mr2mk1g

I'm guessing here... but it'd probably be something similar to where they want to freefly or join RW formations but there is no national freefly/rw qualification back home. Then it's basically at the CCI's discression based on the contents of your logbook, what qualifications you do have and what kind of attitude you have... that's if it's actually picked up upon.

Basically (very basically) these are a series of new canopy control regulations we've just brought in (although JM1 is more about being a jump master and flight line stuff which used to be chucked in with out old canopy handling qualification). For CH1 you have to demonstrate certain basic canopy control skills including basic accuracy, flat turns etc, it includes a written test and you must have this in order to get your "A". Then in order to progress you must get CH2 which includes further canopy control skills, more stringent accuracy and another test. You must obtain this before you can get your B licence. Then there's CP1 for which you must demonstrate a number of different swoop manoeuvres and be signed off as competent not to kill yourself. Now here's the key bit – having CP1 is a pre-requisite for being allowed to perform any swoop manoeuvre... this gives CCI (basically our S&TA) control over who is allowed to swoop and who isn’t. Hopefully CH1 and 2 will give people the skills not to plough fields with panic turns etc and the CP1 requirement will prevent people dieing by trying to swoop unless doing so as part of their training towards CP1 or at least after they've been judged competent enough to make their own mistakes. Then you have CP2 which is a prerequisite for entry into swoop competitions and is basically the same as the IPC entry requirements. The other key point is that none of this is linked to jump numbers or wing loading but actual skills. (save for the requirement that you have "C" licence before going for CP1 which in its self requires 200 jumps and "D" licence for CP2 which requires 1000 jumps). Full blurb can be seen here:http://www.bpa.org.uk/safetydocs/Operations%20Manual/sec%202.doc

You've missed my point entirely.

Yeah looks like Bush really fucked up when he described his jaunt in the Middle East as a "crusade". Wanna guess what that translates as?

Define "best".

I presume it was from a prison... At least you now know what not to do if you ever find yourself naked and facing a dozen riot police. but as I said - not my find - a repost from a day or two ago.

Got a local mall with security cameras? Don't think this guy got in. http://www.ebaumsworld.com/videos/takedown.html (repost)

careful now - that outboard motor thing wasn't a joke... we're a'comin' and that Thames barrier jobbie aint no flood defense neither - it's a giant motor we're gonna use just as soon as we get clear of Ireland.

c'mon man lighten up, we're just kidding round. We love you guys really.

Easy - head towards Liechtenstein, turn left and you're right there... ...What do you mean you don't know where Liechtenstein is?

Yeah probably. Luckily I live outside your borders I just find it amusing how many threads start here with a note of where the jumper is - Malay, UK, Germany, Spain, South Africa etc etc and all they get back is a load of quotes form the SIM or the FAA regs. Funny really. While often helpful to gauge the relative safety of the topic in question... it generally does absolutely nothing to answer the question posed. I mean nothing derogatory by it... but it is an honest observation.

Your freefly licence just got revoked for one month.

I think you're getting confuddled between USPA (american) regs and BPA (UK) regs. Remember the majority of people posting here are Yanks and they often completely miss the concept of a world beyond their boarders. Even when jurisdiction is specified you usually find that you get a lot of answers based on their regs. Its no surprise as there are more jumps in the US each year than the rest of the world combined and after all, what one organization implements as a safety concern has to be at least of interest to other organizations. That said - I'm not sure the BPA has a 1 month currency issue. Look to the BPA ops manual here: http://www.bpa.org.uk/opman.htm if in doubt as it's the horses mouth. Section 5.11 details layoffs: So you're looking at a minimum of 1 jump within the last 2 months to be legal. Yes un-currency may effect safety over and above that legal minimum... but you will be legal. Going over that legal maximum will generally mean an instructor going over your reserve drills with you and talking through a dive plan before having you go off to do a sensible solo. Note I say generally as things will change from place to place, how long your lay off is, how experianced you are, how heads up you appear and how much of an attitude you give. I really wouldn't concern yourself about this issue. It's not as difficult as it may seem to keep current.

Been involved with a club since I started jumping that does exactly this every year. they take training trips out themselves though rather than going through an agency. 7 days should do fine - at least your levels and more than likely also your consoles... unless you get crappy weather of course which no one can predict. my tip would by buy the full uspa membership. it's like a tenner more and you get an ok magazine subscription for your money as well as not having to shell out on membership again that year if you end up going over to the states again. getting signed off in the uk shouldn't be too much hassle. get either video of your level 7 or make sure you finish your a license requirements out there. you'll often find a BPA rated instructor kicking round the DZ in florida... maybe see if you can get a coached jump with him and a signature off him... that could count for a lot back home. So long as you don't turn up back home with an attitude (I think 90% of problems on return come down to this) you should be alright. don't simply turn up and flash your book going - yeah I'm fully qualified - now suck my balls (as I get the impression some people have done in the past only to then come on here and complain about the reaction it got ). Expect to be quizzed about what you know. Expect to maybe run through a dive plan or talk through what you're going to be doing with an instructor. Your docs will certainly be pored over to ensure so make sure there is a good full write up of every jump you did together with an instructors signature. Don't be too surprised if they want you to do a console or even a jump with an instructor if you didn't complete your a-license requirements out there. All in all you ought to be fine so long as you're able to satisfy your new home DZ you're not going to cause a whole load of paperwork for them by hurting yourself.

Righto'. I can see why the DZ might want to use that restriction though... it would help in many cases... but yes it suck to be one of the exceptions.

The currency rule in the UK is based around re-training sessions not necessarily jumps... ie time runs from your last re-train not your last jump. Relevant period is 1 month but you can go without for up to 3 months (with a longer retrain) before you're charged (generally). Beyond that you're likely looking at the full first jump course fee again.

I prefer this one: http://www.419eater.com/ Check out the trophy room.

I'm with you man - all the way. Nice philosophy! I'm all for paying for the date but not if they simply assume they're getting a freebe. I want to see a concerted effort to at least make it clear they're willing to pay before I pony up. It's the 21st century for crap's sake.

I have read the manual and been to the BPA seminars on the subject. CP1 is a prerequisite to swooping. SKILLS are a prerequisite it obtaining CP1. Obtaining CP1 ensures you have SKILLS. SKILLS reduce the likelihood of DEATH. CP1 is ALL about learning how not to DIE. I'll give you it's all about how you want to spin it. Have you read the manual? Can you point me to where in the manual the BPA require CP1 before allowing you to load your canopy above 1.4? The BPA is not forcing anyone to obtain CP1. If you want to swoop you must have CP1 first. If you never want to swoop you don't have to even know about its existence. The BPA is not linking CP1 to wing loading... if a DZ does, that's down to the individual DZ not the BPA. Yes I'm fully familiar with the manual and have had guidance on the subject above and beyond the manual alone. If you don't want to get CP1 don't get it. It only allows you to perform swoop landings anyway, nothing more. If your home DZ is linking it to wingloading and you don't like that, move, but don’t blame the BPA – they didn't create that rule. BTW the first practical requirement of CH1 is 3 jumps using flat turns. Just to emphasize this point; it is NOT mandatory to swoop. It is only mandatory to swoop if you want to swoop. If you want to swoop you have to obtain CP1 which includes swooping, but that surely wouldn't bother you – you're only obtaining the qualification to enable you to swoop. If for some reason you don't want to obtain CP1 but want to learn the elements of it you believe are most associated with saving your life you can still obtain and practice those skills with coaching.

And you call yourself a patriot... with a Belgian rifle indeed. For shame.

You're almost there... at least for a good layman's definition. You just got the sum the wrong way round. The higher the wingloading the faster you fly. So you want a low one. Student usually find themselves on a canopy loaded a good way below 1:1 (1lb of weight to one Sq foot of canopy). For a first canopy you're often advised to be around 1:1. But these are just generalities - only those who've seen you jump should be advising you on the finer points and you may find their advise differs from any general figures you find... that’s why everyone here says you need to talk to them. To take your example of a wing loading of 2.0:1, this would mean you fly much faster thus decreasing the time you have in the air to think about when to apply your breaks for landing and also meaning your collision speed with mother earth is much higher. Suddenly a low wing loading makes sense eh. For your 209 exit weight (although you may well find student gear weighs more than 22lb so you might want to adjust this equation) your loading on a comon student canopy... eg say a Navigator 280 would be 0.75 lb to 1 sq foot or 0.75:1 (209/280=0.746)

So you're the guy in that video.

and all the while all you wanted to do was snarf some.

well BAR is just down the road from Hinton DZ... you know skydivers and weather hold.