bclark

I think that as long as the licensing organization is recognized by the FAI (Federation Aeronatique Internationale), you should be able to jump in most places. The back of my USPA license says that the FAI issues "international parachutist certificates". I may be wrong, but this is what I understand to be true.

Out of all tandems we do 20% return for another jump. Out of those #'s I don't know how many continue to solo jumping. We keep stats. I don't recall the exact #'s for second tandem to solo transition. Not to get off subject, just to answer your question. A further thought about gratuity (relating specifically to people who work full time in skydiving.) Most every instructor starts working in the industry because they love the sport. They make sacrifices in their lives because they want to do something they enjoy. Many people fall out because they realize the commitment is full time, pay is relatively low, and they will have to WORK HARD to make any living at all. A tip is a very personal way to express appreciation for a job well done. (If indeed the job is well done.) As many before have mentioned it does not have to be cash. YES, I remember the students who have fed me lunch or bought me a beer. Instructors who stick around long term truely do it out of love for the sport. But a couple bucks, a slice of pizza, or a beer go a long way.

I am on call 364 days a year daylight hours. I make about $30k per year, before taxes. I live in a old motor home on the airport. I love to skydive. I love to teach you. If you appreciate my efforts, I appreciate a cash tip.

Nothing. This is the first of many times that you will be asked this question. Find a way that you feel is appropriate to answer it and do so in the most professional way possible. Students are going to be nervous. They are going to ask questions.

I think that you should tell them the truth. Explain that accidents are usually a result of pilot error. I think that students should not be ignorant of the risks involved in skydiving. If they are brought up to have a healthy respect for what they are doing they will take safety and their training more seriously.

:23:0 23 tandems, had a great time watching the POPS Texas State Record Attempts (although a new record was not set). Watched a SOS TSR, some 3 plane 30 ways. Had some great students. Lots of fun!

I've been jumping in Chuckie T's as long as I've been skydiving. They offer some ankle support and slide well. My dad always laughs because I am almost 32 years old and all I ever wear is the same damn shoes I wore when I was 19. And as far as the extra lace goes, you just tuck em' down the sides.

Although it may be possible for you to learn, you need to consider that the learning process may be much more difficult and risky for you. You need to really understand the hazards, not only in freefall, but in landing your canopy. You also need to weigh those risks in relation to the fact that you may not recover as well from an injury (which is a very real possibility) as you once could. I understand desire and motivation to learn. I also admire your determination. But an injury which would be relatively minor to a younger person could seriously affect your quality of life at this stage in the game. I am saying this from the perspective of someone who has seen some things, and definately would not recommend someone I care about at 66 years of age to start skydiving.

We like the Listerine pocket mist here. They are reasonably cheap and last for a long time.

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2721598;page=unread#unread

Once again it is all about practice and training. Not just the student, but practice on the instructors part also. But like most things, with a little effort, you can learn to do it safely. The controversy in this thread started with discussion over joyride tandems vs. instructional tandems. Letting your student land with you is just one part of this discussion. No one is telling you that you suck or lack ability because you don't let your student have toggles for landing. If you are uncomfortable with it than it shows good judgement. But I will maintain that with proper emphasis on training and practice up high students can be taught to assist on landing no problemo. And part of learning to do it safely is knowing when to tell that student to let go. ( If I do make that decision it will be at 1000' not 100. ) Sometimes the students performance is lacking, sometimes the conditions are sketchy.

Well spoken Twardo.

I also sent letters to my senator and congressman today. (Thanks Trent)

Dude, you just made me shoot cup o' noodles out of my nose! That shit stings! You notice the only ones coming to the defense of this type of tandem are other "drogue chuckers". I have read several posts in this thread from STUDENTS expressing their appreciation for being allowed an opportunity to learn. We don't force any student to learn. If all they want is to go for a ride we still provide that service. Because there ARE students who want that. But the vast majority when given an opportunity to participate will take advantage of it, and in doing so gain a greater sense of satisfaction from their first skydive.

Oh shit that made me laugh! I needed a little humor injected into this conversation.

The right hand drogue release on a Sigma intentionally simulates the location of a hand deploy pilot chute and is no more difficult for a student to reach. It is very easy for them to reach.

