AFFI

Not that it is good or bad, it just is - and it certainly does suck. I have been to more than my share of funerals throughout the course of my life, and have decided not to attend anymore until my wife perishes, and maybe not even hers. I prefer to remember people as they were, not shriveled up in some box or gurgling on their own blood… Not that we should or should not do anything in particular, it is in our nature to survive - self preservation and all that. So naturally we will do something, but sometimes actions taken are not always the best course, and sometimes they are... Let it continue? How in the hell are we going to stop people from dying and save them from themselves, especially with a one answer fits all solution? It has been freakish, this string of fatalities, but there have been other bizarre strings of fatalities that have made me scratch my head. Consider how many have died in jump plane accidents, and there is a ton of regulations to minimize this, but how many DZ’s out there do not maintain their airplanes up to the regulated minimums? I believe that many do, and I know for a fact (strongly suspect) that many of the jump planes I have been in are not within the maintenance regs… I boarded many of them anyway, even though I did not feel safe because jumping was more important to me than my safety at certain junctures of my life. So what, shut em all down??? That is also probably why I have been working at the same DZ for nearly 7 years, which is a long time for a guy like me to stay in one place, but everything about the place I work at is very well maintained, especially the airplanes. It is the all around best DZ to jump at that I could imagine, so I stay… If the thought of someone dying is too much to handle, then perhaps skydiving is not for everyone. If the thought of being taken out in traffic, dying in an airplane crash, or even getting some venereal disease after having unprotected sex from a 15 year old Costa Rican sex slave (no offense to my Rican friends out there), then don’t do those sorts of things or be selective as hell where you jump… If someone don’t like what is on the telly, change channels and all that... If we spend a bunch of resources creating more regs, they will be waiver-able or not adhered to, like so many of the regs in the world. Speeding is a leading cause of fatalities on the roadways, but how many of us drive faster than the posted speed limits even though it is a leading cause of fatalities? I would suspect that if no new regs were created; there has been already been enough carnage and tragedy to get people to take action at the local levels. - Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Don't think Dave was ragging on you in particular (he really is a nice guy), but rather, giving everyone who might read some things to consider. There is a lot of good information in that post. Curious about this point - If you generally deploy at 3,500, are you busy with other things before you un-stow your toggles at 2,500? - Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

But why would we want to? If that could be accomplished then there would be no reason to become more safety conscious. Collisions, loss of altitude awareness, not dealing with a malfunction properly, inducing a malfunction without sufficient altitude to recover, hooking it in, turning too low to recover trying to miss an obstacle etcetera etcetera etcetera… If we did not have skydivers dying, then there would be no reason for the rest of us to improve our safety habits, to improve our skills through training, or to consider more/less regulations in order to keep the rest of us alive a little longer – every now and then, we need the sacrificial lamb or two (or 10) to remind the rest of us that we are participating in a very dangerous and potentially deadly activity. If it was not dangerous, many of us would be out there risking our lives in some other activity, I know I would… Skydivers die skydiving, and it sucks, especially when it hits close to home, but so what? We assume that risk when we decided to exit an airplane from un-survivable altitudes. People jump out of freaking airplanes, then when things don’t go well for them they take others to court? People like that clearly did not consider the potential ramifications of what the hell they were willing to do or their motivations for doing it… If it bothers anyone that skydiving is dangerous, or it would be too much to handle having a friend or loved one perish skydiving, then perhaps it would be better to not skydive or know any skydivers. I hate the idea of my wife perishing in a skydiving mishap, but I understand that taking that risk is incredibly fulfilling for many who take on that lifestyle, for some of us, to be alive is to participate in such activities as it is for her, and for me. I have had doctors tell me that my skydiving days are over and I said “like hell they are”, and they just do not understand that, but many of us certainly do… K is totally correct, it needs to be pre-emptive, but how would we possibly know that if there was no reason for us to? Like friends perishing... - Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

the more you use your menus, the sooner your touch screen will go out. Save it! Continue putting your hand over the lens, and go find another boss.

