Repairs  Alterations  and  Manufacture Chapter 7 Introduction Inspection requirements are the mainstay of the parachute  rigger  but of equal importance is the repair and maintenance  of the parachute and its related systems. When the parachute  is new  it is expected to function as designed. As it is used  and ages  however  it begins to wear and its condition  changes  which over time could result in a malfunction of  the system. It is the rigger’s responsibility during inspections  to identify any condition that might result in the parachute  being considered non-airworthy and dangerous. In the course  of training  the rigger candidate learns to identify those  conditions that may be unsafe. The trainee also learns how  to undertake the necessary repairs to return the parachute to  its original  airworthy configuration. As we look at repairs  it becomes very evident that inspection is the initial part of  the process of any repair.