narcimund 0 #1 October 31, 2002 Does the USPA consider BASE jumps towards the requirements for their A,B,C, and D proficiency levels? I figure they don't (beauracracies love strict definitions,) but I can't for the life of me come up with a good reason. If anyone can, I'd love to know what it is. (No, it doesn't matter to me personally. I have enough airplane jumps to qualify for D. I'm just curious.) First Class Citizen Twice Over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pilotdave 0 #2 October 31, 2002 If the USPA goes by the FAA definition of skydiving, those arent skydives. From FAR 105.3: Parachute jump means a parachute operation that involves the descent of one or more persons to the surface from an aircraft in flight when a aircraft is used or intended to be used during all or part of that descent. Parachutist means a person who intends to exit an aircraft while in flight using a single-harness, dual parachute system to descend to the surface. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FallinWoman 1 #3 October 31, 2002 The first thing that popped into my mind was that most BASE jumps don't follow the BSRs.....things like minimum opening altitudes?!? Anne ~Anne I'm a Doll!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #4 October 31, 2002 My BASE jumps are so NOT skydives....they dont even compare..... Marc otherwise known as Mr.Fallinwoman.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Levin 0 #5 October 31, 2002 uspa once defended base but supposedly the base jumpers embarresed the uspa somehow. had soemthing to do with el cap. from there on uspa does not acknowledge base in any form or fassion and anybody still working on their a,b,c or d requirements has no business base jumping anyway. levin vSCS#3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #6 October 31, 2002 Levin...My friend Mike would disagree... 100 skydives...700 BASE jumps..... Marc otherwise known as Mr.Fallinwoman.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Levin 0 #7 October 31, 2002 QuoteLevin...My friend Mike would disagree... 100 skydives...700 BASE jumps..... i'm sure some people would. i've heard of at least one person base jumping before they skydived. i just don't think the average person with less than 200 jumps is ready for base. i'm very glad i waited til i had a 1000 jumps to start. levin vSCS#3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #8 October 31, 2002 im one. once i get a base rig (and some time to work with the BASE guys i met, now i need the cash for the base rig) once i get that i'm off no matter if its 200 or 2000 jumps. but then i've been throwing myself off any and everything since i was 16. (static line rappels and trust falls) if i had met the right people then i might have BASEd before skydiving too.____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #9 October 31, 2002 QuoteQuoteMy friend Mike would disagree... 100 skydives...700 BASE jumps..... i'm sure some people would. i've heard of at least one person base jumping before they skydived. i just don't think the average person with less than 200 jumps is ready for base. i'm very glad i waited til i had a 1000 jumps to start. I'm with Levin. I started BASE with 250 skydives, and am pretty much consistently BASE jumping around twice as much as skydiving at this point (I don't quite have twice as many BASE jumps as skydives now). American BASE jumpers often try to downplay the need for skydiving experience, as most of our objects are subterminal, so the real skills needed are accuracy and canopy control (which are poorly developed on most modern skydiving gear, since it rarely flies similarly to BASE gear). However, the more I travel, the more I wish I had made more skydives before starting BASE. There is definitely room for improvement in our terminal air skills (just ask the Norges what they think of American tracking skills). I believe that our typical approach (few skydives) has contributed to at least one fatality this year. Still, if you are certain that you want to focus on BASE, you ought to tailor your skydiving toward training for it (by flying big 7 cells, for example). Being a great canopy swooper will probably hinder you when you try to BASE jump--but having a ton of terminal experience will certainly be very helpful (as well as increasing your fun level exponentially).-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #10 October 31, 2002 Quotei've heard of at least one person base jumping before they skydived. I know of four cases of a first parachute jump made as a BASE jump. One was a Bridge Day only jumper, who is still showing up at Bridge Days today. One now has a whole bunch of BASE jumps. One died within their first ten BASE jumps. One was critically injured and has not made a parachute jump since. You pick your odds, and you take your chances...-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #11 October 31, 2002 I am not disagreeing with you guys...I sure think that I should have had much more skydives than I did when I made that first tower jump in FL...but hey..live and learn ya know?.... I think the more skydives doesn't help in accuracy per say...but more in awareness.... Marc otherwise known as Mr.Fallinwoman.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Levin 0 #12 October 31, 2002 Quoteso the real skills needed are accuracy and canopy control (which are poorly developed on most modern skydiving gear, since it rarely flies similarly to BASE gear)....Being a great canopy swooper will probably hinder you when you try to BASE jump i have 900 jumps on ellipticals and currently fly fx74. i'm certain i could have swooped that landing area at bridge day. instead i came within inches of putting my raven in a tree. levin vSCR#17 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Levin 0 #13 October 31, 2002 QuoteI think the more skydives doesn't help in accuracy per say...but more in awareness.... i think more skydives helps with both but the extra awareness i think is more critical. levin vSCS#3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #14 October 31, 2002 Quote i have 900 jumps on ellipticals and currently fly fx74. i'm certain i could have swooped that landing area at bridge day. instead i came within inches of putting my raven in a tree. But how would your FX74 open off a 250 ft building? And how does it sink between power lines? Of course you are way better at landing (and accuracy) with your accustomed canopy. But someone with 900 7 cell jumps is going to be way better prepared--and the 7 cell will be able to do things that no one can do on an elliptical (sinking into a 20 by 20 clearing, for example). I'm really not trying to hassle you here, just kind of rambling. And dude, why didn't you swoop the FX at Bridge Day? Now that looks like big fun...-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Levin 0 #15 October 31, 2002 QuoteBut how would your FX74 open off a 250 ft building? And how does it sink between power lines? i doubt i will ever know. i was just using my situation as an example to reinforce what you were saying earlier QuoteAnd dude, why didn't you swoop the FX at Bridge Day? Now that looks like big fun maybe one day but i'm in no hurry since that stunt has already been performed levin vSCS#3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #16 October 31, 2002 Quotemaybe one day but i'm in no hurry since that stunt has already been performed and impressive it was to see..... Marc otherwise known as Mr.Fallinwoman.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
