mik

Visa issued on arrival. The issue was an immigration had stamped the wrong exit visa on one of the 20 or so previous visits. Which led "the system" to believe i had overstayed the visa on a previous visit. The cause is not the issue here.. the point was that an suspected infringement was taken pretty seriously *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

It should also be noted that most countries do not consider sub-contractors as on-going/permanent employment which is the basis of any work VISA. . That's beside the point, which is that any kind of employment for any kind of compensation, even of a temporary or transitory nature, may have certain laws, rules or regulations that restrict it. It varies from one country to another; there is no one blanket rule that applies to all countries. You cannot just presume what rule does or does not apply before checking it out carefully. You must check out what applies to your particular situation in the particular host country you're visiting before your trip. Doing anything less than that is not adequate pre-trip planning, and could get you into a world of grief in the country you're visiting if you do the wrong thing, even if unintentionally. As I understand things, one of the main concerns for many developed countries is that of people either overstaying their visa or working when they should not (I have been arrested on entry to Africa due to an immigration offical's error - stamping the wrong visa on a previous visit - that seemed to indicate I had overstayed a visa on a previous visit. It only took an hour or two to resolve, but it was not the most pleasant of experiences). If caught doing either (overstaying or working), this could result in visas for other countries being refused So a poor decision in one place could have long lasting and far reaching consequences. It really is worth spending time to make sure that local laws are not breached. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Calling it the way I see it, seen your kind before, nothing new. Yep I sure as hell do and they are DZO's who have been running dz's twice as long as you been in the sport and they have a lifetime of experience with little to no jumps. In that case i bow to your all knowing, all seeing American knowledge and apologise profusely in case i have caused offence for suggesting, in your view apparently, that an American dz might not be the best that ever there was. I am truly sorry. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Wow pretty dickheaded reply there.... I know people with less jumps then that, like 3 or 0 and they know way more then you do with all of you're short time in the sport, all of 9 yrs. Judging someone based on jump numbers is pretty fucking stupid. That was SOP for many places back when you decided to grace the sport with your presents. If you don't like it, don't go there or land out and walk back... not that big of a deal! Only it seems now we have a bunch of cry babies about minor shit. Well then ace why don't step to the plate then show us all how to do it then, after all you seem to have all the insight and wisdom that is clearly lacking at one of the longest running skydive centers on the earth. Put up or shut up!Quote Ohh dear. Have I touched a raw nerve? You seem to be the one with all the answers. You don't know me yet you know people with no jumps who know a lot more than me. Impressive again!! *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Correct answer. Elsinore is how DZs should be run. Does Elsinore still have the rule for following the first man down? If so, some would argue that this might not be the way all DZs should be run. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

This would be the worst DZ in the world perhaps? (eg no landing patterns - just be yourself and cut up or take out whoever you like, no worries about low jump number people flying canopies they can't handle, people who perhaps are on big formations but can't track, no worries about exit separation etc etc) Any DZ that has no rules is not one I want to jump at. So I am looking forward to the responses so I know where to avoid. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

I have 2 audibles that provide different functionality. One, the pro track is used as my electronic log book (I transfer details to my paper log book). The other, whilst also acting as an altitude has functionality to help me set up for landing by beeping at 3 predefined altitudes when flying my canopy. I know others who have the same for the same reason. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

As a Brit living in Russia for 4 years now the hardest things for me include: - the language - the corruption - the standard of driving - terrifyingly bad - the banking systems (eg when they make a mistake, they hold your money for 30 days before refunding) - the indifference in terms of customer service (the customer is always wrong / an annoyance to staff / the frustration from waiting for 20 minutes to speak to someone on the phone at the bank, only to have them hang up as soon as they hear you are foreign) But the skydiving here is pretty good! *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Is this a serious post? If the "riding the bike" poster is serious, he clearly has not seen the footage that is somewhere on this site of an experienced but uncurrent jumper going totally out of control (while being given the thumbs up sign by the alleged instructor) and then cartwheeling uncontrollably until the aad fired. Perhaps posted a couple of years ago. I can't remember whether the topic of the discussion was about the poor instructor or the fact that people with a whole load of jumps absolutely can forget how to fall in a stable position. Perhaps someone with a better memory than me can find this video - it may be relevant to this thread. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

