Excellent Safety vid on canopy collision avoidance

[verticalflyer 11]

Please if your interested in learning and possibly saving your own life have a look at the link below which discusses canopy collisions, avoidance tactics and dealing with them if they occur. Its an excellent piece by Brian vacher.

http://vimeo.com/19247594



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Dont just talk about it, Do it!

Dont just talk about it, Do it!

[gzimmermann 0]

Thanks for posting the link. I think that these are really well invested 40 minutes both for newer and advanced skydivers.

[PiLFy 3]

Thank You for this. A lot of useful info there. It does bring a question to mind. If entangled, & too low to chop. Where both jumpers are forced to land suspended by only one canopy. What are the odds of a reserve collapsing the main? The vids I've seen on Youtube show the reserve simply slipping into position behind the main. Is there a high risk of collapse?

[ianmdrennan 2]

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The vids I've seen on Youtube show the reserve simply slipping into position behind the main. Is there a high risk of collapse?

ANYTIME you have both canopies open at the same time (intentional or not) - all bets are off.

Performance Designs Factory Team

[PiLFy 3]

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The vids I've seen on Youtube show the reserve simply slipping into position behind the main. Is there a high risk of collapse?

ANYTIME you have both canopies open at the same time (intentional or not) - all bets are off.

Are not Bi-planes usually stable & perfectly landable?

[ianmdrennan 2]

Generally, yes. However there's always a risk when two are out.

My comment was, primarily, commenting on deployment.

Ian

Performance Designs Factory Team

[PiLFy 3]

OK, Thanks.

[MakeItHappen 15]

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Please if your interested in learning and possibly saving your own life have a look at the link below which discusses canopy collisions, avoidance tactics and dealing with them if they occur. Its an excellent piece by Brian vacher.

http://vimeo.com/19247594

This is an excellent talk from the BPA's AGM.
USPA ought to have speakers like that at the GMM. ( What a concept. )

I'd like to point out one disparity between the BPA and USPA philosophy regarding body position just prior to an imminent collision.

The 'old school' recommendation is to tell people to go 'spread eagle' - make a big X with their body to try to 'bounce off' the lines of the other's canopy.

The 'new school' recommendation is to tell people to tuck up, protect handles and hope that you pass through the lines of the other canopy.

Quite frankly, I think most people will naturally protect themself by tucking up if presented with a ~40-50mph collision.
The spread eagle technique would work well if two T-10s were colliding.

Last summer USPA changed the SIM to recommend:
SIM Canopy collisions
This change was brought to the BOD by Craig Stapleton, aka topdock, an 'obscure CF jumper from California'. ;)

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1. The best way to avoid a collision is to know where other canopies are at all times.

2. If approaching a jumper head on, both canopies should steer to the right.

3. If a collision is inevitable:

a. Protect your face and operation handles.

b. Tuck in your arms, legs and head.

c. Avoid hitting the suspension lines of the other canopy or the other jumper, if at all possible

d. Check altitude with respect to the minimum cutaway decision and execution altitude recommended for your experience.

e. Communicate before taking action:

(1) The jumper above can strike the jumper below during a cutaway unless one or both are clear or ready to fend off.

(2) The jumper below can worsen the situation for the jumper above by cutting away before he or she is ready.

(3) If both jumpers are cutting away and altitude permits, the second jumper should wait until the first jumper clears the area below.

(4) The first jumper should fly from underneath in a straight line after opening.

(5) At some point below a safe cutaway altitude (1,000 feet), it may become necessary to deploy one or both reserves (may not be a safe option with an SOS system).

(6) If both jumpers are suspended under one flying canopy at a low altitude, it may become necessary to land with only that canopy.

(7) Communications may be difficult if one or both jumpers are wearing full-face helmets.

My opinion on this was written some 22 years ago in Bogey at 12 O'Clock.

YMMV.

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