Tandem chases

[akarunway 1]

OK. I posted on this subject a time ago and it was deleted for one reason or another. What should be the qualifications to be authorized to a TC.( tandem chase) Up to the BM or STA? What if they (he or she)is one in the same. Camera flyer have a say? What does the SIM say? If the BM and DZO and TSA are one in the same is this a conflict of interest? Who should decide whether it's a chase or a rear float? Just curious

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[jsaxton 0]

This is entirely up to the Tandem Master and it should be because they are responsible for the safety of the student/passenger.

[akarunway 1]

I had to get approval from all three

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[nightjumps 1]

It can also be up to the Tandem Manufacturer. For example, I jump an Eclipse Tandem rig. They require a Tandem Chase and/or cameraman to have either 200 or 500 skydives (escpaes me and its too late to look it up).

But, sometimes, there's camera guys out there that have 200 that I'd rather have with methan some folks with 1000.

In most cases, its the TM who has the final say.

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

In most cases, its the TM who has the final say

I don't care if you have 5000 jumps or more, if I don't think I can trust you to do what I have told you to do and to not put my student and myself in danger. Then you're not going with me. If I tell you that you're not going with me and you exit and dive to me. Guess what. You, me, the head instructor, the S&TA and the DZO are all going to have a long fucking talk.

The problem isn't lack of skill, its a lack of judgement ability. I've seen it before with VERY experienced jumpers and I know I'll see it again.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[akarunway 1]

Well. I had less than 200 jumps when I did my tandem chases (my children were the students) and yes the tm's had the final say. goes to say jump #'s don't mean shit. jumps went great except for a landing out on my part being so wrapped up in the edit to say the moment w/ my daughter. Hats off to Dwight and Jeramy. TM's that ok'd it. Son was the tandem from hell though

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[jeremyneas 0]

Staff only, 500+ min for me

[akarunway 1]

no exceptions?

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[Brains 2]

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Staff only, 500+ min for me

I agree to the 500+ minimum but if it is someone who i trust in the air and they are not staff, i will let them chase me. Jump numbers aren't the end all answer. Like AD said it is about the ability to use judgement. Same goes for camera guys and those learning to be. just my .02

Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you.

[AllyMilne 0]

Well i chased a tandem when i had about 80 jumps. I had to check it with the CI and he said as long as the tandem master agreed. Well one didnt, (just got his rating) and the other was my dad so he gave me a brief on what to do and what not to do. In the end i didnt want to get to close and it all worked out fine.

[Stacy 0]

I did one at about 300 jumps. Hoever, all 300 of my jumps had primarily been at that DZ< i was staff, and those 300 jumps had pretty much been within a year's period. I'd been training 4 way and had some tunnel and was an eyes open enough flyer to make some judgment calls.

I was able to dock on the tandem, we geeked hte video a little and tracked like a banshee to get the hell out of there.
__

[Brains 2]

Quote

I did one at about 300 jumps. Hoever, all 300 of my jumps had primarily been at that DZ< i was staff, and those 300 jumps had pretty much been within a year's period. I'd been training 4 way and had some tunnel and was an eyes open enough flyer to make some judgment calls.

I was able to dock on the tandem, we geeked hte video a little and tracked like a banshee to get the hell out of there.
__

That is where the jump numbers would not apply. I did the same at my dz. For me being a VERY new TM, i will stick to Relative workshops guidelines.

Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you.

[kansasskydiver 0]

i'm the main camera man at our dz, so me and the TM have a pretty good understanding of what's going on and have it down to a T on exits and filming etc. I personally don't think jump numbers mean much to having a chase, but i think they should ATLEAST have 200 jumps, but even then, there are some guys with 200 jumps that I wouldn't want chasing the tandem and me out the plane... i started doing camera work with him at about 350 jumps. i did a number of jumps with him to show him i was a proficient flier before even I felt comfortable in the air with a tandem knowing the risks.

just my 2 cents on the matter

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

[riggerrob 643]

At Pitt Meadows, we have short list of videographers who are approved to chase tandems.
Anyone else needs the approval of the DZO or the senior tandem instructor (me).
If you ask me for permission to chase a tandem, I will ask about your AFF rating (rare in Canada), how many jumps you have, how many jumps you have in the past year, etc.
Most of the people who ask for permission to chase tandems are so hopelessly un-current that the conversation soon fizzles.
The last person who chased me was in the World Record 300-way formation.
Training in new videographers is difficult enough. I do not want to waste my time briefing someone who is only ever going to chase one tandem.

[mfrese 0]

I used to allow people I TRUSTED with less than 500 jumps to go out if the student was OK with it (don't forget, it's their skydive...they have a say as well), but recent events have forced me to reconsider. I'm pretty much allowing only people I KNOW have the skills and over 1000 jumps, or AFF instructors. The skills without the judgment scares me more than the judgment without the skills...

Iceman