ltdiver 3 #1 January 9, 2006 http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060107/NEWS01/601070338/1190/NEWS Posted on: Saturday, January 7, 2006 FAA assumes jumpers know risks By Kevin Dayton Advertiser Big Island Bureau National statistics compiled by a membership association of skydivers show an average of about 32 fatalities a year occur nationwide in a sport that is essentially "self-regulated," according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Still, the United States Parachute Association, a voluntary association of skydivers and skydiving centers, said skydiving isn't as dangerous as many people believe, given the number of jumps each year. "In my opinion, it's unusually safe," said Scott Breir, of Skydive Arizona in Eloy, Ariz. Breir said Skydive Arizona operates the busiest drop zone in the world, with a total of about 100,000 jumps there a year. "A lot of people have this impression that it's this deathdefying, crazy, daredevil kind of sport, and it's really not. Most of the people who are in our sport are your doctors and professionals, and this is their recreation," Breir said yesterday. "Essentially it's a very relaxing sport." Statistics on skydiving fatalities compiled by the Parachute Association show that nationally there were 21 skydiving fatalities in 2004, and an average of nearly 32 fatalities per year since 1992. The worst year was 1998, when 44 died, according to the association. The FAA said its regulations govern the aircraft and crew involved in skydiving, and when and where jumps are allowed. Certification is required for the people who pack parachutes. But the FAA warns that its skydiving regulations are designed to ensure the safety of those who do not jump. For those who do, FAA officials are given to believe that the jumper "has assessed the dangers involved and assumes personal responsibility for his or her safety," according to the agency's Web site. With skydivers free-falling at speeds of up to 300 mph, "nobody would argue that skydiving is a safe thing to do," warns the Web site for the Parachute Association. "Generally, safety in skydiving is determined by the individual. Rarely do skydiving accidents result from equipment failure or bad luck. Skydivers use good preparation and judgment to manage the obvious and inherent risks," according to the association. Breir said the industry has made major advances in safety gear, including adoption of Automatic Activation Devices, which are microcomputers that calculate the altitude and rate of descent of a jumper and deploy either the main or reserve canopies at preset altitudes. "The technology has come a long way in the past 10 years," he said. Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jlmiracle 7 #2 January 9, 2006 QuoteFor those who do, FAA officials are given to believe that the jumper "has assessed the dangers involved and assumes personal responsibility for his or her safety," according to the agency's Web site. Excellent statement! I wish everyone would take responsiblity for themselves instead of blaming others for their mistakes. jBe kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tr027 0 #3 January 9, 2006 Worth repeating. That applies not only to jumpers but to general populaces at large, the U.S. for a good example."The evil of the world is made possible by nothing but the sanction you give it. " -John Galt from Atlas Shrugged, 1957 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #4 January 9, 2006 Quote...the U.S. for a good example. Quote By that you mean what? ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #5 January 9, 2006 QuoteQuoteFor those who do, FAA officials are given to believe that the jumper "has assessed the dangers involved and assumes personal responsibility for his or her safety," according to the agency's Web site. Excellent statement! I wish everyone would take responsibility for themselves instead of blaming others for their mistakes. amen... YOU pay your money, YOU take YOUR chances, YOU should take the time to educate yourself about the risks.... and if/when you cant be bothered to, and or make a mistake or forget your training..... YOU are responsible for your fate.. not the USPA, not the DZ, not your coach, packer, and certainly not the canopy manufacturer or reseller.. YOU, the Pilot are responsible for your actions and the results of them...____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #6 January 9, 2006 QuoteWith skydivers free-falling at speeds of up to 300 mph, "nobody would argue that skydiving is a safe thing to do," warns the Web site for the Parachute Association Some people on here will argue that it is safe "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #7 January 9, 2006 QuoteQuoteWith skydivers free-falling at speeds of up to 300 mph, "nobody would argue that skydiving is a safe thing to do," warns the Web site for the Parachute Association Some people on here will argue that it is safe Well, according to my dictionary, the definition of "safe" is: "free from harm or risk". So, indeed, skydiving is not safe. But also, neither is anything else safe. Everything in life has risk. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tr027 0 #8 January 9, 2006 There I was referrring to social commentary that would be off-topic and off-forum. The abdication of personal responsibility would be a thread best left for the speaker's corner."The evil of the world is made possible by nothing but the sanction you give it. " -John Galt from Atlas Shrugged, 1957 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #9 January 10, 2006 Quote There I was referrring to social commentary that would be off-topic and off-forum. The abdication of personal responsibility would be a thread best left for the speaker's corner. And thus why I posted it here and not there. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
