FAA Parachute Rigger study guide
FAA Parachute Rigger · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The FAA Parachute Rigger certificate is the airman certificate that authorizes a person to pack, maintain, repair, and alter parachutes and related survival equipment installed on aircraft. It is aimed at people who already work with parachutes - sport riggers, loft technicians, skydiving operation staff, and aviation maintenance personnel - and at candidates building a career around parachute systems. The FAA Parachute Rigger study guide has 8 sections and about 3,322 words.
01Regulations and Recordkeeping
This domain tests the regulatory frame around parachute rigging: who may pack, maintain, and repair parachutes, what the certificate ratings mean, how recent experience works, and what records must exist after the work is done. Questions often use a scenario rather than a definition.
435 words, about 2 min02Parachute Materials, Components, and Hardware
This domain tests whether you can identify parachute fabrics, lines, threads, tapes, and hardware, and whether you understand why approved material matters. Exam items often ask you to choose a replacement part or reject a substitution.
417 words, about 2 min03Fabrication, Sewing, and Construction Techniques
This domain tests stitch and seam quality: stitch type, stitch density, thread and needle selection, seam construction, bartacks, and the difference between a structural repair and a cosmetic patch. Expect practical judgment questions.
426 words, about 2 min04Inspection, Packing, and Maintenance of Parachutes
This domain tests the inspection-and-packing sequence: what to look for, when to stop, how to pack to approved data, and how to document the result. Questions often ask whether a discrepancy permits packing.
394 words, about 2 min05Rigging, Assembly, and Installation
This domain tests assembly and installation judgment: harness fit, riser routing, connector-link closure, three-ring assembly, RSL routing, AAD installation, ripcord cable path, and static-line attachment. Questions often show a routing or assembly error.
423 words, about 2 min06Maintenance, Repair, and Alteration
This domain tests the boundary between permitted maintenance and work that requires approved data or higher authority. It also tests repair technique and documentation.
411 words, about 2 min07Emergency and Safety Procedures
This domain tests emergency decision-making and shop safety. It includes parachute malfunctions, cutaway and reserve procedures, AAD limitations, static-line emergencies, and hazards in the rigging environment.
395 words, about 2 min08Weight, Balance, and Performance
This domain tests how suspended weight, canopy area, trim, and environmental conditions affect parachute performance. Questions may ask you to compare wing loading, estimate descent-rate trends, or explain an aircraft weight-and-balance effect.
421 words, about 2 min