tso-d_chris 0 #26 October 24, 2005 QuoteSidestepping a safety device due to your own ill-advised fears is not playing it safe. It's not a safety device if it's firing parameters and the jumper's normal operation parameters overlap. For the majority of jumpers this is not the case, but for some, the concern is well justified. I find it ironic that some people are perfectly willing to point the nose of their canopy towards the ground immediately prior to landing, yet fear jumping without an AAD. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AFFI 0 #27 October 24, 2005 QuoteI find it ironic that some people are perfectly willing to point the nose of their canopy towards the ground immediately prior to landing, yet fear jumping without an AAD. Well put statement of irony… I will never forget my first “hook turn”. Landing a mile and a half off the DZ, painted myself into a corner with a power lines to the right and left, a HUGE obstacle in front – I decided that my best chance for survival was to get turned around. Being a beginner at the time, only between 100 and 200 jumps had never even been introduced to flat turns yet and I was low to the ground so I had to act quickly – toggle whipped it and luckily planed out and had my first surf, it was as HUGE a rush as freefall was, I could feel my blood pumping, my hair on fire! I can not say I don’t believe in “luck” now because it was a great execution despite the fact I had no idea what I was doing other that I needed to turn around an quickly given my low altitude. The DZO was in his truck heading my way; saw the landing and when he got close enough to see that is was I who landed in such a fashion proceeded to chew my ass thoroughly. Then he took me under his wing and taught me the finer aspects of flying a parachute and he worked me up the learning curve gradually and safely. High performance landings? For me they are as much a part of skydiving as freefall or paying for it all – and an AAD? Combat skydiving with students necessitates a level of protection from a collision that may incapacitate me in some regard where utilization of an AAD may save me someday. I am at a busy DZ the better part of my life these days, there are a LOT of high performance landers there that go much faster than I do under my “student” Stiletto and I have yet to see someone fire their AAD as a result of a high performance landing and don’t hear of it often. I feel safe enough and have decided that keeping my current configuration is the best choice for me. When a Cypress is developed that better address this issue I will buy one as well as a higher performance canopy…Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat… Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davelepka 4 #28 October 24, 2005 QuoteI find it ironic that some people are perfectly willing to point the nose of their canopy towards the ground immediately prior to landing, yet fear jumping without an AAD Just to be clear, I don't have a fear of jumping without an AAD. There are situations where it's not an applicable device. I do, however have an opposition to the "I'll just pull my handles" defence to not jumping one. Provided the context of your skydive or equipment allows for as AAD, there's no reason not jump one. There have been a good number of fatalities that could have been prevented had an AAD been present. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
