AFFI

QuoteThe RSL just isn't for me. I worry too much about entanglements up high and the low collisions. Because the RSL wouldn't help me (the way I want it to) in those situations, then I'm better off without it. Quote Now that I have over 30 jumps I have been thinking that parachutes just aren’t for me, they malfunction and cost way too much money - I have pretty strong legs so landings shouldent be a problem, skydiving will be much more affordable and I wont have to pack anymore... I am better off without them... Sounds like an unfair comparison but is it? Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Sometimes I fail, sorry - fact is mostly I flail... I remember a buddy of mine was "joking" about how good his landings were and "joking" how he was "doing every thing right", just minutes before he got on the airplane. He ws just joking around... He died on that jump, well actually on the landing... The words we use have a lot of power...

UhOh Swoosh1 is gonna get it...

***I'm chop-free though so I must be doing something right.*** You only have a year in the sport and a couple hundred jumps - you’re just getting started, give it some time - the chop will come. It’s not a matter of “if” but of “when”. This important thing was written by Jim Crouch in this months Safety Check on page 7. I haven’t had a malfunction in 2800 jumps but that doesn’t really mean I am doing anything "right" with my sloppy ass 5 minute pack jobs, just means things have gone my way and mostly that PD knows how to make a reliable parachute... I hope I have a chop my next jumping day - it is a good skill to remain current on... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Certs is a breath mint. Certs is a Candy mint. Breath MINT!!! Candy MINT!!! No coke, Pepsi!!!

Jumpers stopped buying beer? Jeez.... Find another DZ...

Put your thumb in your mouth and blow really hard, this will re-inflate your midsection and give you mid-body buoyancy and should correct the situation quickly.... No wait, that is totally wrong - you better listen to Aggie and Tonto. The only real addition I would add to thier input is to remain altitude aware, burrning through your deployment altitude, hard deck or even lower does not sound like a breeding ground for a happy time... Remember that a roll over technique might burn up 1,000 feet more or less. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

It is 0445, I have a spinal cord injury (fell off a ladder) that is complaining and keeping me awake so I have gotten to give the ADD RSL communication to students some thought. What I do is explain how the RSL works comparing it to the old John Wayne movies most are familiar with – military static line jumps from the movies and get them to understand the fundamental aspects of what a static line is and how it works, most get it pretty quickly. Then I take it apart and show that it is a mechanical device and all mechanical devices are subject to failure so it is not to be totally “depended” on. ADD (Cypress), pretty much the same thing, we have a spent cutter and loop that is used to illustrate functioning and fundamental concepts. Once the fundamental concepts and operation of these devices are understood, again this usually only take minutes with most, THEN I use this great line I picked up from this Cuban/Mexican/American Instructor I know which goes something like this – “These are back up devices, they are like Guns, Condoms and Airbags – It is better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them. If you are in your car driving along and an 18 Wheeler in front of you slams on his brakes are you going to apply your brakes and take evasive action or just slam into the truck and let your airbag take care of it?” Naturally, no one says they will let their airbag take care of it, everyone, 100% side for application of brakes and evasive action – this gets them to understand that the Cypress is a last ditch effort safety device likening it to something they know and are familiar with, which is their airbag in their car. “The Cypress activates seconds before impact and this might seem low, but think of this, the airbag does not activate until AFTER impact and it saves lives everyday (including mine back in 99). A few seconds is a LONG time for a computer.” Right wrong or indifferent, that is the approach I use in communicating the fundamental aspects of the back up devices. Then I teach how to activate, connect and disconnect - the good old how, when and why of it. I am ALWAYS looking for more effective ways to teach and am totally open to suggestions that are productive and positive. Please Advise… Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Whats the old saying about walking back from further out than to be carried out of the high traffic area? Personally I only land in the high traffic area when I am trying to get to the radio to talk a student down, besides the walk can do me good, need the exerceze... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

It only takes a few minutes to read through them and who know what might be learned? A shame to short change ones self...

somebody get these two some boxing gloves...

Was that an effective FJC, less than 2 hours? Jeez, I take that long to teach EP's (including both the knowledge training harness). Perhaps it is my lack of experience, I have only been at it for 4 seasons but I don’t see how less than 2 hours can be effective. I sure would like to sit in his class to learn how to utilize my time more efficiently.

