Jumping with a Tandem

[JasonCT13 0]

Are there any rule or regulations forbidding an experience jumper to jump out with a Tandem?

I now have 100+ jumps, and a friend of mine would like to make their first tandem. Would I be able to jump out with them, and perhaps dock even?

[ChrisL 2]

I doubt it

__

My mighty steed

[darkwing 5]

There have been several discussions of this in the past. Most tandem Instructors in this case would probably say "No, you can't go." Some only let AFF certified instructors go along, some never let anyone go along. Some have a 500 jump minimum, and require personal knowledge of the skills of the accompanying jumper. As I recall, virtually no tandem instructor would let someone of your experience go along.

Warning, I am not a Tandem instructor. The above was merely my recollection of past discussions.

-- Jeff
My Skydiving History

[crutch 0]

Depends entirely on two things. First, the rules with which the drop zone uses as far as these types of jumps go. Second, how the tandem master feels about a low-time jumper being in the same airspace as him. To be honest with you, the chances are very slim. There have been many accidents and even a death which started with this type of scenario.

blue skies,

art

[rendezvous 0]

at 100+ jumps I seriouly doubt it.

[skyyhi 0]

Most likely you would not be able to jump with the tandem.

Here is what I did. I had 5 friends recently do tandems. I jumped out just before the tandems, got big and floated on my back to watch the tandems exit. I watched 3 of the 5, then tracked off out of their air space to finish my skydive. I did have permission of the tandem instructors to do this. . .and it was fun to see them. . .

Talk to the TI's at your dz and they will let you know what you can do. . .

________________________________________
Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ
FGF #6
Darcy

[flypunk 0]

It will all depends on the instructor and his first hand knowledge of your flying skills.

A word of caution about backflying though, it is very common for people starting to backfly to track while they are backflying, it that is the case you may end up on top of the previous group.

...

[JohnMitchell 16]

The Uninsured Relative Workshop says, or used to say, people doing RW with tandems must have 500 jumps, with 100 of them in the last 12 months. They said that was a requirement, not a guideline. I once told a low timer they could follow their friend out if they stayed 100 feet away. He did, by flying 100 feet straight below me! I felt like I was staring down the barrel of a gun. Glad he didn't just pull. No more Mr. Nice Guy.

[cocheese 0]

I had 400 camera jumps and was still not allowed to fly with the tandems. I think the 500 jump rule is a good one. Even then , things can get a little tricky.
Every tandem is different. Some are easy and some are nuts.All are fun so get those jumps in and good things will come your way when the time is right.

[nightjumps 1]

RWS and Eclipse Tandems
500 jumps minimum
100 RW jumps within the past year and
100 camera jumps within the past year if performing video.

[AllyMilne 0]

eh ive heard of people do it with (just) less than 100 jumpsin the uk. Its happened more than once. As long as your not a biff, have good skills and the instuctor knows you well i dont see why not.

[Rdy2skydive 0]

NOPE - Jumping with tandems is not allowed at Skys The Limit.

[ReLLiK75 0]

Wow....all these posts about not being able to jump with a tandem make me feel great about my flying skills and the confidence the TMs have in me. I've got 125 jumps and about 10 of them are tandems. Of the 10, I think about 4 are full blown 3-ways where myself and another jumper dock up on the tandem. But in the cases where it's just me, I'll only jump with the tandem if they're not getting video so I can rear float the exit.

__________________________________________
Have you Got Flare?

[skyyhi 0]

Quote

A word of caution about backflying though, it is very common for people starting to backfly to track while they are backflying, it that is the case you may end up on top of the previous group.

I am aware of this. The tandems and myself were the only ones on the load and the DZ was on a wind hold prior so I was definitely not a danger to anyone below me. . .

________________________________________
Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ
FGF #6
Darcy

[JohnMitchell 16]

Quote

NOPE - Jumping with tandems is not allowed at Skys The Limit.

Wow, that's pretty strict. My wife has swooped my tandems, dunno, maybe 30-40 times just for grins. One day my passenger big goggles blow off his face and his prescription glasses are coming off. Wife flew up, caught the glasses right as they were going, put them back on the guy, and put his googles back on. That was hot! Sure was handy having her on that jump.

[Reginald 0]

Well, it is totally up to the Tandem master and possibly the video guy too. Most TM’s won’t think about it unless you have 500 jumps AND both he and the video guy are comfortable with your flying skills and common sense in the air. I‘ve known guys with more than 500 jumps that were new to a DZ be refused when they requested to jump with a friend doing a tandem. I was honored when a TM granted me permission to jump with a friend even though I only had 75 jumps! The TM was one of my instructors and knew me and my skill level and more importantly my common sense in the air well. He gave me a 15 minute lecture (it was a slow day) about safety, the drogue (touch it and you die and maybe kill everyone else too), who’s life’s he was there to protect, the camera man, what to do it I fell low, etc. He said to get on level and 10 feet out and if he was comfortable he would waive me in to dock. He waived me in but I did not approach as I was nearing my breakoff altitude and I decided to be conservative and just waive. A month later I had another friend do a tandem and I was invited to come in and dock.

There are some guidelines such as 500 jumps, etc. but the only factor that matters in the end is if the TM says you can. If he knows you and is comfortable with you, you might be allowed to jump with them and come in and dock. Don’t get your feeling hurt if he says no, however. His job is to protect the passenger on the tandem ride and a low timer complicates matters.

BTW: I had a friend do a tandem at a DZ I was visiting and did not even dare to ask to jump with them just to manifest on the same plane and enjoy the plane ride up. Don’t underestimate this either. My friend said it was the coolest thing ever to watch me jump out of the plane a few people before her! Until she jumped out and then THAT was the coolest thing ever!

"We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP