As of December, 2008 -- the reserve repack requirement was lengthened to 180 days.

Reserve Repack Requirements

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sets the rules for repack intervals. The old repack schedule was 120 days. As of December 2008, the repack interval changed to 180 days. This means your reserve must be repacked each 180-day cycle in order for you to legally jump your rig.

The old repack cycle had been in effect since 1978 – however, the USPA has been pushing to get it extended for a long time. The FAA finally reported that “New reliability data from U.S. military, foreign aviation authorities, and the parachute industry indicate that the packing interval can safely be increased.”

Other Reserve Repack Considerations

Other FAA rules regarding reserves and rigging include the requirement that any Automatic Activation Device (AAD) have its battery replaced on a regular cycle. This rule impacts reserve repack requirements because while you may not be due for an 180-day repack; you may need to have a battery replaced on your AAD.