My Instuctor

[Blamey 0]

I see lots of posts on this form recomending 'asking your instructor first' but who is my instructor?

I did tandem progression and had 2 different tandem instructors. Over my 7 AFF jumps I had 4 instructors.

I did all my A license coach jumps with a friend who does some coaching work at the DZ. I am now at 31 jumps.

Now I want to be safe when it comes to downsizing and choosing the right canopy, so I want to get advice from the right places but not sure who I should be turning to. I feel that my friend (A license coach) knows me and my level best has spent the most time with me (both talking and in the air) but it seems like most people refer to their AFF instructor for these types of questions but I don't feel like I have any one person who I worked with on AFF that really knows where I am as a jumper.

[freefalle 0]

If you were to ask me that question, I would say, either, whomever you did the most of your training with OR the instructor you feel most comfortable talking to.

like you, I had a few instructors for AFF, that was the nature of the DZ I trained at. It's not always a bad thing to have more than one instructor as it gives you the perspective of more than one person. Additionally, we learn better from some people, simply based on a connection with their personality.

So again, I would tell you to go to the AFF instructor who best knows your strength and weaknesses they may be able to assist you best, if your not comfortable speaking with that instructor than go to an instructor on the DZ who you can talk to and learn from, if he or she has questions about your skills and whats best for you, he can ask the instructor most familiar with you and then educate you.

I applaud you for taking the advice to talk to and instructor rather than just anyone on the DZ, it's a smart move. Keep you ears open, listen and learn even if it's not what you hope to hear. Be safe.

Chuck Bryan

[Flyfast 0]

Which ever one is down for a Safety Meetings. Alot of my questions reguarding safety topics are usually answered this way.

And if at 30 jumps you don't know who's down for a Safety Meeting, then you and your bus of a canopy are SOL.

ZC OG

[InfiniteSky 0]

I had two AFF instructors and a couple different coaches for coach jumps. So I was kinda in your boat. I'm someone who likes to get a couple opinions on things anyway, so I'd ask a couple of them what they thought on whatever question I had.

And then once I had my license I started asking questions mainly of the jumpers I jumped with alot who have ratings, and who I trust and respect. Never made an official coach jump with them, but they know how I fly, so I think they're best suited to give me advice on alot of stuff.

Also, be brutally honest in your log book about your landings. That way even if whoever you ask hasn't been able to watch you land alot, they can look at how your landings have been going beyond just the few they've seen and give you guidance based on that. When I downsized last I had talked to AFFIs, coaches, my rigger, and even the lady who owns the gear store (I didn't buy the rig or canopy from her so she had no ulterior motive to get me to downsize).

[GLIDEANGLE 1]

Lots of variables:

==Who knows your skills?

==Whose opinion do you respect? (based on what you have seen/heard)

==Who is likely to be willing to listen to your question and spend the time to answer it effectively?

==Who is easy to talk with?

Not all instructors have the same experience, skills, and communication style. Carefully gathering a number of views, sorting through them and making what seems to be the safe choice is a good idea.

The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

[Blamey 0]

Quote

Lots of variables:

==Who knows your skills?

==Whose opinion do you respect? (based on what you have seen/heard)

==Who is likely to be willing to listen to your question and spend the time to answer it effectively?

==Who is easy to talk with?

Not all instructors have the same experience, skills, and communication style. Carefully gathering a number of views, sorting through them and making what seems to be the safe choice is a good idea.

The answer to all of the above is my A License coach.

So I may not have been clear with my original question. Which is basically, am I okay sticking with my coach for opinions such as downsizing ect. or should I be seeking the advice of the AFFI's

My question stemmed from reading posts on this board where others always seem to be talking about their AFFI as the person they go to for these types of things rather than a coach.

I feel that my coach had the best idea of what kind of jumper/canopy pilot I am and the most time to give me to discuss these things. I always try get my answers from multiple sources when I can but when the question relates specifically to me and my abilities I'd rather be getting that info from somebody who knows me.

[riggerpaul 1]

Without knowing more about all involved, it is a hit and miss thing to answer.

Also, we don't know where you are. So options presented in an answer may or may not be available to you.

Your coach might have more experience than some of your instructors, but we cannot tell that from what you have said.

It could very well be that your favorite coach is the best person to get your information from.

Is there someone who oversees training? You might ask that person if the coach you like has enough experience to warrant the kind of trust we are talking about. Also, you should ask some of the same questions to this person, and consider what it means if the answers are different from your coach's.

At a dropzone in the USA, an S&TA would certainly be a good person to talk to.

[elias123 0]

Quote

like you, I had a few instructors for AFF, that was the nature of the DZ I trained at. It's not always a bad thing to have more than one instructor as it gives you the perspective of more than one person. Additionally, we learn better from some people, simply based on a connection with their personality. So again, I would tell you to go to the AFF instructor who best knows your strength and weaknesses they may be able to assist you best, if your not comfortable speaking with that instructor than go to an instructor on the DZ who you can talk to and learn from, if he or she has questions about your skills and whats best for you, he can ask the instructor most familiar with you and then educate you. I applaud you for taking the advice to talk to and instructor rather than just anyone on the DZ, it's a smart move. Keep you ears open, listen and learn even if it's not what you hope to hear. Be safe.

+1

"In a mad world, only the mad are sane"

[DrewEckhardt 0]

Quote

Now I want to be safe when it comes to downsizing and choosing the right canopy, so I want to get advice from the right places but not sure who I should be turning to. I feel that my friend (A license coach) knows me and my level best has spent the most time with me (both talking and in the air) but it seems like most people refer to their AFF instructor for these types of questions but I don't feel like I have any one person who I worked with on AFF that really knows where I am as a jumper.

