Tandem instructors experience

[SkydiveMO 0]

When did you feel confident you were an experienced tandem instructor?

I was having a conversation with my first Instructor who has 4,000+ tandem skydives and he asked if I felt confident in my tandem skills yet. I had about 200 tandem jumps at the time and admitted that I felt I had a lot more to learn before I could say I was an expert. He told me that was a good attitude because every time he thought he had seen and handled every situation some student or equipment malfunction would feed him a little humble pie. I’m nearing 400 tandem jumps now and though I’m a great deal more confident in my skills then when I started I must admit I still feel I have a lot to learn. I continue to watch what other tandem instructors do and ask questions of both new and old to try and find some of the tricks to make the skydives easier for me and more enjoyable for the student. I must admit several of the threads here have taught me a thing or two. What I was wondering is when, if at all, did you feel you were an experienced (some would say expert) tandem instructor?

[tspillers 0]

This question is like when do you feel confident as a jumper. I think many times we feel confident and experienced. Later as we have more experience, we look back and realize how little we knew/know. The longer I am in this sport, the more I realize how little I know about it. You will always continue to learn. If you aren't learning anymore, get out. You should be learning until you die (no pun intended, but if it fits....)

I am not totally useless, I can be used as a bad example.

[linestretch 0]

I didn't get my tandem rating till roughly 1,000 jumps. And didn't feel confident until I had just over 1,000 tandems. Doing handycam really taught me a lot, and now after doing those, I feel much more comfortable.

my pics & stuff!

[crutch 0]

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I’m nearing 400 tandem jumps now and though I’m a great deal more confident in my skills then when I started I must admit I still feel I have a lot to learn. I continue to watch what other tandem instructors do and ask questions of both new and old to try and find some of the tricks to make the skydives easier for me and more enjoyable for the student.

That right there sums it up! There is a difference between being confident and thinking you know it all. I have over 3400 tandems and I still watch, ask and learn from other people. The minute you quit being willing to learn/try something new to make the skydive more enjoyable for both your passenger and yourself, you need to give it up! Being confident, that is entirely up to the individual, how do you feel every time you step out of the plane with someone strapped to you? Are you throwing out enough confidence that your passenger is feeling it and is relaxed with you? These are questions only you can answer.

blue skies,

art

[AggieDave 6]

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I have over 3400 tandems and I still watch, ask and learn from other people.

I only have a bit over 400 tandems, but I'm the same way. When ever I meet another TI or go to another DZ I'm watching what they do and when they're not with students, I'm picking their brain. I'm asking why, how, etc...I've got to be careful to keep from bugging the shit out of them, actually...I've learned a LOT about doing tandems just by talking to other TIs and watching other TIs. Unfortunately I've learned what *not* to do by watching some TIs as well.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[tombuch 0]

I felt very overloaded and uncomfortable for about the first 25 tandems. After that I felt capable of handling the jumps without worry, but kinda knew there were still some scary things that could kill me, so I wasn't completely relaxed. I guess I really felt on top of the program at about 500 tandems, but as you and others have pointed out, never really felt I had seen it all, nor did I ever get to the point where I thought I was bulletproof.

There are different levels of comfort, and hopefully as we gain experience we gain comfort, but always remember we need to stay focused and not become complacent.

Tom Buchanan
Instructor Emeritus
Comm Pilot MSEL,G
Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

I, as they say, was thrown directly into the fire. My third and fourth paying tandems were INCREDIBLY big guys. It was out of a Cessna, under a Vector II with an EZ 384 and I was a bit concerned. Luckilly, I had more than 1500 skydives at the time and simply did what I thought I had to do to dress for success. I wore my skysurf suit to get more surface on my arms. Oddly (to me at the time), the tandems went perfectly and I have never once since that day been at all scared or intimidated by any passenger. I am ultimately confident in my abilities as a skydiving instructor and the second that I think that I "don't have it" anymore is when I will stop doing the job.

[LawnDart21 0]

Absolutely %100 confident the very first time I boarded a plane with a paying tandem passenger, that there was nothing that could happen up there that I couldn't handle. I wouldn't have boarded the plane if I felt anything else. Being responsible for someone elses life is a huge responsibility, and while I have and always will accept the fact that things can happen beyond my control, or I may even make a mistake, I have always boarded the plane believing there isn't anything I can't handle up there. If I didn't believe that in my heart, I wouldn't do tandems. Too much to risk, too much to lose.

Now as for being an expert....lol The only thing I feel that I have become an "expert" in, is becoming an "expert learner". Its what I love about our sport and the people in it, I have approx 700 tandems in the last two years, yet I am still learning and improving from the people I work and fly with every weekend. I am still learning to fly "smarter" and continue to be amazed at all the things out there still waiting to be learned.

I think all TMs here will agree that we have the greatest job on (and above) earth. It's a HUGE responsibility, but for me it has been and always will be worth it. If the day ever comes that I don't feel %100 confident that I will bring my passenger back in one piece, I'll sadly hang up my drogue and grab a lawn chair and root the rest of you all on!

--
My other ride is a RESERVE.

[bodypilot1 0]

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When did you feel confident you were an experienced tandem instructor?

I have to agree with LawnDart21's reply.

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Absolutely %100 confident the very first time I boarded a plane with a paying tandem passenger.
If the day ever comes that I don't feel 100% confident that I will bring my passenger back in one piece, I'll sadly hang up my drogue and grab a lawn chair and root the rest of you all on!

Be Safe,
Ed

-

www.WestCoastWingsuits.com
www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

[riggerrob 643]

I had 600 skydives before earning my TI rating.
My second day on the job, they handed me a student 8 inches taller than me!
It took me hundreds of tandems before I felt comfortable and relaxed in freefall and a good 1500 jumps before I felt comfortable under canopy. Oh! Wait a minute, they did not start building "comfortable" tandem mains until the mid-1990s.
Now that I have 3,000 tandems and haul the biggest, fatest, ugliest students, with handy-cam, etc. I sometimes find myself "too comfortable" in the airplane and have to make a conscious effort to remind myself to check handles, etc.

Just when I thought I had seen everything, last month a student showed us a leg position so that the (outside) videographer worried that I had forgotten to tighten the side straps.
Hah!
Hah!
Just goes to show that you can never be old enough and grumpy enough to have seen it all!

[douwanto 22]

I Have just around 740 TDMs and Feel I am an experianced TI. I am always prepared for the unexpected and do my best to maintain a clear head when skydiving ,solo or Tandem.

That said I found myself in a haze last weekend as I was about to exit and my student ripcord was floting around as I steped to the door.
Backed up gathered myself as I had my Video guy Help reattach the cable to the student harness.
gave it a good yank still there hit all the handles and went skydiving after quick 180 from pilot.
I guess what I am getting at is I am not so much worried about what the student can do to me as what I could do to my self through complacency


Wanted to add I found the flotter when doing my normal handel check as I move to the door.

Chris

Uncle/GrandPapa Whit
Unico Rodriguez # 245
Muff Brother # 2421