Noone in charge and unpredictable skydiver

[JustRelax 0]

On a load today there were four of us, all under 100 jumps - no clear senior jumper. We discussed what we would do beforehand and then at the plane one guy in particular started taking over with a new idea. I was thinking @$$@% and this guy makes me nervous. The DZSO called out that we should do two ways and came over to suggest a pair up. I was really thankful for that and was happy with who he paired me with. Later in the plane this same guy was changing the dive on the guy he was paired with. I was thinking this guy is way unpredictable. Later on landing setup he spiralled down to my level, so I had to change my landing to be further downwind from this character. The DZSO seems to have a number of discussions with him and he is pretty defensive when that happens.

Two lessons I am thinking:
1. If people are going to be unpredicatable like this I better avoid them wherever possible. I was thinking this through the day. Since we're at a small DZ I guess that means I have to become someone that when asked about a load, sometimes says no and that I keep my eye on the manifest. Is it okay to have a quite word to the manifestor to not put me on loads with certain people or is it better for me to keep that to myself, since we can manifest ourselves at this DZ?
2. The second is to tell the DZSO how I feel, talk with him about the manifest thing and thank him for making some decisions for us at the plane.

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Taking risk is part of living well - it's best to learn from other peoples mistakes, rather than your own.

[yoink 321]

Quote

On a load today there were four of us, all under 100 jumps - no clear senior jumper.

In the UK the JM has to sign the manifest before anyone boards the plane... I guess it's not the same in NZ then?

If you're not comfortable with the people on the plane either don't get on, or don't get out... It's not worth flying with a nutter.

[riggerrob 643]

Definitely discuss Mr. Unpredictable with the DZO.
The whole concept of four juniors doing a 4-way is silly. The usual result is a sloppy three with one guy hopelessly low.
You have far greater chances of success with a pair of two ways.
Noise makes it almost impossible to change a dive plan in the airplane. Most of the time we have changed dive plans in the airplane, only 3/4 of the guys understood the new plan.
Hah!
Hah!

Spiralling down to your level in to the landing pattern is definitely a safety issue.
At Pitt Meadows, if your landing pattern is anything other than boring and predictable, a staff member will have words with you!

If the DZO ignores your safety concerns, you still have the option of messing up his manifest - and cash flow - by refusing to board the same airplane as Mr. Unpredictable.

If Mr. Unpredictable is truly dense, the only way to get the message across to him may be refusing to board the same airplane as him.