HydroGuy 0 #1 June 16, 2005 From 5 people away on the ride to altitude he noticed I had fu#ked up my chest strap routing. Maybe I would have noticed when I tightened and bungeed the strap before I jumped...maybe I wouldn't have... Glad I didn't have to find out. Thanks againGet in - Get off - Get away....repeat as neccessary Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davelepka 4 #2 June 16, 2005 QuoteMaybe I would have noticed when I tightened and bungeed the strap before I jumped... This is why you do this before boarding. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pauld767 0 #3 June 16, 2005 I agree, everyone should 'double' check their gear and adjustment up before boarding. Having said that, working on multiple DZ's around the world it is amazing how many times I (or other jumpers) have seen people miss things, some minor, and some, downright deadly (cheststraps). I make it a habit of scanning over everyones gear that are within sight. It gives me a warm feeling of 'togetherness' when ever I see people cross checking other people on the load. It reinforces the idea that we are one big family and 'family look out for each other', right? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gemini 0 #4 June 16, 2005 QuoteI make it a habit of scanning over everyones gear that are within sight. This is very, very important especially when there are low-time jumpers/students on board. Several weeks ago Trent and I were on a load, but we were separated due to the RW group FF group order, or he may have had a student. Winds were very light and variable that day. At 4-5K or so Trent got up and squeezed between all the jumpers to get to a guy sitting on my right. It was a guy just off AFF and unlicensed who was using DZ rental gear. Trent asked him "What size canopy are you jumping?" The guy said "A 210. Why?" Trent said, "Well it looks like you've got a 120." All the rental/student rigs are color-coded and have unique pin cover colors. Trent remembered the guy jumping a bigger canopy and thought it looked odd so he took the trouble to ask the guy. The guy rode the plane back down. Probably saved him at least some bruises and bumps if nothing worse. Heads up call. Check yourself, your friends, and then everyone else you can see! Blue skies, Jim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeth 0 #5 June 16, 2005 Quote At 4-5K or so Trent got up and squeezed between all the jumpers to get to a guy sitting on my right. It was a guy just off AFF and unlicensed who was using DZ rental gear. Trent asked him "What size canopy are you jumping?" The guy said "A 210. Why?" Trent said, "Well it looks like you've got a 120." The guy rode the plane back down. Probably saved him at least some bruises and bumps if nothing worse. Heads up call. Check yourself, your friends, and then everyone else you can see! Wo! Nice catch! Geezus, I couldn't imagine being under a 109 when I should be under a 190! Are the colors similiar for those sizes? Is that an easy mistake to make with that rental gear?"At 13,000 feet nothing else matters." PFRX!!!!! Team Funnel #174, Sunshine kisspass #109 My Jump Site Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scaryshari 0 #6 June 16, 2005 Our pilot (Rabbit) had called someone on a misrouted chestrap last weekend. The person happened to be in the front of the plane. Great eyes!! This was the second time of the weekend for chest-strap saves on the same person. I've had a loose reserve handle before. I'm obsessive with my handles...I must have not been on that day. is Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstime 0 #7 June 16, 2005 This was the second time of the weekend for chest-strap saves on the same person. Once in a lifetime (maybe) but twice the same weekend....DOH!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HydroGuy 0 #8 June 16, 2005 Quote This is why you do this before boarding. I know. I always give my gear a thorough check, but had gotten into the habit of not tightening the chest strap on the way up...sometimes not having it routed at all. Not anymore. I'll be ready to jump minus the goggles from now on before boarding.Get in - Get off - Get away....repeat as neccessary Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zep 0 #9 June 16, 2005 Glad someone noticed, Empuria has a good rule, You get caught going out to the flight line with your chest strap undone an your grounded for the day. A good rule. Gone fishing Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bluewaterstream 0 #10 June 16, 2005 Have any of you ever caught something wrong on someone's rig, pointing it out to them, and then they act like it's no big deal? Kinda frustrating, isn't it? It's happened to me three times already. The first time was that I noticed about 1/4 of someone's pc hanging out of their BOC spandex pouch (noticed & pointed it out to them on the ground), another jacked up the bottom & right flaps when closing the main so that the corner of their d-bag was exposed (noticed, pointed out, and fixed it for them on the plane), and the third had about 3 inches of bridle exposed in the form of a loop that seemed to be just waiting to snag on something (noticed, pointed out, and fixed it for them on the ground). The third one with the exposed bridle bothered me the most because I was doing a 2-way with them, plus that shit has the potential of taking the entire plane down. Feeling comfortable and confident jumping out of a plane is one thing; but complacency is another. If you don't perform basic gear checks on your own gear before you jump it, you have grown complacent. I've seen this in rock climbing in regards to gear, but I never imagined that I would see this in skydiving too. Considering the risk factor involved in these types of sports, you would think that we all would analyze, research, and check the hell out of our gear before we put our lives on the line with it - guess not. