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> Regulations
and Human Factors > Responsibilities
of a Certificated Parachute Rigger > Performance Standards
A number of performance standards are defined
in 14 CFR, section 65.129 to guide the parachute rigger’s
performance of the duties that fall under the certificate. The
parachute rigger may not: Pack, maintain, or alter any parachute
unless he/she is rated for that type.Pack a parachute that is
not safe for emergency use. Pack a parachute that is not thoroughly
dried and aired. Alter a parachute in a manner not specifically
authorized by the Administrator or the manufacturer of the parachute.
The last item in this list is one that has been abused by many
master parachute riggers over the years. The master parachute
rigger must have Administrator or manufacturer approval, in
writing, to be in compliance with this regulation.
Aside from the necessary tools, 14 CFR, subsection
65.129(f) states that parachute riggers may exercise the privileges
of the certificate only if they understand the current manufacturer’s
instructions for the operation involved. This means that parachute
riggers must possess a copy of the instructions or have access
to them during the operation. If they do not have a copy, but
the owner of the parachute provides them, then the parachute
rigger may pack or maintain the parachute.
A variation on this theme is accessing the
packing instruction via the Internet. Many manufacturers provide
manuals via their Web sites. If the parachute riggers do not
download the actual instruction, they must show that they had
access during the packing of the parachute. For example, a laptop
computer may not have a printer attached, but could still meet
this requirement
Parachute riggers are not necessarily required
to download the instructions to a hard drive or disk as long
as they are able to access the manual in real time. However,
if a problem is identified with the parachute rigger’s
pack job at a later date, the parachute rigger would need to
prove to the Administrator that he/she had access to the instructions.
Without a hardcopy or downloaded computer files, it would appear
that the parachute rigger had not met the rule requirement
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