superman0710 0 #10 January 10, 2006 Quote Breir said the industry has made major advances in safety gear, including adoption of Automatic Activation Devices, which are microcomputers that calculate the altitude and rate of descent of a jumper and deploy either the main or reserve canopies at preset altitudes. "The technology has come a long way in the past 10 years," he said. ?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NelKel 0 #11 January 10, 2006 Back in the day AAD's were placed on mains instead of reserves._________________________________________ Someone dies, someone says how stupid, someone says it was avoidable, someone says how to avoid it, someone calls them an idiot, someone proposes rule chan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
labrys 0 #12 January 10, 2006 It's possible to rig an AAD to deploy a main also.Owned by Remi #? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #13 January 10, 2006 The BSR's state that an AAD -must- be used on a student's rig. Section 2-1.K.2.d. It does not specify main or reserve. Yes, and AAD -can- be made to deploy the main. Perris did this years ago, with setting the AAD at 3,500 feet. Their belief at the time was that if the student didn't pull their main that the AAD would get a canopy over their head. Then "Sparky" happened. Everything changed after that. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dumpster 0 #14 January 10, 2006 QuoteExcellent statement! I wish everyone would take responsiblity for themselves instead of blaming others for their mistakes. I couldn't agree more. Easy Does It Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
superman0710 0 #15 January 10, 2006 QuoteIt's possible to rig an AAD to deploy a main also. really. i didn't know that? how? on a PC rig? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
labrys 0 #16 January 10, 2006 For that technical answer, I'll defer to people who have way more experience. I'm not even dreaming of being a rigger.. I've just read about it.Owned by Remi #? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #17 January 10, 2006 Most if not all modern military rigs have the AAD set up on the main but can be changed over to the reserve if it was deemed neccessary."It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlindBrick 0 #18 January 10, 2006 QuoteQuoteIt's possible to rig an AAD to deploy a main also. really. i didn't know that? how? on a PC rig? At our DZ we have a few ripcord rigs with spring loaded pilot chutes that have an FXC 12000 set to pull the main pin. However, we call this an AOD and still have an AAD on the reserve. -Blind"If you end up in an alligator's jaws, naked, you probably did something to deserve it." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MooChooser 0 #19 January 17, 2006 QuoteQuoteWith skydivers free-falling at speeds of up to 300 mph, "nobody would argue that skydiving is a safe thing to do," warns the Web site for the Parachute Association Some people on here will argue that it is safe I dont think its as dangerous as its percieved to be. You can make it more dangerous by being careless but in my opinion im in a hell of a lot more danger riding my bike to the DZ than I am actually jumping there. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #20 January 17, 2006 Quote I dont think its as dangerous as its percieved to be. You can make it more dangerous by being careless but in my opinion im in a hell of a lot more danger riding my bike to the DZ than I am actually jumping there. You're free to think whatever you like, but as a factual statement - what you just wrote is incredibly wrong. It would be smart for you to re-evaluate the risks of skydiving. Unless you ride your bicycle through traffic on interstates, that is... Thank you for showing that some jumpers do not understand the risks. _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MooChooser 0 #21 January 17, 2006 Its a motorcycle and yes i ride it through traffic Quotebut as a factual statement How can you say that your statement is factual? You have no idea how far I ride or how i ride. If youre talking about low pulling, hook turning amateurs thats a different matter, but to be honest, and ive been around both sports for quite a while, motorcycling generates more injuries than skydiving. p.s. I know that its impossible to compare the 2 sports properly. I plan to do about 300 jumps a year as well as the 3000 road miles and 3-5 track days I take part in each year and if one of them is going to kill me, the smart money is on my motorcycle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #22 January 17, 2006 I don't know anything about how you ride your bike, but if you think that riding your bike to the DZ is more dangerous than skydiving, either: 1) You're an incredibly dangerous bike rider, or 2) You seem to think skydiving is a lot safer than it really is. My point here is simple. If I've read your posts correctly, you seem to think that skydiving is relatively safe. It isn't. If you believe that, you're mistaken, and setting yourself up. Skydiving has killed 3 of my friends in the last two years. I can not say the same for any other sport, including motorcycles. _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,116 #23 January 17, 2006 >I plan to do about 300 jumps a year as well as the 3000 road miles > and 3-5 track days I take part in each year and if one of them is > going to kill me, the smart money is on my motorcycle. That is unlikely unless you drink and ride a lot. Skydiving is NOT safe. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MooChooser 0 #24 January 17, 2006 Im sorry to hear about your friends. Most skydivers who are injured or killed, are injured or killed under a good canopy. Most of these occur after a deliberate low turn. If you have no intention of performing deliberate low turns then the statistics suddenly look a whole lot different. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MooChooser 0 #25 January 17, 2006 Im not saying its safe, all im saying is that many people percieve skydiving to be far more dangerous than it really is. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
