Originally Posted by
dragartist
The Army Air dispatchers were just the same. Rag Packers at AFPSU would sign off and stamp up the old 28fts.
Depending on SPM (Supplies Proceeding Men) the Despatchers would ope the pack add a week link between the static line and Apex and recluse the pack without signing anything.
Dragartist made himself unpopular when he found out, insisting that the Despacther signed for the maintenance. Of course they were not Authorised to do this. Years ago they even packed the supply drop parachutes. We had several maldrops where the finger was pointed at the rag packer.
Imagine if you will, a Jaguar Sqn in Germany at the height of the Cold War. A scarlet safety thread break tie on the parachute flap closure pin has been found broken on AF. It is shift change and anyway probably too difficult to call out the duty squipper to rectify it (and complete the necessary paperwork on those lovely pressure sensitive forms of course) The simple solution was to get the armourers to do it (after all they work on seats, don't they?) No problem ...until armourer detailed realises he had no scarlet thread. Still No problem 'cos he had some locking wire in his pocket....
Luckily, a bright FLM (yes there were plenty of them!..bright ones I mean) prepping the jet for flight next day, queried the shiny wire where red thread should be.....
Caused a bit of a flutter in the dove coot, that one...