Tandem Bailout Altitude?

[Andy_Copland 0]

So as skydivers we can get out at 1k and go straight to silver and (hopefully) have an open reserve.

Whats the lowest bailout altitude for tandems? Would you take it lower? Would you make it higher?

1338

People aint made of nothin' but water and shit.

Until morale improves, the beatings will continue.

[matthewcline 0]

Books and BSR's aside.

I would personally bail out on the reserve no lower than 2K.

But I am sure I would sit tight with my student if I could not leave with them.

But I am speculating as even though I have briefed it and rehearsed it, I have not had to do it.

Matt

An Instructors first concern is student safety.
So, start being safe, first!!!

[jarrodh 0]

Hey Andy,

I posted the same/similar question a couple weeks ago. Follow the link...

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2575508;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread

2 BITS....4 BITS....6 BITS....A DOLLAR!....ALL FOR THE GATORS....STAND UP AND HOLLER!!!!

[Andy_Copland 0]

Cheers Mate

1338

People aint made of nothin' but water and shit.

Until morale improves, the beatings will continue.

[JohnMitchell 16]

Quote

But I am speculating as even though I have briefed it and rehearsed it, I have not had to do it.

Yep, you just never know until the crap hits the fan, do you?

For me, it depends on the nature of the emergency, gliding or not, burning or not. There's a lot of variables. I hope it's not a decision I'm faced with when doing a tandem. Got a few e-bailouts fun jumping, though.

[toronto_bill 0]

I think it depends on everything...as usual.

If the passenger was really heads up...reserve and wingloading, who packed it, who is the pilot, speed of airplane etcetc.
But to take a blind stab...

Definitely higher. 2K is 95% , 1.5K is 50%. I'm sure with all the best conditions you could survive 1K or lower but your odds are low. So its a matter of whether the landing in plane has lower odds in your mind at that moment. Concrete below or hayfield?

I figure tandems exiting the plane last, so we're usually farthest from the door. Its not likely you'll ever get to decide. Not in a cessna. Not in a plane with one wing.

Moot point? Maybe. But its still good to have thought about though. I love scenario generators.`

Bill

[flipper 0]

1K

Flipper

[Laszloimage 0]

1k is very very low for the tandem, even if you deploy the reserve as you leave the plane.
But I'm pretty sure there could be a scenario when I would choose the very little chance from 1k rather than a no chance at all staying in the plane.
I really really hope I (and nobody else either) never have to make such a decision.
-Laszlo-