AFF students and spotting

[rocketfeuille 0]

How did AFF students meet their A-license spotting requirements at big DZ's like Skydive AZ, where the pilots spot all the loads with GPS? Being from a small, Cesna DZ, it was easy for me to get my spotting done...

[Jessica 0]

When I did my coach course at San Marcos, a turbine DZ, we were told to have the student just double-check the GPS spot. No course corrections. Stick your head out the door, make sure you can make it back to the DZ, and that's "spotting."

Skydiving is for cool people only

[Hooknswoop 19]

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How did AFF students meet their A-license spotting requirements at big DZ's like Skydive AZ, where the pilots spot all the loads with GPS?

I train AFF students to spot out of larger aircraft the same way I spot out of larger aircraft.

As I get to the door I check if the green light still on, indicating the pilot is still clearing jumpers to exit?

During the time needed between exits, I check where the aircraft is in relation to the drop zone, taking into upper and lower winds I decide if the spot will be OK on exit. I look for clouds, the jumpers that exited before me, and aircraft.

If I feel the spot isn't good enough, I call for a go-around.

This all happens fairly quickly and needs to be taught to the student on the gound. If the student is spotting, I have them give me a thumbs up or thumbs down telling me if they think the spot is OK. I warn them ahead of time that I may veto their decision, either way (go on a thumbs down, stay and take a go-around on a thumbs up).

I had a student get to the door and give me a thumbs down and said, "I don't think they [the group before us] is going to make it back". "Your right, they aren't".

Hook

[jerm 0]

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How did AFF students meet their A-license spotting requirements at big DZ's like Skydive AZ, where the pilots spot all the loads with GPS? Being from a small, Cesna DZ, it was easy for me to get my spotting done...

You're kidding, right?

turbine DZs seem to teach the "Yeah, i can see the DZ" form of spotting.

it just tickles me silly to hear stories of a 150-jump wonder who learned with me at a cessna DZ, spotting experienced otter loads on obscured/windy days cause she's the only one who has a clue.

Landing without injury is not necessarily evidence that you didn't fuck up... it just means you got away with it this time

[Slowfaller 0]

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turbine DZs seem to teach the "Yeah, i can see the DZ" form of spotting.

Gee does that sound familiar.

"Okay, can you see the DZ?"

"Yeah"

"Go ahead and climb out then"

The funny thing is that when I was doing that I didn't even know I was "spotting". I thought it was just to know where the DZ is

Chris

[billvon 3,096]

>How did AFF students meet their A-license spotting requirements at big DZ's like Skydive AZ . . .

At places like skydive az, spotting essentially consists of checking the spot and checking for traffic. At worst, they will someday end up at a DZ where they will not have the skill to spot, but at least will know where _not_ to get out, which will help keep them alive.

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

Here, we keep both the Cessna and the Otters flying all day, so it's not a big deal. Just like it states in the ISP, we start getting people in the door on Category C.

Chuck

[skr 1]

> How did AFF students meet their A-license spotting
> requirements at big DZ's

I've wondered the same thing.

At Calhan in Colorado I gathered all the clear and pull
and spotting and tracking requirements into a 3 jump
sequence we do out of the Cessna.

The Caravan was just too expensive to be flying around.

About 2/3 of the way down in
http://indra.net/~bdaniels/ftw/cc_coach_handout.html
is a short description of the "Cessna Playground".

I wrote that coach handout to help the new coaches.

Skr

[fudd 0]

Hey...I got my B and I have never spotted once

I like to think I'll be able to spot if I have to, but I'll try to learn it properly before I do

There are only 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

[flyangel2 2]

Shoot, you beat me to that post. If there is a smaller A/C at even the bigger DZs, why not have a group of coaches approach the DZO and ask them about doing what Skr does. It does worry me that there are some jumpers out there that have no idea how to spot or even stick their head out the door and check the spot.

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

[lukepinion 0]

I am a couple jumps away from my liscense....and i have jumped them all out of Cesna's (except my first tandem). So spotting was definately a part of every jump....the instructors really reinforced the importance.

Luke

[dkearns 0]

I was at a turbine DZ and to test for spotting I was told to look out, spot the location we exited from and tell the instructor where we got out during the debrief. Do this for a couple of jumps and if it matches up with what the instructor saw you know how to spot. Granted your not doing course corrections but how hard is that.

[billvon 3,096]

>Granted your not doing course corrections but how hard is that.

Might want to try that first. Some pilots flat turn, some don't. Some try to trick you by wiggling the tail, because they believe their GPS over you. Sometimes you have to offset and fly a crab due to odd winds or airspace restrictions, and decide on how early/late to get out depending on winds and load size. And then, of course, you have to deal with the other three guys hanging out the door who think they know better.

Being able to check the spot is the #1 thing to learn, but once you have that skill it doesn't mean you can spot, just that you can check someone else's. As with anything else you need some practice before you become proficient.