Buzz
Feel the wind rush past your ears as you freefall toward the earth—is there any more exhilarating experience than jumping out of an airplane? Likely not. Skydiving offers a thrilling and intense rush, but it's also incredibly safe. The key to ensuring your jump is safe is knowing how to pack your parachute correctly so it deploys at the right moment. This involves making sure the lines are free of tangles, the canopy is flaked (properly separated), the parachute is folded correctly, and the lines are securely stowed. While it’s essential to work with an experienced professional for proper training, the basics of packing a parachute are simpler than you might think.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Line Inspection
Lay the canopy flat on the ground. The canopy is the parachute's central component and is connected to the backpack via a series of lines. Start by placing the backpack on the ground with its opening facing upwards. Then, carefully stretch out the lines and lay the canopy as flat as possible.
- Don’t worry if the canopy is a little puffed up or inflated with air at this stage—it’s perfectly fine.
Collect the brake lines where they meet the back straps. Identify the brake lines, the long cords that connect the parachute's canopy to the backpack's straps. Use your fingers to separate the lines and keep them from tangling with each other.
- For example, you can place one line over your index finger and another over your middle finger.
- By keeping the lines apart, you make it easier to untwist and untangle them later.
Hold the lines and walk towards the canopy to untangle them. Grab the lines, keeping them separated in your hands. Slowly walk towards the canopy, gently working to untwist and straighten the lines.
- Take your time and don’t hesitate to stop and work on any twists that need extra attention.
Pull the slider back to check that the lines aren’t tangled at the end. Once you reach the canopy, locate the small rectangular fabric piece called the slider. Pull it back toward you to inspect the lines attached to the canopy. Use your hands to smooth out any tangles and twists.
- The slider helps regulate air flow through the parachute during deployment.
Flaking the Canopy
Position yourself beside the lines and drape them over your shoulder. Stand to one side of the lines near the canopy, either left or right. Gather all the untangled lines into a neat bundle. Place this bundle over one of your shoulders, making sure it’s easily accessible for the next steps in packing.
Check each of the 9 cells to ensure they aren’t tangled. A “cell” refers to a small section of the canopy formed by the space between the lines. Starting from one side, use your hands to carefully separate and count each of the cells.
- Cells often become tangled or fold into the canopy, so it’s crucial to check and separate them properly.
- Most parachutes have a total of 9 cells, although some models may have 7.
Hold one side of the canopy and shake out the fabric. Grip either the left or right side of the canopy so it remains together and doesn’t unfurl. Gently shake the fabric back and forth to loosen it and prepare it for flaking and separation.
- This shaking motion helps release the fabric of the canopy.
Place the nose of the canopy between your legs to secure it. The “nose” is the front part of the parachute that faces your body. Gather the nose of the chute, position it between your legs, and pinch your knees together to hold it in place as you work on flaking.
- Ensure the nose aligns with the center of the canopy.
Begin with your A-lines and flake the fabric between each set of lines. The A-lines are the first lines located to the left and right of the nose. Flaking involves separating the panels or cells of the parachute to ensure smooth deployment. With the lines resting over your shoulder, run your hand between the lines to fluff and separate the fabric. After each section, move to the next cell and continue the flaking process around the entire canopy.
- Flaking removes any folds that might interfere with the parachute’s opening.
Slide the slider down as far as possible and spread it out evenly. With the lines still over your shoulder, pull the slider down the lines and push it into the canopy until it reaches its lowest point. Once in position, evenly distribute the slider so it fits within the spaces between the lines.
- This process is sometimes called “quartering.” Spread out the four sections of the rectangular slider into the gaps between the lines.
Rolling the Tail
Locate the center seam of the tail and bring it up to your lines. The “tail” is the rear portion of the canopy, opposite the nose. With the lines resting over your shoulder, reach down to find the center seam of the tail. Lift it up to where the lines are attached to the canopy.
- Hold the tail against the lines with one hand to keep it from coming loose.
Wrap each side of the tail around the bundle. While holding the center seam of the tail against the lines, use one hand to wrap one side of the canopy around the back of the bundle. Then, use the other hand to wrap the remaining side around the back, ensuring the edges are aligned evenly.
- The canopy should form a smooth, consistent bundle.
Twist the tail’s edges to prevent them from coming undone. Align the edges of the tail and pinch them together with your fingers. Twist the edges over each other 3-4 times to secure them tightly so they stay in place.
Lay the canopy down so the tail’s edges are on the ground. Support the bottom of the canopy with one hand and hold the lines with the other. Gently lay the canopy on the ground, ensuring the edges of the tail stay rolled up underneath.
- Avoid just dropping or letting the canopy fall carelessly. Handle it with care to prevent it from unrolling or tangling.
Folding and Stuffing
Position your knees and forearm on the canopy. Kneel on the canopy where it connects to the lines to hold it firmly in place. Rest your forearm on the canopy to help push out any trapped air.
Slide your forearms up the canopy 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) at a time. Press your forearm down and slide it along the canopy to expel the air. Tuck any loose fabric back under as you move upwards, continuing to press the air out with your forearms.
- Maintain pressure on the canopy with your knees and forearms throughout, keeping the fabric taut and controlled.
Lift the tail end of the cocoon and press it down with your knees. Grab the bottom of the canopy where the lines attach and fold it over by about 6–7 inches (15–18 cm). Then, press down on the fold with your knees to push out any air.
Lift the top of the canopy and fold it toward you, then fold it over itself. Keeping your weight on the canopy, reach up and pull the top down towards you. Then, fold the fabric back over itself and press out any remaining air.
- The result should be a compact and tight bundle of fabric.
Pull the bag over one side of the folded canopy and push it into the bag. Take the parachute bag and slide it over one corner of the folded canopy. Push the material as far into the corner of the bag as possible.
Use your knees to control the fabric and pull the other side of the bag over. Apply pressure on the canopy with your knees to keep it from shifting. Pull the bag over the fabric, then push it in so that the entire canopy fits securely inside the bag.
Stowing the Lines
Press down on the bag to move the rubber band closer to the grommet. The grommets are the metal rings located at the top of the parachute bag. Apply pressure to the bag, pushing the grommets closer to the rubber bands.
- Trying to stretch the rubber bands to reach the grommets may cause them to break.
Slide a rubber band through the center grommet and secure it. Locate the center rubber band and slide it through the center grommet. Hold the rubber band in place on the opposite side of the grommet to prevent it from coming loose.
Wrap the rubber band twice over a small section of the lines. Gather a small section of the lines, approximately 1.5–2.5 inches (3.8–6.4 cm) at the top, where the lines connect to the parachute in the bag. Wrap the center rubber band around the bundle of lines twice to create a stow.
Use the remaining rubber bands to make additional stows. Push another rubber band through the opposite grommet and secure it. Wrap it twice around another 1.5–2.5 inch (3.8–6.4 cm) section of the lines. Continue to make stows with the remaining rubber bands, using similarly sized sections of the lines until the parachute is securely packed.
- When the parachute deploys, the stowed lines will detach from the rubber bands.
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Always consult a professional to ensure your parachute is packed correctly before using it for a jump.
Warnings
- Never use your parachute unless it has been thoroughly inspected by a qualified professional.