I fully believe this statement. It is why I refuse to become skydiving instructor under any capacity and why I refer every new jumper to the most experienced on the dz. If I WERE an instructor and a student of mine hurt themselves, I would feel responsible. As a teacher it IS your responsibility to recognize when you aren't getting through to a student and to send them to a new instructor. I teach my craft and every one of my proteges(except one who walked out on the job) has become the busiest and the best in our field. Teaching is a humbling experience and those that do not think so aren't doing it well. It is a HEAVY responsibility, very heavy – and some instructors I have worked with do not believe it is. Anytime I fall short, anytime I make a slight mistake, I loose sleep. This may sound silly, but one time an EX-student that I worked really hard on got fucked up nearly 2 years after student status, and I felt incredibly responsible! Lost plenty of sleep over it, nearly hung up my spurs (Texas thing) and quit instructing over it. It was really hard. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Short answer(s), which may not e terribly short: Everyone learns differently, a good instructor will adapt to fit the mold of those being taught, and even a good teacher cannot fit every mold, so I try to guide, and allow them to mold themselves. Empower them… Tell em, tell em what ya told em, have them tell you what you told em, have them demonstrate what you told em. Keep it simple… After a few training sessions, the empowered student will be influenced to take it upon themselves to learn more by their own initiative. We are training skydivers to go out and never stop training themselves and to be a positive and safe influence to the skydiving community. Length of a FJC can be varying certainly, and AFF and Tandem progression FJC’s are not exactly the same animal, especially when the tandems are actually working and structured with the solo progression in mind. A well trained tandem student, prepared for solo jumping is light years ahead of tandems that were taught nothing and just taken for rides or AFF. Regardless of the method, there will be a point when the students attention will be lost, and that is different for individuals as well, so it is important to decide what is important, making that decision is the tricky part so they can be taught what is the most important stuff in order to build habits that will influence them to learn how to survive any conceivable scenario which is something we cannot possibly do, so it is important to teach them the importance of continued training an good decision making. Good decision making comes from empowering them to make decisions on their own, with limited guidance. For example, is it more likely that they will hit the side of a building or some other landing hazard or have to CORRECTLY deal with a partial malfunction that is potentially fixable (like line twists), or further, decide when corrective action needs to be taken. Is it more important to spend a lot of time on freefall dive flow until they get it perfect, or spend the majority of the available time learning EP’s and canopy flight? Personally I believe we should concentrate on building habits that lead to survival, and concentrate on what survival skills they are most likely to need in their bag of tricks as students, keeping in mind that we are also encouraging them to continue to learn the finer portions of any aspects of survival that they were not able to reach a perfect understanding of as students. We have a finite amount of time to have their attention and maximize our effectiveness as teachers. I could go into much more detail concerning my methods and philosophies which would require hours, days or perhaps weeks of typing and many hours of reading, it is very difficult to explain in depth in a forum to read. It would be much easier to visit the DZ I work at and spend a long weekend shadowing me if it is believed that it would assist in becoming a better instructor or even more so - Learning what not to do in order to make a better instructor because I am far from having much of anything figured out. I once read that if one desires to become proficient at something, then find and expert, stand beneath them and catch their drippings (sounds kinda erotic, or nasty, but you get the idea). And I am not a self-proclaimed expert, but I try to teach my DZO's students thoroughly, to the very best of my ability with what I have to offer at that particular moment in time... - Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

You are totally right... I am currently trying to get someone to realize that and being subtle has not worked yet. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

