Reverse Cross Country ??

[Plummet 0]

On occasion we do a jump we call "Reverse Cross Country". It is just like a regular cross country except we get out straight up and we just let the wind blow us away from the drop zone. The idea is just to let the wind take us to wherever it sees fit. Then you pick a landing area when you get to wherever it is you got. Last night we landed about 7.5 miles from the drop zone, but we have been as far as 13 miles out. Of course, a cell phone and a ride back home are pre-arranged.

We call them "Reverse Cross Country" but do they have a real name? Anybody else doing these and have a better thing to call them? For that matter, can anybody come up with something for us?

Thanks !

-Jeff.
http://www.iplummet.com

Common sense and common courtesy are NOT common.

[akjmpplt 0]

Bad spot?

SmugMug

[wallygator 0]

a wind-drift?

--------------------------------------------------
who Jah bless Let no man curse.

[Unstable 9]

"Pick Your Landing Area When you Find it"

=========Shaun ==========

[crwmike 0]

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On occasion we do a jump we call "Reverse Cross Country". It is just like a regular cross country except we get out straight up and we just let the wind blow us away from the drop zone. The idea is just to let the wind take us to wherever it sees fit. Then you pick a landing area when you get to wherever it is you got. Last night we landed about 7.5 miles from the drop zone, but we have been as far as 13 miles out. Of course, a cell phone and a ride back home are pre-arranged.

We call them "Reverse Cross Country" but do they have a real name? Anybody else doing these and have a better thing to call them? For that matter, can anybody come up with something for us?

Thanks !

WDI jump? Jump rounds and make it really interesting.

Michael

[Beerlight 0]

Jeff,

Question..... How does your jump pilot report jumper location on your "reverse cross-country" to ATC?

thanks!

Buck

[Plummet 0]

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Question..... How does your jump pilot report jumper location on your "reverse cross-country" to ATC?

thanks!

Buck

Good question Buck. Unfortunately, I don't know the answer. I'll have to ask the pilot. My initial reaction (which is probably wrong) is that he doesn't have to do anything different because we are exiting directly over the dropzone and "drifting" away.

I will check on it tomorrow.

-Jeff.
http://www.iplummet.com

Common sense and common courtesy are NOT common.

[Michele 1]

Can I just say that this seems a bit dangerous? At least for newbies and people with not the best canopy skills. Maybe I'm just a weenie, but I really like knowing where I'll land...at least approximately.

OTOH, what do I know? I don't mean to dampen the fun...

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[Muppetdog 0]

Sounds like fun. It would be could If you drifted into a town and had to land in the Git 'n' Go or somting.

[Plummet 0]

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Can I just say that this seems a bit dangerous? At least for newbies and people with not the best canopy skills. Maybe I'm just a weenie, but I really like knowing where I'll land...at least approximately.

OTOH, what do I know? I don't mean to dampen the fun...

The only real skills involved are picking out a landing area and landing without a windsock. What is the difference between picking a landing area close to the dropzone because of a bad spot and picking out one further away? And if you think about it, this is something that is taught in the first jump course.

But you are correct, jumpers whose canopy skills are questionable or those who aren't comfortable landing off aren't the ones participating.

Remember, the spot is only important if you care where you land.

-Jeff.
http://www.iplummet.com

Common sense and common courtesy are NOT common.

[Plummet 0]

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Question..... How does your jump pilot report jumper location on your "reverse cross-country" to ATC?

OK, here's the scoop.

We are exiting at our normal altitude over "our airspace". By the time we are out of our area, we are low enough to be out of everybody's way. We are then flying under VFR conditions.

-Jeff.
http://www.iplummet.com

Common sense and common courtesy are NOT common.

[chuckbrown 0]

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Question..... How does your jump pilot report jumper location on your "reverse cross-country" to ATC?

OK, here's the scoop.

We are exiting at our normal altitude over "our airspace". By the time we are out of our area, we are low enough to be out of everybody's way. We are then flying under VFR conditions.

You don't say how your jump pilot is telling ATC that you're under canopy off DZ. When you're exiting over your DZ, both ATC and the aircraft sectional maps give other pilots a heads up to expect parachutes in the air. When doing x-countries, the ATC will be made aware of your opening location and altitude and flight path and can advise other aircraft accordingly. When you open over your DZ and fly 7-13 miles away, you're taking a big chance that other aircraft won't see you because ATC doesn't know where you are and other aircraft won't be expecting you. How low is low enough to be out of everyone's way? 500 feet? 1,500 feet? Considering that 500 feet is the miminum cruising altitude for aircraft, you're exposed until you're setting up to land.

My .02 would be to calculate the winddrift and file a NOTAM for where you intend to land. Either that or have the jump plane fly around you until landing; he can be on the lookout for other aircraft and advise them of your presence.

Still, these sound like fun jumps and excellent training for off DZ landings.

[FrogNog 1]

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What is the difference between picking a landing area close to the dropzone because of a bad spot and picking out one further away?

That depends on the area. In these parts, near the DZ means it's probably farmland. Go too far, and that changes to "probably forest." (With "probably marsh", "probably lake", and "probably high tension wires" distant second, third, and fourth.) Near the DZ we've seen oodles of times and evaluated here and there as outs. Far from the DZ we haven't, and in the heat of the moment we may not notice that fence.

But, hey, I'm a certified chicken.

-=-=-=-=-
Pull.

[JohnMitchell 16]

In San Diego, it could be called a "Next Country" jump. Sounds interesting, but I wouldn't want to try it here in Washington, home of the hundred foot fir tree forests. Don't take anyone with too high of a wing loading and too low experience. Off DZ landings are definitely higher risk. Are you preplanning a general area for landing, or really just casting your fate to the wind?

[riddler 0]

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It would be could If you drifted into a town and had to land in the Git 'n' Go or somting.

Doing this without planning it and getting authorization would be in violation of the FARs, 105.21:

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(a) No person may conduct a parachute operation, and no pilot in command of an aircraft may allow a parachute operation to be conducted from that aircraft, over or into a congested area of a city, town, or or settlement, or an open-air assembly of persons unless a certificate of authorization for that parachute operation has been issued under this section. However, a parachutist may drift over a congested area or an open-air assembly of persons with a fully deployed and properly functioning parachute if that parachutist is at a sufficient altitude to avoid creating a hazard to persons or property on the surface.

Other than that, it sounds like a fun thing to do. The only thing I can think is that you will almost undoubtedly land on private property, which may not be the best way to treat your neighbors. OTOH, they might think it was cool and exciting. Who knows? Hopefully, they won't come out to greet you with a shotgun

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