mik

Do you mean St Petersburg in Russia? *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Russian ladies record *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Some words from one of the European top canopy pilots when I attended his course a few years ago (at the time his last 5000 jumps were all hop and pops and he seemed to know what he is talking about).. Every modern sub-200 square feet canopy is the equivalent of a Formula 1 racing car. The trouble is 99.9% of pilots drive it like they are driving to the local shop. The vast majority of people who complain that their parachute does not give them the performance they want need to learn how to fly it, not to downsize The longer I am in this sport and the more I see and hear of inexperienced people killing themselves or busting themselves under canopies they cannot fly properly, the more i think he is correct. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Priceless... absolutely priceless. And this is the guy who thinks he has enough experience to determine how the USPA recommendations about cameras should not apply to him. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

I've met lots of them. All of Canada and many US DZ's set 50 jumps (or a B License) as their requirement for a camera which is perfectly reasonable. Sorry kid. With your less than 50 jumps you are no position to judge whether they are safe or not!! Or to assess whether 25% of the jump numbers recommended by the uspa (and other national skydiving organisations) is reasonable or not. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

I don't care about your experience, I want to see mik's, and his license number. And I care more about his blatant hypocrisy than whether his info is true. But he's being pissy about me having bogus info (of course I do, this is the internet) while he clearly has bogus info. But again, it's not his bogus info that I'm calling him out on, it's his hypocrisy. It shouldn't matter anyway. The "kids" in this sport deserve the same level of respect as everyone else, but I sense that many older jumpers have utter disdain for younger newer ones, regardless of jump numbers. It becomes obvious when they use phrases like "kids with GoPros" (as if all camera flyers are kids) or try to use "kid" as a put-down, as mik did. What's really going on here has nothing to do with camera safety, it's really just about animosity toward young people. The older folks don't like that they are losing their exclusivity in the sport as it's becoming more accessible.Quote For the newbies tempted to believe that Joey might have any experience on which to base his posts… http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4487525;#4487525 May 18th.. soon getting to the point to be allowed to jump camera (post 1 in thread) Post 4 in thread “Do I have the patience to wait until June” Post 5 in thread “Fuck it. Ordered a Fuel” (like a kid that can’t wait to Christmas to open hidden presents?) In this current thread, post 2 the kid says his local DZ only requires a B licence - 50 jumps to jump camera. So I think we can safely assume that either the kid has averaged something like 100 jumps a day in the last 13 days or he is lying in his profile about 1337 jumps. Probably to try to give himself the credibility he so evidently lacks, and he attention he desperately craves. My money is on him expecting to reach 50 jumps by June sometime (but he whinges elsewhere about weather being crap so maybe this will be delayed). I would go along with people who suspect he is in his early 20s, despite his attitude being more akin to a kid of about 8 at times. His demands for respect are wasted on many of the more experienced jumpers, and right so. Respect is due to people like mistercwood, linebckr83 and tracys that demonstrate a level of maturity that he cannot even begin to aspire to. So newbies, you might want to take a leaf out of the books of the aforementioned jumpers.. and realise that most of the "old fossils" on here are providing advice that is well meaning and is designed to help pevent you from hurting yourself or others. For the more experienced crowd.. Many people have implied that he is being a dick (in one way or another), myself included, and I stand by that assessment. However, I do wonder whether at least some of the blame lies with a DZ that apparently feels that the SIM recommendations for cameras at 200 jumps is not applicable to the mad skilz people who jump there. What attitude is this going to create amongst the kids of the sport? And it makes me wonder what else the DZ would consider to be safe. TI at 125 jumps perhaps (if they could get away with it, which is of course highly unlikely)? It seems to me that the DZ could well shoulder a lot of the responsibility for turning out kids with Joey’s attitude and in doing so, increases the level of risk in our sport, generally. I think I will add this DZ to the list of places to avoid. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Kid.... you really are a real dick of the highest order. I don't care if someone like you pounds in and damages themselves - even if permenantly. I really don't. If you stay in the sport for any amount of time you will see this happen and will realise that some people think they, and they alone, have mad skilz that the dinosours on this site just don't understand. Probably a bit like you. But I do care if your advice (with your lies of 69 years in the sport and 1600+ jumps) is believed by young jumpers who follow your advice and hurt themselves, or worse, others. Can you please shut up until you get some experience?? *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

This is a great post by a kid who does not know enough to recognise danger and lies in his profile about jump numbers. Newbies take note... not everyone who claims to have more than 1000 jumps on here knows the difference between his arse and his elbow, as the Brits say. Kid... why not come back in a few years when you have a few jumps and then grace us with your opinion. For newbies.. check out dse's post on gopro incidents. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

A friend of mine is a very experienced instructor (over 18,000 jumps, full time professional skydiver). I remember him telling me a couple of years ago about a visiting jumper who wanted head down coaching. My friend asked him about his jumping history - which was a hundred or so belly jumps and no freeflying at all. He was not interested in learning how to sit fly, back fly or anything else - only head down. My friend turned him away, shaking his head (explaining that he needed to progress in freeflying before trying head down). Isn't the logic of the "pro teach him" group on this thread something like... my friend should have taught him head down because that's what he wanted.. and if not, he would go and do it himself and would probably be a danger to himself and others? And the logic of the "anti" group is similar to that used by my friend (ie.. you are no-where near ready.. come back when you want to learn and progress at a sensible rate)? *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

***To be honest your not there long enough to suffer cold in freefall, I got to disagee When it is below minus 20 at ground level and a whole lot colder at altitude, it can be very noticeable in freefall, in my limited experience of jumping through 5 Russian winters. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

From a UK website it appears to be one jump from 13k for £195 (about $300). Expensive, perhaps, but staff at the DZ involved (Sibson) apparently have experience of organising jumps from a 130 and it is an opportunity to jump a plane that is very different from the ones that most of us use on a regular basis. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

I am not sure where in Europe has the facilities to do 10-12 jumps a day. I like Empuria because of all the non-skydiving activities in the area, plus things like the coaching, the canopy school etc etc. But for me it is the sort of place to go for fairly relaxed jumping. Aerograd in Kolomna (my adopted DZ in Russia) is somewhere that can help people to bang out a load of jumps. The most I did in 2 weeks of jumping (about 12 full days) was just over 120 jumps. But that was in summer, when the weather gods were not misbehaving. It is more expensive than it used to be but is still something like $20 to 13,500 and I think discounts apply for a block of 50 jumps. But most people will have to get a visa so it becomes a bit more difficult to travel to than a DZ in the EU. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

I am surprised if a fun jumper could get 10-12 jumps a day at Empuria. I have visited Empuria on 6-8 separate trips and have never got anywhere close to that number of jumps per day as a fun jumper (one rig, packing for myself in 6-8 minutes). I can do 10-12 jumps a day at my home DZ (sometimes 15) packing for myself, but that requires long hours of daylight, good weather and some luck with manifest. And my home DZ usually has 4-6 Let 410s operational (each with 20 jumpers) and an Mi8 helicopter (20 jumpers). So no shut downs for refuelling etc. Even with this, jumping more than once an hour on average over the course of a day takes some doing. Empuria is marketed as a great DZ, but in my view, often by those who have a vested interest in attracting new jumpers there or by Brits who have limited experience of DZs outside of the UK. It is a good DZ, in a very pleasant town, with some great coaches etc and the addition of a wind tunnel is a great bonus, but I think things must have changed since I was last there if a fun jumper can realistically expect 10-12 jumps a day there (if doing coached jumps with a coach who can pre-manifest, things may be different of course). So the comment that "You'll have no problem achieving what you want there" is a surprise to me. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

And another horror story (several) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7234786.stm A four year prison sentence for a Swiss guy who ate a bagel with poppy seeds at Heathrow airport and 3 poppy seeds were found on his clothes A four year sentence for someone who trod on a cigarette butt (stuck to the sole of his shoe) and the butt was found to contain tiny traces of cannabis. A suggestion that possession of over-the-counter painkillers could result in a mandatory 4 year sentence. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Well.. I was not suggesting that reckless behaviour has occured in this case (i have not seen anything specific to say there was).. but that people who dont have insurance and do reckless stuff ( like jumping in conditions that are not sensible for their experience and gear choices - and before anyone gets over-excited about this observation...i am just using this as an example) could be asking for financial trouble if they break themselves. That was my intended point.. Interesting comment about not buying a case of beer this weekend. I wonder how many cases of beer = the insurance premium that would provide reasonable insurance cover. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Given the amount of publicity in the UK about the necessity for comprehensive medical insurance cover for anyone who visits the US (even for a brief vacation or short business trip), I am a little surprised to see that any Brit has decided to work in skydiving in the US without arranging adequate insurance cover. I would have thought that part of the decision making process about whether working on a US DZ was financially viable would have taken account of insurance costs. Add uninsured to other factors such as rapid downsizing and any other kind of reckless behaviour is asking for trouble - and big bills. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

My rigger in the UK has a form that people sign when they leave their gear with him. It says something like "I authorise [the rigger] to complete work up to the value of £XXX (can't remember how much]" The form is used to record email and phone numbers of customers. The rigger contacts customers as necessary. If people don't want to sign the form, I believe he calls them before doing any extra work. The form takes 2 minutes to complete and makes sure that everyone avoids nasty surprises. (I have heard complaints about other riggers that customers take their gear for $XXX of work and on collection find that other "essential" work to the value of $$$lots has been carried out. I know some people get upset about that). *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

