Chapter 2 Design and Construction | Parachute Rigger Handbook

Parachute Rigger Handbook August 2015 Change 1 (December 2015)
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Chapter 2 Design and Construction Introduction It is important for the aspiring rigger to understand basic design parameters and construction techniques of modern parachute systems.
The master rigger must have a thorough understanding of these areas to perform any desired or necessary alterations.
An understanding of how the systems or components were originally designed, and why they were constructed as they were, is essential.
Any proposed alteration may degrade the function and/or structural integrity of the assembly or component thereby causing it to fail.Parachute Design and Construction The design parameters for certificated parachutes are set forth in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) documents, specifically within the Technical Standard Order (TSO) system.
Parachute certification standards fall within the TSO C23 series.
Currently, there are three TSO documents under which parachutes are manufactured: C23b, C23c, and C23d.
Appendix A of this handbook explains these standards in detail.
Military parachutes are manufactured and certified under a military drawing system; however, some manufacturers have certified them under the TSO system as well.
Advisory Circular (AC) 105-2D, Sport Parachuting explains that a parachute assembly normally, but not exclusively, consists of the following major components: a canopy, a deployment device, a pilot chute and/or drogue, risers, a stowage container, a harness, and an actuation device (ripcord).
Component Parts Parachute assemblies and component parts are identified in the following discussion.
The appropriate nomenclatures, as well as the commonly accepted names, are defined below.
Main Parachute Canopy The main parachute canopy is used in conjunction with a reserve parachute assembly as the primary parachute canopy for a premeditated jump.
The main canopy consists of everything from the main riser connector links to the bridle attachment point (excluding the steering toggles).
The major parts are the suspension lines and the canopy.
[Figure 2-1] Reserve Parachute Canopy The reserve parachute canopy is worn in conjunction with a main parachute used for premeditated jumps.
The reserve parachute consists of everything from the reserve riser connector links to the bridle attachment point (excluding the steering toggles).
The major parts are the canopy, suspension lines, and any type of deployment device that is sewn to the canopy or lines.
Emergency Parachute Canopy The emergency parachute canopy is worn for emergency, unpremeditated use only.
The canopy may be identical to the reserve parachute canopy.
Harness/Container The harness and container assembly includes all the remaining parts necessary to complete an airworthy parachute system except for the canopies.
The basic harness/ container assembly is what remains when all items that can be removed without unstitching have been removed.
Most sport parachute assemblies have the harness and containers integrated into one assembly, but many military assemblies may be disassembled into separate harness and container subassemblies.
The following items are subcomponents of the harness/container assembly and are shown in Figure 2-2.
Pilot Chutes and Bridles for the Main and Reserve Parachutes The pilot chute is a small parachute or similar device that enters the airstream when released to act as a drag device and withdraw the canopy from the container.
As such, it maintains tension on the canopy and lines during the deployment process, except for reserve “Free Bags.” Pilot chutes are either spring-loaded or manually thrown into the airstream as a “hand deployed” pilot chute.
Some military or emergency pilot chutes are ballistically deployed.
A bridle is a piece of line or webbing that connects the canopy or deployment device to the pilot chute.