Packing class with 5 packs and a 3 day FJC? Sounds freaking perfect! Curious, how much did the 3 Day FJC cost? I have had friends that I did multi day FJC's with in thier homes at our leisure and thier performances were brillant. The idea of prolonged FJC training must have produced great students. I have also has a few who got tunnel time first and they were fantastic in freefall... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Then I guess you teach your FJ students how to pack since packing can lead to a malfunction? Your FJC must be about a week long. No, not a packing class but we do recommend that they take a packing class ASAP after beginning their student progression – knowledge dispels fear… I do however thoroughly reverse pack a student rig for gear orientation in the FJC explaining how everything works as I go along - BTW my FJC is longer than any other instructor on our staff as is my ground prep for instructional skydives as is the stack of letters our DZO has gotten complimenting my attention to detail, how much they (students) learned from me and how much they appreciate that I take the time out of my life to teach them as if I were teaching a member of my family. Does that make me better than? Nope. I am just an anal-retentive asshole that learned from one of the finest instructors I have ever had the pleasure to learn from, and he is a Canadian from Burnaby! Can you believe it? A snooty American learning and admiring a Canadian and on top of that stating that he is the best I have ever met??? What I know, what I do is not of my doing at all but taught to me from those who I look up to and admire that came before me. I once read that if you want to become really good at something, find an expert and stand beneath them and catch their drippings… Thanks Scott, my favorite Hoser! That being said I know some very experienced “old school” instructors who I am working with and learning from now that have a very different philosophy that is effective as well – a testament that there is more than 1 way to skin a cat. Get 10 skydivers in a room to show how to pack a pilot chute and you will get 100 different methods but the end result is the same – hopefully… People are generally good, just different... Cant we all just get along??? Make it a great day! Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

If you ever become a DZO or a DZM I would like to apply for a position working for you... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Take a deep breath, let it out... Take a deep breath, let it out... Please allow me a moment to tell you about some of my I's... Skydiving has been more to me that just a great time with fantastic people, skydiving has taught me so much about life and living life with more humility, with more inner peace and learning to live more by life’s terms and not just on my own self centered will. Some other instructors think I go way overboard where training is concerned with the students I work with. I used to judge other instructors on their performance too but unless there is a flagrant safety violation issue I pretty much let everything slide and keep my mouth shut because I have realized that I am not the instructional “GOD” in the history of skydiving, scores were trained before me and will be after me as well – I just simply be the best I can be not as an act of self centeredness, not because I am making the “big bucks” or getting to jump for free but BECAUSE I am being entrusted with the responsibility to those I instruct with their lives. I have a duty to that human being I am instructing to instill in them a safe foundation of knowledge and practices that they will be able to draw upon for years to come. Bill Von couldn’t have expressed this any better than he did a few posting up when he talked about the varying styles and methods individuals incorporate in their instructional methods. The information in the FJC is NOT too much information to learn if it is taught correctly – I have heard instructors not teach EP’s properly telling the student that it is too much information to remember and that is a load of crap, that instructor was jut too lost in mediocrity and self centeredness to do their job of teaching another human being life saving skills. I have had students work with me in our 18 jump program stay current and by jump 12 they can actually teach EP’s! If we take the time to teach them thoroughly and correctly from the start it pays off down the road not only for their safety but it is a great time saver when an upper level student comes out to make an instructional jump and they know their EP’s thoroughly and are that much quicker to ground train. I all too clearly remember when I was an egocentric 300 jump wonder waiting to revolutionize the solo freefall instructional world with my advanced self-proclaimed superiority and I will never forget the day I was on a rant on how things “ought to be” a very experienced instructor told me to shut up and listen because he had already forgotten more about skydiving than I had even learned yet - and this was very humbling for me (Thanks Rick), perhaps not at first but the seed was planted for humility and getting my rating and my first season of practical experience watered that seed sprouting a forest of humbleness where solo freefall instruction was concerned. People like Bill Von, Ron, NickDG, Wendy, John Mitchell and a host of others that post here are mentors I have never met, - but I realize that they may have forgotten more than I have learned yet, so who am I to judge and look down on others while perched high on a branch in my tree self righteous indignation? So I would like to thank others here in this forum that have helped me become a better instructor, a better person and also to those who think they have it all figured out to help me be more understating, patient and accepting of the “know-it-all”. If any of this posting bothers you, perhaps you should consider the “shut up and listen” advice I received, maybe it will make you a better person and skydiver and if it don’t apply than “let it fly”… Make it a great day everyone! Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