My DZ has a nominated, fenced-off smoking area... (right next to the toilet block as it happens) ... It works pretty well. We get a lot of tandems and spectators so it is not foolprooof as visitors won't necesarily understand the rules, but generally it keeps cigarettes away from expensive canopies. i suspect that anyone lighting up in the landing area would learn very quickly that it is not acceptable. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

I believe this is (or at least was) taught to students at the New Zealand school that is often discussed on these forums (based on conversations I had with one of the previous main instructors at the school... a guy with close to 20,000 jumps (and a skydiving pedegree most people can't come close to) and who told me that it is a core skill that most skydivers don't possess. Must be dumb I guess. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

There is no reason to practice or perform rear riser landings. A friend of mine had a toggle come off below cut way altitude, She had been on a canopy control course where rear riser landings were taught. She landed (with PLF) just fine. According to her, she was very pleased to have had the opportunity to practice rear riser landings so she could perform them when required ... *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

The answer is, as is often the case, it depends. At my DZ, the Mi8 helicopter goes to 13500, runs in at pretty much the same speed as the Turbo Lets, and it is not at all unusual for AFF (pre-licence) jumpers to jump from them. For the Mi8, the only real considerations are the different indicators of when to jump / abort jumping (no lights, instead a horn), and if the tail gates are off, which makes the exit a little different. And if you climb onto the fuel tank for an exit, you have to jump out a fair way to make sure the wheel does not hit you (I have seen a broken leg caused by that). Of course, if you are jumping a tiny helicopter where you have to sit on the skids to exit, the whole thing is very different. Probably best to check with with DZ when you can. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Just to make sure you understand something - being "done" with AFF may still make it a challenge to jump at "loads of locations" as you go. Here's the thing. "Graduating" AFF gets you one thing: the ability to self-supervise as a student. You are still an unlicensed skydiver. While it is definitely possible to move from dropzone to dropzone before you get a license, it can be more challenging when you're not yet licensed, particularly when you are moving across countries and licensing organizations where the steps and process to get licensed can vary. You may find yourself spending money and time on jumps and refresher training with an instructor to evaluate your skills when all you really want to do is walk in and do a solo skydive. (This is not a bad thing for your safety, but I suspect you'll find that "AFF graduate" won't always open the doors that you think it will without additional verification by the dropzone that you're visiting). Quote This was exactly my experience. I did my AFF in South Africa and returned to the UK hoping to jump. I had something like 18 jumps in total. When I called the local UK dropzone, immediately on return from South Africa, the conversation went like this Q When did you last jump? A Saturday - 5 days ago Response - Well, you are not very current so we will start you with ground school ($160) then a jump with 2 instructors ($$$ lots) then you will probably have to repeat a few AFF levels ($$$ lots more)..... you see the training in [pick whatever country you want] is never as good as the training we offer. My view at the time was that the local DZ was just being difficult and looking for the opportunity to make money. THe next DZ I called charged $160 for a comprehensive safety briefing / check on my knowledge and a check out jump with the Chief Instructor - once he was happy that I was safe I was cleared to jump alone. I thought this was fair and this became my local DZ. But paying $160 or whatever the local rate is for a series of check-out jumps could quickly become quite expensive. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Sadly, the days of the $10 jumps from 13.5k are long gone. I think the rate for a block of 50 jumps is still very compeitive when compared to prices in the UK, Spain etc. I would have to check but I imagine it is something like $20 a jump - at a major dz with several turbines. I am sure it would be a lot cheaper in rural Russia. I have no idea what AFF costs here but I have seen a lot of people travel from various countries throughout Europe to do AFF so I guess it is competitive. I believe the quality of instruction is very good, with most AFF instructors having many thousands of jumps... at my DZ, even people with 5k plus jumps seem almost as beginners when compared to the really experienced guys (in terms of jump numbers). )) *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Without doubt the US is the cheapest place to learn . If I understand the point being made here (ie the US is 'without a doubt' the cheapest place to learn) then I absolutely doubt this. (There is a world outside the US for skydiving, suprising as it may appear) Unless the poster I am quoting meant that the cheapest place to learn in accordance with USPA requirements is the US, in which case I don't have a view. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Am just interested.. why do you not bother to log jumps I have met some people who seem to think it is 'cool' not to log jumps .. and to be able to say .. I dont know how many jumps I have It takes a few minutes... what is the attraction of not logging them? *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Not directly answering your question but I have a couple of their suits and they are very, very good. Several of my friends (maybe 20) also ordered them and as far as I know, all are very happy with the quality and price. The downside from your perspective - I live in Russia and they get shipped to my local DZ. And all my friends who ordered them (eg from the UK, Ireland, Denmark) ordered from the Russian DZ and either they arrived within 2 weeks or I took back to the UK and posted from there To put things into perspective this is a place where I can get a rig custom built in 4 weeks for $1000 (including all options) - and the quality is every bit as good as the major rig manufacturers (according to my professional skydiving mate who has many years in the sport, 15k + jumps, was based in the US for many years and is on the receiving end of much sponsored equipment). Good luck with ordering direct - if you are prepared to deal with communication issues I suspect you will be very happy with the result. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Yep... no one ever hurt themselves downsizing before they were ready.. excellent advice. I guess anyone flying a 210 competently can go to a 97 then,.... At the very least, there may in time be another incident for the mad skillz low jump numbers canopy pilots to read about *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

