diverdriver

I have a 1997 Reflex. I love it. I learned to pack reserves on it and others. I don't think it's that tough to make look good. It fits well and I've never had my flaps come open during any freeflying. I did replace my risers with Relative Workshop risers because I like the features on them. Not that I couldn't get my Fliteline risers modified to be like them. Just was easier to buy RW risers and put them on. Chris

I would but I don't think the crew would like it if I took control of their 737 and dove it toward the ground. They might get "upitty".

LOL....

Hey, what DZ.comers are there near Fort Lauderdale? I'll be in Hollywood for a week. No jumping unfortunately. I'm in ALPA BOD meetings all week. Chris

I don't believe I mentioned Mark at all in this thread. I think Andyman was the one who brought him up. Ab Initio is initial pilot training from Zero hours. Chris

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!! Very nice job. Can't wait to see it on CNN. God speed Shanon.

That is the debate. But also look at ab initio flight training. The NTSB does track the number of accidents per 100K of flying for Flight Instruction. They are also a high cycle (maybe even higher cycle) operation that jump planes. They go out and do circuit after circuit without climbing to altitude. I don't remember a training flight that I went on as a student that didn't have at least 3-5 landings on it. Most flights were 2 hours or less. So, that would be about the same cycle rate per hour average as a jump plane (2 to 3 per hour). Flight Instruction flights have a LOWER accident rate than General Aviation. Why? Well, in articles just comparing Instruction flights with other GA it is said that having a professional pilot (commercial rating with extra training in teaching students) enhances the safety of the flight. They are doing the "critical phases of flight" more often than other GA. So, we have commercially rated pilots too yet we do not compare even close. So, I feel that we do have a problem in our industry. There is no breakdown for Jump Plane landings. So I can't really compare them. But if you take a look at these reports for jump plane accidents you will see that many are preventable. People clamour for more training on canopy flight when jumpers hook into the ground. But they are oddly silent when a jump plane crashes off the field out of gas. Why is this seen as acceptable? A pilot uses 3,000 feet of runway to accelerate a 182 (way out of normal), has 2,000 feet remaining, has an elevator problem and continues the takeoff? It never should have gone 3,000 feet down the runway in the first place. Something is seriously lacking here. So what is it? That's the question. Lack of standardized training and testing and recurrent training is what I'm saying is the problem for the industry. Certainly, a pilot should be expected to refuel before running out of gas. Or computing enough fuel for a ferry flight. Yet, we keep repeating the same accidents. Why? The information is out there. Why are some pilots not getting it? I'm concerned about my brothers and sisters at small DZs that may not get the information. I'm concerned about my fellow jumpers at large DZs that treat their large aircraft like old ragged out 182s. I worry about my friends getting into overloaded and out of balance aircraft. A 10,000 hour pilot can run out of gas just like a 250 hour pilot. How do we convince the industry to use their knowledge and stay safe? Well, that's what we are working for. Always, every day. I encourage anyone that wants to provide content or modifications for my site www.DiverDriver.com to submit them to me or contact me about what they can provide. I want it to be a clearing house of information that can be used free of charge for ever. Knowledge is power. Thank for your input. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

Is there any reason this has to be done via the USPA or FAA? Couldn't it be a private voluntary rating? Research what skills you and other good pilots think are needed, what extra risks are involved with jump planes, create a syllabus and start holding camps for pilots that are serious about flying jump planes. Those that attend and pass the tests get their certificate that they can use to show any DZ that they're serious about jump safety. A lot of rating programs probably start off that way. Some school starts up to fill in a need, gets a rep, then becomes the standard. Good suggestion about starting our own "certification" school. Maybe first they could get a break on their insurance if the syllabus was recognized by the insurance companies. The whole idea is to increase the awareness of jump pilot safety EVEN IF you fly at a 1 horse DZ. This is not BIG DZ bashing LITTLE DZ. I've flown full time at Cessna DZs too. But if it works in Canada it might work here. Something to think about. Chris

You want me to quote more Top Gun? Ummmmmm.....ok.......You never close your eyes....anymore when I .......oh nevermind.

C'mon Cougar we've seen this before. You'll do it when you wanna do it. And not before.

Or heck, just fantasize and get video!

LOL.......wasn't me. "I saw you!" Hey, wasn't me...... "Maybe it wasn't you. DD skills and jedei mind tricks go hand in hand. rofl

LOL.......yah right.