I’ve been giving this thread of postings a lot of thought, there have been some really good comments made between all the bickering. From the 100/500 jump wonders to those who have many thousands and many years in the sport many of whom have already forgotten more about skydiving than their 100/500 jump counterparts may have learned yet – ego’s are abound. Everyone has them, some are less in control than others but still, everyone has them and it is potentially beneficial to remember that humility in this sport is an asset. I wonder how many fatalities have occoured over the years in skydiving due to ego’s that result in skydivers no longer being teachable because they have it all figured out. Despite all the internal strife the collective genius really shines through - usually, and makes available a good learning environment. I am so thankful that DropZone.com exists; much more “good” comes out of it than “bad”. After reading over the incident reports and this thread of opinions something I noticed is that both jumpers died in similar fashion, for whatever reason they initiated emergency procedures for a partial malfunction with a lack of sufficient altitude for reserve parachute inflation. One jumper had nearly 1,920 skydives and the other had 76 so there was a difference in their level of “experience” yet they both made fatal errors (for whatever reason) that were, similar in nature. Why? Was it deficiencies in initial training? Deficiencies in their continued training after acquisition of a license? Because they did or didn’t utilize available devices in their gear that may or may not have produced a different outcome? Lack of altitude awareness? Although my ego would like to, I am offering no opinions, just questions for us to ponder and maybe we can look at ourselves and ask how we can each make skydiving safer for each of us individually. If we all do this collectively it will have an infectious outcome that will spread throughout our community as we make ourselves safer and lead by example. This months Safety Check on page 11 authored by Jin Crouch offers some good insight for each of us to contemplate and perhaps even consider incorporating this philosophy into our daily lives as skydivers. I personally am making a commitment starting right now to hang my ego at the door and try to be more teachable because as these two incidents have taught me, no matter how “experienced”, gravity is not going to cut any breaks… Make it a great day! Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

??? Open your eyes...

a: Pay attention to what your instructors tell you to do and do it. b: jump, if you are nervous that is to be expected. c: Repeat... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Ever eat at a fancy resturant? Pay $100 or more for the meal? Did you still tip your waitstaff? Its not too late to drop your TI a tip now - I went from 80K annual to making $35 bucks a jump, without the tips I would have starved even more - after years of chasing the $$$'s, I sure like life much more now that I am skydiving everyday. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Initially I read this question and couldn’t believe what I was reading, I mean are you kidding? We are landing parachutes (hopefully) and you can’t see how someone can break their femur? Then I began to think of how many femurs I have seen broken? Amongst all the many many thousands of landings I have watched there have only been a handful of accidents that I actually got to see happen. Just imagine riding a motorcycle at say 40 MPH directly into a brick wall or jumping out of the bed of a truck being driven at say 30 MPH– can you see how that might cause serious injury? Hit a femur right and it does not take a tremendous amount of force for it to fracture. Don’t fall into the complacency trap, it is very easy to get killed or seriously injured skydiving. Just because we don’t see it very often we don’t have regular reminders how violent skydive accidents can be. The ones I have witnessed were very violent and placed into my mind a deeper respect for the potential ramifications of this sport when we make mistakes. Safer than driving? Yeah.... Right...... Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

