BPA - Parachute Riggers Syllabus

Aim

This is an examination to qualify Basic Riggers up to Parachute Rigger status

Duration

The course is held over a minimum total period of five days.

Course Instructors

• 2 rigger examiners per course from different establishments
• Maximum of one examiner per 4 candidates

Qualifications to attend the Parachute Rigger course

• Must be a Basic Rigger
• Must be a full BPA member
• Recommendation from supervising rigger.

Examination Syllabus

• Each candidate must pass the written test before they can proceed with the rest of the examination
• Submission of previous manufactured components selected from the parachute rigger manufacturing syllabus for inspection
• Canopy repair (rounds and squares)
• Container repair
• Line replacement (rounds and squares)
• Manufacture component

Parachute Rigger Manufacturing Syllabus

Includes the following items made to an approved design:

• Main pilot chutes including pull out and throwaway systems
• Main deployment bags including static line systems
• Static lines
• 3 ring risers
• Steering toggles
• Main bridles including kill line bridle systems
• Main sliders
• Cutaway pads
• Safety stows (elastic closure loops for reserve freebag's)

Establishments

• Those wishing to run a rigging course must apply to the riggers committee for permission, giving details of facilities etc.
• BPA form 237 lists the BPA rigging loft minimum criteria to be met

Limitations of work

• Cleared for all general maintenance and repair work on parachute assemblies
• The manufacture of new components as listed in the parachute rigger manufacturing syllabus must be identified by the Parachute riggers label or stamp
• All modifications may need to be justified by the Parachute Rigger
• Not cleared for repair work or modifications to reserve canopies, reserve containers or reserve component parts. Also not cleared for harness manufacture or harness work.
• Modifications to equipment used by student parachutists require acceptance from the BPA riggers committee via submission of BPA form 209

Records

• A course report will be sent to the BPA office and rigging committee and to the candidate’s supervising rigger
• All Parachute Riggers must keep a log of all work done.

Currency

• Parachute Riggers must have their BPA membership card endorsed, to be renewed each year with membership
• The renewal form will be signed by an Advanced Rigger who must be satisfied that the PR is current and up to date with current practices

General information

Should the candidate fail to qualify, he/she may attend a further parachute rigger course, in accordance with the recommendations made by the examiners on the Course.