LyraM45

I think this is kind of a stretch here.... I'm pretty sure what this all means is business jets (IE: G4/5, Citation, Galaxy, Global Express, etc, etc) operating 91 and especially 135 at high altitude sectors via IFR flight plan are going to be the ones taking the hit. Airlines operating on the same J routes pay federal taxes on each ticket sold. I a not sure exactly what the private business guys pay, and I guess that's what this is sorting out. I really doubt this means every skydiving load that takes off is going to get hit with this. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I think that dude will drag his feet, appeal, and stretch it all out as long as possible on that one! Wonder what having the second one on the heels will do for him in an appeal process though? Probably nothing good, I can imagine.... but never doubt the power of a good aviation law professional to get you out of a pile of poo you very knowingly worked your way in to! Edited to add: Found another article from local Lodi paper that mentioned the status of the old case: http://www.lodinews.com/news/article_53167b87-feee-54e6-8e7f-e0b68aaa1fc5.html "The Parachute Center also faces a $664,000 fine in a case filed last year. In that case, Dause allegedly failed to replace the parts on another DeHavilland Twin Otter airplane in 2008 and 2009. Dause was given 30 days to respond to the allegations filed last year, but he was granted an extension so that he could have a private hearing with an FAA attorney, FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said several months ago. That case has not been resolved." Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I have to Valsalva right after every canopy opening. I have ear problems all the time-- scuba diving, flying, skydiving, driving through mountains, etc, etc. I know what you mean about being in pain on the second jump. If I don't Valsalva or have a successful Valsalva, then I can definitely feel it on the next jump and my ears just feel stuffy and off the rest of the day. I would def check with an ENT doc though! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Aha! Now there's a hot tip for me to try and avoid all this burdensome budwieser beer debt. I'll endeavor to remove that word from my language around the jump zone. Thanks! Although the experienced jumpers there may not appreciate you revealing this tip to me... Budweiser?! You really do have a lot to learn! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

And you think this because............ they let you get away with more than other local dz's did? Yea, just sayin'. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Yea... about that. Check out this dudes reaction. Was about the same as mine! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owf6D2vfZqM (NSFW language-wise) Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Me and Matt are packing at your place Actually, I'm just going to pay a packer all weekend. Bringing our chihuahua with us since I had trouble boarding him last minute this week, so I want to get back to the tent and get him out ASAP after every jump so he doesn't keel over from the heat! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

My god, yes-- tip your frickin' packers!!! Maybe because I worked in the service industry for years and before that I grew up with my mom in the service industry, but I just don't get how some people don't know how to tip. Like what Doug was saying about people who not only don't tip, but they try to short change you too!! At that point it's kind of insulting to the person providing you a service if you are trying to short change them. I get money is tight for people right now, but I kind of have a rule in terms of enjoying the 'service industry.' If you are tight on cash and you order dominos, then go pick it up instead of having it delivered if you can't afford the extra buck or two for the driver. If you can't afford your 18-20% for very good wait service at a restaurant, then get the food to go where it's acceptable to tip a little less or don't eat out there at all. If you can't afford the extra few bucks for your packer, then pack for yourself (or better yet if money is really that tight you have to ask yourself if it's a good idea to be in an expensive sport like skydiving). Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I think me and the other half are in-- assuming I don't have any extra shifts at work thrown my way to prevent me from having that weekend off. Excited to finally get out and meet the crew up there!

Nicely said!! I've been thread stalking and wanted to chime in and reinforce your question-- why eliminate FMD rule? What would this do to prevent canopy collisions? I've been on loads every now and then where people don't follow FMD (or at events where it's not enforced), and I can tell you that after one jump landing in a zoo of people every which way, I am sitting out. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I'll echo what a few have already said here-- Find a place that is too good to be true price-wise, then it usually is. Cheap jump tickets, cheap tandems, cheap AFF? You're probably going to get what you pay for (not all the time, bust most of the time).... and you might get it in ways that you won't see on the surface. So, just keep that in mind. Do some research and go to a place that you feel good with. Decide what's within your price range, what's a convenient location, and what place you think you'd click with for your summer travels. There's definitely a ton of good DZ's out there, so I'm sure you won't have any trouble finding something that is right for you. Good luck! Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

For grins I called the number on the groupon last night. It was about 7:30pm Pacific and somebody answered the phone and said, "skydive jersey." So, based on the other thread regarding this DZ, this new little start up operation is paying somebody to sit by the phone in manifest and answer it at 10:30pm Eastern? Doesn't really make sense. Still seems fishy to me. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Has the smoke cleared? Last I heard Bill was granted an extension for a hearing. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Does anybody know if this is part of the scam? http://www.groupon.com/deals/skydive-jersey-central-jersey?c=dnb&p=3&utm_medium=afl&utm_campaign=4485850&utm_source=rvs It doesn't say sportations, but I can't find this DZ listed anywhere. I looked up the sectional chart on this airport and it doesn't even mention skydiving operations being on the field. It smells funny to me, but I am not pulling any kind of trigger on it since I was wrong about a groupon for a legitimate little cessna tandem only operation in the bay area here just last month. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

