AFFI

An honest and sincere inquiry if I may: Concerning your PCITs – what created the difficult extraction? Un-cocked or Worn out PC not creating enough drag to initiate deployment or perhaps the closing loop was too tight? I am curious because the PCIT's I have had the opportunity to inspect had misrouted bridles and could be pulled with a lot of force while standing above the rig with it on the ground and the pin would not budge. So what I learned from those experiences (along with mentors suggestions) is that reaching back to pull on the bridle will usually not create sufficient force and depending on the altitude the main deployment sequence was initiated, taking the time to attempt the reach around could burn up too much precious altitude. A secondary salient point is that the suspensions lines if it could be cleared had a greater opportunity to entangle on the extremity utilized for the reach around. I am always eager to learn and re-evaluate my EP’s so further clarification would be much appreciate. Thanks… - Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

All I can do is share my personal experiences witch are only marginally extensive as I have only around 500 student jumps. Often times the exit count with a low time instructional skydive is not exactly spot on, it might go without a count or a count that is longer than expected, sometimes the exit can be dragged out resulting in a tumbling situation. Now I am only addressing this one potential issue, if the camera flyer gets confused simply by the lack of experience that cam flyer can get mixed up into a tumbling exit thus creating a situation that is worsened by another body in the mix of tumbling bodies that Instructors have protocols in which to deal with at a somewhat safe level the camera flyer needs to be aware of, practiced and familiar with these protocols. Handles can be extracted inadvertently, gear can be entangled creating a situation where bodies cannot separate resulting in a deployment of a main were the cutaway handle was inadvertently extracted leaving the two entangled skydivers to tumble away out of control and when the cypresses fire canopies can entangle and the landing will be nasty. There is a lot that could potentially go wrong I am stating only a potential scenario of which there are many possible variations. This particular scenario is only the tip of the iceberg of what could potentially go wrong. It is not my opinion but a pure and simple fact that having an inexperienced camera flyer on a low level instructional jump can create a plethora of undesirable circumstances. An AFF L1 has enough potential to go wrong, why add additional risk? If I were in the OP’s shoes, and it were really a good friend of mine I certainly would not want to add additional risk to an already complex skydive. When I initially earned my rating I had no clue of the potential of mishap concerning instructional jumps, although usually, everything goes well, when the sit hits the fan anything can happen. Instructors need to be prepared for any potential mishap and there is no sense in terms of safety by adding an additional risk factor. All I am offering is my opinion based on my limited experience, so I apologize for the "spouting". Thanks for the kind words Douglass... - Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

The point being "qualified". A lot of unexpected circumstances can arise on a student jump; especially an AFF L1 and I personally will not allow a skydiver with such low jump numbers on a jump like that. A LOT can happen (go wrong), you just wouldn’t believe! - Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Yes I work at a tandem progression DZ but we do offer straight AFF for those who want it. We have a very experienced staff of camera flyers and they are available for hire for any level of student skydives. Any time in the past when a student requested outside video/pic’s on a low level student jump I will always request a camera flyer who has experience with student jumps (current or formerly AFF rated when possible). In the past, outside lurkers or inexperienced vidits have always created a distraction hindering their (students) performance in obtaining the TLO’s. So I just do not allow lurkers on student jumps anymore. There will be plenty of time to jump with friends after completion of the student progression. - Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

If I were the JM on the jump I would be strictly opposed to allowing any skydiver on a student jump that is not supposed to be there, I have learned this the hard way. There is no good reason for you to be there, a student on an instructional jump has enough to concentrate on, much less the distraction of a lurker. If getting video is the motivation, hire a qualified videographer that is experienced filming AFF jumps. - Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Honestly, I do not like my wife to jump because I love her immensely and naturally I do not want anything bad to happen to her. But it makes her happy so I do not say anything negative, just make certain she has good gear and is trained well and prepared for the endeavor. Luckily she lost interest about a year ago. She encourages me to jump as much as I can though because she knows it is good for my mental health. I have read it in a post before that bottom line, that when we jump we have effectively committed suicide unless we do something to prevent it, but that has not been the concern of mine as much as it is someone taking her out, that seems to be on the rise lately So I understand your girls concerns, and giving our loved ones what is best or them is a double edge sword that requires understanding and acceptance on both sides of the fence. Educating her might be the best next step. - Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

