Maintaining A Good Working Relationship With Your Rigger
For most of the people that jump in the USA, skydiving is a hobby, a recreational activity that helps them deal with everyday life, a humdrum job, or any one of the multitude of reasons that makes them want to continue leaping from a plane. There are, of course, exceptions. A small percentage of people work full and part time in the industry, but for most, it’s a hobby.

One of the professions in the industry is Rigging. It takes a big investment in time and money to get your rigger’s certificate, and most riggers consider the training and investment ongoing. They will attend The PIA Symposium, learn new techniques, keep up to date on gear innovations and Advisories and Service bulletins.

Quite simply, a Rigger’s job is to help you keep your gear as safe as it can be, compliant with all advisories issued by the manufacturer, to fully inspect it every 120 days and re-certify it as airworthy.

Your Rigger is not, however, a credit union, and almost certainly relies on the income from rigging to make part or all of his/her income. Now, I realize that this does not apply to Guido “I’ll Rig Your Shit Buddy” Corleone from the Brooklyn Chapter of Rigger/Enforcers, but for most of us, we expect to be paid for our work in a timely fashion

For instance, 2 weeks ago I fronted the cost of a set of Cypres batteries, inspected and re-certified a rig and, yesterday, drove 120 mile round trip to deliver the rig 2 weeks after I packed it, only to find the customer had “left early”. Now, before you accuse me of whining, this isn’t the only time I’ve gone the extra mile for someone, only to have them be “too busy” to come pick their stuff up and pay their bill. There are now 2 people for whom I will no longer do any rigging, and a few more on the “you got one more chance bucko” list.

Now, you might think this a little “New Agey” but I honestly believe that the attitude that a rigger has while packing, affects the job they do, in a subtle way. You really don’t want to be in the position, when your sweaty palm is reaching for the silver handle, and your life is starting to flash before your eyes, of wondering if your rigger was pissed at you when they packed your shit, do you? So here’s a couple of tips for maintaining a good relationship with your rigger.

  1. If you think it may be more than a week between dropping your rig off and picking it up, offer to pay in advance.
  2. If you are going to need any extras such as Cypres Batteries etc. offer to pay in advance no matter how quickly you’re going to pick your rig up.
  3. If any unforeseen circumstances arise, and you can’t get to pick up your rig at the agreed upon time, call or email your rigger and explain so that they don’t drive half way around the State for no good reason. Then offer to Paypal or send them the money that you owe them.


Simple concepts, simple courtesies, don’t let your pastime affect your riggers ability to put beer in the glass or food on the table. </rant>