AFFI

Why? Force necessary to initiate main deployment is much smaller than the force applied by the PC. Force required for the main is, oh say in the area of 14 pounds and the PC supplies around 85/90 pounds. If 85 pounds wont get the pin extracted it is very unlikely that an individual reaching around their back will be able to apply the additional force necessary to initiate the main canopy deployment, even for the Terminator. Another thing to consider is a PCIT is usually a misrouting of the bridle and the rigs I have seen after a PCIT recovery could be picked up and shaken from an individual while standing on the ground, even pulling with all their might using both feet as leverage and still could not get the pin extracted. PCIT is a high speed malfunction and while you are sitting there tugging, with adrenaline pouring out of your ears it would be really easy to loose track of altitude. It would suck to pound in just as you are getting line stretch on the reserve, but then there is only an instant to feel like a dumb-ass before it is over so I guess there is a silver lining in every cloud. BLAME: The PCIT is a packing error, but to have one occur is not really the fault of the packer but is the jumpers responsibility to notice the packing error and should be caught during a through gear check prior to dawning the rig. In the event that it is missed by the jumper during the initial gear check, then if the jumper is smart enough to receive a JMPI (gear check) from a fellow skydiver before jumping it could be noticed at that point. PCIT’s that I have been around have been individuals that don’t need (receive) gear checks from peer’s prior to jumping which is just downright, ummmm, counterproductive to getting to have a nice dinner that evening. Hard to eat if one is corpse’d up… This is not a dissertation at how to handle the PCIT; there are different schools of thought that have been discussed and debated in these forums ad nauseam, so you can do a search for that one. If you want my opinion as to how to properly handle this malfunction PM me. Hope this answers your question as to why... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Good thing you did not jump the gun and react to the suspected PCIT prematurely. What likely happened is that you deployed your PC before reaching terminal velocity or at least a fall rate sufficient to create enough drag to create adequate force to initiate the deployment of the main, once you gained speed the drag created by the PC increased until enough force was applied to initiate main deployment. Never try to manually extract you pin by reaching back seems to be the opinion of most instructors that I know. Bag Lock: A friend of mine had a bag lock up high and decided to ride it down to a lower altitude before the chop so he wouldn’t loose his main, the canopy opened violently at 8k and broke his back in a couple places. Might have been better to replace the canopy because backs are hard to come by. Slider Hang Up: Best to go with your training and remember that altitude awareness is essential when dealing with a potentially fixable partial malfunction. Unable to find or hard pull: Best to go with you training at your experience level (37 jumps), try twice then deploy the reserve. There has been some good discussion in the not so recent past about all the issues you are raising, so a search and you will find some good food for thought. You helath is much more important that your canopy. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

I know someone who not only lived but walked away... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Yeah, talk to your instructors... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

I'm with Keith on this one... A few minutes of uncomfortable for mounds of comfort!

The one manifest prints out at the end of the year.

That is what I believe as well, and I throw in good body position at deployment time just for good measure. To the original poster, there has been some very good discourse on this subject in the past, do a search and you might find some interesting information. One thing is for certain, get a bunch of skydivers in a room to show you how to pack and you are likely to get a lot of varying techniques that have the desirable end result of an open parachute a large percentage of the time. All kinds of "mumbo jumbo" as bill V. once put it. Personally, I just got tired of wasting my time doing things that really were not necessary for the desired end result. I have serious back issues so I use the biggest slider PD was willing to make for my Stiletto - nice and quick packs, soft every time. It’s all about the amount of drag the slider presents. But then again, I could be wrong. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

A good friend of mine reached for the risers on a tandem line twist and the canopy spun again and wrapped the risers around his right wrist. He tapped the student on the shoulder and pointed out the problem and calmly explained that he needed help. Both of them kicked together and kicked out of the twists. He said he thought it was done spinning - just something to think about.

Pour Robitussen on it and let it soak in till the tussin gets to the bone...

Huked un phunix rully werked fer me!

Pen and Paper? What the hell is Pen and Paper???

