Six months off.

[MB38 0]

Hey folks.

About 6 months ago I got into a pretty nasty car accident. I survived [hooray!] but ended up with some unfortunate neck and back injuries that put me into almost five months of physical therapy. As it stands, my back and neck have improved to the point that the doctor feels it's safe for me to get back in the air. I'm not back to where I was [I'm not "fixed"], but I'm mobile, exercising again and generally holding my own.

I'm heading out to Perris tomorrow for some tunnel time. I'll spend some time talking with my instructors about how to safely move back into jumping while I'm there, but I want to get as much advice as possible.

The tunnel time will give me a good feel for how my freefall skills are, so I'll use that to help judge what steps I need to take to get back into the sky. Simply put, however, I'm a B-qualified jumper whose currency has slipped by six months. When I was jumping regularly, I'd generally get in 5 jumps every other week. I wasn't the most current jumper at my best, but I didn't have the money to jump more often at that point.

I'll see what my instructors have to say, do it "right" by the USPA and re-read the hell out of my SIM. I'm not the only person who's had to take six months off, so I'd love some advice on the subject if folks have any. I know I'm in for one jump with an instructor, which I'm very much looking forward to.

The part that I'll need to be the most careful with are my canopy skills. I own a Pilot 150 which I load at roughly 1.2. I could probably cram a 170 into my container, but nothing larger.

What steps should I take from a canopy perspective? Should I just rent a container and a 190 Pilot and re-downsize to my 150? I'm planning on doing a handful of 12.5 H&Ps to get used to canopy flight again, but I don't want to learn the hard way at 12,000 feet that my canopy's too small after six months off.

Any thoughts? How would you all go about it?

I really don't know what I'm talking about.

[DSE 5]

Nice to see you making your way back, B. See you at NAB?
I'd recommend starting bigger, as you're thinking, even if it means renting/borrowing from some place or something. It probably won't take you a lot of jumps to get back in the saddle to where you can jump the 150 again. Maybe a few on the 190 to make you confident, move to a 170, and so on.

Glad you're OK after that crack-up!!
Looking forward to you shooting Scarlet!

[MB38 0]

Hey Spot, I'll definitely see you there. Already got my helmet warmed up for that little camera... I figure it'll get delivered about the time I get my C.
But that's getting just a wee bit ahead of the current dilemma.

I really don't know what I'm talking about.

[councilman24 37]

I'll let others give you specific advice but remember, half the country takes 6 months off every year. It's called WINTER! Halloween is usually the end and April is iffy.

But, your injuries are more the issue than your inactivity.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[skybytch 273]

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Already got my helmet warmed up for that little camera...

But will your neck ever be ready for a camera on your head?

[DrewEckhardt 0]

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What steps should I take from a canopy perspective? Should I just rent a container and a 190 Pilot and re-downsize to my 150?

Yes.

I have over 1500 jumps and usually jump a Samurai 105. After herniating my L4-L5 disc and being out of commission for six months I put a couple jumps on a 190, spent a while jumping a 135, and then longer on a 120 before returning to the105 I'd been jumping for the previous 2 years and 300 jumps.

[MB38 0]

Time will tell, I suppose. Trust me, flying camera is far from my primary concern at this point. DSE and I are just camera nuts - on the ground or in the air.

I really don't know what I'm talking about.

[tetra316 0]

Same here. I was jumping a Katana 107 and had been for a 200 or so jumps when I hurt my knee. After coming back I jumped a Stiletto 135 for a couple jumps and plan on putting many more on my Katana 120 before going back to the 107. Doesn't help that I hurt myself landing so also have that fear to get over too.