Certified Packer

A lot of folks packing main parachutes for other people these days are not licensed riggers and are therefore packing illegally according to the FAR's. I suggest that the USPA negotiate with the FAA to create a new license for 'Certified Packer'. A card carrying certified packer could be allowed to inspect and re-pack main parachutes. Repairs and reserve re-packs would still require a licensed rigger. It should be easier to obtain a 'packers' license that a 'senior riggers' license and legitimize what is currently an outlaw practice. There certainly appears to be a need for some kind of a change here.

Your proposal was addressed in the latest NPRM for FAR 105.

Blue Skies & Safe Dives from Mike Turoff, Candidate for USPA's BOD (National Position) Co-author (with Dan Poynter) of Parachuting, The Skydivers Handbook Instructor Examiner and Tandem Examiner, Jump Pilot

yeah maybe that would be a good Idea, but we all know that that always gets turnred to 'packing under the direct supervision of a certified rigger', which in most cases is true. I packed for about 3 years when I first started jumping, and basicaly I just dont understand (in most cases) why people just cant pack thier own rig.(competitors and some others aside) I mean c,mon, then there will be no more whining(not likely)