A long time ago I had a girlfriend who was blown up by an IRA bomb. I spent a lot of time wondering both why people could commit such acts and why in particular educated people, especially in the US, willingly gave money to the so-called freedom fighters via NORAID so that this could continue. I used to wonder how the donors would react if their loved ones would face a similar situation. Rightly or wrongly, I came to my own understanding that is was a combination of clever marketing by people who would willingly raise funds to kill women and children, coupled with some kind of romantic attachment to a country that was subject to harsh British control in times past. And the people planting the bombs probably felt they were doing the right thing for their cause. I suspect that the people involved in this act of terrorism will have a similar basis for their views and actions. Defeating these evil people??? That is what some might call a major challenge. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

It used to happen a lot in the UK (meaning mainland Britain and Northern Ireland). Courtesy of the brave freedom fghters of the IRA - well funded from places like the US. I never understood why anyone would want to contribute money to a group that engaged in such acts aganst innocent civilians. Such acts occur periodically in Russia but the most recent perpetrators have been the widowed wives of fghters, typically from the Caucasus. With these the targets have included the metro system and schools, with significant loss of life. Sadly, there are people who justify such acts to themselves. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Except in Russia, where it is a requirement of the the first jump post-AFF (along with old frap hat) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYS_Gge9Klc *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

When the door is CLOSED at take off you should be ready to rock! What happens if the PIC say GET OUT before any planned exits...if ya think I'm gonna wait until ya get dressed you are wrong. If you are between ME & the door...I'm tossing you out or chewing through you! +1 When I was a newbie jumping at Z-Hills I remember seeing a chick who would not step into her leg straps until jump run. I am sure she thought she looked really cool, wearing the rig a bit like a ruck sack. At the time I thought she was stupid. Now I KNOW just how stupid she was. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Extract of a magazine for the institute of chartered accountants in England and Wales Note the final paragraph where an independent report suggests she brings over £26 billion to the UK economy. http://economia.icaew.com/finance/the-accounts-of-the-queen *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

I know instructors in various sports eg climbing, surfing, scuba diving, skydiving, gym instructors who do what they do mostly as a quality of life thing - because they love what they do. And that is great. But it comes at a cost in terms of typically low pay and benefits. I work in the corporate world where some colleagues get paid $1m plus a year. Although I earn nothing like that, I would like to some day. But that day would only come (if ever) after a huge amount of time spent working many hours - including working extended hours and through the nights at times, cancelling holidays, no time for personal life, extended time working away from home, huge amounts of stress and pressure etc. This often results in broken relationships, not seeing kids grow up, poor physical health etc. And people earning 1/10th or 1/20th of that $1m salary suffer much the same pressure and working conditions. At the end of the day, this seems to come down to choice. People can choose to be instructors with a cool job and a great work life balance. Or they can choose another career path with the associated benefits and disadvantages. As far as I am aware, no one forces anyone to be an AFFI or a skydiving instructor. Sorry guys - I don't get your arguments. You know the salary and I am sure most of you could choose an alternative career if you wanted to. And you could choose careers that are known to pay not much, or perhaps careers that are known to pay more. If the market "wanted" pay to increase (ie if DZ owners could afford to pay instructors more, and were willing to do so) pay would increase. It is that simple. PS - I am not trying to criticise your choices or demean what you do, or trying to imply that instructors are not professionals who have high risk jobs. I just don't understand your logic in this argument. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

I totally agree with that. Every bit of it. I think I disagree with most of this. There are skydivers and skydivers. Some do 10-15 jumps a day, have multiple rigs, do tunnel time, have the resources to do multiple trips a year to improve skills, can take the best coaches etc etc. Others simply don't have the money for this, and enjoy doing a couple of jumps on some weekends, coaching with friends only etc. The "market" has set the rates for instuctors, including AFFI. If that rate is not a decent living wage, the instructors have the option of getting alternative employment. If AFF students had the choice of paying $xx to do AFF with an AFFI who works part time, weekends only, or $xxx plus $1000 (or whatever) to do AFF with a full time professional AFFI, I would be surprised if many students would elect to pay the additional fees. On the other hand, I know a coach who charges between $500 and $1000 a day (plus slots) but he has close to 18k jumps and seems to have no shortage of students. The current system seems to provide for skydivers of different financial means to take up our sport, and thereafter to improve. It would be a shame to increase prices to the point where newbies are discouraged from starting to skydive or developing their skills, in my view. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

At my DZ there are many thousands of jumps completed every year using equipment that is not TSO approved. I have seen Cypres fires on these rigs with no problems. I can imagine there will be situtations where these non-TSO approved rigs could encounter problems eg ig not maintained properly, if reserve closing loop misrouted to avoid aad cutter etc., Point is - I assume your post relates to the Z Hills incident. If so - or even if not - why do you believe that there is some manufacturing error that is causing fatalities or other problems? *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example