AC-640 AC 65-5B U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
PARACHUTE RIGGER
SENIOR/MASTER
CERTIFICATION GUIDE
REVISED 1988 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
PARACHUTE RIGGER
SENIOR/ MASTER
CERTIFICATION GUIDE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
PREFACE This guide was prepared by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to provide information to persons interested in becoming certificated parachute riggers.
This guide provides information on how to apply for a parachute rigger certificate and ratings, and assists the applicant in preparing for the written, oral, and practical tests.
The requirements for parachute rigger certificates and ratings, and the privileges and performance standards for certificated parachute riggers are prescribed in Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 65, Certification:
Airmen Other Than Flight Crewmembers. Any person who applies and meets the requirements is entitled to a parachute rigger certificate. Briefly, the requirements are concerned with age, language ability, experience, knowledge, and skill.
The various sections in this guide explain the procedures for either substantiating or demonstrating that each requirement has been met. The sections that deal with the written test (to demonstrate knowledge) and the oral and practical tests (to demonstrate skill) describes the type of tests used and what they contain.
Comments regarding this publication should be directed to the:
FAA Aviation Standards National Field Office Airworthiness Section, AVN-133 P.O. Box 25082 Oklahoma City, OK 73125
CONTENTS Page Preface Parachute Rigger Certificates and Ratings.
Certificates and Ratings..
General Requirements..
Experience Requirements.
Knowledge and Skill Requirements.
Certificate Privileges Application Procedures How to Apply.
The Written Test.
Taking the Written Test Scoring the Test..
Reporting Scores. .7 Applying for a Retest... .8 Written Test Subjects.. 8 Practice Test.. ..10 Example of Practice Test Answer Sheet Answers to Practice Test Questions. .. 16 Oral and Practical Tests.. . 17 Taking the Oral and Practical Tests. .17 Evaluating Your Performance .. 18 Oral Test Questions... ..19 Packing Parachutes.. .19 Maintaining Parachutes. 22 Practical Test Projects. 26 Packing Parachutes.. ..26 Maintaining Parachutes. .27 Scoring Oral and Practical Tests. .29 Permanent Certificate Issuance Parachute Rigger Seal Symbols. ..30 Recommended Study Materials. .. 30 FAR's.. ..31 FAA Advisory Circulars... ..31 Appendix FAA Regional Offices.. . l FAA Flight Standards District Offices. . 3
PARACHUTE RIGGER CERTIFICATES
AND RATINGS Certificates and Ratings FAR Part 65, Certification: Airmen Other Than Flight Crewmembers, provides for the issuance of two parachute rigger certificates: (1) senior parachute rigger and (2) master parachute rigger. FAR Part 65 also provides for four type ratings: (1) seat, (2) back,
(3) chest, and (4) lap. Each senior parachute rigger applicant must meet the requirements for at least one rating, and each master parachute rigger applicant must meet the requirements for at least two ratings to be issued a certificate. Parachute riggers may exercise their privileges only on parachutes for which they are rated.
Parachute rigger certificate eligibility requirements vary with the type of certificate sought (senior or master) and the applicant's background (military or civil).
General Requirements FAR Section 65.113 states:
(a) To be eligible for a parachute rigger certificate, a person must-
(1) Be at least 18 years of age;
2) Be able to read, write, speak, understand the English language, or in the case of a citizen of Puerto Rico, or a person who is employed outside of the United States by a U.S. air carrier, and who does not meet this requirement, be issued a certificate that is valid only in Puerto Rico or while he/she is employed outside of the United States by that air carrier, as the case may be; and
(3) Comply with the sections of this subpart that apply to the certificate and type rating he/she seeks.
Experience Requirements FAR Section 65.115 provides that applicants for a senior parachute rigger certificate must have packed at least 20 parachutes of each type for which a rating is sought. The parachute must have been packed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and under the supervision of a certificated parachute rigger who holds a rating for that type or by a person holding an appropriate military rating.
Applicants for a master parachute rigger certificate must have had at least 3 years of experience as a parachute rigger and have satisfactorily packed at least 100 parachutes of each of two types in common use, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
Knowledge and Skill Requirements FAR Section 65.115 provides that senior parachute rigger applicants are required to take a written test. They are also required to take an oral and practical test after passing the written test. Military parachute riggers, former military parachute riggers, and civilian employees of a regular armed force who meet the regulatory requirements may take a special written test on the regulations of FAR Part 65, Subpart F. Evidence to establish their eligibility under this special certification rule (FAR Section 65.117) may be submitted in the form of letters, official records, or other documents, within 12 months after discharge.
Master parachute rigger applicants are required to take a written test unless they hold a senior parachute rigger certificate. They are also required to take an oral and practical test, which may be taken after showing they meet the other requirements.
Certificate Privileges A certificated senior parachute rigger may pack or maintain (except for major repairs and alterations) any type of parachute for which he/she is rated. He/she may also supervise other persons in packing any type of parachute for which he/she is rated. A certificated master parachute rigger may pack, maintain, or alter any type of parachute for which he/she is rated. Additionally, he/she may supervise other persons in packing, maintaining, or altering any type of parachute for which he/she is rated.
Since regulations are amended from time to time, you should check with the local FAA office to ascertain the currency of referenced regulations.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES How to Apply Contact the nearest General Aviation District Office (GADO), Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or International Field Office (IFO) for an appointment to have your experience evaluated. An FAA inspector will determine if you are eligible to take the tests. This evaluation is necessary when applying for an original certificate, or when adding a rating. FAA district office addresses are listed in the appendix.
When appearing for evaluation, bring your records and any other evidence you have to substantiate your experience. Letters from present or former employers, military service records, business records, log books, etc., are acceptable as long as the inspector who reviews it is able to determine that the type and amount of experience meets the regulatory requirements.
