The Pathfinder Parachute Group is the sole round parachute club offering military-grade parachute equipment for our courses and events.
Our parachute equipment is provided at no charge throughout all courses and is also available for rental during progression, currency jumps, and our esteemed events in Arnhem and Normandy.
We offer thorough packing courses aimed at training and certifying Pathfinder members in the inspection and packing of main parachutes.
Upon successful certification, you will gain recognition as a qualified club packer and will receive compensation for each parachute packed.
We supply packing manuals, enhanced by our instructional photos and videos, to complement the practical training received during the packing course.
To achieve Pathfinder qualified packer status, you must complete the training syllabus outlined in our packing certificate and have been supervised on a minimum of 10 pack jobs prior to examination.
Compensation for packing will be granted only to Pathfinder members who possess our packing certificate and who either pack or supervise a complete pack job from start to finish. A maximum of one pack job may be supervised at any one time.
Compensation for pack jobs will be processed provided the qualified packer submits a daily packing invoice to the event coordinator, which can be downloaded from the link below.
A qualified packer is, in addition, a packer/checker capable of validating the different stages of packing for those who are not yet qualified packers.
The following videos have been created to assist with our packing courses, showing various methods commonly employed in the inspection and packing of main parachutes.
The packing manuals are vital resource, however, those from the era that belongs to our parachute designs, are typical of the old standards and not very user friendly or easy to follow’
It is also essential to recognise that the manuals have been written to support military applications, particularly when operating this equipment from large, fast aircraft such as the C130 or A400, which are characterised by rapid flying speeds. Additionally, the equipment is designed to accommodate significant payloads, so using it without a pay load changes the deployment characteristics.
When using this equipment in a different environment, the design may require adjustments to ensure the jumper’s safety.
For example, the static line length is specific to each aircraft, necessitating knowledge of the appropriate static line length for various aircraft types.
The use of 80 lb and 40 lb cotton break ties to secure connector links may cause problems when jumping from slower-moving light aircraft.
Furthermore, packing the lines inside the cotton sleeves rather than using elastic bands might also create issues, particularly if the packer uses large line stowage loops.
Conducting a thorough inspection of the equipment prior to packing is crucial to ensure the safety of the jumper; therefore, this aspect of the packing process must be taken seriously.
Adopt a meticulous approach, identify any defects, and if uncertain, seek professional guidance regarding the safety and suitability of the equipment for use.
Mastering the packing process for the MC1-1C is essential before progressing to the SF10 Parachute.
This video demonstrates standard packing techniques regularly employed to assist packers in the field, ensuring they are well-prepared for additional jumps while also highlighting any maintenance requirements for when the equipment is packed in a rigging facility.
The flying characteristics of the SF10 exhibit notable differences compared to the MC1-1C, primarily due to its design, which can create some complexity during packing.
Nonetheless, there are two key distinctions: the arrangement of the panels when the lines are visible during packing and the management of the excess control line length.
This video explains the different packing techniques compared to the MC1-1C
