Fireflyer 0 #1 August 29, 2003 i posted some questions before about "when did you get your 'A'" in a previous post; thank you all for your advice. i am very close! my questions now are these, especially for those without a license: 1) how do you pack without an "A"? are you simply 'checked-out' at the DZ and they know you are capable? 2) how can one without a license jump at another DZ? i have 20 jumps, finished AFF, but would like to jump at another DZ in the near future (but sooner than i expect to have my card completed). 3) can you (formation) jump with other people without a license? my DZ is pretty much against it, unless the others have at least a coach rating. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casch 0 #2 August 29, 2003 I have 41 jumps and no license yet. I'm actually only a coached jump away I think, but my skills suck since I don't get to jump regularly; 1 - The S&TA taught me how to pack and watches me occasionally while keeping the DZ under control. 2 - I've jumped at 2 other DZ's besides my home DZ. They were Wright Brothers Skydiving and Lost Prairy. Basically I showed them my logbook and told them that I got my S/L training at K-pow and I'm basically eligible for my "A", other than the checkdive and a couple minor things. They reviewed my logbook and let me jump. Simple as that. Although all things considered, they were rather small DZ's. 3 - My first jump off student status was actually a 7-way with a few of the "older" guys at the DZ. All I wanted to do was Lurk, but when I asked them, the felt I would be safer participating. The concept scared the hell out of me but I was in good hands. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #3 August 29, 2003 1.you can pack for yourself with out an A license...that is not required to pack. we have several packers at our DZ who aren't even 18...and they do a find job. you or someone supervised by a rigger are the only ones allowed to pack your rig. 2.obvious idea would be get your A. any reason your not? but you dont necesarily need to do that. I know DZ's that will look at your log book and then most likely request you do a check dive with an instructor/coach...I've know many people who have over 100+ jumps, jumping all over FL at different DZ's and still dont have there A license. 3. USPA BSR's for now state that you can only do RW stuff with a coach.BUT..the newly approved stuff says that a coach can "organize" the jump with other "experienced" jumpers. this is probably what you can find out there...once again depending on the DZ you are jumping at. hope this helps... Marc otherwise known as Mr.Fallinwoman.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fireflyer 0 #4 August 29, 2003 Quote 2.obvious idea would be get your A. any reason your not? but you dont necesarily need to do that. I know DZ's that will look at your log book and then most likely request you do a check dive with an instructor/coach...I've know many people who have over 100+ jumps, jumping all over FL at different DZ's and still dont have there A license. oh no, working hard to get it, just a few off (that and i need to hunt a few of my instructors down to sign my card ;-( , and i am travelling in the near future and would like to try out some other dz's... thanks! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D22369 0 #5 August 29, 2003 first of all.............. Having a piece of paper in your wallet that says you are a certified...genuine....etc....skydiver doesnt make you any more safe than the person that has doesnt have that piece of paper........ The non-uspa dz's that I have been to follow the bsr's quite closely..... It only makes sense.... that said........... how do you pack without an "A --> quite easily......... once upon a time in Abbotsford BC I noticed the packers were KIDS....around 14-16 yrs old.......... it horrified me at the time......(their pack job worked better than some of mine now...) how can one without a license jump at another DZ --> find a dz that isnt so anal to require you to have a piece of paper in your wallet that says you are a skydiver........ the logbook was good enough in the old days (before uspa) **with signatures.. and give them your money........ can you (formation) jump with other people without a license? my DZ is pretty much against it, unless the others have at least a coach rating. --> ok.......this one I have to agree with.............*** I hate to go pro establishment *** but some jumpers dont have the skills or awareness to jump with a newbee......... I know of one jumper that has over 500 jumps that I would NOT let jump with any student of mine....... jump numbers are not a good indication of ability..... RoyThey say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pilotdave 0 #6 August 29, 2003 Call the DZ you want to go to and ask. Every DZ has different rules. If it's a non-USPA DZ you want to go to, the rules may be completely different from where you jump now. I've been to one that was allowing non licensed jumpers to compete in an RW competition. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #7 August 31, 2003 We have an 87 year old guy at our DZ who has over 850 jumps and NO "A" license, he either goes out on Static or has and AFF, he cant maintain stability on his own. Also he only started jumping when he was 78ishYou are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Erroll 80 #8 September 1, 2003 I don't have lots of jumps but certainly many more than is required for licenses. When I was more active I jumped at every DZ I could get to. Whenever I heard that a 'different' plane was going to be somewhere (eg the Lett, AN 2 , DC3 etc), I would turn up. I found that most DZ's were more concerned with currency (a la logbook) than licenses. Being a fun jumper with no ambitions to compete and not interested in training, there was no incentive to get any license. I did get my Cat II rating (SA version). This allowed me to jump RW with any other CAT II or higher. Being known as a conservative and safe jumper at my home DZ, I was allowed to spot for and despatch lower-timers, even follow out students to check their full series or turns. I attended the big boogies, and was fortunate enough to get to jump most aircraft operating in SA. I was lucky enough to do a few jumps in the UK (Sibson and London parachute school) and there too, they were more interested in my currency than my license (or lack there of!). Not having any license did prevent me from doing balloon jumps, although I never understood how someone with 200 exits from various aircraft (from a slow little 180 taildragger through to the C130) was more at risk from a still-air balloon exit than someone with a 50 exits and a 'B' license (earned mostly because they could do RW and dock fourth) . Rules are rules, eh? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites