Newbie 0 #1 April 15, 2002 #1 - not that it bothers me, but im not a whuffo. I may have only made 1 tandem and 1 s/l, but i have been through ground training. I have spent dozens of hours practicing my cutaways (when i couldnt do s/l due to weather), i listen to people carefully and while i love this sport (even with my very limited experience, i have still tasted it)i do take safety very seriously.I am going on my AFF in May and i fully realise that i should be listening to my JM and instructors only, BUT - as has been mentioned - skydiving is based a lot around personal decision making, and there are times when you could find yourself in a far from 'trained for' situation (like when a plane cuts into your canopy at 200ft as was mentioned in the other post for instance).In these situations i feel its important to be armed with as much knowledge about these situations as poss, which is why i come to dz.com and post sometimes weird, hypothetical situations. The only reason i do it is because i think of things that i want answers to but dont yet know enough real world jumpers to be able to ask (and besides, this is a great place for knowledge sharing anyway, regardless of how many people i know, i would probably still ask these sorts of questions here for different view points).Im sorry if it sounds like im trolling, but in all honesty i just dont know the answers to these questions which i know some of you consider basic and simple. To me, this is new stuff, and while i fully intend to base my core training around what im told by my JM's on AFF, as i have said i like to be armed with as much info so i can make my own choices in those abnormal conditions with as much experience behind me as possible. You best believe i will be asking these same questions when im on my course in Spain too though. I guess what im trying to say is that i understand that it will be my JM's training me, and as a result all of what im learning now will not be something im drilling into my head - the only things i do drill into my head are my cutaway drills.#2 - about the...... Also, i should have mentioned that the reserve would be on a RSL system, so there is no messing with clearing 2 handles.comment. Apologies - that was bad wording on my part - i know both handles have to be pulled, and i didnt mean to only pull the pad. What i was meaning was that, instead of going back into freefall and making a decision about how long to be there before pulling the silver, you would have separation and deployment handled for you (by the RSL) so although you pull both, you would (or rather should) have one simultaneous action of cut and then deploy. Sorry about that, but just wanted to reassure you guys that i know to never rely on one and always pull both.DZ.com is a great resource for us beginners. Again, im sorry if these questions dont come out right (or rather, how i want them to sound) or if i sound like im trolling - im really not, im just wanting to be as prepared as possible before i go to do AFF next month. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E150 0 #2 April 15, 2002 Info is time, time is info. Good luck on your AFF course, enjoy it Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites bbarnhouse 0 #3 April 15, 2002 you can download the SIM for free and that will answer many questions you may have.www.uspa.orgBest of Luck!It only takes a little pixie dust...... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites skybytch 273 #4 April 15, 2002 Besides the SIM I'd recommend getting ahold of a copy of the Skydiver's Handbook (Poynter/Turoff). Loads of good information about nearly every aspect of the sport, including a very good section on emergencies. pull & flare,lisa Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites bbarnhouse 0 #5 April 15, 2002 Additionally, you can copy info from Bryan Burke that is informative as well.You'll find that at skydiveaz.com(Hiya Bytch how you doin'?)CheersIt only takes a little pixie dust...... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites nacmacfeegle 0 #6 April 15, 2002 Tell me Lisa, where would one procure such a wondrous font of knowledge, can you recommend a reliable stockist perchance, preferably one owned, and staffed by skydivers......CyaD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Newbie 0 #7 April 15, 2002 thanks Lisa - i just finished reading the Skydivers Handbook last week. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Newbie 0 #8 April 15, 2002 thanks bbarnhouse - although i have read through the SIM a few months ago, i will print it and take it with me to Spain to reread. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites fonz 0 #9 April 15, 2002 Quote i just finished reading the Skydivers Handbook last week.Then read it again. Believe me, it's worth it. The book claims that it puts you "way ahead of your classmates" and it does exactly that.I think the main issue here is familiarity. Compare it with a high school class or college lecture. If you've been there before, it's much easier to follow the second time around. You'll be more familiar with the material covered in class and because of that you'll be able to ask clear questions to which your instructor will be able to provide a clear answer.It also helps to have a basic knowledge of meteorology and physics (particularly aerodynamics) because it tends to really make it easier for your instructor to explain things to you. I noticed this when I was in Perris. Pretty soon the instructors would say "I know you understand a lot about physics and stuff, so I can tell you this. Here's what happens... blah blah bla." I particularly remember one instructor (Mike K.) who would always pause and ask "does this make sense?" Then it helps a lot if it does indeed make sense.Alphonshttp://www.liacs.nl/~avwerven/skydive Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites PLFKING 4 #10 April 15, 2002 Hey Newbie....There are tons of good info and insights on HH's site........I think anyone new to the sport should read and make use of the opportunities to ask questions here. Also, if I was a DZO, I would make Poynter's book mandatory reading.However, there is a huge difference between listening to answers and taking those answers as the gospel truth. I would strongly urge you to listen to your JM, and your JM only. He's the one most cognizant of your skills ; he's the one who is responsible for your safety until you are off student status, and working towards that first license. A lot of the instances brought up here are flukes (my story of the plane hitting the canopy was one -- I haven't talked to any diver that had ever heard of that happening before, or since). Your JM is trying to train you on what is most likely to happen to you (not that anything is LIKELY to, statistically-wise).I would hate to see you confused by some of the statements here......you have to realize that the vast majority of posters are already licensed, and are the only ones responsible for their own safety. They've also had more time to think about what can happen, have heard more stories of things that went wrong and opinions to deal with them, have had friends go through some weird shit and heard how they dealt with it, etc......they're going to have procedures based on many jumps or many years in the sport, whereas you're still a babe in the woods. But that's okay, because we were all in the same boat at one time.Listen to your JM.......ask questions of your JM. Even when you ask questions here, talk them over with your JM also. He's trying to teach you without overwhelming you, so it's to be expected that you aren't going to cover everything that could possibly go wrong....he's trying to teach you enough to keep you alive.Listen to your JM.Don Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites fonz 0 #11 April 15, 2002 Quote I would strongly urge you to listen to your JM, and your JM only. Damn good point you're making there!Alphonshttp://www.liacs.nl/~avwerven/skydive Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. 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bbarnhouse 0 #3 April 15, 2002 you can download the SIM for free and that will answer many questions you may have.www.uspa.orgBest of Luck!It only takes a little pixie dust...... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #4 April 15, 2002 Besides the SIM I'd recommend getting ahold of a copy of the Skydiver's Handbook (Poynter/Turoff). Loads of good information about nearly every aspect of the sport, including a very good section on emergencies. pull & flare,lisa Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bbarnhouse 0 #5 April 15, 2002 Additionally, you can copy info from Bryan Burke that is informative as well.You'll find that at skydiveaz.com(Hiya Bytch how you doin'?)CheersIt only takes a little pixie dust...... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #6 April 15, 2002 Tell me Lisa, where would one procure such a wondrous font of knowledge, can you recommend a reliable stockist perchance, preferably one owned, and staffed by skydivers......CyaD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Newbie 0 #7 April 15, 2002 thanks Lisa - i just finished reading the Skydivers Handbook last week. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Newbie 0 #8 April 15, 2002 thanks bbarnhouse - although i have read through the SIM a few months ago, i will print it and take it with me to Spain to reread. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fonz 0 #9 April 15, 2002 Quote i just finished reading the Skydivers Handbook last week.Then read it again. Believe me, it's worth it. The book claims that it puts you "way ahead of your classmates" and it does exactly that.I think the main issue here is familiarity. Compare it with a high school class or college lecture. If you've been there before, it's much easier to follow the second time around. You'll be more familiar with the material covered in class and because of that you'll be able to ask clear questions to which your instructor will be able to provide a clear answer.It also helps to have a basic knowledge of meteorology and physics (particularly aerodynamics) because it tends to really make it easier for your instructor to explain things to you. I noticed this when I was in Perris. Pretty soon the instructors would say "I know you understand a lot about physics and stuff, so I can tell you this. Here's what happens... blah blah bla." I particularly remember one instructor (Mike K.) who would always pause and ask "does this make sense?" Then it helps a lot if it does indeed make sense.Alphonshttp://www.liacs.nl/~avwerven/skydive Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFKING 4 #10 April 15, 2002 Hey Newbie....There are tons of good info and insights on HH's site........I think anyone new to the sport should read and make use of the opportunities to ask questions here. Also, if I was a DZO, I would make Poynter's book mandatory reading.However, there is a huge difference between listening to answers and taking those answers as the gospel truth. I would strongly urge you to listen to your JM, and your JM only. He's the one most cognizant of your skills ; he's the one who is responsible for your safety until you are off student status, and working towards that first license. A lot of the instances brought up here are flukes (my story of the plane hitting the canopy was one -- I haven't talked to any diver that had ever heard of that happening before, or since). Your JM is trying to train you on what is most likely to happen to you (not that anything is LIKELY to, statistically-wise).I would hate to see you confused by some of the statements here......you have to realize that the vast majority of posters are already licensed, and are the only ones responsible for their own safety. They've also had more time to think about what can happen, have heard more stories of things that went wrong and opinions to deal with them, have had friends go through some weird shit and heard how they dealt with it, etc......they're going to have procedures based on many jumps or many years in the sport, whereas you're still a babe in the woods. But that's okay, because we were all in the same boat at one time.Listen to your JM.......ask questions of your JM. Even when you ask questions here, talk them over with your JM also. He's trying to teach you without overwhelming you, so it's to be expected that you aren't going to cover everything that could possibly go wrong....he's trying to teach you enough to keep you alive.Listen to your JM.Don Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fonz 0 #11 April 15, 2002 Quote I would strongly urge you to listen to your JM, and your JM only. Damn good point you're making there!Alphonshttp://www.liacs.nl/~avwerven/skydive Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
