Avoiding "Step Through"

[Beckert 0]

HI! I think I know how to check for a "step through" before packing, but since I am new at packing I would like to get some advice on preventing packing a step through. I have seen some posting on this subject and it got me thinking.

Thanks

[butlerhr 0]

Have a rigger or very experienced packer show you how to do a line (sometimes called a continuity) check. A step through will show up in this type of check. A demonstration is better than all the description that I can give you here.

[TonyJ 0]

walk your brake lines, if they twist around any other line group...something is wrong...tony

[moto89 0]

Before you pack, lay your rig down on the main lift webs (like you would anyways), and take your brake lines over your index fingers (left side in left hand, right side in right hand), the lines coming off your rear risers over your middle fingers, and the front riser lines over your rings fingers. Once you walk from the container to the canopy like this and have found no twists or binding, combine both hands lines onto one hand (still maintaining the brake line index, rears middle, and fronts ring finger configuration). Separate the line groups by picking the indivual groups up out of you hand, checking to make sure they run from the risers to the canopy all by themselves, not wraped up with the other two groups. This isn't a full line continuity check but it will show you a step through if one is present, and it takes about 20 seconds.

This was probably more long winded than it should have been, but I hope it makes some sense.

Less talking, more flying.

[shermanator 4]

If I am understanding your post correctly, you know how to check for stepthrough.. when putting container on ground, and running fingers down lines to check.

I think that it would be hard to pack a stepthrough if it is not already there. stepthrough caused by the canopy being flipped around, so unless you have some sort of strange thing you do when pack, its not a huge risk. .. Have someone you trust watch you pack, and such, to make sure you are doing things right, preferably a good packer, or rigger. good luck.

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[stratostar 5]

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I would like to get some advice on preventing packing a step through.

The easiest way to put a step through into a pack job is to pick up the rig and move it to lay out to pack. This happens all the time with rookies who lay down and then pick up the rig the wrong way.

It all start in how you 1. pick up your canopy to walk back to the packing area. then 2. how you take off and laydown/out your rig before packing. 3. if you lay it down the right wrong way, this make's it easy to pick up the rig wrong and install a step through.

To prevent this 1. pick up your rig with a daisy chain or other controlled way of keeping your lines controlled. 2. once back to the packing area drop your canopy in a pile and start walking backwards and lay out the lines in a controlled fashion. 3. Once you have your rig all nice and laid out, take off your container and with your heal of your foot lightly kick the pack backwards so the container lays out flat and not in a pile or setting up right on the bottom reserve pack tray, that way the container can't be picked up wrong and a step through installed, 85 % of step throughs happen taking off the rig or picking it up wrong to pack.

If you don;t understand the flip of the container thing, then seek out the oldest old fart on the dz and ask them to show you it.

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

[popsjumper 2]

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If you don;t understand the flip of the container thing, then seek out the oldest old fart on the dz and ask them to show you it.

Thanks, dude. As if I don't have enough to do around here already.


I'm fighting an uphill battle trying to get "packing teachers" (note the quote marks) to show the youngsters the major reason for the walk-up. Most of them have no freakin' idea why we do a walk-up. I ask them, "Then why the hell are you trying to teach anyone how to pack if you don't know what you're doing?"

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[jtval 0]

Well, actuallly the only packing teachers that should be at the DZ should have a riggers certificate.


I know it doesnt work that way but was it the FAR's or just the SIM that talks about packers for hire should be under the supervision of a rigger?

I could check but I am getting ready to go to the dz.



To the Orig. poster.
You'll hear this from me a lot but "go ask someone at your dz"

I'm not saying that to be a douche but typing out these instructions and SHOWING you are two totally different things and this thread will go on for years with all the misunderstandings that will happen when people read it.

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[dannydan 5]

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Thanks, dude. As if I don't have enough to do around here already.

at least your not "the confused about gender dirtiest oldest old fart" like me!

"Walking the lines" next to "slider UP, setting brakes
slack of lines to the top, CHKG ALL parts of GEAR" is probably the most important step in PACKING GEAR!

I had an "avoidable" (which most are) chop (cutaway) BECAUSE neither I or the packer discussed ANY "special" procedures in packing my equip..... >> at self!!

