This individual is actually a member of my "regular" 4-way group. He is a talented skydiver (very calm, relaxed, and quick to react in the sky). However, he had somewhat of a "brain fart" on this particular day in mention. Trust me when I say that he gets anywhere between 3-10 gear checks before he even gets into the aircraft! I was actually not on the load when this occurred, but he has yet to hear the end of this subject from everyone at our DZ. We've even nicknamed him 'Static Line'! I'm not going to point a finger at any particular person on that load because I think everyone is at fault here (the licensed jumpers, 'Static Line', and even the pilot). It is pretty obvious to notice a big red strap with a big metal hook hanging from someone's rig, and it went completely unnoticed by everyone. This potentially could have ended fatally, however he reacted according to his training and pulled his reserve. A lesson was learned by everyone, and you can take my word as his friend and skydiving brother that he nor any other will board an aircraft on my load without a proper gear check. We want to skydive until we're old, gray, and wrinkled! Blue ones, Cace