I don’t quite get the Pot Meet thing either, but I believe it has something to do with commentary on the link provided where you commented about a disappointing time you has at some unnamed DZ. “some dropzones really suck. There's about 20 "skydivers" there and your name is the only one on the board for about an hour and a half! Why isn't anyone jumping?... "Well, there was a bunch of tandems this mourning so everyone is tired"... I couldn't believe this lame-ass excuse at 4pm in the afternoon on the most beautiful day.” Now I try not to get into politics or spats here, it is a waste of time so I will leave my personal interpretations out of the equation and just concentrate my opinions on the skydiving aspects by sharing a personal story. When you said: “Seems like you are the same miserable old man. Remember I told you a long time ago not to anwser my threads/comments?” It reminded me of a time back when I had 100 or 200 jumps and I said something similar to some old timer, and he looked me square in the eye and said something like; “You know, I have FORGOTTEN more about skydiving than you have even learned yet, so even though you don’t always like what I have to say or the way I express myself, you may want to consider listening to me if you want to become a better skydiver yourself.” I ended up learning a lot from that old bastard over the next couple hundred jumps, and we ended up becoming pretty good friends and it taught me something about humility and respect, even though I did not like his methods, his experience was priceless and his willingness to share it with others was very decent of him. I seriously doubt he reads here, but Thanks Rick! Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

I'm not a proponent of the idea myself, but am curious as to how the "45 degree rule" causes near misses? Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

If it is keeping you unhurt, then that is good enough while you train until you learn more. What are your jump numbers and time in the sport? Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Canopy control is the second most important priority in surviving a freefall from an airplane, getting an open parachute is the first. Making aggressive turns low to the ground is NEVER a good idea. “Avoidance” maneuvers - as in turns to take evasive action low to the ground should not be aggressive but rather controlled, and methodical planed out maneuvers that utilize good form and finesse, not aggression. It would be a better idea to fly into most obstacles rather than turn aggressively when low to the ground. I witnessed a fiend die after (gently) pulling a toggle down to the number one position at 100’ to avoid a tree. He should have taken the tree… Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Could you explain this statement a bit more? It seems broad and overly bold. (edited for clarity) A teacher that only knows a student for a few hours at best, really has no idea on what makes the student tick. A teacher may think they know, but they really don't. Let me give you some examples. Waay back in the olden days, my 3rd or 4th grade teacher made a bunch of us stand up at our desks because we 'failed' some test. I forget the subject area. She went on telling the rest of the class that 'none of these students studied and were goof-offs.' or words to that effect. The problem was that I did study for many hours. But I'll never forget the inane accusations that made me and the others (about 1/3 of the class) feel as though we were shit. When I was in college as an undergrad, I had several teachers (and other students) tell me 'We'll see how long it lasts' when they found out I wanted to major in physics. When I was a grad student, I had a major professor tell me that he didn't like women students because 'they just get married and quit', unfortunately it was after he was already my major professor. When I was a student jumper I had several JMs tell me 'You know skydiving isn't for everyone.' Not a single one of these teachers was right. They had no idea on what I did or did not do to get through school or what my motivations were. The damage that these teachers did was immeasurable. Teachers have a responsibility to students to encourage them and provide skills and knowledge to allow a student to succeed. They do not have the authority to tell someone 'Hey, you are not cut out for such-n-such.' . TRUST ME I have worked with individuals who wanted to learn to skydive that are not at all "cut out for it". Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

I haven't though about it??? Guess I will have to vote, "What do you mean"?

Perfection.... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Sounds to me like you are a skydiver. I knew when I did my first jump that I was going to be an instructor because skydiving delivered me from a deep depression and helped me, no delivered me from a bottomless quagmire of despair. I have been surprised how many of the students that I have worked with over the years have similar stories. For me, skydiving became the most important aspect of existence because while I do it, all my problems issues and worries just fade away, without it I would not be alive today… Seems like you appreciate skydiving like I do so hang in there. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

That is what it is all about! Quality instruction defines what happens in the future. I believe that future incident reports are influenced by the quality of instruction today’s students receive. You can have the best program in the world, but if the instructors representing it are mediocre, then they will put out skydivers who disregard sensible decisions. This Aggie is right on! Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

