PhreeZone 20 #1 March 16, 2003 Can someone explain to me why there seems to be a rash of second DZ's opening up on airports that already have a DZ? All I've ever heard is that its really hard to make money running a DZ and the cost and everything. Any one got any guesses?Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gemini 0 #2 March 16, 2003 umhhh...why are there multiple fast food places around an interesection? Blue skies, Jim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blewaway5 0 #3 March 16, 2003 I've wondered the same thing before. The arport I do most of my jumping at has two different dz's. I venver really understood it, but it seems to me that the one I call home is bigger, runs more students through, tandem and solo, and has an overall younger attitude. The other dz is quite a bit smaller and has more of a club feel to it. It works out, though, we all get along, hell, have the time we end up jumping together and drinking together anyway Truman Sparks for President Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyhi 24 #4 March 16, 2003 We were discussing that yesterday, as a matter of fact. We decided that whereever there is a DZ, there is a group of skydivers who are pissed at the DZO. Eventually this level is elevated to critical mass and erupts in a second dropzone. We also decided that the second dropzone's probability of success is directly related to the fanfare or "buzz" with which it opens. The bigger the buzz, the shorter the life. Again, our conjecture was economic Darwinism, the second DZ will remain open only if the rules of capitalism so dictate. Passion is great in an endeavor, but someone with an MBA wouldn't hurt, either. For awhile in Hawaii, there were three dz's and a club all within about 150 m of each other. And for multiple years, the economics supported that.Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #5 March 16, 2003 its all abou tthe polotics my friend. with only one dz in the local area theyre may be polotics but why have one dz with polotics when you can have two!HAHA, My stance; dont get involved! capitalism lets us NOT be loyal to ANY business. I jump where ever the price is cheap and the sky is higher!( SAFETY RECORDS COUNT ABOVE ALL) if the dzo doenst like me whoring at different dz's l It they can either; lower their prices offer more fun orientated jumps and coaching or kiss my ass! LOL My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #6 March 17, 2003 sure so I spell like a moron but I was drinking wine all dayWTF is a polotic? that must be one cold blood sucking insect My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #7 March 17, 2003 Yes. It is usually about politics and personalities, but sometimes profits have a say in the matter. Any good DZ has three or more operations, sectors, "scenes," call-them-what-you-will. First is the tandem concession, which pays for the airplanes. Second is the S/L, IAD and PFF concession which teaches the basics to future skydivers. Third is the coaching concession which refines the skills of future skydivers. Fourth is the freeflying concession which gives new skydivers a place to hang out on weekends. Fifth is the belly-flying concession which gives POPS a place on hang out on weekends. Somewhere along the way someone has to pay for washing facilities - be they showers or swoop ponds - etc. Often these different concessions find themselves at odds. Maybe the DZO wants to set aside money for the engine he expects to replace next year - or with luck the year after - while the freefliers want to blow the money importing this week's guru for a party, er boogie. Sometimes it is not so much a question of different "scenes" as it is a question of different age groups. Some older instructors still insist that static-line if the only way to teach, while some newer instructors believe that only a fool would teach anything but AFF. The perfect teaching method is somewhere in between, but if either side gets too stubborn, then communications and "vibes" collapse and the seeds are sown for a new DZ. For example, I worked at Skydive Long Island a long time ago. That summer we had two DZs on the same airport. There was Skydive Long Island's school next the road and a club halfway down the runway. We handled all the students and they handled all the drinking. Eventually - one drunken evening - a club member mooned the plane when it was buzzing the runway. Well it was dark and he was drunk and the pilot could not see his blinding white buttocks and carved him a new **shole with the propeller!. A huge lawsuit ensued and the school left that airport. Sometimes it is politics and sometimes it is *ssholes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
