mik

I have seen many posts on these threads cautioning posters about putting information on here that might be used by lawyers in litigation. I cannot remember any posts about this actually happening and information on here being successfully used in a court case. Does anyone have direct knowledge of posts on dz.com being used in a case and impacting the outcome of a case (or trial or whatever it is called in each country)? *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Sigh.. take a look at post 38 in this thread and see how the OPs jump numbers seem to have GONE DOWN from the time when he made previous posts Got to be a total liar either in this post or in previous ones - unless I am missing somethig major here Still, the moderators clearly think this is a thread worth continuing... Amazing *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

A couple of years back (maybe more) I was working on a project in Dubai... I phoned the dz, checked the website and was left convinced it was a great place where I would have no trouble getting a few jumps there on my day off. On that basis I took my rig from the UK, phoned again from Dubai to make sure I would be able to do a few jumps, took an expensive cab to the dz, arrived pretty early in the day, bought a loads of jump tickets and continually got bumped off loads to make sure they could 'finish all the tandems before it got dark'. In the end I gave up (each load was TM, Tandem student and camera - no space for even a solo, apparently). So despite hearing great things, especially from from the people I phoned at the dz, the reality was there was no chance to jump. So I carried my rig half way round the world (or it felt like that), had to pay taxi fares of at least a couple of hundred dollars and never got to jump. I have been back to Dubai several times and would never trust them again to be honest about my chances to jump there. You might want to search these forums - I remember a post by someone who lived in UAE and said he had never jumped so little. My feeling is that if boogies are arranged it is probably ok, maybe if you arrange in advance to do AFF or a tandem you might be ok but as a fun jumper you are totally wasting your time. Based on my experience, which is a which ago and things may have changed. The problem is, the people I spoke to before going totally misrepresented the operation so I would really struggle to believe anything I was told by them. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

when they are jumping that is :) no jumping in Russia right now. Not since Jan I believe. administrative problems I have no idea where your information comes from but I jumped at Kolomna last weekend.. and I believe they have been jumping regularly all year (weekends so far, I think it reverts to 7 days a week in May). Still something like 580 rubles a jump (cheaper if you buy blocks of tickets) - and at the moment they are using the Mi8 helicopter to 13,500. So pretty cheap. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Lisa Please don't tell me you are pretending to be Irish too :) How's things mate? *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

I wonder how many of the posters on here don't know that a good proportion of the people born in Ireland are in fact British and amazingly proud of that... And who have may just have a valid reason for celebrating St Patricks Day... Unlike a significant proportion of posters on this site. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Hello in Russian is 3 syllables (formal - stras... witch.. ya - or similar)... or 2 syllables (priv-eat -informal)... But I have only lived in Russia for a few months and not studied Russian for 2 years so maybe I am missing something *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

I moved to Russia earlier this year - I have hardly ever seen fewer fat and obese people, except in some African countries .... it reinforced my opinion that all most people need to do to lose weight is to follow the Absolutely Fabulous (English TV comedy) quote 'eat a little less and excercise a little more' Main problem for me is that in the gym I go to (as good as anywhere I have been to anywhere in the world) there are not enough running machines (only 10 or so) - it is very common for people to spend 45 mins to an hour on a treadmill walking or running - normally prior to the cardiovascular work... *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Can anyone let me know whether it is possible to get to the tunnel from the metro. I will be living on the green line from next week but am very new to Russia. Thanks *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Maybe the appearance of 'misinformation' on this site is not always a bad thing. There have been many responses to the original post offering alternative views together with explanations. As such this provides a learning opportunity eg for new jumpers. When I started jumping and had about 20 jumps I was given some quiet advice by someone who I assumed was highly experienced. When I saw him with his leg in plaster and on crutches a few days later I asked about his experience level and found he had even fewer jumps than me and had hurt himself on landing. That made me think carefully about who to accept advice from. At least when advice is offered on this forum, it is subject to challenge by some very experienced jumpers. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

I really hope you are right, but it certainly is not clear from his posts on this forum - I wonder how many low jump numbers are reading this and willl be influenced by his decisions in the future ... I would welcome more comments from very experienced canopy pilots on the subject of downsizing very quickly following injuries *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

And they generally get away with it unless someone has a video. Which is getting more and more common. Unfortunately, it STILL only takes one bad one to besmirch the reputation of hundreds/thousands of others. John McVicar was the UK's most wanted man in the 1960s. He became a sociologist and author. Prior to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act in 1984 (which required contemporaneous notes of interviews), verballing (falsified statements by the police, normally in which the accused was alleged to have said something like 'I did it but you will never prove it') was considered to be very common by most of those involved in the judicial process. Every time a police officer was found to have lied about the 'confessions', other serving officers would typically explain it by saying that every tree has an occasional bad apple. John McVicar wrote a book called 'The Rotten Orchard', which I think many people think was a more appropriate reflection of the UK police forces at that time. I am not sure times have changed all that much - even with the tape recording of many interviews, It was reported that the investigation into the shooting of the Brazilian, Jean Charles Menendez (mistaken for a suspected London bomber) by an independent commission found discrepancies with the statements / notebooks of some of the officers involved and found that they had collaborated to ensure they were telling a consistent story. I have a feeling that even in the so-called civilised and democratic countries, there are plenty of police officers who are happy to lie to avoid getting into trouble for their actions and , more worrying, they seem to be supported by colleagues who will not speak out for whatever reason. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

And he did several loads today - sounds as though it is back to normal... :) *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

It all depends on the helicopter I think bigger helicopters will run in by necessity (not wanting to put 20+ jumpers out on top of each other). For the helicopter I have jumped lots of times (Russian Mi8), the run in speed seems comparable to eg Twin Otter so for me there was no roller coaster' sensation on exit. And at less than $20 for 13500, it's not a bad way to skydive, in my view. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Latest information I have is that the Defence Ministry have required that all sports aircraft (including skydiving planes, planes used for acrobatics) are grounded. I have no idea when this will be resolved. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