[total sarcasm] Ok you whiny skydivers. I land with the plane all the time. Every load. Do you see me wrecking on every other landing? No, it's part of the package. I hear it all the time "Oh! (whaaaaa) I'm never landing with the plane. It's soooo scary. I'll jump before I ever have to land with the plane. I feel naked without my rig.......whaaaaa". LOL..........oh suck it up already. You jump from a plane into freefall but landing with the airplane is what really scares you? People are so funny. Driving on the highway at 85 mph with other large metal objects around them in close proximety doesn't scare them but they'll abandon a house if they see a mouse scurrying around. LOL.......bahahahhahahah [/total sarcasm]

15F is the coldest on the ground that I've gone up. Not sure what it was at altitude. Nothing like a cloth rollup door on a 206 during the winter. You really have to get creative to keep the door sealed. Chris

Hey, Happy Birthday Sangiro. Your BD present is a multi-tude of post whoring on your behalf. YW. Chris

To everyone: Thank you so much for this thread. I appreciate everyone's input. What excellent posts. Even though you may not agree with things I've proposed, your responses have been thought out and meaningful. John, post away. I think it's a good comparison. Chris

Maybe they're not staying in a tent. Gotta ask the right question. Just tack on: tent/hotel room/trailor/back seat of car/etc......

21,000. Record attempts 2000 at SDC.

Good question. Not sure that can be answered. Regulation for regulation's sake is not helpful. I think we all know that. But, you can't jump out of an aircraft without having logged (in a logbook and signed off by your JM) your training jumps. So why should the pilot flying you to jump altitude be any different? Seriously, take a read through some of these reports. Just read the front page with the cause listed. If it is a preliminary or factual report it won't have a cause listed. But you can get an idea of what is going on. Chris

Not sure how you want me to break that down. Not sure if I can either. But take a read HERE. You can see for yourself what is going on with jump planes. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

Cajones, that is part of why I do this once in awhile. We seem to let the subject drift until there is a tragedy. I started doing this thread on Rec.skydiving in January 1999. I said the industry was headed for trouble if we didn't take heed. 1999 turned out to be one of the worst jump plane accident years on record. We had many fatal accidents. According to the USPA and FAAs numbers, the fleet of aircraft flying jumpers logs just over 100,000 hours per year. The NTSB breaks down statistics per 100K hours of flying. Right now, according to that number we are TWICE as bad as general aviation. We have about 12 accidents per year with jump planes. The record for all of general aviation is 6 accidents per 100K hours of flying. To me, that is an abismal record. And, just look at the accidents I have listed on my site. These accidents are so preventable. So how are we going to prevent future accidents? There is currently no standard. Each operation is on their own to come up with a plan. Most do fine. Some, are ticking time bombs. You know what I'm talking about. Somehow they get away with stuff time after time, until, that one time. Then there is a smoking whole in the ground with your friends strewn about. USPA is working on updating how much flying is done. The statistic may not be as bad as it sounds now. If the fleet does 200K hours of flying then our record would be inline with the rest of GA. But again, I would say this is too high. Our rate should be better than that and more inline with charter operations. We are flying with Commercial pilots. Professionals. We should receive service that is inline with that rating. Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

Very true. I agree. If USPA kept a record of training then they would pick people to implement the chosen program. What would happen at non-GM DZs? Well, that would be a benefit of being at a GM DZ. Maybe the first worth while thing for being a GM DZ. But then again if the program is weak it's worthless. Here's an example system: A curriculum is set up to train and test pilots on knowledge of FARs and what it will be like as a jump pilot flying at max performance all the time. They will have an understanding of Weight and balance of their aircraft and what paperwork has to be available to be legal. There would be actual flying with the pilot to check for basic aircraft control and procedures and then again with actual jumpers. Numerous power off landings from altitude to the runway since this seems to be an issue with some pilots when they start their final approach with a failed engine at 10,000 feet over the airport and don't make it. They get distracted with other traffic in the area and end up landing off. I don't think some have ever had to physically perform their procedures in front of an evaluator. Two reports from the same DZ talk about pilot misuse of the mixture control that may have led to engine failures. Then we would do many jump runs watching for proper control of the aircraft while jumpers are climbing out. Airspeed control in different configurations. I tell ya, I watch a pilot's check out very closely during the initial training because if they can't control altitude and airspeed without jumpers on board then how can they be expected to do that during climbout. The evaluator could be someone that travels to the DZ for training or the pilot could have to seek him out. Not sure which would be best right now. We don't have to reinvent the wheel when talking about standardized pilot training. Look at what is being done now for sign offs on retractable gear aircraft and aircraft with engines greater than 200 HP. We travel to the instructor or find one locally to get these signoffs. Same for tail draggers. We find a pilot who can sign it off. If you want to fly aircraft from water then you have to get a special certificate (sea plane rating). USPA has training courses where they do a class at a particular DZ at a certain time for AFF JMs/coaches/BICs. Tandems are done somewhat differently as you can find a Tandem Examiner anytime and arrange training and certification. Same for Riggers. Set up a time for exam with the DPRE. Will we see any new certification for jump pilots by the FAA or USPA soon? No. Do I have the power to make these things happen? No. Do we as a group have the power to ensure that the operations we jump at do what is necessary to have well trained jump pilots? YES! Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125

I believe the shirt is blurred because he's in freefall. Man, you guys are hot for the conspiracy theory. Chris

Are you kidding? BJ Worth would be hurt to think his stunts in full James Bond suits were just photoshopped. The shirt splits up the back when the parachute is deployed i believe. Chris