No matter where you go or what it is you are learning, you will find quality teachers and those that are either incapable of quality instruction or just there for a paycheck. I am giving you a formal invitation to Texas, you can even say in a camper I am not using for a couple months until you get on your feet – you will not get such inhospitable treatment here. Believe it or not, everyone at a DZ that does not roll out the red carpet is looking down their nose at visitors, newcomers and wuffos because there are skydivers who are shy as hell as well. I will admit something I never have in public, but I personally have a terrible time talking to strangers, or even taking my garbage to the dumpster in the daytime because I may have to talk to a neighbor. For some reason, going up to a stranger and starting a conversation is one of the most impossible things in the world for me, it is not because of a skygod attitude but because I have personal issues when it comes to socializing and I suspect that I am not the only one. I happen to be one of those instructors that go the extra mile and really care about the quality of education the students I work with receive, but if it were not for manifest calling me in and assigning me to a student, I may never meet them because of my antisocial (shy) behavior. So perhaps a less contemptuous attitude may be in order to the entire skydiving community. We are not all assholes; some of us just have issues like regular people because we are just regular people, an entire society where you are going to find varying personalities. When I first started skydiving, I was as I always am, very isolated, but my love for the sport outweighed anything and I will never accept an excuse that someone quit skydiving for any reason other than they did not want it badly enough… Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

I commend rollinj for admitting publicly that a mistake was made, someone may read this thread and have their life saved as a result from what they may learn by reading this information. That is one of the positives of a public forum like this, thanks J… Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Good to hear a voice of reason... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Am I the only one here that thinks that this may have been your most stupid decsion of the chain? Jumping with a misrouted chest strap was #1, but you are correct, not too bright... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Serious inquiry: Do they have freedom of speech in Canada? I feel your frustration, I think all the recent treads about the decline and death of this sport is nonsense. At the DZ where I work at, our student program has never been as busy with solo freefall students and graduates as it is right now. As Wendy pointed out, we have a large amount of sport jumpers with 25 to 200 jumps that are eager to jump all they can, go to tunnel camps and participate in competitive skydiving at the local level. When we have 100 tandems on the books, the boss provides the sport jumpers plenty of slots with multiple aircraft and the Otters and Caravan stay very busy with sport jumpers and solo freefall students all day long. Seriously, if there are any quality AFF instructors out there looking for a place to roost, we have never been busier; the sport is flourishing in our part of the world… So let the opinionated talk, they are entitled to their perspective even though it has no bearing with reality on a world wide scale, skydiving is far from extinct or unpopular. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

So true... Using a bunch of "cool" transitions will tell how experienced of an editor worked on the project, or that it was Mr. Transition himself - George Lucas... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

A chest strap is either properly routed, or it is not, there is no middle ground, it is black and white. There has been an abundance of posts concerning chest strap routing; a search provided nearly 5,000 posts so it seems that this is a common safety issue. Hopefully you appreciate how close of a call you had and could have easily been killed. I am so glad that you survived and learned from it… I am not certain that attempting to route your chest strap in freefall is not the best plan of action for this, obviously avoiding the situation all together is best. Right after you route your chest strap, run your thumb and finger along the buckle. If you actually touch it will provide the closest attention to detail (tugging on it will not necessarily reveal a problem) - make certain that it is in fact routed properly as a misrouted chest strap can be a seriously deadly situation. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Just one, if they walk away from it eh??? Tree landings - that is damn good accuracy… Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

"Flare the same no matter what the conditions. Do it the same every time." Is this an accurate and direct quote from him? Although I have never trained with him personally, I have read dissertations written by him and it seems that communication is important to him because his papers are written so well. "Flare the same no matter what the conditions. Do it the same every time." That statement can obviously be interpreted many ways and it would seem to me that a misunderstanding could occur, as it seems to have here. I don’t flare the same way every time no matter what the conditions are. By that I am talking about the mechanics involved with the integration between me and my canopy and how I react to various and always changing conditions, which is how this statement came across to me. So I simply wanted to clear this up in case there are impressionable minds reading these posts that may incorporate bad habits into their learning curve by misinterpreting this statement as I did. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…