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gemini 0 #11 June 16, 2005 QuoteAre the colors similiar for those sizes? Is that an easy mistake to make with that rental gear? I believe one is yellow and the other is a neon green. At first glance they do look the similar however the canopy size is on the front harness flap too. Usually students and jumpers who don't own their own gear are lined up waiting to use the gear especially the 210, 190 and 150. Like most newbies, I am sure the jumper was anxious to get the gear from the packer and get on the plane before a student showed up looking for it and failed to really check the gear first. Blue skies, Jim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YahooLV 0 #12 June 16, 2005 you should never board an airplane unless your are ready to jump! Ya never know what could happen. Everything should be tight and ready to jump and a moments notice. SOME people think is cool to tighten leg straps in the airplane. I'll push them over as I bail out in an emergency!http://www.curtisglennphotography.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davelepka 4 #13 June 16, 2005 QuoteI'll push them over as I bail out in an emergency I assuming this is after the pilot has given instructions to open the door and jump? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YahooLV 0 #14 June 16, 2005 oh...uh....yeah!http://www.curtisglennphotography.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #15 June 16, 2005 Quote This was the second time of the weekend for chest-strap saves on the same person. They should have been grounded in this case. Be safe. Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #16 June 16, 2005 QuoteI always give my gear a thorough check Stop lying to yourself. If you were caught with a misrouted chest strap you are NOT giving yourself a complete and thourgh gear check. Be safe. Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #17 June 17, 2005 Quotebut had gotten into the habit of not tightening the chest strap on the way up...sometimes not having it routed at all. Not anymore. How tight do you make it? The setting I use seems unnoticable to me on the plane ride, no reason for me to have it looser then. I can sort of see the reason to keep the legs looser, though I'd hate to need to stow the excess in the crowd. I pull on it a lot - pretty quickly shows up if wrong. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #18 June 17, 2005 QuoteI can sort of see the reason to keep the legs looser Just another reason it's great to be a woman skydiver. All my straps are ready for me to leave the plane at any time.May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DanglesOZQld 0 #19 June 17, 2005 Had two instances where the chest straps were misrouted and asked the jumper "so you are ready to jump right now yeah??" to which the answer was "Yes." Nothing like yanking their chest strap and seeing it fly open to get their attention! (And if they had been a bit uncaring about things to that point they no longer were! ;) BSBD! -Mark. "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #20 June 17, 2005 Quoteyou should never board an airplane unless your are ready to jump! Ya never know what could happen. Everything should be tight and ready to jump and a moments notice. SOME people think is cool to tighten leg straps in the airplane. I'll push them over as I bail out in an emergency! It's amazing to me the frequency of people getting on the plane without being completely geared up....just doesn't make sense to me. Call me overly cautious and I'll say "Thanks!"My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
timbarrett 0 #21 June 17, 2005 Do you think we will ever end up in the US with the UK "checked and signed off" system? Not sure what i think of it yet myself but wondered if it might be implemented elsewhere? Does it work?"Work hard, play hard and don't whinge" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #22 June 17, 2005 I am leery about about adopting the UK system in North America. When the paperwork exhausts you, real safety issues suffer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #23 June 17, 2005 Quote Do you think we will ever end up in the US with the UK "checked and signed off" system? Nope, personal accountability works well. What doesn't work well are people who don't respect this sport for what it is and don't take the time to really work to be safe. Chest strap routing is simple, but your life pretty much depends on it. Forgetting to route it correctly shows a complete lack of respect for this sport and what it can do to you when you are careless. Personally these are problems that tend to plague low time jumpers until they see something or experience something that causes them to give their full attention and respect to skydiving.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amanduh 0 #24 June 17, 2005 I witnessed the 2nd catch by one of our tandem masters. Chest strap was not even routed at all. Was tucked behind the webbing...he pointed it out and the person looked down and said "whoops" ..I just shook my head...gotta watch out for stuff like that..don't get in too big of a hurry. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bluewaterstream 0 #25 June 17, 2005 Quote...he pointed it out and the person looked down and said "whoops" So I'm not the only one getting these types of nonchalant responces. Do any dropzones ground people for at least a day or so when mistakes like these are made? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