In the end "NEWBies", do what the DZO, the BSRs FAA, DEA, FBI DoD, BATF etc TELL YOU to do!!!

[Beckert 0]

Thanks for all of the information. It sounds like I am checking for it the right way. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything. During these snow days lay offs my mind sometimes starts wandering.

Thanks Again!!

[popsjumper 2]

If you haven't already...

Just to see what it looks like and what you are watching out for, put some intentional problems into it to see what you get.

1. Pick up one riser with a twist in it and do the walk-up.
2. Pick up both risers with a twist and do the walk-up.
3. Flip the rig through the lines and do the walk-up.
4. Flip the canopy through the lines and do the walk-up.
5. etc.

That'll do two things for you.
1) Show you first hand what is wrong.
2) Give you good insight in how to fix it when you do come across it someday.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[strop45 0]

Quote

1. Pick up one riser with a twist in it and do the walk-up.
2. Pick up both risers with a twist and do the walk-up.
3. Flip the rig through the lines and do the walk-up.
4. Flip the canopy through the lines and do the walk-up.

Good idea. Over here you need to pass a packing test to get an A license. As part of the test, the rigger puts one of the above into the gear, and then asks you to pack it.....When you correct the problem, you are asked to stand aside and another is applied..Seems to work.

The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits." -- Albert Einstein

[bill6870 3]

Quote

If you haven't already...

Just to see what it looks like and what you are watching out for, put some intentional problems into it to see what you get.

1. Pick up one riser with a twist in it and do the walk-up.
2. Pick up both risers with a twist and do the walk-up.
3. Flip the rig through the lines and do the walk-up.
4. Flip the canopy through the lines and do the walk-up.
5. etc.

That'll do two things for you.
1) Show you first hand what is wrong.
2) Give you good insight in how to fix it when you do come across it someday.

That is a great idea as long as you do it with a rigger or a mentor that you trust to double check your work. Intentionally causing problem could set you up for real problems if you don't make sure you fix them before you jump. There is no substitute for looking at the real thing as long as you know what you are looking at. Straitening out a canopy that is not right or has been cut away can be a great teacher but it's always a good idea to get a second set of eyes on the canopy to make sure it's right.

Blue Skies

[Station 0]

if you're referring to packing your own rig, the best bet is just to keep your lines clean from the moment you land. if the canopy falls over you and the lines settle around you, don't move your feet, just stow the toggles, and start daisy chaining from the risers until you hit the canopy and you wont step it through. things start getting messy when lines pass under your feet (or while packing, under the rig).

[popsjumper 2]

Quote

...Intentionally causing problem could set you up for real problems if you don't make sure you fix them before you jump...reply]


Only a Bozo would....

Oh wait....good stuff to spell it out for them.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[skyblu3 0]

its also possible to cause a step through when the canopy is in the d-bag and you rotate the bag in such a way as to creat a step through. This usually happens after you have made all your line stows and are ready to place the bag in the container. It's possible to pick the bag up and rotate in itself. I have seen it happen.

[JustChuteMeNow 0]

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its also possible to cause a step through when the canopy is in the d-bag and you rotate the bag in such a way as to creat a step through.

It is possible to still do a step through with the canopy in the D-Bag but the harness/container would still need to come through the risers in some form or fashion. If the rig stays on the ground during the packing process it is really hard to do but if a person picks up the rig in order to move it to another area then definitely watch out that the rig stays oriented correctly.

Rotating the D-Bag will give a person line twists but it won't cause a step through. Line checks are a great tool and it is one of the best ways to stay safe. Hint: It is also a great time to take the twists out of your brake line.

Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that statistically half of them are stupider than that.

[billvon 2,991]

>Rotating the D-Bag will give a person line twists but it won't cause a step through.

Right. But passing the bag through a riser/line set can indeed cause a step through, or more accurately something that looks like a step through. The bridle helps prevent this (it has to be passed through as well, and that looks obviously wrong) but I have seen that done.

[skyblu3 0]

Quote

>Rotating the D-Bag will give a person line twists but it won't cause a step through.

Right. But passing the bag through a riser/line set can indeed cause a step through, or more accurately something that looks like a step through. The bridle helps prevent this (it has to be passed through as well, and that looks obviously wrong) but I have seen that done.

yes this is what I was meaning.