+1 An Adrenaline Junkie who can't breathe when a little bit of adrenaline comes into play might need some new hobbies? *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Well, yes. That would be true. For example, you may,by law, enjoy the freedom to blast your boom box until some specified hour of the night. That would indeed hinder my peace and harmony. You may, by law, enjoy the freedom of taking my property to build a Home Depot. That would hinder my peace and harmony. I needn't go on... I'm guessing you have never been to Estonia..... I am guessing you haven't been to Estonia either. It's a country that is hugely influenced by Scandanavia (look at the map to understand why if you don't know already) and if my experiences of visits there are anything to go on, it deserves a high ranking.... Still, never let the facts get in the way of bashing anyone who dares to suggest that the US is not the free-est place in the World *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Without having looked at the video (slow internet connection at the moment) was there a conclusion about the injured jumper's jump numbers (150) and the presence of him wearing a camera having anything to do with the incident? *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

I have done a good few jumps through clouds in Russia (probably in the 100s) and although we try to avoid having to open in clouds (ie if the cloud base is around too low the jumps tend not to go ahead), it happens at times. The conventional wisdom here seems to be the slow right hand turns, the reasons generally given being to avoid finding yourself low over the forest with few landing options and to reduce the risk of collisions.. the context is each plane holds about 20 jumpers with a typical load comprising a couple of 4 ways plus camera, a few freefly groups, a couple of tandems plus some solos. The guidance comes from the more experienced jumpers here (many of whom have 15k+ jumps in all Russian weather conditions). Of course, that does not necessarily mean is it the best way, but the only canopy collisions I am aware of at the DZ were not caused by opening in the clouds. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

About 4-5 years ago on a skydiving trip to Kolomna (Russia) I had a hard landing and hurt my foot. A lot. 2 weeks and 100 jumps later I went back to UK then straight to Oman for a week. When I got back to the UK, with my foot still hurting pretty bad, I went to the hospital and found I had broken my heel. On reflection, I probably should not have jumped as much as I did... *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Hi Yes I have been to the city a couple of times for work but not jumped there. One of my friends has but only to do a tandem so I dont have any info about the DZ. I think the DZ is quite a long way from the city. I hope you are going in Summer. Siberia gets pretty cold in the winter. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example