Airman1270 0 #1 May 8, 2006 ...This past Saturday. The occasion was one of those "Don't do Drugs" events sponsored by the Bartow County Sheriff's Office. We jumped into a ball field inside the quarter-mile track at a park in Cartersville, GA. I landed within 20' of the "X", closer than the other guys. Somebody please remind me why I need a "D" license or a PRO rating to do this? Cheers, Jon S. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CSpenceFLY 1 #2 May 8, 2006 Because there are alot of people out there that think they have skills as opposed to actually possessing any.Edit to add:You may not have needed a D or a Pro rating for your jump. . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #3 May 8, 2006 QuoteSomebody please remind me why I need a "D" license or a PRO rating to do this? Cheers, Jon S. That's an easy question to ask after a demo that went well but it's not one of the questions that comes up after a demo goes wrong. After a demo goes wrong, one question often asked is why the hell that jumper was allowed to do a demo when he didn't have the credentials. The consequences of a demo gone wrong can be truly serious and IMO it's wise to be cautious. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #4 May 8, 2006 With 812 jumps, you probably qualify for a D license. Why doncha just get it? Pro rating was probably not required for that jump. I'm pro qualified but don't have the rating, so I don't do pro jumps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #5 May 8, 2006 I landed within 20' of the "X", closer than the other guys...Somebody please remind me why I need a "D" license or a PRO rating to do this? *** Because 'sometimes' 20 feet from the "X" is OUT! I'm glad the demo went well. From the sound of it you have what amounts to a football field to land it. That should be plenty of room for an average jumper to land safely in, but not all demos are that 'open' Three weeks ago I landed on the stage of a beauty contest. I had roughly 1/3 the size of a flatbed trailer as a target. 20 feet off in any direction would have made the jump a distraction not a demo. I don't know you or your recent jumping history / experience...from your bio you're averaging 35 jumps a year. A PRO rating requires 50 to be recognized as 'current', as well as a designated number of jumps on the actual gear used on the demo. The reasons for those type of requirements are as an effort to 'push' demo jumpers to a level of professionalism that will possibly reduce the chances of an injury scenario. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,151 #6 May 8, 2006 >Somebody please remind me why I need a "D" license or a PRO >rating to do this? One might ask the same question after doing a perfect AFF level 1 - "why do I need an AFF rating to do a 3-way with a student? It was no problem!" It's not the demos/student jumps that go perfectly that require more training and experience - it's the jumps that DON'T go perfectly. Some demo drama from my past: -A GPS spot that (from the aircraft's GPS) is 600 miles from your takeoff point - and no one knows where the site _really_ is -A helicopter in the landing area that starts spinning up its rotor shortly after exit -A demo into a golf course at night that had lighting problems -ATC restrictions that require you to take a suboptimal spot, and to pick which side of bad you want it to be on -Collisions after exit due to people being too focused on 'stuff' (streamers, strobes etc) -Upper winds that are radically different from the ground winds -Time change between takeoff location and landing location These are things you're not typically going to see at an operating drop zone - which is why some additional experience/training is appropriate before you do your first demo. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eule 0 #7 May 9, 2006 QuoteThe occasion was one of those "Don't do Drugs That Aren't Sold By Large Corporations" events I fixed your post. :) On a related note, . EulePLF does not stand for Please Land on Face. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #8 May 9, 2006 QuoteWe jumped into a ball field inside the quarter-mile track at a park in Cartersville, GA. I am glad it worked out well for you, the sponsor is a good cause. For a target that big you probably don't. Some DZ's have a student area that size or smaller. As Twardo said, on a real demo that 20' you mentioned could make a big difference.My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Airman1270 0 #9 May 9, 2006 Three weeks ago I landed on the stage of a beauty contest. I had roughly 1/3 the size of a flatbed trailer as a target... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Good point. Invitation or not, I would not have attempted such a jump, even though I can almost always land that close to a target. Also, I told the organizer I would not make the jump if the winds were blowing much more than 10mph. (At the DZ, this would not be an issue.) I don't know the official requirements, but I trust the organizer and am certain he would not have placed me into a situation I was not "officially" qualified to handle. While it was pretty much a piece of cake, the ass-pucker factor was much more than I'm used to. One surprise was the bumpy air all the way down, which I assume was due to thermals coming up from the residential areas, roads, buildings, and parking lots underneath. I made about 15 jumps last year, took four months off, then made five more about a month ago. The demo was my first dive in five weeks. The one skill I've been able to polish over the years has been canopy control. Thank God for those T-10 student jumps. I'm glad it turned out to be much less dramatic than my last invite... In 1997 I was invited on a demo at an air show, but couldn't make it due to a prior commitment. The following week I had a streamer malfunction & (round) reserve ride. That was the pack job I would have jumped at the air show... Cheers, Jon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #10 May 10, 2006 QuoteWhile it was pretty much a piece of cake, the ass-pucker factor was much more than I'm used to. *** Yup...That's demo jumping! It sounds like you guys were cautious and thought it through, which lowers the pucker factor a little. So this was your demo huh... Welcome to the club, keep that safety first attitude when more come your way. It alway a kick to perform! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Airman1270 0 #11 May 11, 2006 ...So this was your demo huh...... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ The funny part: We were asked to gather in front of the stage. The organizer took the mike and made the requisite "don't do drugs" comments, and said we'd all say a few words. (We hadn't talked about this.) The other guy told the crowd that he's never done illegal drugs, and that to skydive you must be at the top of your game, adding that any skydiver under the influence of anything would be kicked off the DZ. I looked at him... I don't know if he's done "drugs" but he enjoys his beer after hours. Furthermore, it's been my observation that any jumper who gets wasted will, at most, be grounded for the day. He'll still be encouraged to hang out and party after hours. Anyway, he handed me the mike. I graduated from high school in the mid-1970's and had done drugs a few times, but didn't think this was the time & place to go into detail, so I avoided the subject and thanked everyone for coming out and handed back the mike. I had worked at a radio station in this town for over four years and was somewhat well-known. (My listeners had heard me talk about skydiving on several occasions.) However, on my political show I had been critical of some of the things I'd seen while reading police reports, especially the habits of the K-9 guys who apparently don't think your Constitutional rights are particularly valuable when they want to search your car while you're passing through town with out-of-state tags. While I had kept it theoretical and not personal, I'm sure they didn't appreciate my comments. So here I am, at an anti-meth event sponsired by the cops, complete with K-9 demonstrations, etc. In fact, we were greeted by a Captain I had interviewed on several occasions. I tried to keep a low profile, and I think it worked. Anyway, a good time had by all. Cheers, Jon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #12 May 11, 2006 Anyway, he handed me the mike. I graduated from high school in the mid-1970's and had done drugs a few times, but didn't think this was the time & place to go into detail, *** I hear ya! I kinda have the same problem, we do an act that features McGruff the Crime Dog... Old McGruff actually jumps in full costume, has a little paw print rubber stamp to give autographs... and often gives a little "Take a BITE out of crime" speech. Needless to say, I've NEVER been asked to wear the costume! Come to think of it....I never get to jump the DARE Flag either! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
