Zero fatality goal 2006

[greybeard 0]

ATTENTION, ATTENTION!

To all skydivers, base jumpers, jump pilots, dzo's,
general aviation pilots, FAA, and any other interested parties:

I propose a goal for 2006. "ZERO FATALITIES".

Sounds simple, eh?

It will not be simple. It will require the dedication of thousands of individuals.

From the 'not so current' weekend jumper to ask for help, and be responsive to constructive criticisim, to the dzo to pay attention to and be willing to 'BURKE' the super star, youngster, getting ahead of himself.

The thousands I refer to are you and I. Pay attention!!!!!!!

From gear checks, to asking about aircraft maintenance.

Here's a secret, skydivers love to talk skydiving, pilots love to talk flying airplanes, dzo love to talk business.

Dzo's aren't in it for the money alone, pilots aren't in it for the time alone, skydivers aren't in for the freefall alone.

******* FATALITIES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE *****



FATALITIES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!! Repeat this please. FATALITIES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!






PS.
I do not have the capability or where with all to publish this note. Anyone, please feel free to forward to USPA or parachutist or skydiver or any dzo newsletter you wish.

Pass the "word" ZERO 2006

[funks 1]

We still have to get through the next 5 months of '05 before we start to worry about '06.

[Deuce 1]

Yep. One of those simple ideas that is so complex in its execution.

I am committed to this goal, and I'm "signing on".

Zero in '06. Let's begin practicing this this weekend at WFFC. One weekend, one boogie, one dropzone at a time.

Everybody gets out of 2006 alive!

[greybeard 0]

NO!! Damn it, don't wait 5 more months before you start worrying. Worry now!

[Kris 0]

While it's a laudable goal, and I fully support it, it's not going to happen.

You just can't rule out random chance. Whether it was the horsehoe caused by a main flap snagging on lines in Dallas recently, or someone being killed by a hard opening. You can do everything right and still die.

But, if these were the only types of incidents that I read about from here on out, instead of low turns, loss of altitude awareness, collisions, etc... I'd be a much happier guy.

Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and
Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

[cocheese 0]

I promise not to die.
But if I die before all of you, just know that I have had more fun in this sport than all the fun I ever had elsewhere. More fun in 8 years than most humans ever have in their whole life.
Stayin alive in '05 is a good start.

[greybeard 0]

OK KRIS,

But a more positive attitude might result in what, 50% reduction. Get with the plan, stan. zero , zero, zero.

[LawnDart21 0]

Great idea in theory, but completely unrealistic in application.

There are unfortunately a number of factors that we as jumpers, pilots, dzos, etc cannot account for. Put simply, shit happens. No amount of mental awareness or preparation by our community as a whole will convince "Mr. Murphy" that he is not invited to our party......

The only way to truly reach a zero fatality goal is to not jump.

The irony is that the majority of next years fatalities are already on dropzones all around the country jumping high performance canopies that they are not capable of flying, but unwilling to accept they aren't bullet proof, or they know the risks but "accept them" anyways.......

Put that group back on Traithalons and flying straight in approaches, you'd have less than 10 fatalities next year.................a 66% decrease.

It wont happen of course, so we will again see "30ish" as the number of times "Mr. Murphy" party crashes our good times.

--
My other ride is a RESERVE.

[billvon 3,110]

>I propose a goal for 2006. "ZERO FATALITIES".

We, as a group, aren't willing to do what it takes to make that happen. How could we help make sure this happens?

1. Cancel the 2006 Thailand record attempts. Bigway records have a scarily high fatality rate.

2. Reduce everyone's canopy loading by 50%. If someone like Luigi can safely land a VX39, imagine how safe he will be under a larger canopy.

3. Eliminate swoop competitions, pictures of swoops, basically everything that inspires people to swoop. Make swooping illegal. That could eliminate 25% of fatalities right there.

4. Prohibit freeflying until jumpers go through a freeflying course, to help prevent freefall collisions and traffic problems.

We can certainly try to reduce fatalities. But to make zero fatalities a goal, we have to stop doing unusually risky things - and for some skydivers, those are the things that make skydiving worthwhile to begin with.

[funks 1]

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NO!! Damn it, don't wait 5 more months before you start worrying. Worry now!

Point was to worry about the next 5 months before worrying about 06.

[weegegirl 2]

Ah, yes. Everyone's dream. A season without a fatality. Unfortunately, this is probably never going to happen. But everyone can do their part like you said... look out for others, make sure planes are safe, etc. Here's a thread I started last year with the same thing in mind: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1432880#1432880.

[tcnelson 1]

i have a personal zero fatality goal. it's not alot but, i hope it helps.

"Don't talk to me like that assface...I don't work for you yet." - Fletch
NBFT, Deseoso Rodriguez RB#1329

[greybeard 0]

Damn, Bill and lawndart,

Give me a fucking brake!!!!

Spout your realities and feel superior, or get behind a great goal. Bill, damn you in particular, you understand the impact of a mass ideal, set in motion. I didn't just fall off the boat either, but damn it, get on board or shut the fuck up!

Thank you for your support!

[wildblue 7]

Yeah Bill! You drunken fool! Why you gotta be the voice of reason?!? HUH!??

Next you'll tell me that the odds of me winning the lottery are astronomical. What you don't know is that I just increased my odds an infinite amount by buying a ticket. And wishing a lot.

it's like incest - you're substituting convenience for quality

[BillyVance 35]

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Damn, Bill and lawndart,

Give me a fucking brake!!!!

Spout your realities and feel superior, or get behind a great goal. Bill, damn you in particular, you understand the impact of a mass ideal, set in motion. I didn't just fall off the boat either, but damn it, get on board or shut the fuck up!

Thank you for your support!

I question whether you're going to get people to take you seriously with that kind of attitude. A zero fatality goal is a great goal to have in most walks of life, sports and hobbies. Unfortunately, skydiving is one of those sports/hobbies where you can do everything right and still get killed. I'm doing everything I can to keep myself alive, but I know that the grim reaper is always lurking.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[Kris 0]

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Next you'll tell me that the odds of me winning the lottery are astronomical. What you don't know is that I just increased my odds an infinite amount by buying a ticket. And wishing a lot.

Duuuuude. You could do so much better by also going down to the flea market and picking up some fairy dust to throw on that ticket.

Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and
Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

[billvon 3,110]

>Bill, damn you in particular, you understand the impact of a mass
> ideal, set in motion. I didn't just fall off the boat either, but damn
> it, get on board or shut the fuck up!

Then I will have to get off the boat and leave you to your own navigation.

Zero fatalities is a great goal. It won't happen. We _can_ make it happen, but neither you nor I want to do what it takes to make that happen. That's reality intruding on an otherwise pleasant boat ride, but I've never been one for happy sounding but unrealistic ideals.

Now, do you want to talk about how to reduce canopy control fatalities? That IS doable, and you don't even have to give up freeflying or bigways to make it happen!

[LawnDart21 0]

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Damn, Bill and lawndart,

Give me a fucking brake!!!!

Spout your realities and feel superior, or get behind a great goal. Bill, damn you in particular, you understand the impact of a mass ideal, set in motion. I didn't just fall off the boat either, but damn it, get on board or shut the fuck up!

Thank you for your support!"

"Real Goal?" define real. Zero fatalies is an unrealistic goal, it cannot be reached. Why? Because in addition to "Mr. Murphy" always lurking, the other unavoidable factor in most fatalies is human error. People make mistakes sometimes, of which no amount of preparation or attention to detail can prevent. In our sport, bad decisions can lead to death. You can't eliminate bad decision making altogether, so you can't eliminate fatalies.

I don't consider myself superior (dont think Bill does either), I just consider myself a realist. I practice my EPs religiously and I focus on staying 100% alert on every jump. Thus far that model has gotten me through just under 2000 jumps. But as I said, I'm a realist, just because I survided 2000 skydives, doesnt mean that on my next or any jump there after, I might make an error in judgement, and the result of that error could kill me. Do I think I will err? No. Do I think the possibility (however remote to me) exists? Absolutely.

Your "shut the fuck" response and the general "all or nothing" agitation of your original post implies to me that you are unwilling to accept that certain risks exist in our sport that are 100% unavoidable and as such, realizing a zero fataliy year is simply not possible. Thats not acting "superior", thats being a realist. I accept the risks and I prepare for them, that is the best I or anyone can do in this sport.

--
My other ride is a RESERVE.

[livendive 8]

I can't control everyone, so I can only promise that I will not personally die in 2006. I'm usually pretty good at keeping my promises. If I break the promise, well I guess that'll be punishment enough in itself.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[beowulf 1]

well I for one don't plan on dying anytime within the next 60 years.


hmm actually I don't plan on ever dying, that way when I do die it will be a surprise

• Quote

[greybeard 0]

Tom,

I'm a realist and an existenialist also. But hey, the positive forecast must surely be better than the negative. I've already appoligized to Bill and i extend the same to you for being harsh.

Please appreciate that my intent is for positive goals. i.e., if one (1) live is saved, then our silly little dropzone.com talk is worth it. What if 5 or 6 lives don't waste because somebody was inspired to do a pin check or talk a downsizer out of 'going for it'.

I'm really just a simple minded weekend jumper, tired of hearing about mishaps that could and should have been avoided.

****** FATALITIES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE ******

Just that, Tom, don't read anything else into it.
Just help our community as best you can. Thanks.

Mark

[Tonto 1]

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It will require the dedication of thousands of individuals.

No. It will require the dedication of about 100 individuals, almost certainly for the last 12 seconds of their lives.

I can assure you I will do all I can to prevent me or my students joining this group. I will try as though my very life depends on it.

If this seems overly negative - you've caught me at a time where I'm not as optimistic as I sometimes am.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[kansasskydiver 0]

I will do everything in my power to help achieve this goal, I'm even trying to do so right now my being involved in student progressions, canopy safety and decission making with a student's safety in mind on being grounded or not. This has been a hard year already and it's still only begun.

Abort your runs, take an out, land downwind, swooping is NOT a sport where the goal is to stay alive (as said on the today show) swooping is a sport that requires years of practice and a mature mind that realized that IF you mess up, you need to abort your run and then take a step back and realize what you did wrong.

Just one of very many topics that I feel would help, but not the only one.

I will save lives

<--- See look, pink dolphins DO exist!

[TomAiello 26]

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How could we help make sure this happens?

5. Outlaw skydiving.

Oh, wait, that didn't work for BASE in National Parks, did it?

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[airdweller 0]

****** FATALITIES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE ******

Just that, Tom, don't read anything else into it.
Just help our community as best you can. Thanks.

________________________________________________________________

Mark

I have known Tom for many years, and he has always been there to help people in our community. Tom is a USPA coach, tandem master and a master rigger. He is always willing to help out and offer advice and jump with less experienced jumpers in an effort to keep them safe. He is very willing to let experienced jumpers know when they overestimating their abilities, and is willing to work with them to become safer. (Even his stubborn brother-in-law, who sometimes thinks he is better then he actually is)

Does he come across with a superior attitude?
Sometimes yes

Has his intervention made the skies safer, and possible saved some lives?
ABSOLUTELY.

Who knows maybe this thread will get someone to think more about safety, and for that I applaud you.

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"From the mightiest pharaoh to the lowliest peasant,
who doesn't enjoy a good sit?" C. Montgomery Burns