Introduction to Skydiving Jobs
- Different Roles in the Skydiving Community
- Skydive Instructors
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a parachute packer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $28,339 a year! Charles Plumb was a US Navy jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. The parachutist was taking part in a training exercise on July 6 in California when he jumped out of a plane in a High Altitude Low Opening exercise known as Halo. Is it worth it to skydive? It’s an investment in life-long memories.
Let’s say each customer does 6 jumps a day. That is usually what I do a day when I am jumping. But just how much money can skydivers make? The job ‘skydiver’ as in a performance artist, is only for the fortunate few. Very few skydivers are skilled and talented enough to get paid to perform skydiving alone. But there are many jobs and paid tasks within the skydiving community, from packers and photographers to pilots and instructors. Let’s take a look and the types of skydiving jobs available. We’ll explore the different roles and salaries and how to gain employment.
Another such role is that of parachute packer. Packing is a critical role and one for which anyone can be trained. With the right commitment and dedication, you can become a skilled parachute packer. As a packer, you will gain a lot of knowledge and respect, and make lots of valuable connections. It’s no secret that the process is expensive, so how much do skydive instructors make, exactly? It’s possible your skydiving instructor is not working for money but instead working for “jumps” as skydiving is expensive and they need to accumulate jumps/freefall time.
However, many instructors get paid and make between $25 to $40 per dive, while full-time instructors earn upwards of $50,000 to $70,000 USD per year. Hobby jumpers can choose to pack their own parachutes, or pay the packers to do it for them. That choice will usually come down to time or their own desire to pack or not – often, people prefer to grab a drink and chill after their jump, so they’ll use a packer then. Aside from making good money, packers tend to sleep really well at night from sheer fatigue!
That said there are many who have made a career from packing parachutes and still do today. Professional Skydiving Instructor. There are many different instructor ratings available with varying degrees of minimum requirements (usually based on the number of jumps). I heard that you can pack parachutes in exchange for jumps and lessons. Is this a realistic way to "Pay" for your jumps, is there really a need out there? How do i get certified in parachute packing? I appreciate any help!
Parachute Packer Role and Salary
What does a parachute packer do?
What does a parachute packer do? Parachute packing is an essential skill for experienced skydivers. Packing the reserve parachute is a slightly different and longer process, and due to the life-saving function, it can only be packed by an FAA-certified parachute rigger.
How much do parachute packers get paid? The salaries of Parachute Packers in the US range from $18,780 to $49,960, with a median salary of $27,950.
Is packing a parachute difficult? Packing a parachute is easy, read on for everything you need to know!
Parachute Packing Process and Career Paths
How does a parachute work? When a skydiver uses the toggles to pull down on the steering lines and turn, the parachute automatically descends a little faster.
Is there a parachute career in the military? We especially welcome Transitioning Military Personnel to explore the opportunities available at Airborne Systems.
Do you need experience to be a parachute Packer? In fact, many parachute packer jobs require experience in a role such as machinist.
How long does it take to pack a parachute? About 10-15 minutes.
Do skydivers have a backup parachute? All skydivers make every jump wearing not one but two parachutes – a main parachute and a backup parachute (called the "reserve parachute").
How can I make money as a Packer? Once you are a well practiced packer and have all the relevant kit signed off on your packing certificate, you can choose to either help us out with pack jobs or become a packer yourself.
What is a packing parachute?
Packing parachutes is an essential skill for experienced skydivers. It takes about 10-15 minutes to pack a parachute. The parachute packer will lay the canopy flat on the ground and place the backpack facing up. The lines are stretched out and the canopy laid as flat as possible. The material and lines are then folded back into the container they were deployed from.
Modern parachutes are shaped like wings for better flight. So packing them correctly affects how they deploy. In the past, round parachutes deployed reasonably well even if tangled during packing.
Becoming a certified parachute packer is part of getting a skydiving license. Only certified packers can pack parachutes for themselves or others. Packing the reserve parachute is more complex. And due to its lifesaving role, only a certified parachute rigger can pack reserves.
Rather than pack themselves, hobby jumpers may pay packers. This allows them time to relax after jumping instead. Packers tend to sleep very well due to fatigue! But packing brings knowledge, connections and respect. Some make a career packing parachutes even today.
Parachutes can be reused if well-maintained and repacked properly. Their lifespan ranges from 300 to 2000 jumps depending on materials, handling and storage. Parachute packers earn $18,780 to $49,960 yearly in the U.S, with a median of $27,950.