The evidence of packing experience must contain the following information:
1. Name of the person who did the packing.
2. Type and number of parachutes packed.
3. Packing dates.
4. A statement that the parachutes were packed under the supervision of a certificated and appropriately rated parachute rigger or a person holding an appropriate military rating, including the name, certificate number, and ratings of the person who supervised the packing.
When the FAA inspector determines that you meet the general and experience requirements, you will be required to complete FAA Form 8610-2, Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application, in duplicate. The FAA inspector will endorse the form and return both copies to you. The FAA inspector will issue FAA Form 8060-7, Airman's Authorization for Written Test, for presentation to an appropriately rated written test examiner. If there is sufficient time, you may be permitted to take the written test that same day, or you may take the written test at a later date.
THE WRITTEN TESTS Taking the Written Test The written test may be taken at FSDO's, GADO's, and IFO's or from appropriately rated written test examiners.
ACDO's have no provision for administering parachute rigger written tests. FSDO's may administer written tests at other locations by prior arrangement. It is recommended that an appointment be made before the intended date of testing so that the appropriate personel will be on hand to give the tests and to assure that space is available.
You must begin the test early enough to complete it within the time allotted and before office closing time.
One hour is allowed for taking the Senior Parachute Rigger-Military Competence written test. The Senior Parachute Rigger-Military Competence written test must be administered by an FAA airworthiness inspector.
Two hours each are allowed for the Senior Parachute Rigger and Master Parachute Rigger written tests. If you have not had your experience evaluated at an earlier date, arrive at the office early enough to allow additional time for the determination to be made.
When eligibility to take the test is confirmed, an application form, a test booklet, and all the materials necessary to take the test will be issued. You are not required to furnish any test or reference material, nor permitted to use or take notes during the tests.
show personal identification and to provide certain Before you begin the written test, you will be asked to match lication form. Th provide information on the application form. This information is necessary to match your answer sheet with your application form so your scores can be accurately reported. Prior to filling in any part of the application form, read the instructions carefully, then fill in the form.
Everything should be printed except your signature, which should be written just as you would sign a business letter.
Make certain you completely understand the instructions for taking the test and how to mark the special answer sheet, as it will be machine scored. If more than one answer to a question is marked, or no answer is marked, the question will be scored as incorrect. Stray marks on the sheet may also cause the questions to be scored as incorrect.
When taking the test, always keep the following facts in mind:
(1) There are no "trick" questions. Each statement means exactly what it says. Do not look for hidden meanings. The statement does not concern exceptions to the rule; it refers to the general rule.
(2) Be sure you read the entire question carefully before looking at the answers; avoid hasty assumptions. This can lead to a completely erroneous approach to the problem or failure to consider vital words. Then look through the list of alternative answers and find the one that best answers the question.
(3) Only one of the answers is completely correct.
The others may be answers that result from using the incorrect procedures, from wrong interpretations of the question, or from misconceptions about the subject matter.
Understand the question and then select the alternative you consider to be the best answer.
(4) If you find that you have considerable difficulty with a question, do not spend too much time on it, but go on to the next question. When you have completed the test, go back to the questions which you have passed over. This procedure will enable you to use the time available to the best advantage in demonstrating your knowledge and understanding of the subject. Be sure you mark an answer for each question.
Scoring the Test If you qualify under the special certification rule for military parachute riggers or former military parachute riggers, the test administered to you is graded in the FAA district office where the test is taken. If you pass the test, you will be issued FAA Form 8060-4, Temporary Airman Certificate, since no oral or practical test is required. If a passing grade of 70 percent is not obtained.
All other parachute rigger written tests are mailed to the FAA in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where they are scored by electronic test-scoring machines. Strict procedures are followed to insure the accuracy of scoring.
Reporting Scores Test results will be mailed to you as quickly as possible.
The test grade is reported on AC Form 8080-2, Airman Written Test Report. AC Form 8080-2 is acceptable evidence of having passed the written test and must be presented when applying for a certificate. It must also be presented when applying for retesting in the event of failure.
In addition to grade information, the written test report provides a listing by question number of the questions which were answered incorrectly. The subject area codes correspond to the subject headings shown on the "Written Test Subject Outline," which is mailed along with AC Form 8080-2, and to the written test subject headings used in this guide.
If your AC Form 8080-2 is lost or destroyed, a duplicate copy may be obtained by sending your name, social security number, the title of the test, the location where the test was taken, the approximate date of the test, and $1.00 (money order or check payable to FAA) to:
FAA Airman Certification Branch, AAC-260 P.O. Box 25082 Oklahoma City, OK 73125 7
Applying for a Retest If you fail a parachute rigger test, you must wait 30 days to retake the test; or, if you desire to take the test sooner, you must present a statement from a certificated and appropriately rated parachute rigger or a person holding an appropriate military rating, certitying that he/she has given you additional instruction in each of the subjects failed and now considers you ready for retesting.
Written Test Subjects The subjects covered by the parachute rigger written tests are outlined below. The special test administered to military or former military riggers deals only with the first two categories, Certification and Privileges, Limitations, and Operating Rules. All other applicants for a senior parachute rigger written test should be prepared to answer questions in all subject areas listed except the last category, Parachute Alteration. Master parachute rigger applicants will be asked questions in all subject areas.
A. CERTIFICATION A01 -Experience requirements.
AO2 -Skill requirements.
A03 - Type ratings:
AO4 -Test requirements.
A05 -Adding type ratings.
B. PRIVILEGES, LIMITATIONS, AND OPERATING RULES B01-Certificate privileges.
B02-Facilities and equipment.
B03—Performance standards.
BO4- -Records.
B05- - Pack sealing.
BO6-Parachute repair.
B07 -Parachute alteration.
B08-Intentional parachute jumping.