing the manuals, but I did it. And my brakes work fine.

But I wouldn't mind becoming a certified mechanic, trained by the professionals. Just like how I would like to become a rigger someday, to learn more about my gear and be able to pack everything on my own. But again, time and money are always an issue.

[millertime24 8]

To me it's pretty simple. Read, DO with supervision, do again without but have a check by the rigger. Ive assembled many mains to a set of risers then to the rig. I do a line check every time. I also have a rigger check my work. Assembling a main parachute to a set of risers and risers to a rig IMO is something any skydiver should be able to do. As far as PAYING someone to do it for you because YOU aren't certified to do it yourself, I say hogwash. I can do a brake job on my car and not be ASC certified, but that doesnt mean I dont know what I'm doing nor does it mean that I dont have an ASC guy in the shop check my work.

My point is this guy is on the right path learning about his gear and wanting to do some minor work by himself then having it checked to make sure he did it right.

Now, going back to the car analogy, I WILL NOT assemble or pack my reserve or install an AAD (though I will watch and ask questions). This would be like me not installing an airbag or other SRS on my car (again I will watch the mechanic do it).

Everyone's mileage may vary, but I'm one that wants to know how to do the work and if possible do it myself. I also like to know how things work, which, for me is learned by seeing/doing the maintenance on the parts/rig components.

Muff #5048