Purpose of These Sessions

These repacking sessions are designed to offer supervised independence for members who want to repack their own reserves.
This is not a repack service. You are responsible for packing your own reserve, with only light guidance available on the day.

Because time, space, and volunteer availability are limited, attendee numbers must be strictly controlled. These sessions are ideal for members who are already confident with their equipment and simply want the reassurance of packing alongside peers and experienced volunteers.

Eligibility

These sessions are open to:

• Current AHGPC members.

• Members with reserves less than 10 years old from the date of manufacture.

• Members willing and able to repack their own reserve.

• First-time packers may attend only if they are fully prepared (see below).

To attend a session, you must arrive fully prepared to pack independently. This includes:

Before the session, you MUST:

• Thoroughly read the NZHGPA reserve packing manual 

• Thoroughly read your reserve’s manual

• Understand the complete repacking process

• Watch all manufacturer-provided tutorials

• Know your equipment and be comfortable working with it

• Source your own manuals and resources — these will not be provided by the club

• Air out your reserve in a dry environment before the session (follow your manual for specific guidance)

We highly recommend:

• Doing a hang-check

• Performing a deployment test

• Working with a peer - two lots of eyes is better than one!

If you have not done this preparation:

You should not attend a repack session. Instead, please contact a qualified instructor, dealer, or professional rigger for assistance.

What to Bring

• Your reserve manual

• Your reserve, harness, and container (required for the full process)

• Any tools or items recommended by your manufacturer

• Suitable rubber bands

• Replacement o-ring(s) for maillon connections (if required), or self-amalgamating table (where larks head connection is used)

• A reserve repacking rig, if you have one (they are simple and cheap to DIY)

• Enough clips and weights as recommended by your manufacturer
  
  

The club will provide:

• A limited number of repacking jigs (we recommend building your own if you plan to do you own repacking)

• A small selection of clips and weights, also limited

How the Session Works

• These are lightly guided sessions — volunteers are available for limited assistance only.

• No one will pack your reserve for you.

• No one will provide full supervision of your repack.

• Volunteers may offer some checking, but the club makes no commitment to full inspections or sign-off.

• Expect the process to take several hours — it is important not to rush.

• Attendance is capped and depends on space and volunteer availability.

Safety & Responsibility

By attending, you acknowledge that:

• You are responsible for the correctness of your own reserve repack.

• These sessions are not professional services, inspections, or certifications.

• Volunteers are present only to offer limited support.

Booking & Attendance

To attend, you must complete the booking form. No form = no attendance.

If your plans change, please let us know as soon as possible so your spot can be offered to someone else.

Costs

A donation is strongly recommended to help cover the hall hire and to provide a koha for the volunteers who give their time to run these sessions.

Professional Repacking Options

Members are recommended to seek professional repack services on their own if they have any doubts in their own abilities.

Post-Session Follow-Up

You should:

• Log the repack date

• Keep notes on anything you struggled with for next time

• Review your manual(s) again to reinforce learning

Before attending the repacking session, you should complete every item on this checklist.
This ensures the session runs smoothly, safely, and within the limits of the volunteer support available.

✅ 1. Preparation & Knowledge

• I have read my reserve’s manual thoroughly from start to finish.

• I understand the full repacking process as described by my manufacturer.

• I have watched any official tutorials or instructional videos provided by the manufacturer.

• I am confident handling my equipment and performing all steps independently.

• I understand that this session is not a repack service, and I am responsible for packing my own reserve.

✅ 2. Equipment Requirements

• My reserve is less than 10 years old from the date of manufacture.

• I am bringing my reserve manual to the session.

• I am bringing my harness and container, as they are required for the full pack.

• I have any additional tools or equipment recommended by my manufacturer.

✅ 3. Reserve Condition

• I have aired out my reserve in a dry environment before attending.

• I have checked the manual’s instructions on reserve airing and followed them.

• My reserve is dry, clean, and free from visible damage.

✅ 4. Understanding Session Limits

• I understand this session offers light guidance only.

• I understand volunteers may provide limited assistance, but will NOT pack my reserve.

• I understand the club does not commit to providing full inspections or sign-offs.

• I am prepared to work at a careful pace, knowing the process can take several hours.

