position in plane

[GANFAX 0]

I've got my A license and I have 73 jumps. My problem is what position to exit the plane. I only fly belly and usually pull at 4000 - 4500. Usually fly solo. On some loads i've exited first, on others in the middle and on some last. Is there some sort of "rule of thumb" as to who goes out first, middle and last?

[billvon 3,110]

Generally high pulling solos get out last, because they can make it back from a long spot more easily, and they don't take as much time to climb out. Bigways get out first because they take a long time, and thus starting the climbout say five seconds early won't hose them and will give everyone else more time to exit.

However, exiting last of the RW people (before freefly) is also a reasonable position, provided you take care not to backslide into other groups. This helps a bit with separation.

[quade 4]

Whatever rule of thumb you hear be sure to -ASK- the dropzone manifester for any local dz rule on the subject. They may have different procedures for some reason.

NEVER be afraid to ask for clarification from the dz about traffic patterns and safety procedures that might be particular to them. Do it EVERY time you visit a new dz.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Skydivesg 7]

I'm sure you'll get lots of good advice from people here.

Be sure to check with each DZ because they will usually have rules in place. At the very least make your intentions known in the boarding area. Most experienced jumpers are more than willing to help you out on that stuff.

And after you open, fly across line on flight for a while until you see where all the other canopies are.
IE; if jump run is north, fly east or west until you find the other traffic. This will help keep you from flying into other groups that are opening.

And keep your head on a swivel.

Be the canopy pilot you want that other guy to be.

[awagnon 0]

On my very first solo jump after AFF I was on a load of nothing but wing suiters and tandems. Even though I said I planned to pull at 4,500', I still had to be the first one out. Not wanting to hold anyone up, I got the the hell out as soon as the jump light came on. I immediately saw I was going to be short of of the DZ. I tracked for it the best I could at my skill level and opened at 5,000'. I still barely made it to the landing area because of beating into the wind. All things considered, I think I'd rather be later in the load and jump a little long, and not be first in the future.

Alton

"Luck favors the prepared."

[NiteQwill 0]

Remember to spot And don't ever feel like you're rushed. Remember, at the end of the day, it's YOU who is responsible for your safety.

Also, if you're trying to cover distance (for instance, trying to make it back to the DZ after a tracking dive), pull your rear risers to achieve an optimum glide with your legs up to reduce wind resistance.

To the OP, jump with more folks! You shouldn't be having fun alone!

"Fail, fail again. Fail better."
-Samuel Beckett

[yoink 321]

Quote

On my very first solo jump after AFF I was on a load of nothing but wing suiters and tandems. Even though I said I planned to pull at 4,500', I still had to be the first one out. Not wanting to hold anyone up, I got the the hell out as soon as the jump light came on. I immediately saw I was going to be short of of the DZ. I tracked for it the best I could at my skill level and opened at 5,000'. I still barely made it to the landing area because of beating into the wind. All things considered, I think I'd rather be later in the load and jump a little long, and not be first in the future.

Assumming you were out first and the jumprun was into the wind, exiting early means you'd have been downwind of the DZ.

Tracking towards is would mean that you were tracking straight up the jump run... Really bad news.

Ask your instructors to teach you to spot in case you find yourself in this position again.

[asolomon 0]

At our dz on each load we got a "load master" - responsible for deciding the exit order. All comes to count - what type of jump, how many people, what is the break-off and opening altitude, etc...

Stick to what the dz rules are on exit order and exit procedures and you should be fine - everybody says... and there is a lot of merit in it.

[riggerrob 643]

"... I immediately saw I was going to be short of of the DZ. I tracked for it the best I could ..."

....................................................................

Bad habit tracking up jump run.
Far wiser to open a little higher and cover ground under canopy.
In five seconds under canopy, you can cover as much ground as during a minute of freefall.

[mnskydiver688 0]

Yes please do not track up jump run. At the very least use an L pattern to get off jump run. Also with just tandems and wingsuiters don't worry about taking time in the door. Heck the farther away us wingsuiters get the less turns we need to make.

Sky Canyon Wingsuiters

[awagnon 0]

Quote

Tracking towards is would mean that you were tracking straight up the jump run... Really bad news.

Thanks for the advice about not tracking up the jump run and opening higher in order fly the canopy longer to the DZ. I felt pretty sure the wing suiters and tandems would stay above me while I was tracking. And I did open 500' above my planned opening altitude. I was afraid of opening higher and really being in the way. But in the future, I'll track away from the jump run and open even higher if it looks like I'm short. Lesson learned.

By the way, I did pull up my feet to cut wind resistance and tried rear risers, but pulling down on the rear risers of the student chute was like pulling down the ceiling. I think all I did was a chin up.

Alton

"Luck favors the prepared."

[yoink 321]

Sometimes you're never going to make it back to the dz, no matter what you try.

The thing to learn quickly is to identify these situations early, and have the skills to deal with them without putting yourself or others in danger.

The more you get a feel for how much distance you can travel under canopy, into wind, down wind and cross wind, and the better you get at judging your landing area (search for The Accuracy Trick here), the sooner you'll be able to say with confidence "OK, I'm not hitting the DZ. What are my other options" The sooner you make that decision, the more options you're likely to have and the safer you're likely to be.

Really working on your landing techniques with an instructor will hopefully prepare you for the day when you do have to make an off landing, and will take away the fear of landing somewhere you're not used to.

Skydiving accidents are almost always a chain of events leading up to the moment of trouble. Knowledge and deliberate practise are the best way to break pretty much any link in a chain.

Have fun

[format 1]

Sometimes tracking to LZ is up to 90 degrees off jump run, it's the upper wind issue.
Know your jump run and wind direction.

Opening higher than announced I preffere not.
And I say: "I wave at 4000" (PC throw is next).

Canopy glide ratio? Well, some use front risers, some rear with legs up but..
I, as taught, use 10% toggles, going slow, thinking fast.

What goes around, comes later.