Thoughts on organizing

[napaguy99 0]

Hey all. Every now and again I find myself on a jump with a group of folks of whom I am the most experienced. Inevitably, I end up having to organize. I usually don't have a problem with coming up with an idea for a jump as far as the designs of what points we'll be flying. The problem comes in while trying to determine who to put in what slots and how to engineer the exit. Does anyone have any resources for this? Any links, books, previous threads or general personal advice would be helpful. Thanks.

"Let the misinterpretation and attacks begin."

[darkwing 5]

safety, safety, safety.... Everything else is fluff.

These are tips especially for relatively inexperienced loads:

One thing you can do is stay in the center (assuming no camera) and watch everyone track, because it is likely you will have a couple of poor trackers.

Tell them what to do if they go low on the formation. (because someone will)

Tell them what to do if the exit funnels. (because it will)

practice the line up and count.

If you plan more than one point, make sure that they know you may key the transition even if everyone is not in.

safety, safety, safety...

-- Jeff
My Skydiving History

[gemini 0]

Everything darkwing said plus a few things off the top:

When you have them line up in the door make sure their feet are correct (for an Otter inside folks need left foot forward and outside folks need right foot on edge of door trailing left foot);

everybody outside except front front and guy on camera step need to be sideways to door; Floaters need to protect their handles as they climb out!

front if connected to base can delay a fraction to insure he stays high and rear if connected to base can leave a fraction early to insure he stays low;

everyone who launches in the base needs to box the formation with their arms to give it rigidity and maximize air flow;

Does everyone know where their mirror is? Are they looking at him from exit to break-off?

inside peope connected to base need to get their feet off the floor on go and if they feel they are going to go over the top of the formation (because they were late), they need to get their feet on their butt initially;

floaters can use free arm to help inside folks stay with formation (prevent them from flipping over the top);

if formation includes 180 backends or turns greater than 90, have each jumper pause at each 90 degree increment while keep eyes on his mirror;

build from center (base) out. For example, if doing a open accordian make sure base piece is docked before anyone on the outside docks.

put your fastest guys (may not be the heaviest) in the base;

if someone is having trouble staying down with the formation, insist that they wear weights to get to their middle of their fall rate/range;

look at the jumpsuits being worn. Do they all have grippers, are they really baggy, are they really tight?

what experience level do each of the jumpers have? Can the last guy out safely get to the formation or is he gona' blow past it and endanger someone?

if doing donuts or compressed accordians, make sure heads and knees line up. If a person is to shallow (head to head) grips will be difficult and the formation will distort;

do not allow people to back up especially between points. If they anticipate the next formation, they should fly to the spot they need for the dock and wait for the center to build out to them;

if you have a formation that is not a clean breakoff (two joined stars), cover the breakoff for each point so jumpers will know what to do. If the breakoff needs to be done in waves to insure safety, breakoff higher.

ask the lowest timer where he feels comfortable breaking off; If he is worried about being low at breakoff, he isn't thinking about the dive;

make sure everyone rehearses the dive sequence in the plane on the way up; It is easy to forget a point!

make sure everyone gets a pin check on the plane; main & reserve pin check, pilot chute is cocked, and boc hackey/handle is in proper place; have everyone glance at chest straps and leg straps;

make sure the exit is ready before starting the count. Many people get in a hurry after climbing out and hose a few of their teammates who are not set before the count starts; If they're moving, they're not ready.

have a consistent, steady exit count. The time between ready and set should be the same as the time between set and go!

look to your front floater and then the rear floater (see eyes) to make sure they are ready and know when the count is starting;

mimic your count with your head and one leg; Floaters can see your head and divers can see your leg.

use high arm grips instead of chest straps whenever possible to have a better chance of success on the exit;

if a jumper goes low frequently move him closer to the base;

if a jumper is slow to the formation move him closer to the center of the door on exit;

if someone frequently is backpacking other jumpers he is probably light and needs some weight;

do not reach for grips. Fly to your slot and the grip will be there.

at breakoff everyone MUST track to the designated deployment altitude! Make sure they know the breakoff and deployment altitude. Do not allow anyone to turn 180 and instantly pitch! If they can't track teach them, but do it before they are in the group.

does everyone know the first point to build if the exit funnels? Practice it.

do not chase grips! Fly to your slot that is usually opposite your mirror and stay there. The grips will come.

specify what a jumper should do if he is impossibly low! Does he stay to side of formation till designated breakoff altitude and then track to designated deployment alititude? Make sure everyone understands the plan and follows the plan.

remind people:

1. It is not a race. Slow is faster!

2. Relax, relax, relax.

3. Watch their mirror at all times.

4. Track like their life depends on it!

5. Have fun AND smile.

and, jumpers who violate safety rules should be excluded from group jumps until they prove they are safe.

There are thousands of other tips....hope these few help!

Blue skies,

Jim

[wes32 0]

Here's some advice for you Abelow. Doit fast and Do it right.

[napaguy99 0]

Ah, Dirka dirka. I promise you I'll never die.

"Let the misinterpretation and attacks begin."

[rehmwa 2]

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1. .... Slow is faster!

Nuts. See below

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[wmw999 2,560]

Ah, but doing it once, slowly, is faster than doing it twice because you fucked it up the first time. Of course, I only know this because I've watched it

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[rehmwa 2]

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doing it twice because you fucked it up the first time.

Of course, but that's not "Fast" that's "rushed"

Serious - we need to teach and learn the following priorities (seems in most any of the freefall disciplines, not just RW):

1st - learn precision... once you get that
2nd - learn speed (without sacrificing the 1st)
... once you get that
3rd - learn power (without sacrificing the first two)

at least a few wise skydivers taught me that - it seems to be a nice set of priorities to get faster. I have a long ways to go, but at least the path is clear (just not the skies all the time) we've hit a couple blocks that we can crank all 3 (ie. add all the power we have) and still get a clean execution - that's heartening, it means maybe eventually we can get there with most all moves.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[gemini 0]

Quote

1st - learn precision... once you get that
2nd - learn speed (without sacrificing the 1st)
... once you get that
3rd - learn power (without sacrificing the first two)

Nuts back atcha! You just said the same thing. Now say it to a newbie who doesn't know the formation or the precision and thinks docking last is a bad thing!

Blue skies,

Jim

[rehmwa 2]

Sometimes docking last is a really good thing.

Control and speed are different things - and 'slow' never equals 'fast' in any dictionary. Say what you mean - cliches like "slow is fast" just don't make any sense.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[gemini 0]

Quote

"slow is fast" just don't make any sense

Ok we can beat this horse to death and get no where! It makes sense to everyone of the newbies I have had to tell it to! They slow down, make fewer mistakes, and turn a few more points in the same amount of freefall time. These guys are not RW competitors.

Give me anymore lip and I will make sure my Otter goes somewhere else next summer!

Blue skies,

Jim

[kallend 2,121]

Quote

Sometimes docking last is a really good thing.

Control and speed are different things - and 'slow' never equals 'fast' in any dictionary. Say what you mean - cliches like "slow is fast" just don't make any sense.

Smooth is fast.

Slower is often smoother.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.