No, YOU have reduced skydiving to nothing but a carnival ride through your approach to doing tandems. Tandem was invented as an instructional tool. It was not intended to be what it is (in many places) today. If you cannot succesfully teach a student to participate in things as simple as pulling a ripcord or flaring it says something about your abilities. And if it is "madness" to give your student access to a drogue release, then why do the manufacturers condone such a practice? (And even design the equipment with this in mind). That said, I agree with you on one point. It is all about risk assesment. And if you lack the ability to succesfully train a student in simple tasks, then your approach is the right one.

Forget about "political correctness". No matter what terms you use, there are those who teach their students and those who "chuck drogues and get paid". It is obvious that you are the latter and not the former. On a tandem jump you can teach your student proper body position, altitude awareness, how to deploy a parachute. If you put a little effort into it you can teach them about canopy control and landing too. If you let them participate they are much more likely to make a second jump, or to go on and become a skydiver. The "importance that I wallow in" is that I feel it important to invest a little time in student training. Even at a turbine DZ where the "machine needs to be fed", you can take the time to involve your student instead of treating them like another piece of meat.

Having your students help you land is all about practice up high. Open, check the canopy, fly to your holding area. Give them the toggles. Teach them hands up is full glide. Guide them through a flare stressing that their hands come down with yours. Explain these are brakes (and nothing to be afraid of). After full glide and brakes show them slow turns in either direction stressing hands up as the neutral position then pulling toggle on the side they want to turn. Now they know fast, slow, and turns. Now guide them through several complete practice landings starting with hands all the way up, then feet out, then flare. Correct any performance deficiencies up high until you are confident with their ability to help you. In very rare circumstances I cannot get a student to satisfactorily perform during practice and I will take the toggles away. Also very rarely you will get one that can't hold their feet up. (putting a proper harness on them goes a long way toward eliminating this problem). THEN if you get to landing and they still lock their arms or try and flare to soon OVERPOWER THEM. You have much better leverage and control of those toggles than they do on the front. I am a little guy and if I can do it you can too.

Last 4000 tandems I have done my student has toggles on landing. You DO need to learn to do this correctly, but it CAN be done. It is DZ policy to give the students toggles, unless you cannot get them to perform satisfactorily. We believe in teaching our students, not giving rides.

Why not? Are you saying that if the reserve would have escaped you would be guaranteed a main / reserve entanglement? Extensive testing has shown that you are far more likely to end up with a biplane, a side by side, or a downplane.

Just got a copy of "Cowboy's Caravan". You can still order it from Skyspec Publishing for $20.00. I got it today and read it from cover to cover this afternoon. http://gemspec.com/_wsn/page3.html This is a cool book to add to any skydiver's collection.

Although I know people that have cleared pilot chute in tows by reaching back and popping the pin, there are a couple of reasons I can think of not to do this. First: assume you are skydiving along and at 3000' you wave off, arch, reach, and pull. This puts you at 2500' as you let go of your pilot chute. Oh shit, I have a pilot chute in tow! Even the quickest reflexes are going to take a couple more seconds to react. Now I am somewhere around 2000'. I think maybe I can clear this pilot chute in tow by "popping the pin", so I reach back and actually manage to clear the malfunction at about 1500'. I jump a modern high performance parachute which takes 500-800 feet to open with a fully inflated pilot chute. Suddenly I am snivelling through Cypres fire and end up under 1000' with 2 out. Second: this only works if the PCIT is caused by an uncocked pilot chute. If it is something more insidious such as a misrouted bridle (yes, I know we should have caught this on our preflight) you are simply wasting time. Have a preplanned response. Whether you cut away first or not, don't fuck around. Recognize the problem and act.

When you say Twin Beech boogie I think Beech 18!

I agree that PCIT is almost entirely preventable. And I agree that prevention is the best solution. I won't try and change your mind about your EP's. There are two accepted schools of thought. I happen to follow the opposite one. I believe a PCIT is a total malfunction and should be treated as such. I also think I have alot more options with my risers securely attached to my rig. A main reserve entanglement may result with either course of action. But with the risers still attached it is much more likely that you will end up with a two out situation. And that gives you a whole new set of options and choices. If you cut away first you either get lucky or you don't. And if you don't you are left with little recourse.