Course not rigged
Volume 11, No. 44, June 01, 2006

Floating on air: Rigger supervisor Cpl Darin Leitch looks calmly at the cameraman while parachuting over the town of Narrandera. Photo by WO1 Phil Thamm.

THE parachute riggers’ motto is “Be Sure Always” and their faith in their motto and personal skills was put to the test recently in the skies over Narrandera in central NSW.

According to WO1 Phil Thamm, jumping a parachute you’ve packed yourself is one thing, jumping strapped to someone else is another. This ultimate test of faith was shown by riggers during a Tandem Operator Course conducted by the Parachute Training School (PTS).

“The tandem parachute is packed on the ground in about 20 minutes. It is quite exacting and takes longer to pack than normal parachutes because of its increased size and complexity and there are a number of stage safety checks that are carried out by a rigger supervisor to ensure quality,” he said.

Tandem operators serve two roles – the first is to insert equipment or specialists into operations and the second is to promote Army by jumping into special events or displays.

“Trainees are required to jump with free-fall qualified personnel – it can be an unnerving experience being attached to a tandem operator as all your control is forfeit,” rigger LCpl Paul Cuzner said.

“It’s not at all like static line parachuting and was quite scary the first time. I found it very exciting and it gave a real feeling of freedom and, once under canopy, it was so peaceful.

“It’s different not being in control but I treat it as another jump and I find it provides me with the opportunity to be aware of things of which I do not normally notice. For me it is a learning experience.

“It can be hard putting your life into someone else’s hands. What gives me confidence is the training of tandem operators by PTS staff. Being at PTS, I see the training and this only increases my confidence.”

Forty years ago when the parachute rigger trade was born, riggers were required to pack and jump their own ‘chutes. This was, and still is, the defining test of the rigger course.

“I suppose there are always doubts there, but I have complete confidence in myself, in the training I received and in the equipment we use,” LCpl Cuzner said.