FAA Rejects Proposal to Ease International Jumper Regs | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.07.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.08.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.09.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-07.10.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.11.25

Mon, Nov 11, 2024

FAA Rejects Proposal to Ease International Jumper Regs

Agency Cites Limited Resources and a Lack of Safety Concern

The FAA recently and inexplicably rejected a request from the Parachute Industry Association (PIA) Rigging Committee aimed at changing the rules for foreign skydivers visiting the United States with their own gear. This would have simplified the unnecessarily strict regulations for repacking chutes.

The petition targeted 14 CFR 105.49, which allows foreign parachutists to jump under their home country’s regulations. However, this is limited in the FAA’s description of a foreign parachutist: “a parachutist who is neither a U.S. citizen or a resident alien and is participating in parachute operations within the United States using parachute equipment not manufactured in the United States.”

This definition means that, to comply with FAA regulations, international jumpers must have gear approved under FAA technical standard order C-23 (TSO’d) repacked by an FAA-certified rigger before using it in US borders.

The effort to revise the rule began in March 2023 at the PIA Symposium. Initially, they aimed for an exemption for Canadian jumpers crossing the US border, with the long-term goal of extending this exemption to other countries. In response, the FAA suggested the submission of a formal petition for rule changes to 14 CFR 105.49, which governs foreign parachutists' use of equipment in the U.S.

Despite this initial suggestion, the FAA sent a letter stating that it would not move forward with the request. The agency cited resource limitations, other higher-priority concerns, and a lack of safety issues with the current rule as reasons for the decision.

In response to the FAA’s decision, the PIA plans to publish a list of FAA-certified riggers operating in other countries. This hopes to assist international jumpers in preparing for their US trips. Additionally, PIA intends to encourage rigging schools to offer courses that streamline the certification process for foreign riggers who meet the FAA’s English proficiency requirements, ultimately aiming to expand the pool of available FAA-certified riggers outside the US.

FMI: www.pia.com

Advertisement

More News

Airborne 07.11.25: New FAA Boss, New NASA Boss (Kinda), WB57s Over TX

Also: ANOTHER Illegal Drone, KidVenture Educational Activities, Record Launches, TSA v Shoes The Senate confirmed Bryan Bedford to become the next Administrator of the FAA, in a ne>[...]

Airborne-Flight Training 07.10.25: ATC School, Air Race Classic, Samson School

Also: Sully v Bedford, Embraer Scholarships, NORAD Intercepts 11, GAMA Thankful Middle Georgia State University will be joining the Federal Aviation Administration’s fight ag>[...]

Airborne Affordable Flyers 07.03.25: Sonex HW, BlackShape Gabriel, PRA Fly-In 25

Also: DarkAero Update, Electric Aircraft Symposium, Updated Instructor Guide, OSH Homebuilts Celebrate The long-awaited Sonex High Wing prototype has flown... the Sonex gang tells >[...]

Airborne-Flight Training 07.10.25: ATC School, Air Race Classic, Samson School

Also: Sully v Bedford, Embraer Scholarships, NORAD Intercepts 11, GAMA Thankful Middle Georgia State University will be joining the Federal Aviation Administration’s fight ag>[...]

Rick Kenin New Board Chair of VAI

30-Year USCG Veteran Aviator Focusing On Member Benefits The Vertical Aviation International Board of Directors announced its new leadership officers in April, and all began their >[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC