Tandem Poacher? - Skyride like activity

[kansasskydiver 0]

We were contacted today by a gentlemen informing us that he was going to be coming to our area, giving a speach on our campus about skydiving (Kansas State University) and then operating tandems for one weekend out fo the local airport. He says he has permission from the local chamber of commerece and from the airport manager to operate such activities. Information was not giving, but we're assuming he'd be a traveling dropzone with his own plane, rigs and instructors.

He was calling to inform of us the activities and that he didn't want to step on anyones toes, though that he had permission to do so.

Has anyone else been contacted or informed of these types of activities in your dz territory? We are a small college club, and a non comercial dropzone. Have any other college clubs experienced this is the past? It seems a bit too skyride like to me, setting up a dropzone for one weekend only then moving on to the next. He could have them scheduled already, or set up a site to schedule them. I'm not sure what the deal is to be honest, any help and insights would be greatly appreciated.

Blue skies,

Chris and the KSUPC Staff

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

[wmw999 2,557]

Back in the dark ages when I started skydiving, I took my FJC from a similar guy. He just liked teaching, that's how he made his money, and he knew that colleges were good sources of income.

He stayed in Houston a couple of years, and then moved on. No one in the old farts' forum ever heard of him so I don't think he did it for long.

My tendency is to say that he has a rig and a plane, and he and his buddy go hopping across the country. Sounds like a pretty cool life. You can piggy-back onto it by following him with a similar negotiation, making it clear that you'll follow up, too.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[PhreeZone 20]

Contact the airport manager and see what he's been told about. If he's in the dark about it then you might have issues, if he has info then you can get to the root of whats going on.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[ChasingBlueSky 0]

I know of someone that used to do this here in the midwest. Cesna, two tandem rigs, camera person, some ground crew. Good way to make a few dollars and introduce skydiving into areas that are not close to a DZ.

_________________________________________
you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me....
I WILL fly again.....

[kansasskydiver 0]

I guess I wouldn't have any problem with a traveling dz, though my concern is that he's actually coming onto our campus, where we do all our advertising, where we recruit all our jumpers and to be staff members, instructors, etc. If it were at an area or campus that didn't have a dropzone, I could understand that, though it'd be like Walmart letting K-mart have a sale in their parking lot if you see what I'm saying.

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

[larsrulz 0]

Quote

though it'd be like Walmart letting K-mart have a sale in their parking lot if you see what I'm saying.

But that's a bad analogy. He (I would assume) won't be coming to your dropzone and telling people to come to the airport to get cheaper tandems. He is advertising at the same place you are; nothing more. If he is legitamately conducting business, then there isn't much he is doing, and he is far from being a skyride type operation. Now if he is doing any funny business, i.e. skyride type antics, then show up at his advertising events and hand out info letting people know there are other, better options. Just because he's on your territory doesn't make what he is doing wrong.

I got a strong urge to fly, but I got no where to fly to. -PF

[Thanatos340 1]

Do you have some kind of Exclusive rights on your campus?

Sounds like Free market economy at work to me.

I dislike Skyride and their Deceptive tactics as much as anyone... However, No one has Exclusive Marketing Rights to any area.

Competition is good. Choice is good.

I hear people complaining about one DZ drawing business from another DZ`s territory and I just don’t get that. As long as they are being HONEST, it is a free country!

I understand that this hurts the small DZ but there is nothing wrong with two different people or organization operating in the same area, Especially if it is just for a weekend.

[kansasskydiver 0]

No he's not doing anything wrong and everyone advertises, but why not incorporate with the college club? And it'd only be for one weekend

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

[bob.dino 1]

From his point of view, it's probably not worth the hassle of dealing with a college club that may or may not be organised and professional. Especially if it's only for one weekend. In my experience, lots of uni & college clubs are so riddled with internal politics as to be ineffective.

Not saying that's the case here; just saying that that may be the reason he hasn't decided to work closely with you.

[Beerlight 0]

Does your college club allow anyone to jump?

If not, then I think it's a great idea of a roving tandem op as it would afford those types to jump.

The DZ i used to fly for did that on more than one occasion. We had tons of fun flying north almost to Dallas, and south to the beach, doing tons of tandems.........

[flypunk 0]

Why not incorporate with the college club? -

cuz he doesnt have to? in all seriousness, who knows what his reasons are but still, why is that poaching? or a scam?

...

[wingnut 0]

when i lived in utah one of the dzo's would take his plane up to wyoming and down into middle utah and do tandems down there...... just for a weekend... got alot of tandems as walk ins just because they would see the parachutes in the air and would stop by to look at them because they never saw them there before.......

______________________________________
"i have no reader's digest version"

[kansasskydiver 0]

Quote

Does your college club allow anyone to jump?

Yes we are open to the public at the same rates as college students

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

[turtlespeed 226]

Quote

Back in the dark ages when I started skydiving, I took my FJC from a similar guy. He just liked teaching, that's how he made his money, and he knew that colleges were good sources of income.

He stayed in Houston a couple of years, and then moved on. No one in the old farts' forum ever heard of him so I don't think he did it for long.

My tendency is to say that he has a rig and a plane, and he and his buddy go hopping across the country. Sounds like a pretty cool life. You can piggy-back onto it by following him with a similar negotiation, making it clear that you'll follow up, too.

Wendy W.

That explains ALOT -

Thanks for the info - it really does clear A LOT of issues up.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[livendive 8]

Quote

I know of someone that used to do this here in the midwest. Cesna, two tandem rigs, camera person, some ground crew. Good way to make a few dollars and introduce skydiving into areas that are not close to a DZ.

Another dz.commer and I have discussed doing exactly this at a couple of locations, one of which is a college without a DZ within 100 miles. It'd take the two of us, a pilot, a packer, two tandem rigs, a sport rig, a camera helmet, and a Cessna. Pretty simple (more-so without video) and more fun and profitable than a day at a regular DZ.

Blues,
Dave

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

[kansasskydiver 0]

Sounds like a good plan, it'd be very profitable, but the key word in your post was, "a college campus without a dz withing 100miles."

We have our dz withing 10 miles of campus, that's what doesn't make sense to me. There are many other places to go, even in Kansas for that matter.

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

[SpeedyGonzales 0]

Quote

Another dz.commer and I have discussed doing exactly this at a couple of locations, one of which is a college without a DZ within 100 miles. It'd take the two of us, a pilot, a packer, two tandem rigs, a sport rig, a camera helmet, and a Cessna. Pretty simple (more-so without video) and more fun and profitable than a day at a regular DZ.

Blues,
Dave

The only thing though is that he's not doing it at a college without a DZ within 100 miles. He's doing it at a college that has a long standing and fairly organized operation. It's not that we're just a club that operates at another dropzone. We're a university club that operates it's own dropzone.

It honestly wouldn't bother me if he was going somewhere that didn't have a dropzone. But he's going to an area where there is a dropzone.

And most of all, the selfish part of me is saying he's taking money straight out of my pocket, even if it's just for a weekend.

[BIGUN 1,438]

HAve you tried talking with him to find out who he is and maybe partnering up with him for a weekend if you don't offer tandems. The by-product might be an increase in club members.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[SpeedyGonzales 0]

Quote

HAve you tried talking with him to find out who he is and maybe partnering up with him for a weekend if you don't offer tandems. The by-product might be an increase in club members.

We offer tandems every weekend.

[BIGUN 1,438]

I guess my questions are;

1. Is he generating more interest and getting folks to sign up?
a. If so, what is he doing that you guys are not?
b. If not, what's the worry?
c. If so, what will you guys do differently to increase membership based on what you've learned?
d. Is he really a threat or still a sales channel for future club members as a result of his doing tandems for one weekend?
2. What are you guys willing to do to outsell him for that weekend? Or, did ya just want to share with us the "unfairness" of it all?

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[wmw999 2,557]

This guy and his friends seem to have found a way to be able to travel the country skydiving and selling tandems. Kind of like the barnstormers of yore.

How many people here think it would be cool to be able to be an itinerant skydiver and get paid for it?

Either talk to him or don't. But don't treat him like long-term competition, and don't sit in a corner sullenly waiting for people to notice that you've been wronged.

Heck -- offer them the opportunity to spend a weekend at your DZ. Offer them the opportunity to fly their tandem students there -- that way you'll be the first choice when coming back. Or just take him out for a free beer, and tell him that you're around for people who want to go again.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[CSpenceFLY 1]

Who at your school gave him permission to come there to give a speech?That would be a good place to start.

[SpeedyGonzales 0]

As far as we know no one has yet. We're trying to find out more details about it now.

[lawrocket 3]

Thsi guy will, short-term, take some students away. But, this guy will likely be getting students that you marketing has not.

These tandems will tell friends and he'll be gone. Long-term, this guy is gonna help you out.

I give him all the credit in the world for being stand-up about it. I'd say get friendly with him. It won't hurt to do so, and may reap great rewards.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Paige 0]

Pretty sure they did it at Ohio University but I think Skydive Greene County might have supplied the talent, planes, gear, etc.

Not sure though, another avenue to follow though.

Tunnel Pink Mafia Delegate
www.TunnelPinkMafia.com