Ron

I refused to buy either. But, recognize that the Argus cutter failed. So if it was needed, it didn't work. It then created a dangerous situation if you didn't catch it. The Vigil firing with the door was wrong, but much more in line with how an AAD should operate. Different reasons for the failures. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The other things are not part of the container system. They do not want to deal with a lawsuit. Even if it is NOT related a person suing them could show that they didn't ground something that was "proven" to be dangerous. It is a danger if it 'half fires' and then the loop breaks near the door or in freefall. Never forget that most people never do a pin check anyway, and that checking the AAD would never cross their minds. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

This is key... for me it is a high speed container malfunction. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Glad I bought a C2 instead of the Argus.... People on here bitched at me about not liking new AAD's. There is a reason, and this is one of those reasons. Yes, it might be an easy fix... But I have seen company's fold over less than this. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Would you propose removing the night flying from a private ticket? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

What he said. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

If you had your USPA membership current it could have been done on Friday and you guys could have done fun stuff... Like 4way and 8way "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

http://www.youtube.com/user/MontyPython?blend=2&ob=1 Whenever I feel bad.... I ask myself one question. "What would make me happy right now?" I answer that question honestly and then IMMEDIATELY take a step to start moving in that direction. You can't wallow in a pool of self pity if you are moving. The one caveat is you can only control things, not people. And this is bang on: "Having a minor in Psych means that you have about 5% more understanding of the subject that the average schmuck. Assuming that no one knows more than you do at that level is ridiculous." I have plenty of skydiving medals.... You think I wouldn't ask Thomas Hughes or Mark Kirkby for advice? If your feelings are more than temporary..... Seek a pro to talk things over with. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Still, it is better to toss out a main when low than take the time to think about what to do and then reach for a handle that you have not pulled several times. I was on my back filming a guy once.... When he pulled I saw the horizon pass my feet. I rolled over to my left and thought "RESERVE!!!!" by the time I got to the middle of that thought, my main was opening. I had instinctively rolled pilot chute side up and tossed while on my side. I had 300ish jumps at the time.... 300 main pulls and no real life reserve pulls. I was open around 300-400 feet. If I had not tossed my main... I am almost 100% sure I would be dead. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

That is ideal, yet years of incident reports have shown that when all hell breaks lose, a good number of otherwise smart people do not think. Due to this, I train myself to act a certain way given certain situations. The trick is to think BEFORE you need to act, when you are clam and rational, and then drill those solutions till they are robotic. Of course... thats just my opinion and your mileage may vary. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

When I was a young instructor I often tried to give too much information to the students. When students asked questions I gave them the WHOLE answer. For example learning to spot could take hours if you include all the possible factors. So it is best to teach one small bit at a time, then add in another layer once they understand the first lesson. This way you are building a complete understanding with a solid grasp of the preceding tasks. If you gave them everything at once, they may never get the first lesson and they will forget something (human nature that we will not remember everything we are taught). I know it is frustrating when you are new and want to learn 24/7 but can only make a few jumps per day. Some students think this is the instructor "holding them back".... Well, we just want you to own the tasks before we give you more. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You do not talk about multiplication till your students have shown the ability to add. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Because people will use those same words to legislate every bit of freedom from you claiming if "it saves on life it will be worth it". Tell ya what, if we ban skydiving it will save 20-30 lives a year.... Still seem like a smart concept or have you finally realized how stupid it is? Nope you clearly do not have a clue. Careful drawing lines.... Or you might find that 99% of the people will draw a line that pits limits on your choices. You are ok with mandatory AADs.... Well they are ok with mandatory jump mins to fly a Katana. Nope, you still don't get it "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

There is a significant difference between 7 and 9 on an analog. I'd say that for less than 500 feet *I* find the analog so much faster.... And do you really care about increments

