diverdriver

Wait a minute. The French don't like us going into Iraq to oust Saddam. We have basicly ignored their protests. Now, when they can't get anything done.....the FRENCH PRESS (Agence France-Presse) reports that we are planning to use nukes. Everyone is now in a tissy. Isn't that very convenient. Hmmmm.......who's wagging the dog now? Chris

True. Except maybe any respect in the world community.

Why should I have to pay for a course so that I can give my experience to another candidate? That just isn't fair really. But did I do it? Yes. I had to in order to get my Tandem Rating. The BIC course is almost verbatim taken from the Fundamentals of Instrustion (FOI) book put out by the FAA for Certified Flight Instructors. I've already taken that test. I can agree with that. For those who have had no teaching background before. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

CNN is reporting that the Bush Administration is thinking about giving the inspectors more time to appease Russia and others on the security council. Now, that is a bit of good news.

I know! I know! Because it's in the script!

You know it looks like Bush is trying to make this come down like the Cuban Missile Crisis. We'll go to the brink. We'll take a lot of photos. We've already had a reconaisance craft shot down (unmanned unlike the U-2 that was shot down over Cuba). And then the rest of the Arab world will get Sadam to leave the country in exhile some how. And Bush will look like the hero because we went to the brink and he was able to pull it back. What they need to do is produce the specific evidence that Iraq has WMD in the UN. Just llike they did in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Bush keeps claiming it. I really have no doubt that they have them. They used them on their own people and the Iranians so lets not kid ourselves. But let's see the evidence. Why they aren't producing their "intelligence" is really beyond me. They've got to know that their credibility will only go down without it. What are they protecting about that information? How it was obtained? Do we still have operatives there feeding info and if it's revealed then the Iraqi's will know how we got it? Makes you wonder.

Man, you guys got some weird bullets down der in Texas.

One shot. One kill.

On aircraft we have equipment that is "deferable" known as "MEL able" and equipment that is a NO GO item. Why is it so hard to believe that people would choose certain skydiving safety equipment to be a NO GO item? It's their choice and their decision. I mean, we don't fuel aircraft to have just enough fuel for the flight in them? (most consciencious pilots won't) We have to have enough in reserve. We don't make fun of them when they decide to put more fuel on do we? I think we really need to get away from this stigma of people only jumping with a working Cypres unit as being a bad thing. Cypres has limitations just like all skydiving gear has limitations. But if someone chooses to have that safety equipment on their rig and only jump with it available and working then there shouldn't be any taunting and it is not "sad". Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

So, my Flight Instructor's rating for teaching people how to fly airplanes aint good enough to teach skydiving? There's nothing skydiving specific about the BIC. You learn about the fundamentals of instruction. Not how to do the proper teaching of PRCPs. There should be some way to waive the BIC with prior teaching experience. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

Played like the seasoned symphony conductor that she is. OH BRAVOOO!!!!!

Uh huh....ya could have done better with the cut and paste job.... Cut and paste? You mean that's not a real picture? Dang it. I fell for it again!

LOL....bahhahahahahhaaha....... I just hope the real jumper in that photo turned out ok......yikes!

Nope, can never just have a "hey let's meet at the DZ" thread about SDC can we? Ok...I'll do it..... BOOBIES!!!!

And he may not have realized it was the wrong airport until he landed and shut down. (with M-16s pointed at him). There was an MD-80 crew that was approaching Hayden, CO. For some reason I don't remember, they landed at Craig Airport. Much shorter runway. Maybe 10-15 miles short of the destination airport. Oooops. They didn't follow the Instrument Approach because they were in Visual Meterological Conditions (VMC). They saw a runway and just landed. Got stuck and couldn't turn around. Even the "pros" can do it. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

Lisa, STOP DOUBLE CLICKING THE MOUSE! At least for a week. That should help.

And another: Come fly us....we suck less now.

HEY!!! NO PERSONAL ATTACKS!!! [whiny voice] HH, they're being mean to my companeeeeeee......[/whiny voice]

Rob, I couldn't agree more. When the green light goes on in my airplane that is NOT the time to start looking out the door. I'll give the door light on with plenty of time for the first group to come to a concensus that they are in the right place. I also try to tell the jumpers where they can expect to be over when that green light goes on. It saves a lot of time when the door is open and the jumper looking out is lost. Pilots who only say go on Green and 5 seconds between exits aren't helping enough. The need to give more information to reduce the confusion. This is partly why I don't like the Skyvan as you can't see very easily where you are going from the back. You do have to trust the pilot a bit on distance and ground speed. But then again, no ever got hurt by staying in the plane and taking a second pass. I recommend that if people in the back start yelling -GO- that you step to the side and allow them to exit if you don't think there are any planes directly below you. And as they pass by you can say "Be my guest". (And mutter under your breathe "be my wind dummy"). Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

Have a good flight! YOU TOO!

Hagar, I know you are safety conscious, otherwise you wouldn't be asking these questions. Really, send Billvon a PM about this and I'm sure he'll send you a list of things to think about. It's not that you can't downsize. It's that people sure don't want to read about you in the incidents forum. You have people who don't know you caring about your safety. Chris

You know, deals come and deals go. No deal is an "offer you can't refuse". Do it when you are ready. Who knows. You might not have the air skills to fly that canopy for a couple hundred jumps. I would certainly get with a canopy coach and have an honest evaluation done before going to the next canopy. Canopy deals come and go. Broken bones are forever. I'm 32 now and I had a slight fracture of the ankle at age 16 during soccer (in the US. It's Football everywhere else). I still feel it to this day. Billvon has a nice list of skills and abilities that you need to demonstrate before downsizing. I recommend you do a search on these forums or send Billvon a PM asking what they are. It should at least give you specific direction in what you need to achieve. Chris Schindler

That was from a non-USPA DZ, with no USPA instructors or USPA rated instructors. In fact all but one instructor there has less than 100 jumps, total. It is Static line progression. Hook Hey Hook, didn't that place just crash their plane? Chris

Click HERE for the article on DZ.com. And if you want the article with bigger pictures you can go to www.DiverDriver.com and see it HERE. And I'm glad you liked the article. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

You know, one really effective advertising tool (and I would never believe it unless I'd seen its' effectiveness) is to advertise on the Weather Channel. They crawl a word add at the bottom of the local weather. "Learn to Skydive!....(insert DZ name and phone number)".....we got tons of calls from it. Radio adds can be heard in cars but they have a tough time writing down the phone number. The weather channel add came across slow and at a time the person could be ready to make a call right then. The rates were reasonable from what I remember. Give it a try and a look. Chris