Should I worry about this?

[GSmith 0]

I do tandems out of a narrow body 182. We hook up facing the rear of the plain, and exit that way too. Recently when we do two tandems in the plane, several of the other TIs have taken to hooking up the lowers on the ground when they are next to the pilot (they are the front pair). It's a lot easier than after the door is closed and we are in flight.

My concern is that if we were to have a takeoff emergency, it would be a lot harder for them to get out of the plane with their student leashed to their waist. And since they are between me and the door....

When I've commented on it I was told they'd simply use that big old hook knife to cut the straps. I've never been in a plane crash, but I'm betting that knife is going to be harder to find than we think. And unhooking the straps we have such a hard time attaching isn't going to be a piece of cake either.

Am I just being paranoid?

[BIGUN 1,448]

FWIW... I jump a narrow 182 most of the time when doing tandems. When there are two pairs (2 TI's, 2 students) and because of my size prefer to be forward of the CG line. I have the back two tandem pair climb in first., that TI places the student in the rear and seat belts them in and the TI sits facing aft with the rig up against the pilots seat (again to keep as much weight forward as possible).

I then climb in, rest on my knees facing forward and pass the seatbelt thru my harness. I have the student climb in, face forward on their knees and strap the seatbelt to their harness and show them how to release it in the event of an emergency (second time, first is during ground instruction).

I have the student place their back against my chest and we shimmy a little more forward so we're close to the dash. Their hands can go on their MLW during takeoff and I can lean them forward with my arm around them for positioning. Once we get to a grand or two; the pilot gives me permission to move and I'll remove the seatbelt and slowly lean back onto my butt and let the student do the same. At hookup time, I move first and connect the top connectors and have the student watch (them being a little lower lets me drop each shoulder making it easier to connect each side). Then I have them climb up on their knees and we connect the lowers, cinch and do my student inspection from top to bottom.

Upon command of door, I'll stick my head out to verify the spot and put my right foot out first, then the student puts their right foot out close to mine. We pivot just a little bit to get their left foot out, duck a little and I put my left foot out. I'm usually facing about 30 degrees from the line of flight. As we rock one, two, three.. My left hand on the strut for a second as we exit will present us both directly into the relative wind.
We have a well-known long time TI who uses the rear launch as you do and can do it very successfully, but for me, its just a personal preference to exit into the relative wind. And, since your primary question is regarding the knife, we have a jack the ripper mounted over the door as well as on the back of the student's harness in the placard panel.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[AggieDave 6]

I've done around 1000 tandems out of a narrow body 182. I typically sit in the back, unless there are dueling tandems, then I'll sit up against the dash. I do not hook anything up until I'm hooking everything up. I've been in a 182 crash as well. Things happen fast and violently, I wish your friends well with that hook knife. Hopefully it will work well for them if they are every presented with a situation like that.

Also, when you're next to the pilot like that, you're sitting on the flap handle of a narrow body 182, you're also nearly blocking the fuel selector and the trim wheel, so all that dicking around with a hook knife does nothing but get in the way of the pilot trying to save everyone's life!

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

[riggerrob 643]

I suspect he was referring to firefighters and paramedics using their own hook knives to cut seatbelts - after the wreckage grinds to a halt - ... standard practice in car wrecks.
Lots of rescue crew carry their own hook knives, far stronger than the flimsy hook knives that are fashionable for skydivers.
Hint: look in the latest Square One catalog for "real" hook knives.

[AggieDave 6]

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I suspect he was referring to firefighters and paramedics using their own hook knives to cut seatbelts - after the wreckage grinds to a halt - ... standard practice in car wrecks.

I didn't get that impression, but even if he was, trust me, I'm VERY familiar with those tools.

My concern would be that the off field no-power landing didn't go as well and the TI is incapacitated. Now the student is dependent on others to help them cut what needs to be cut to get free from the instructor.

Now add something like a fire.



Side note:

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Lots of rescue crew carry their own hook knives, far stronger than the flimsy hook knives that are fashionable for skydivers.
Hint: look in the latest Square One catalog for "real" hook knives.

Your assumption of my ignorance really made me laugh this morning. Thank you. Let me give you a hint, I work for a city.

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

[humanflite 0]

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Your assumption of my ignorance really made me laugh this morning. Thank you. Let me give you a hint, I work for a city.

Lol

Did you realise though that your city has a main hospital?
Where they also have access to hook knives