douwanto

Allowing 1st time tandems help flair?? I think of Jack Hammer when I see this discussion. Big guy who works out regularly always let his students help land ended up with a broken back. I think he is at the farm now. I would like to hear his thoughts on this. Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

I see something that could be great for those who use them and not a bother to those that dont except for the choice of words and phrasing used threw out the site are designed to intentionally plant missguided thoughts in the mind of wuffo's. I dont have a dog in the hunt but misleading is misleading and bad for the sport. Also when they promote the safest campus' in the industry I want to see the numbers. I can name several DZ's on their safe campus list that have more accidents than the ones on the not eligible list. Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

so 1 inch will make the canopy open extremely fast???? Most times the slider will move that far off the stop during packing. In picture 4 it looks like a peice of the stablizer is threw the grommet. I enlarged the picture to be sure and it is there. May not be a problem. Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

they are using real drop zones but I remember when ASC started skyride. it was the same thing. Also I believe this is run by Chicago land skydiving. The wording on the site is such that wuffos would likely think non proskydiving DZ's are less than acceptable businesses. Also they offer no accident reports to support their claims of having the safest campus' in the skydiving industry. Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

proskydiving,com is off to a great start by implying your DZ is not safe and there for not eligable for their packedges. "PRO Skydiving is the place to locate, research, and purchase a safe skydiving experience " If you dont use their service you will be listed below this heading. "The following non PROskydiving dropzones were found in your area. The locations below are shown for your convenience only and are not eligible for PROskydiving packages or Gift Certificates. Inflated prices and selling products in areas were they have no DZ of their own. Can you say This is exactly how Skyride started. Maybe they are the good guys????? Trying to help everyone get more business??? if you jump on board and they get 20% of the profit from the jumps they send you. Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

I had a similar problem a few years back on a nova. It looks like the stabilizer line tabs are getting pulled threw the grommet catching the lines in the process. try flaking the stabilizer out and pulling the slider off the tabs a little. I know it will go back up on opening but the canopy will separate some before it does. This helped my openings. Your grommets may be worn or distorted. Some canopy have slider stops at the tabs to keep this from happening. It wont matter if the canopy is in trim if it goes far enough threw the grommet to pinch some lines and impede the sliders decent. Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

You can not deduct any such thing from the incident forum post's. There are some discussions going on but no direct information has been related that would allow you to imply the TI "Blacked out " is the most likely scenario. Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

Spence, Are you refering to that yo yo who insisted on driving his car on the runway at ST Mary's GA last year, even after he was warned to stop? I think he is refering to the A--hole who let the air out of the tires on the boogie organizers golf cart in americus LOL Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

We have a 3 rind release in place for this situation. That was almost catastrophic. they were lucky the student was released when he deployed the reserve HUH?????? Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

Having cut away does not mean one has deployed their reserve.... RSL is used by most these days and I have seen people go to the zoo and cut away a good canopy. Consistently performing as a safe skydiver along with time in the sport are both needed to develop the knowledge and understanding of body and canopy control and patients needed to be a safe Tandem Instructor. Someone who freaks out and starts doing the wrong thing is just as dangerous as someone who freezes. TIE's are looking at every aspect of the candidates performance and challenges their skills to weed out the loose cannons. Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

" imho it is very seldom the instructors fault," If you believe this you should re think doing tandems. It is always the instructors fault. That is why you see some instructors with few if any injuries and some with many injuries. Yes it can happen to any of us and that is why we have to employee every technique in our arsenal to prevent injuries. They are no more an acceptable part of doing tandems than forgetting a connection. THATS MY 2 CENYS Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

Is your brother going through knoxville on his way home??? If so he might call Kipp at skydive Knoxville TN or Doug who is in Morristown TN 2 miles off 81 at exit 15. Both have been riggers for many years. As a rigger myself I trust both their work. Hope this helps. Kipp's number is 865-566-8781 Doug's number is 423-7482134 Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

If you read the first description posted in the add you can tell he has no idea about skydive equipment. He clearly thought the passenger harness was a complete rig. Any pilot worth his salt would have known what a pilots rig looks like at the very least. but I may be jumping to conclusions. He also responded to me that he used the equipment many times and everything works great???? Really I wonder what equipment he uses with the mic in the helmet??? He also said the jumpsuit was made for him at 200 and was a good tight fit??? Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

kdflyer is selling several peices of gear on ebay. His terminology and lack of understanding of the gear makes me suspicious. He is offering a vector 11 tandem passenger harness as a skydiving rig with all parts included. also he has a skydiving helmet with mic (cameye) installed. Looks and smells fishy. Item number: 220478199572 Item location: Kansas City, Missouri, United States Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

Also if you have any concerns about the passengers ability to lift their legs for landing make them sit on the edge of something and lift their legs for 20 seconds. If they cant do this do not take them if you cant land them with their legs straight down. Remember as their Tandem Instructor You should be confident in your skills. I believe and tell every passenger they will walk away from our jump with great memories and no injuries. Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

