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Good points. The decision altitude definition does reference emergencies and since it says "must" it can be implied that above that altitude a jumper still has other options like continuing to work on a mal, get out of a wrap, etc. As for the hard deck definition, I think that can be applied to any altitude-specific scenario like bailing out of an aircraft, chopping a mal, etc. This could be better stated. I will pass this along to S&T for a possible rewrite. Thanks for the input. Much appreciated.

Last night after the news broke the deal was closing, I saw a tweet that said: Elon Musk has sex with farm animals. This is a test.

I had a local artist in my town paint this one of mine last year.

Man, at this point I'd just like a single day with out Empty Head Greene on the pages.

If you have sincere suggestions, I recommend you (and everyone else) put your thoughts into an email and send it to Ron Bell, director of safety and training. I would also cc Michael Watkins, chair of the safety and training committee on the board. The vast majority of everything in the SIM, the governance manual, and the other documents published by USPA come from the field. We rely on this input and ideas from the membership to hone our documentation. It's a group effort. Thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts here. It makes all the difference in the world to know our membership and rating holders are engaged.

The definitions should be dropped, new terms used, not revised. The OP showed us very clearly how the confusion has defied efforts at clarification. Let us learn the lesson and stop trying.

that's what i'm talking about here, it doesn't even say cutaway. it could be a lot more clear. decision altitude - last chance to make a decision, if you have not cutaway, do it now or don't do it at all. hard deck - do not cut away below this altitude. if you need to deploy your reserve, do not cutaway, just deploy it. why can it really not be this simple and clear? it could at least mention cutaway in both of them. edit: i posted this just a tad after the other one above.

I payed $20 to watch that movie during a "virtual film festival". I don't like to disparage anyone's work, but in this instance I will. Absolute garbage. Two "bounty hunters" decide to make a film about a drunk that says he was DB Cooper. He doesn't know anything about the case, and would have been like 22 years old in 1971. The Treat Williams movie gets more about the case correct. The reenactments are done poorly and there is weird scene where they tresspass on Tena Bar, then announce to guy that catches them that they're armed. You know its trash if I won't promote it, or have anyone from that project on the show. lol

So you can pre-drink to forget November 8? I'll be in Hawaii, fully exposed to the finest American broadcasting entertainment I am sure.

Except on their own the definitions ARE unclear. But the definitions are still useful ... if given sufficient explanation and put in the right context. "Which decision altitude? For aircraft emergency bailout or what? No, we're talking about your malfunction decision altitude." "What hard deck? For last CRW dock? For last novice freefall maneuver initiation? For dealing with a malfunction (i.e., same as the malfunction decision altitude, as long as one isn't already below it)? No, we're talking about your cutaway hard deck. " And if you have a 2000' decision altitude, you don't HAVE to ride a mal down to the 2000' decision altitude. And if you are at 1800', you can still make that decision to cutaway.

Not sure what you find unclear. DECISION ALTITUDE: A predetermined altitude at which you must decide and act during an emergency. Meaning the altitude at which a jumper should make the decision that action must be taken and take it. Example - the (minimum) altitude at which a jumper would decide to cut away and deploy a reserve. HARD DECK: A predetermined altitude above which an action must occur or below which an action must not occur. Meaning the altitude at which it is no longer safe to take an action one would normally take at or above the decision altitude. Example - a jumper rides a malfunction to an altitude so low that it is no longer safe to cut away (hard deck) and a different action would be appropriate, like deploying a reserve without cutting away, attempting a canopy transfer, etc.

That's a great-looking poptop! Wendy P.