Tandem geek exits

[Squeak 17]

I'm doing my 500th this week and my wife is doing a tandem with me. I'm looking for pros and con of exits.
I'd like to float, but have a camera flyer as well.
The plane is a Caravan and carmera sets up out side.
will it be ok for me to float low between the camera and the TM, so I can watch as they exit. oR is it a dangerous place.
I've dived out after tandems before but I'd really like to be in front on this one.
Any constructive oppinions appreciated.Thanks

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[flynskydive 0]

The most important persons on this skydive is your wife and the TI. The camera guy comes second, and you are third. The TI needs not to worry about one person being in the way as he throws the drogue let alone two. Camera flyers are trained to stay out of the no fly zone which you could potentially enter if you get inbetween them. The safest way is to leave one second after the tandem. This will ensure clear air for drogue deployment. Once the camera flyer is set up, that's your time to move in. As a tandem instructor I will not let anyone float unless it's a trained camera flyer. So to keep yourself, your wife, and everyone else safe, dive out.

USPA Strong T-I, AFF-I, Coach, Videographer/photographer.

[jimmytavino 16]

In this case.. the Tandem Master and Camera person.... ( the people who are working on this jump and not just playing..... should have the say on where you should exit...... )
As long as the caravan is going to 13,500 or so, leaving behind them should not be a problem,,,,,,,
providing you do a few things, with discipline....
exit a second or so after the tandem leaves..... Lock your eyes onto them in order to assure a positive drogue deployment has occurred.... and that you are well behind them when it does..
With your skill level you should have little trouble flying down to the "action"..
Now here's where the discipline comes in...
You need to be considerate of the TM AND the camera person... I 'd recommend that you don't dive Hard.. unless you have excellent "stopping ability".... tandems that look like they are waaay beneath you,, may actually be going a LOT slower than you think... especially if they fall drogueless for more than 5 seconds or so.... Be patient.. boogie on down but as you're getting there.. be sure that you have moved off to the side..... you need to be in the view of both the TM and the camera anytime you're within 15 feet of the pair...
We only allow people to fly with a tandem by getting on level and then approaching from the side... NO swoops from above,, NO hard dives followed by sliding and skating around,, as you try to match speed,,,, ( i've had more than a few "experts" skate right UNDER me while chasing a tandem ) NOT good....
Approach from the side,, well in view of the TM and the camera... dock or don't dock,, depending on the Pre discussed game plan..... Don't be surprised if the passenger, ( your wife) isn't tuned into your arrival... she may be experiencing sensory overload as it is....
If the plan is to take a grip, do so from the side.. while facing the camera, NOT the tandem pair...
No "head on" docks... The cameraperson does NOT wanna see your ass parked in front of him/her.
LEAVE!!!!! when you've reached a pre determined altitude,, and be aware that it will be waaaaay higher than a normal skydive....
YOU May NOT be anywhere nearby to them,,, as the tandems pull altitude approaches... ( and depending on your place in the exit order and on the spot,, they may be pulling as high as 6 grand) so get there,, grin ,,, blow the MRS a kiss,,wave to the camera,,,, and then get outta there !!!!!!... approach from the side. depart to the side
track, determine where you are, relative to the spot,, and deploy accordingly...
Have fun.... land safely and be there to welcome the arrival of the tandem pair....
yeah yeah yeah it's your 5ooth.... but the real hero here, is your wife... IF it is HER first jump,, then you need to be making a bigger deal about that than about your jump... got it??
Oh yes........ either way... and especially if things are busy that day,,, be SURE to huddle with the TM and Camera prior to boarding, in order to discuss and address allll the concerns they will have....Listen to what they say,, and then DO IT ...
Congrats on # 500 ... make it a memorable but more importantly a SAFE skydive for all involved...jmy.......o[:-)
skydive softly skydive often skydive with friends

[JohnMitchell 16]

My wife has swooped a bunch of tandems. She likes to come in about 2-3 feet low, from the right or left front, catch the eye of the passenger, then move up and dock. It works really well. She's got really good range, though, has no trouble going low and coming back up. Looks good for the passenger, loks good for the camera.

[gemini 0]

Be very careful if the plan is to dock on your wife. Is she calm in the air? Or will she grab your arm and pull you to her? This could cause you to become unstable next to and below the tandem pair which is not a place you want to be. Talk with both your wife and the tandem master at the same time to make sure everyone is on the same plan.

The tandem master may want you to wait until he finishes his turns or until the cameraman finishes a 360 around the pair.

Blue skies,

Jim

[Squeak 17]

All of that is how I've lurked other tandemsIt's my wifes second tandem, after the 1st (3 years ago), she said thanks but no thanks.
I've asked her a few times to do another and she agreed to do another for my 500th.
I had about 200 when she agreed she probalby thought I would give up before this


Regardless of all this, Kas is the single most important thing in my life and I would not do anything to jepodise her safety.
So it looks like I'll be diving out

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[jimmytavino 16]

.Excellent!!!!
have a great time.................. jmy