Been saying this for a number of years. If the canopy ride is what is the growing danger in the sport then it is not too much to ask the student to spend some time under canopy focusing only on the canopy. Yes, the ISP has canopy stuff in it. But it is damn near next to impossible for the instructor to observe all the maneuvers. Eh.... For the A and B I don't see the point. C and D sure. But, I don't want a young jumper killing himself trying to land "X" from a target. I have have seen quite a few 1k+ jumpers bash themselves trying to land near a target. Great, add some freefall skills as well, and make the A and B (and hell make a C and D) all have proficiency cards. Stupid. If they are dangerous, have the S&TA not sign the renewal. Neutral. Good. Just make it part of the training program. Well, not a single person thinks it is a good idea to act like a jackass.... the problem is we do not ground people that act like a jackass. Rules that can be ignored without repercussion are worthless. Make it so an S&TA can ground a jumper and that grounding HAS to be respected at any GM DZ. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The most dangerous thing ever said. Would you be ok with mandatory AAD usage? Mandatory WL restrictions? Remember, if it saves just ONE life it would be worth it. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

1. Listen to the evaluators.... They want to pass you and will provide you all the information you need to know to pass. 2. Remember that this is a beginners instructional rating. They do not expect you to have the flying skills of an AFF-I. Listen to what they tell you, execute what they told you and you will be fine. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You are never going to sell 5700 jet tickets in a mth. Jets were/are a one off jump. You do it once to be able to say you did it and then you get on the next otter load. Plus as others have correctly pointed out... The MX costs are through the roof. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Wrong???? Depends on how you want to look at it. I think so... the SIM agrees: 2. Procedures: (a) In the case of no main pilot chute deployment (e.g., missing or stuck handle, ripcord system container lock), deploy the reserve. The problem is with nothing out you are doing 120 MPH and quickly running out of time. So for a TOTAL, the best practice is to stop the skydive by going directly to the reserve. Now for a PCIT.... It is a gamble either way. I treat a PCIT like a total since the speed and the time you have left is the same. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Anything new can be scary. It is normal. The only way over the fear is repetition till the new becomes normal. OR just suck it up and enjoy it. Climbing on the outside of a plane is a pretty cool thing. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The choice is yours. I prefer analog since I can just glance near the thing and see where I am. I do not have to even look at it, just notice it (like I do a clock). When I use a digital, I have to read it. Cost should be a factor. Digitals are normally more expensive. Logging software is not really that important. I assume you will also get a ditter of some type and it has logging software. Use for night jumps.... Well unless you planning on doing a bunch of night jumps should not be a factor... I have 100 (?) night jumps and never used a lit alti. But what I would do is have a buddy set both and flash them at you. See how fast you can read it. The one I can read faster is the one I would buy. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Are you going to cutaway a hard pull as well? If not, then you already have two procedures and either one of those is applicable to a PCIT. I personally, will pull the reserve first.... My line of thinking is that it is a high speed mal, and you get zero points for impact craters. Additionally, I reserve the ability to cutaway as soon as I get a reserve over my head. So I still have some choices. There is no right or wrong here.... I just want you to realize that if you are not going to cutaway a hard main pull that you already have two emergency procedures. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Not being stupid is not the same as running scared. I don't tend to provide the lynch mod with the rope. See even you hold a bias about the topic. And lawyers know how to put those names back when they sue. Yet it has ALREADY happened. Idiocy is to ignore the risk and blindly provide the data that will be used to prosecute you. IT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yes, but I can think of at least once where the USPA (actually a BOD member) released information about an accident to the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against a DZO. IIRC the BOD member was John DeSantis and it was about a fatality at a Nevada DZ. 1997/98???? I think a camera guy collided someone else right after opening. There was a lawsuit and the BOD member released several hundred pages of information without a court order. This is why I think reporting any incident (like a cutaway where nothing else happened) is a bad idea. That data can and will be used in lawsuits. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The problem is data often comes back to bite you.... Didn't the USPA release incident data at one point in a civil trial? I am not so sure I want data in the hands of an organization (any) that they may release it to save their own bacon. I can imagine that if DZ "A" sends a report about every mal, and DZ "B" does not. It could be taken that DZ "A" has more malfunctions. And I could see a manufacturer supplying that data to an investigation. In this case DZ "A" would look like a more dangerous DZ. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334