✅ 5. Logistics & Booking

• I have completed and submitted the attendance booking form.

• I will notify the organisers as soon as possible if I cannot attend.

• I will bring a donation to help cover hall hire and volunteer koha.

You should not attend this session if you can't tick all of the boxes above. Please seek assistance from a qualified instructor, dealership, or professional rigger instead.

While the full and specific requirements for your reserve are always defined in the manufacturer’s manual, pilots should also be aware of the following general best-practice guidelines that apply to all modern reserve parachute systems:

Repack & Inspection Frequency

• Reserves should be repacked at least once per year, or more frequently if recommended by the manufacturer.

• Some conditions may warrant repacking every 6 months, such as high humidity, dusty environments, or long periods of compression or storage.

When an Immediate Repack or Inspection Is Required

You should open, air out, and repack your reserve as soon as practical if any of the following occur:

• The reserve becomes wet, damp, or exposed to moisture (including dew or high humidity storage).

• Exposure to salt water, sand, fine dust, or contamination.

• The reserve has been deployed, even partially.

• Visible wear, fraying, corrosion, or hardware damage is found.

• The reserve is approaching its recommended maximum service life (often around 10 years, but refer to your manual).

Pre-flight Checks

Before every flight, you should carry out basic external checks to ensure:

• The reserve container is properly closed and undamaged.

• Pins, flaps, and deployment handles are correctly seated and unobstructed.

• The harness, pod, and deployment sequence are routed as intended by the manufacturer.
  These checks are quick but essential parts of reserve system safety.

Record Keeping

• Maintain a packing/inspection record with the reserve, noting the repack date and the name of the person who packed it.

• This helps track service history, identify ageing issues, and meet standard aviation and parachute-safety expectations.

Professional Inspection

• Periodic inspection by a qualified technician or repack professional is recommended, especially for older reserves, complex or steerable systems, or if you are not fully confident in your own packing.

What the volunteers Will Not Do

AHGPC repack sessions are not a repacking service. Club volunteers are present only to supervise the room and offer light, general guidance. Therefore, the club:

• Will NOT pack your reserve for you.
  You are responsible for the complete packing process.

• Will NOT certify, sign off, or “approve” your reserve pack.
  No club member is acting as a licensed or authorised packer.

• Will NOT perform detailed equipment inspections.
  Volunteers will not examine fabric condition, lines, stitching, or deployment systems on your behalf.

• Will NOT diagnose equipment problems or make repairs.
  Any issues discovered with your reserve or harness/container system must be evaluated by a qualified professional.

• Will NOT provide tools, materials, elastics, manuals, or replacement parts.
  You must bring everything required for your specific reserve and container system.

• Will NOT take responsibility for the outcome of your repack.
  Because you are packing your own reserve, you accept full responsibility for the safety and airworthiness of the equipment.

When You Should Seek Professional Help

You should not rely on a club repack session and should instead take your reserve to a qualified professional parachute technician or manufacturer-approved packer if:

1. The reserve has been deployed

Any real-world or accidental deployment should undertake a full professional inspection before repack.

2. The reserve has been wet, damp, or exposed to contaminants

Including:

• water landings (fresh or salt)

• moisture, mould, mud, sand

• fuel, oils, sunscreen, tree sap, or other contaminants

These can seriously weaken fabric or lines.

3. The equipment is older or has unknown history

You should seek professional inspection when:

• the reserve or harness/container is near end-of-life,

• second-hand equipment with unknown maintenance history, or

• no clear record of previous repacks or inspections.

4. You find any signs of wear, damage, or irregularity

Examples include:

• frayed or stiff lines

• damaged stitching

• worn or brittle webbing

• canopy fabric degradation

• corrosion or deformation of hardware

• sticky or damaged deployment pins
  If anything looks questionable, get a technician to inspect it.

5. Your packing manual is unclear or unfamiliar

If you cannot confidently follow the exact manufacturer’s packing instructions, or your reserve uses a system you have never handled, a trained packer should do the job.

6. The system requires specialised procedures

7. You are not fully confident doing each step yourself

A repack is a safety-critical operation.
If you are unsure at any stage — folding, closing sequence, line stows, routing, pin tension — stop and take the equipment to a qualified packer.