I called them today - language was a bit of an issue but it seems that there is not jumping at the moment and I was told to call back on Friday. Someone sent me a PM suggesting there is an issue with dropzones in the Moscow area that has been ongoing for a week or so and that has stopped jumping. If anyone has any more information, please share it - some groups are due to visit from the UK and Denmark in 2 weeks. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Based on last year's trip, we can expect 2 turbolets and an Mi8 helicopter to 13,000 feet every day for something like $20 a jump.. Is anyone from dz.com going in July?? *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

I agree with Kallend on this. Some time ago I read about research by car manufacturers that found that people could read digital speedometers much quicker than analogue ones. It's not a direct comparison but I find it much easier / quicker to read the digital display on my Neptune than my analogue altis. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Every time I go to any new page, it takes anything between 5 and 30 seconds before I can do anything.. site appears to be frozen... Most frustrating. If performance or stress testing was performed before the upgrade, something is clearly wrong. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

Not entirely true for all locations ... Someone I know was recently not allowed to take his rig on as hand luggage (flight from the UK to Spain) as 'the lines could be used to tie someone up' (or words to that effect. Whereas others going through the same airport had no issues (so it will depend to some extent on airport security). From my experience (of maybe 20-30 international flights with my rig in the last year or so, and a whole load more over the last few years) - check with the airline to see limits on cabin baggage (weight) and dimensions to see whether it is possible to take your rig as carry on (hand) luggage - if you do want to take the rig as hand luggage, remember to remove hook knife (if you have one - I have lost a couple by forgetting), take cypress instruction card etc - it is worth checking with the airline to see whether they have any provision for sporting equipment. For example, British Airways allow you to check in a separate bag of sporting goods (something like 35kg without pre-booking) free of charge. Other airlines will allow you to take another bag of sports equipment for a charge - remember to turn of the aad - I understand that some have fired in the aircraft hold - remember that hold luggage does get delayed go missing - I know someone whose rig went missing for a few days - really annoying if on a tight timetable skydiving trip (worth checking your insurance cover for your rig if it does get permanently lost from the hold) *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

This is what does it and excludes skydiving from 3rd party. I have rung them and spoken to them (a very small operation) and they told me I would not be covered for 3rd party liability if it was a skydiving incident. They said they dont cover it because the BPA already does. I wouldnt worry much about 3rd party anyway. There are very few places where you need any substantial 3rd party cover (Britain and Belgium being 2 of them) and the rest either let you jump on the limited cover BPA membership gives you, or take out USPA membership for the USA, which is not expensive. Edit: I found the bit about skydiving having 3rd party excludid: Oh bugger i'd best avoid the powerlines after all *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

But it doesnt cover third party for incidents that occur while skydiving. They say "your BPA cover should give you that". Endsleigh was the only one I could find that would before they stopped covering us mad skydivers. BPA cover does cover you everywhere except USA and canada for £100k 3rd party, which is probably enough for most places. Belgium requires something like 1mil euros, so you'll need extra. In the USA you can just take out USPA membership and you'll be covered up to $50k 3rd party. So dont land on powerlines that connect to a chicken farm, and you'll be ok. The personal liability clause is below.. it seemed to me to provide third party cover for incidents (accidents). Note that skydiving (parachuting) is NOT an excluded activity, so it appears to me to provide the third party cover for incidents while skydiving - even landing on the powerlines of a chicken farm . Unless I am missing something major. And at £2m it provides what seems like a reasonable level of cover. I would welcome any comments on my interpretation of the clause from any UK lawyers or insurance experts - if I need to get additional cover, it would be helpful to know before I travel with the policy. SECTION (J) PERSONAL LIABILITY If a legal claim is made against you (in a personal capacity) for causing bodily injury, disease or death to any person, or loss or damage to material property due to an Accident that occurred during the period of your Trip You are covered for: reasonable legal costs for defending claims, and the amount that you become legally liable to pay as damages or compensation, up to the amount shown on your Schedule of Cover. General Exclusions apply, in particular those headed Behaviour, Travel and Events and specific exclusions are: (1) causing loss, injury, disease or death to insured persons, travelling companions, or to your or their relatives, employees or household members (2) causing loss or damage to property owned by, in trust to, or the responsibility of insured persons, travelling companions, or their relatives, employees or household members (3) anything arising out of: (a) racing of any kind; (b) care, custody or control of animals (c) the ownership, custody, or use of: firearms or explosives, aircraft, aerial devices, motorised watercraft, horse-drawn vehicles, mechanically-propelled/motorised or towed vehicles; this exclusion does not apply to activities covered under Section (S) ACTIVITIES except where cover under this section is excluded for specific activities (4) anything arising out of paid or voluntary work, conducting a trade, business or profession (5) any liability arising through a contractual agreement, but for which no liability would arise (6) any liability covered under any other insurance policy (7) any form of ownership or occupancy of land or buildings, except occupation only of temporary holiday accommodation (8) punitive or exemplary damages or compensation (9) any deliberate act or omission. (note: this insurance does not provide Third Party Cover if you use a motor vehicle) *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

etravelinsure includes £2m of personal liability - annual world wide policy cost me £63.50, which I thought was pretty good *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example

You can get a decent harley (sportster) for half that in the US.... (I am very jealous

To clarify, my understanding is the jumper physically cut the risers with secateurs (or similar) that he had hidden somewhere in his clothes specifically for the purpose of cutting away. If there was a suggestion of a problem with the cutaway system on the club rigs, I would expect that they would be grounded until checked .. *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example