Ummmm, how about talking to your instructor? Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Not sure I understand what you are asking for.

Red Lobster, Stop and Go, Piggly Wiggly, Pizza Hut Delivery Driver - these are a few that come to mind.

It seems like there was a thread that discussed this earlier this year. Ummmm, try a search? Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Something I am curious about – did this camera flyer have the experience (jump numbers) recommended to fly video with a tandem in the first place? I am not quite sure how to word this, but here goes: If an unqualified camera flyer made a poor decision like this perhaps it could be chalked up to the lack of experience in skydiving that was the basis for the poor decision. I guess what I am trying to say is that a camera flyer with say 200 jumps might be more inclined to make this poor decision as opposed to a camera flyer with 501 (or more) jumps, perhaps that is one of the reasons that jump number recommendations to fly with a tandem exist in the first place. My imagination can come up with some hazardous sets of circumstances that could result from a camera flyer having a tight grip on a tandem student just to match fall rate and maybe a more inexperienced skydiver might not be aware of the potential hazards this action could result in. Sorry for fumbling my words, it is late and I am sleep deprived from many days of inadequate sleep. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

If I look up and see line twist - the first thing I am going to do is check my altitude and monitor it carefully while dealing with the situation. Alt awareness is paramount when dealing with a partial that can possible be corrected. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

No way to tell without seeing the gear just after landing eh Keith? Once the reserve was opened I am sure there were other things to concentrate on at this point - I have seen handles dangling on more than once. However, most (if not all) skydivers need continued training for certain.

I might be misunderstanding here... but the post was about taking a wrap to get a complete stall, not flaring. I wouldn't want to adjust my canopy to stall at full toggle extension under normal landing conditions.. I'd rather it was just starting to stall as I land. My toggles are properly adjusted and I can easily stall my canopy without taking a wrap - canopy type and WL play into factor I am sure - but a 1:1 WL should be able to stall without taking a wrap no? I am certain someone more knowledgeable than I will chime in on this one. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

As you found out performance maneuvers have the potential to create a malfunction resulting in a canopy that is not safe to land – Good thing you were not 5 or 600 feet lower! Haven’t been long since we lost a couple skydivers to low cutaways. Ummmm, Good rule of thumb – Do not perform performance maneuvers below an altitude you are not willing to cutaway from (I.E. your hard deck/decision altitude). The size of your reserve as has already been addressed has a wing loading that is a little ambitious for your experience level. I would definitely check with a rigger to see if your container will hold a larger reserve, but then again, you might decide to stay where you are – your choice. Interested to see what others have to say about this issue. Good lesson that luckily for you only cost a reserve repack, a handle and some alcohol (I know you did not forget your beer and a bottle for you rigger). In a sense you kinda did cutaway intentionally in an indirect manner, cuz you caused the situation to happen, perhaps at least one good swift kick in the seat from your bro is in order? What a rush eh? Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Question is – Are you incredibly and unbelievably COOL enough to be called Zaphod? I mean ten out of ten for style but minus several million if you aren’t…

To the first DZO I worked for, "Up Jumpers" were the ones NOT paying student or tandem prices for their slots? A load full of up jumpers meant less revenue. I think.... Down jumpers? Well, I am feeling rather blue these days... What do you do if you are a manically depressed robot?

Lots of good advice so far, the central theme seems to be: Slow down and take your time. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

What if when you finally checked your altitude you discovered that you were not at a safe altitude to cutaway? When adrenalin is pouring and temporal distortion occurs it is quite possible for even the most level headed to loose track of altitude. Perhaps it may have been wise to check your altitude as soon as you suspected there was a problem rather than to make an attempt to correct the problem first. When performing EP’s you can push your hips forward, this will help to ensure that you maintain an arched body position and resume a belly to earth orientation when you fall away from the malfunctioned canopy. EP’s are fun, what a rush eh? Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Okay, you landed and lived and only broke a wrist - hindsight notwithstanding, is it possible you could have prevented breaking your wrist?