Parachute riggers play key role in Airmen safety

  • Published
  • By Jonathan Rejent
  • Nucleus staff writer
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  While Airmen who perform combat rescue often get well-deserved praise for the job they do, there is a small team behind the scenes that plays a key role in the training and missions performed by combat rescue officers and pararescuemen.

The parachute riggers of the 342nd Training Squadron, Detachment 1, are responsible for packing the chutes that bring the CROs and PJs down safely.

"When someone is jumping out of an airplane, they're relying on us to save their lives," said Staff Sgt. David Colquitt, parachute rigger floor supervisor, who has packed more than 1,500 chutes.

About 70 to 100 students graduate from the pararescue school at Kirtland each year; during their training, each student averages six jumps, according to Colquitt. For the parachute riggers, this equates to about 500 chutes that they must pack throughout the year.

"The pararescuemen's motto is 'That others may live.' Our motto is 'Last to let you down.' We have a lot of pride in the work we're doing."

That work involves packing two styles of parachute -- static-line and freefall.

An individual static-line chute, which Colquitt described as "a trash-bag parachute," takes about an hour to pack. The freefall chutes require more "meticulous" folding and measurements; packing time averages about two hours.

Part of pararescue training involves jumping into the Banana River at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. There, the riggers are thrown a curveball in their own training -- unscrambling a waterlogged chute.

"When a parachute hits the water, it opens up like a jellyfish," Colquitt said. "It's amazing how fast my team can have it untangled and packed again."

Senior Airman Mitchell Bolyard, parachute rigger, said that even in this state, it takes, at most, 10 minutes to sort out.

Aside from straightening out the lines that attach the canopy to the bag, a number of other details must be inspected before a chute is ready for its next jump. A summarized checklist, Colquitt said, includes the following:
  -- Stretch out the canopy.
  -- Search for holes, tears and burns in the material.
  -- Check for frayed and damaged suspension lines.
  -- Inspect the pack tray, harness, risers and ripcords.
  -- Check the deployment assistance device and reserve chute, if applicable.

The freefall chutes, Colquitt explained, have both a main and a reserve parachute.

"If something were to happen to the main, you could get rid of that parachute and go to your reserve," he said.

When a mishap does occur, Colquitt said it is often due to "operator error or being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"There are so many variables that can come into play when you exit out of an aircraft," he said. "Our mission is to produce flawless, reputable parachutes for our students and instructors day in and day out."