There is absolutley no doubt that universities are left leaning in general This is not a debatable fact What do you expect from them good smart edgamacated people?? Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Great post! And I'll piggy back this. If 90% of all PP services are abortions, then proportionally the college town I lived in and college I went to should be representative of this national number, right? Guess what, it wasn't. Not even close. And recently I've asked friends who went to college in other parts of the country how their PP experiences were, and they said the same thing. Most said they didn't even know of anybody who had an abortion (doesn't mean that people weren't getting abortions-- private matter that people kept, well... private.). In my own experience and the experience of people I've talked to, PP was the source for women's yearly physical. It's where all us poor college kids got our pap's done, our blood work done, STD testing done, and our birth control needs met. Oh, and I thnk it was mentioned upthread about PP not doing mammograms-- they do. I know a girl in college who unfortunately found a lump and used that service. Most PP's bring mobile mammogram units once or twice a month to the facility. Some facilities have them permanently. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Some years ago when I got my A at Xkeys there was a similar yet different situation where they required that you go through the monkey claw freefly program and the Skydive U program before you could be signed off for your A. I was in high school at the time and just flat out could not afford it (I think at the time it was an added $600-700 on top of what I just spend for the license), so I had to go to a different DZ to get signed off and checked out. I agree with what a lot of people are saying. There is definitely nothing wrong with trying to get your students to perform well and in the process learn how to be a safe skydiver through extra requirements like doing coach jumps or going through a program like I laid out above, but most people coming off of AFF, especially young people in high school or college, will not be able to afford such a requirement. I'm afraid it would be another deterrent that will keep people from going for the license all together. I like what others have said too about paying it forward. That's been my approach for a long time. But, from my experience these DZ's that have said requirements will not let a licensed coach staff member jump with these students for the cost of their slot, even if it's not taking them away from a work jump. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Start reaching out to other well established clubs you see on that website. UConn, Georgia Tech, UF Falling Gators, etc, etc. They'll probably help you out. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Lots of info available here: http://collegeskydiving.com/ The gent who runs/started the site is probably the best person I know for this kind of info. Helped me out big time when I started a club/team at my school in 2006. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Wow! I definitely wasn't sure but just knew that I had never heard of them and made me raise an eyebrow! **edited to add-- I really should have had a cup of coffee and woke up a little before posting this thread. I easily found them on yelp. Doh! My mistake! I sent a message to mod to see if they can delete this thread. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

I don't know if anybody is familiar with a competing groupon-like company called Trubates, but I saw this pop into my email this morning for the local Trubate deal today: http://www.trubates.com/watsonville-ca/offer/2518/159-for-229-tandem-skydive-from-12-500-barefoot-onto-the-beach/?utm_campaign=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=rev1&ploc=San%20Jose%2C%20CA&loc=San%20Jose%2C%20CA&e=d5e4777c54968a9055c8dc8de7a61255&od=25&ot=_r___&or=ca I don't think there is a Skydive Santa Cruz, right? Looks like there is no discussion board for this deal website like there was on the Denver Groupon with the 'sportations' thing. Shame.... I'm sure people will jump on this one in this area. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

What area are you looking for? For winds aloft (and other useful weather stuff) you can check out my offices website. National Weather Service unit in an air traffic control center for San Fran area, but my boss has created maps that are for the whole country: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/zoa/mwmap3.php?map=usa So, say for example you want winds aloft for Sebastian area. Mouse over south FL area on that map and click anywhere within that area to get zoomed map: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/zoa/mwmap2.php?map=zma Then click on KVRB: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/zoa/getobext.php?sid=KVRB Up at the top there will be tabs. Click on the one that says RUC sounding and that will give you your full profile upper level forecast from surface up. There's also some other neat things you can access on the website, so play around with it. You can even book mark the mobile web page to keep handy on the go. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Bud ice?? No way! If you're going to drink cheap beer, at least drink good cheap beer! If anybody is fortunate enough to have a Trader Joes in their area: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/435/45308 Simpler times! Yum! $2.99 for a 6 pack. And it's 6.2% Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

Stow your toggles. Seriously though, talk to one of the packers/riggers at your DZ. Offer a lunch/beer/bribe with a request to be taught. You won't get to learn at 2pm on a busy Saturday, but maybe a Friday afternoon or on a bad weather day. Then you get to practice and practice to get better. If you don't practice, then you won't get better. PD has an excellent packing video up on their blog, that's a good place to start as well. What he said

I think I was the queen of having trouble packing when I jumped at SDH for a few years. People busted my chops over it sometimes, but it was all in good fun and I wouldn't expect anything less from my dz friends. I know the guys there just wouldn't give people dirty looks for nothin'. I never experienced it and I don't think I ever witnessed anybody experience it. I think you need to give it another chance! Definitely a great crowd out there and IMO, comparing the two DZ's, it's definitely more fun jumper friendly and fun there. I have to ask though....are you just politely asking for help every now and then and continue going your own way packing, or is a packer constantly coming over and doing quite a bit of the pack job for you? I'm not accusing you of doing that, but I've seen people do that before and sure, that might start irking somebody eventually. Like I said, I was (and still am!) the queen of needing help but I am also the queen of a 'thank you' beer at the end of the day for that somebody who took time and went out of their way for me. It's definitely not expected, but if I took up quite a bit of a packers time on a consistent basis for the day when he/she could have spent the time doing paid pack jobs... well, then it's not a bad idea, I think! Just my .02 on something like that. Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)