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

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

Hey Bill, Where could I get the details concerning this incident? Is there a thread in the incidents Forum I could read? I am most curious to learn more info... - Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Bad advice for young impressionable minds. If you hold the PC even for a second, the bridle (whipping around in a 120MPH wind) can take a wrap around the fabric of the PC and cinch it closed which may result in a PC in TOW. I have seen it, which led to a 2 Out situation. This lowtimer did not handle the 2 Out very well (as trained) resulting in serious injuries landing. The reason we teach to "Throw" is to get out of the habit of holding which may introduce a few different bad situations. If the jumper goes to full arm extension and releases but the full extension is not lateral away from the body, but rather angles upward, close to the burble the PC can easily get sucked right into the burble - I have seen this one as well - have a great series of pic's captured from my camcorder. I will try to find the BU of this pic and post. Please enlighten me - Teaching not to throw has what advantages? Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Hd of 1800 with 54 jumps? Enlighten me. You mention releasing toggles at 1,000, do you mean unstowing? Rule fo thumb - do not preform radical manuevers below an altitude you are not willing to cutaway from. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

What pops said, but I tend to concentrate on EP's first and foremost, then canopy piloting saving freefall skills last. Students must be able to handle potential problems should they arise, I will still spend the bulk of training time on EP's... TLO's in freefall are not much good if an injury occours, students will not come back if they have a bad experience and get injured landing. It has been my experience, although limited that students will relax and preform better in freefall if they are confident in their ability to land safely and that is bred on good training with emphasis on the priorities in my sig line. I have yet to see a jumper on the plane riding to altitude with a femur sticking out. - Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Not sure if we are talking about piloting airplanes or parachutes… I think the OP was addressing "Canopy Piloting" no? - Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

It’s always “the parachute didn’t open” rather than “the jumper failed to initiate emergency procedures” – seems like they always blame the gear rather than the jumper. I have yet to see a single report of a skydive gone wrong in the media accurately portrayed. - Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

The way you worded “After the 3 Rings were released” was comforting, the red flag was “Split Second”. A mistake I see a lot of up jumpers make is practicing only one way, and that is a rapid firing of the reserve immediately after the cutaway. I have seen several make the mistake of firing the reserve before both risers were released and none of those landings were pretty. I like to think of the act of initiating Emergency Procedures as an act of gracefulness using good form rather than getting the job done rapidly. Boxing or fencing comes to mind as a controlled aggression, where gracefulness and good form are paramount in order to be successful. I am not harping on you in particular, but rather communicating to the group that EP’s should be done with control, gracefulness and finesse utilizing proper technique while executing, rather than amping out and pushing those handles as fast as possible. - Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

I have seen a student land line twists thinking it was not much to be concerned about since it was not a "malfunction" - I understand that helicopter is not so pretty from the inside... Saying a situation is not a malfunction until you reach the hard deck can apply toward anything eh? Seeing that person get busted up illustrates the confusion that can be created. Exactly what that person was thinking – “Oh, it’s not a malfunction, I’ll be okay”… If it not safe to land, it is a malfunction unless it is made safe to land by the time you reach your hard deck. High Speed situation: Immediate action Low Speed situation: Establish your priorities based on your altitude above the hard deck. (first step in dealing with Line twists? Check Alti)... - Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Amateur. WFFC '04. 10 days, 6 jumps. LP '05. 10 days, 2 jumps. LP '06. 10 days, 1 jump. But since I can't jump right now, I know I'll do better at LP this year. Skyfest 2005, I was there for the entire Boogie, made around 30 jumps...

I have seen it, and on more than one occasion seen a student under canopy at 10k for varying reasons... Good to have confidence in oneself - careful about the over confidence though- shit you can not imagine to occour can, and when you least expect it. A low level student being taken on a "sunset" load is having additional risk placed on them, of that there is no doubt. - Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Yeah, understood – but all the equations are confusing to me. I keep it simple when I am teaching, and for me cause I am not too bright. Using a toggle creates drag along the trailing edge of the canopy; rear riser input is more sensitive because you are using more surface area of the canopy right? - Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Agreed - it is a malfunction that is POTENTIALLY fixable. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Or another religion or just a person void of religions who believes in a HP...

So all this is going to help my canopy piloting how?

Well, 16 Instructional Jumps, THEN the H&P and a Graduation Jump. So it is a 16 solo jump program (after 2 tandems) with a rated USPA Solo Freefall Instructor (not coaches). Kinda like the ISP... - Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

I teach at an 18 solo jump progression method. It depends on the student and where they are in the progression. - Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Well Said!