PACKING CURRICULUM

[MotherGoose 0]

I have a question for all who give packing courses. What is the standard curriculum for the in-class part of the course?? How much time should be spent in class and what should the students need to know before heading out to the mats to actually get the hands-on training??

I am preparing to take over the packing courses at my DZ soon and I wonder if I could get a little outside advice regarding the various techniques around the industry. Obviously I will get plenty of guidance internally, but it never hurts to ask around.

Thanks in advance.

You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

[GreenMachine 0]

Good Morning Bart,

Whenever we are real slow or on a weather hold I end up showing a newbie how to pack. However, if a student wants a dedicated class on the subject I usually offer people to come to my house on a non-jumping day . I think people learn better when there are no distractions AND they write down the steps.

My one-on-one classes go like this: I pack my rig and explain every step while they watch, ask questions, and take their own notes of the process. I then allow them to pack my rig as many times as they want to. During this time I will watch, then go do some chores around the house, come back, watch some more, answer questions, etc.

If you will be teaching at your DZ then you could probably have one rig per student which would speed things up. As for how many practice packs before you'd let them jump their own pack job.....well in my opinion that would be based on their comfort level. If they understand the prcoess well enough to complete it without any questions and are willing to jump it then chances are they have the basics down. Just be sure to stress the crucial things. Good Luck!

Rigger, Skydiver, BASE Jumper, Retired TM

[Reginald 0]

Review an A license card and then talk to the chief instructor at your DZ. Some things that should generally be taught that many people don't think about are

Cutaway cable and 3 ring maintenance
Details of an RSL

and of course changing a closing loop, etc.

We have an arrangementthat the rigger teaching a packing course covers certain things on an A license card and the instructors verify and then cover the other items not taught in the packing class.

"We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

[MotherGoose 0]

Thanks for the help guys, I figured that I should have a detailed Glossary of parachute parts handy with complete definitions, this is probably not readily available, so I'll have to create one. I will conduct the training on the DZ on a weeknight so that the focus is on packing and not jumping. Keeping each class at no more than 4 sutdents, I'd like to give each one a rig and go through all the steps with them. Individual attention is important I think.

How intense should the theory be ??? Do I tell them about parachute flight (lift,drag,weight,thrust) ?? Or just stick to the components and how they function on deployment ?? Also, do I get into different kinds of mals ??

You think you understand the situation, but what you don't understand, is that the situation just changed.

[tdog 0]

[how i learned]

We had a packing class. $5 to the packer/rigger to pay for the repack afterwords. 5 of us. He stood in front of us as we packed a student canopy - walking down the line step by step - explaining how, why, etc...

We packed it once. About 2 hours total.

We were definitely not qualified to do our next packjob solo - but had enough skills to work with a mentor and not ask too many questions....

[/how I learned]


I know when I teach the FJC, the students know every major part of the canopy by name and how it comes out of the bag, etc. They know what a slider is, why it is there, etc...

I think the packing class should pick up there and talk about why you do a few things - but mainly, "this is how you do it."

Packing can be very overwhelming to someone who never has done it before... "Lines towards the center" is easy to teach. All the reasons why might get too long... So maybe, "to prevent line overs, we like to flake the canopy so all the lines are in the center and fabric to the outside."

Information overload if to much taught???

For an example, I stow my brakes a certain way so the slider does not rub the brake line every time... But, should this be taught, or left for the inquiring mind to want to know as they progress thru the basics?

[GreenMachine 0]

How intense should the theory be ???

---

I think Tdog/Travis raised a good point about not overwhelming them with too much information so I would skip a discussion of aerodynamics. However, whenever I teach packing I explain why to do something a certain way. Possibly preventing malfunctions is a great way to keep their attention and gives the information context.

Before I start I explain the three basic concepts and why: symmetry, line tension, and lines in the middle with fabric on the outside. I always include my personal pet peeve, which is when people spend a bunch of time flaking their canopy and then basically throw it down instead of kneeling and setting the canopy on the ground.

Lastly, I also think it is a good idea to tell the students that they will see people packing in many different ways (side, flat, psycho) and that those can be good ways too but for now stick one method, the standard PRO pack.

Rigger, Skydiver, BASE Jumper, Retired TM