Read Brian Germain's downsizing document


http://www.bigairsportz.com/pdf/bas-sizingchart.pdf


He has more jumps than your instructors, designs parachutes, and travels around the world teaching people how to fly them. He probably knows a lot more than your instructors.

If your instructors tell you that there's some reason you should jump a larger parachute than Brian recommends (baby steps getting to what you buy, you have physical problems with landing, etc) listen to them.

Otherwise, take Brian's advice.

Your instructors aren't the ones who'll be staying in the hospital if their advice was wrong.

Quote

I feel that my coach had the best idea of what kind of jumper/canopy pilot I am and the most time to give me to discuss these things. I always try get my answers from multiple sources when I can but when the question relates specifically to me and my abilities I'd rather be getting that info from somebody who knows me.

Unless you've been landing out lots, landing down wind often, and making frequent low turns to avoid unseen obstacles at the last second your coach has no idea what sort of canopy pilot you are.

If you have been doing that a lot in only 30 jumps, you have bad judgement and shouldn't be skydiving.

Landing into the wind in a wide open grassy field is easy, even with very small parachutes.

You're sizing your parachute for a low turn to avoid unseen power lines to a down-wind landing on asphalt on the sunset load where cute chicks flash the pilot for extra altitude, some one in your group gets hypoxic and gets their foot caught on the seatbelt so you take forever to climb out, you have a long spot, and land out where you don't see the power lines until the last second due to the low light. Things seem to happen much faster, you may not stay flat enough in the turn to avoid a painful impact, and you won't get away with running out a landing where you didn't flare all the way.

[buff 0]

+1
to what Drew said. (I think he's said it so many times he has it saved to cut & paste)

Take a canopy course. Then work on everything on that downsizing list. Yes that means you have to practice down and crosswind landings. If you have a canopy coach at your DZ, use them. Some of the inputs you're not going to be able to do on large canopies but try it and you will learn which do something and which do nothing.

I do alot of cross winders and downwinds and if someone is available, I will have them video the landings because we don't have a canopy coach here. But having gone thru a course and BGs book, I can evaluate my tape. Matter of fact, two weeks ago I had to make a low flat turn to a crosswind landing when landing out because I didn't see a wire along a dirt drive and I was not going to clear it trying to land into the wind. Practice paying off.

Billvon also has a downsizing list somewhere here on DZ.com too. So go make a bunch of cheap Hop n Pops and see what canopy control is all about and work on one of the lists. You might find it's more fun than belly flying :-)

It's called the Hillbilly Hop N Pop dude.
If you're gonna be stupid, you better be tough.
That's fucked up. Watermelons do not grow on trees! ~Skymama

[emmiwy 0]

Quote

Take a canopy course. Then work on everything on that downsizing list. Yes that means you have to practice down and crosswind landings. If you have a canopy coach at your DZ, use them. Some of the inputs you're not going to be able to do on large canopies but try it and you will learn which do something and which do nothing.

+1

The canopy piloting instructor will have very customized advice/knowledgeable about downsizing, based on him carefully watching your landings.

[Squeak 17]

the ones who i would send any student to for sound advice are the CI (Cheif Instructor) or the DZSO (ST&A). On your Dropzone the training buck stops with the CI

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[davelepka 4]

The answer to your question is the same answer you're asking about, that being 'ask your instructor'.

What I mean by that is this - any of the instructors you worked with during your student jumps should be available to answer your questions, and what you should ask them is, "Who should I talk to about canopy progression and downsizing?". While your instructors may not be the most qualified canopy pliots on the DZ, they know who is, and can point you in the right direction.

In terms of who they point you towards, it's less important that they know you, and more important that they know about canopy flight. A canopy coach can learn everything about your abilities with a conversation and by watching a few landings. In contrast, a guy who's watched your every jump, but lacks the in depth knowledge of canopy flight would be hard pressed to give you accurate information.

At 30 jumps, you should be VERY close to what Brian Germain reccomends on his Wl chart. You should remain close to those numbers until you have a chance to take a canopy control course, and build some jump numbers. With experience and a course under your belt, you'll be in a better position to make your own downsizing choices.

[azureriders 0]

Forgive me for not reading the whole thread, but you answer in my opinion is pretty straight forward.

You need to, when ever possible, get your coach friend who knows you best, and a trusted Instructor who knows the sport best, together at the same time for a discussion.

If you can't get them together, talk to your coach, then take that information to a good instructor, you may be suprised at what you learn.

[danielcroft 2]

Quote

The answer to your question is the same answer you're asking about, that being 'ask your instructor'.

What I mean by that is this - any of the instructors you worked with during your student jumps should be available to answer your questions, and what you should ask them is, "Who should I talk to about canopy progression and downsizing?". While your instructors may not be the most qualified canopy pliots on the DZ, they know who is, and can point you in the right direction.

In terms of who they point you towards, it's less important that they know you, and more important that they know about canopy flight. A canopy coach can learn everything about your abilities with a conversation and by watching a few landings. In contrast, a guy who's watched your every jump, but lacks the in depth knowledge of canopy flight would be hard pressed to give you accurate information.

At 30 jumps, you should be VERY close to what Brian Germain reccomends on his Wl chart. You should remain close to those numbers until you have a chance to take a canopy control course, and build some jump numbers. With experience and a course under your belt, you'll be in a better position to make your own downsizing choices.

+1!