There has to be something missing in your approach to landings. 2 broken ankles in 700 tandems is not acceptable in my opinion. You should know what your student is going to be able to do before landing happens. I have had hundreds of passengers who could not or would not pick their feet up during landing. Not one has been injured. Flair a little high and use your feet and knees to absorb any shock. that is your job. While landing I start saying feet up feet up feet up until we come to a complete stop. I also share this thought with every passenger. " The only time I can not protect you from harm during your skydive is while we are landing. I am stopping the parachute and insuring our landing is soft and un eventful. If you chose to put your feet down during this time I will plant you like a tree and you WILL BREAK one or both legs. It has served me well for 4200+ tandems. Only once has a student folded their legs under. This was very early in my tandem career and I understood then how important legs up is. Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

Stressful is a great expression for tandems. That will go away with time and experience. Tandems are very rewarding because most are with people who will never jump on their own and you share a once in a lifetime moment with them. I know I can make mistakes and could kill us both. I also they cant kill me. If you have the rating and use the tools you exhibited in acquiring it this is true for you also. There is little if any room for mistakes. Some times you have to know you are in trouble and act. 2 month ago I left the plane at 10K and deployed around 8.5K because I was spinning out of controle and could not stop. Set drouge started spinning spin spin faster and dump. dude was boxing and kicking even after the canopy opened. 4200+ tandems and then this... Was I scared?????? don really but I knew I had to stop it. Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

Thanks for saying what Many Ti's and Customers already know. I think having the opening footage and canopy flight give handy the edge but what do I know???? JM2C Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

That gave me Chilllllllllllls........... I was just starting when Rita busted herself up and followed her post on rec. She always expressed her emotions and experiences in a way that helped you feel like you had known her for a life time. BSBD Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

I agree rob. That is all it takes most times. I sometimes fallow that by pushing my heels down their leg and attempt to grab their feet then arch fully pulling them into a better position. all in a matter of 2 to 3 seconds. Nothing is lost in the effort and lots can be gained. I correct most passengers not because I have to but because I am there for 45 to 60 seconds and have little else to do after my handle checks. LOL some of this came before the mods to the current harness' because I didn't like opening with the student in a knees forward position. Ejection always seemed more likely. Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

Did I not say some times and simple adjustment?? Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

"Also, don't correct the student in freefall because you're taking away what little flying surface area that you have to "fix" the student. Fly your body to compensate for the student. " I have to disagree with this some students are bigger and stronger than you and some more limber. most times thats ok but when they put something outside your control area that you cant out reach it can become dangerous in micro seconds. I had a girl at couch freaks a few years ago who did a split with her legs on exit one leg was bent at the knee and way forward of her hips both were outside mine. We started turning instantly and were heading for break neck speed and I could not compensate enough. Not that I wasted to much time trying. I brought my knees to her sides and hooked both leg with my feet sand pushed them together. That is when she remembered the arch position. Any way some times it is better to adjust them. You should not be spending all your focus and energy stopping a turn when a simple adjustment would correct the problem. Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

I shoot handicam on every jump for 2 reasons. The first and most important is wearing a cam on some jumps and not on others creates variation in your routine. It breaks the flow of your safety procedures and in the end makes every tandem you do less safe. I have incorporated the cam in my safety procedures. I video the passenger as they are seat belted in then the pilot as he does his checklist. before I hook up I touch every piece of hardware on the passenger harness on cam. our pilots verify the top 2 connections on the front tandem pair as they are made and the second before exit( not on cam but thought it worth mentioning). The cam is a detraction unless you make it a tool and have a set procedure. Now the good stuff>>>>>>> I am averaging 90 percent sales on handicam with no pressure and we get sales of the other 10 percent because we catalog our tapes to DVD. We went to the Platinum .20 by royal lens and HD cams and they sell them selves. Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

and any old tandem whore who is not nervous is just plain crazy.......LoL Ok maybe not nervious but always concerned with your gear the winds aloft the aircraft the clouds the camera guy roters on landing changing wind directions always checking the spot the harness on their student and yes the student. If you dont know that you will do everything in your power to save them and put your body through hell to keep protect them from injury don't do it till you will Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421

at least 50 solo first jump courses< in that solo tandem first jump courses? if so most tandem instructors with 500 plus jumps will have met that. Just wondering. I am a UPT examiner with over 4100 tandems and 300 plus evaluation jumps but may not qualify as uspa examiner. That's cool with me as uspa doesn't set the standard on tandems. rather than having all the examiner ratings rolled into one I believe being expert at one and dedicated to it makes better safety since when you are talking about tandem verse aff they do not compare in technique or ability or aproach IMHO. Uspa wants to incorporate further student training into every tandem and fallow Roger and Steve's lead by teaching every first time tandem things that over whelm them and give them sensory overload. Let tandem be the gateway to our sport but it is not the way to train first time jumpers. let them enjoy thier jump like they enjoy the roller coaster at six flags. If they love it put them in static line or aff. Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421