Personally I teach that skydivers should utilize an RSL device unless they are very experienced and have a compelling reason to not utilize one. My philosophy is against a skydiver with 30 jumps utilizing a reserve deployment pillow in lieu of a metal D-ring or jumping a high performance canopy before they are ready. Unfortunately when I advise skydivers new to the sport someone else with a rating or position at the DZ advises them to the contrary. I have been witness to AFFI’s suggesting that a new jumper (-100jumps) use a reserve pillow or not learn how to pack a pilot chute or not use an RSL or improperly train students how to properly perform EP’s or take students out in unsafe conditions ALL THE TIME! And have been witness to an S&TA tell someone with -90 jumps it was ok to fly a Stiletto (loaded at over 1:1). It’s easy to fall into the complacency trap even though the fact remains - it is very easy to get killed skydiving. Just because we don’t see it very often we don’t have regular reminders how violent skydive accidents can be. The ones I have witnessed were very violent and placed into my mind a deeper respect for the potential ramifications of this sport when we make mistakes. So what can I do? All I can by constantly planting seeds into the minds of these inexperienced skydivers, and I have learned it does not do any good to try and graft ideas into the closed minds of the “experts” because they know it all… Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

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

You’re on your second jump… Second is the one after your first right? Number 2? Look Kevin, don’t be so hard on yourself, relax… First off I am going to say that this forum is not where you come to get the particulars on your training per se, especially while still on student status. That is what your instructors are for, listen to them. I can offer you some general things to think about. We are jumping out of a freaking airplane and the crazy part is – the plane is miles above the surface of the planet. Not exactly a tenable position for a human to be in, at least as far as your brain is concerned so you brain may be wondering “hey Kevin, what the hell are you doing?” There is noise, there is adrenalin and there is our brains disapproval of what we are doing to contend with then we hurl ourselves towards seemingly certain death and on top of all that – we tell you to RELAX… Then your brain might be asking “What? Relax? How am I supposed to relax?” As hard as it is to comprehend, relaxation is key in excelling in freefall; if you are worried about the ground then you are putting the cart before the horse. The ground doesn’t even exist until you reach your assigned deployment altitude where you initiate your main deployment sequence. Freefall is a time of freedom, it is a time of complete release from the world – there are no bills, no wars, and no worries. If you are all tensed up and your stomach muscles are tight as if you were doing crunch exercises how will you be able to push your hips forward and arch? Ever see the Matrix? There is no spoon… 100% of the students I have worked with, one of the primary hurdles to overcome is relaxation, it was the same for me and virtually every other skydiver I know. We can teach you on the ground, we can train you ad nauseam but we cannot control your brain and make you relax, we can only show you the door, you must walk through it. If knowledge that not relaxing is counter productive to your progress in freefall than I challenge you to relax, tell yourself on your way to the door – “There is no spoon, I have nothing to fear”. Calm your mind, exit the aircraft and remain relaxed. You wrote “After that I arched fine it is always the exit that screws me up. I feel that if you botch your exit the rest of the dive can go sour.” These two comments seem contradictory, the fact of the matter is there can be a lot of apprehension at the door if you allow it, and I did not like the hill either as most of the student I work with. You said that 5 seconds out the door you arched so why not just arch to begin with? Skydiving is the builder of self confidence and self esteem, it enables us the opportunity to overcome our brains impeding on what it is we must do. Did you ever swim as a youngster? I did a lot. I used to love getting in the deep end and float at the surface face down and slowly blow the air out of my lungs until I lost buoyancy and floated slowly to the bottom. Totally relaxed. Now what would happen if I was unable to surface? I would potentially drown but still was able to relax – Why? Because I had the confidence that I would be able to resurface and save my life. Now as an adult I jump from airplanes and I am able to totally relax in freefall - but if I fail to use my parachute I am dramatically decreasing my odds of survival but I am still able to relax – Why? Because I have every confidence that I would be able to utilize my equipment and save my life. Trust the gear Kevin, Trust your training and trust in your ability to utilize everything you have learned to save your life. Look around here on DZ.com, I have 3300 skydives, look at some other jump numbers, 100, 500, 1000, 5000, 10000 and some have even more skydives than that! That is proof positive, a sound testament in the reliability of the gear and varying individuals ability to utilize it due to the training they received that is very similar to the training you are receiving. Trust the gear, trust your training and have confidence in your ability to use it and relax in freefall. Again, I challenge you to relax, tell yourself on your way to the door – “There is no spoon, and I have nothing to fear”. Mykel AFF-I10 Skydiving Priorities: 1) Open Canopy. 2) Land Safely. 3) Don’t hurt anyone. 4) Repeat…

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