darrell

Right on, thanks Carl and Mark darrell

Hey ojf1982, I appreciate your input. Your statement seems to imply that because most incidents involve user error that stats are useless. The statistical information INCLUDES all such situations. I'm not "worried" about the stats at 95 jumps- just the opposite, I feel more able to coolly digest the information now then I did earlier at 20,45, or even 70 jumps. It seems to me that knowledge is power and (in this sport) life expectancy as well. stay cool,informed, and alive. darrell

apoil, Thanks for the feed back. I realize that my actions are the most influential factor in my surviving in this sport, but I also believe in knowing the facts in my approach to any potentially hazardous situation. I really can't believe how much I love this sport; I just like to be aware and educated. darrell

OK, I'm a bit confused. I just received the new Para Gear catalog and on the inside of the front cover there is a big orange WARNING notice that contains the following statement (under the heading "RISKS OF SKYDIVING"): "Approximately one jump out of every 20,000 results in death" - the U.S.P.A. is sighted as the source of this stat. This sounded a bit high to me so I went to the U.S.P.A.'s web sight and found the following figures for the year 1999: a total of 3,400,000 jumps where made by 311,511 people. I then referenced the uspa's annual fatality summary in the May 2001 issue of PARACHUTIST and found that there were 27 fatalities in that year. Running those numbers I got a different picture: "only" 1 in 113,000 jumps resulted in a fatality and that 1 in 10,741 people actually practicing in the sport died (in 1999) Two questions: 1- What's really up with the stats? and more importantly- 2- Why do I have to hunt down the numbers and compute the fatality PERCENTAGES myself? The USPA web sight, while breaking down the who and whats, makes no death stat available AND their annual fatality article, while admirably revealing how many people have died and more importantly how, makes no reference to how many jumpers were actually jumping OR how many jumps they made. It seems to me that these COMPLETE stats should be made more readily available. I'm not being morbid here, it's just that if you ARE going to tell someone how many people are killed on the highways each year and go into detail as to how they died you should also inform your audience of how many drivers are on those roads in the first place. darrell please- if I'm way off base, or just pain wrong, do not hesitate to tell me thanks

Kirk, got it! Thanks ... darrell

I'm sorry Kirk, but I don't quite get it yet. This extra flap folds folds UNDER the bridle? I can understand how a flap sewn onto the bottom closing flap that the bridle goes under would work, but I can't wrap my brain around what you describe. Could you please try to describe it once more? Thanks for your effort! darrell

thanks skybitch, Cool user name! Hey, thanks for your input. My rig is an "older" one that does have bridle exposure. Believe me, I have all intentions of having a master rigger do the work. I'll take your advice and also contact the manufacturer. The way I see it the more info I can gleam in the situation the better I can weigh my options and have an intelligent conversation with my rigger. thanks again, darrell

riggerrob, thanks for the suggestion of the velcro, it was echoed by another at my DZ. What do you think of idea of a bridle cover sewn onto the bottom flap (such as that used/ suggested by talonsky)? I can even envision a flap that covers the entire opening of the BOC and continues up and under the right closing flap to serve as a bridle cover ... what do you think? thanks! darrell

Thanks everyone- Keep 'em coming; it's starting to sound like this is an issue that effects many of us out there- whether we realize it or not ... Talonsky- Could you give us all a bit more detail as to what the mod you had done is/ looks like ? (or maybe even attach a photo of it)? My rig is an Infinity, but I would assume that something similar to what you had done could work for all of our other rigs also ... thanks, darrell

Hey guys, Thanks for the input on this day of national trauma, prost- check out the incident report of this month's (Sept 01, page 55) Parachutist magazine if you can: Age:45/ Male/ 600 jumps- Horseshoed main bridle around reserve bag's locking stow = DEATH what do you think ? darrell

I, like many, have a BOC pilot that leaves that little bit of bridle exposed before it dissapears under the right closing flap. A well meaning freeflyer expressed some concern over this, suggesting that it may cause a future problem during my learning to sitfly. Can anyone please give me some ideas as to a simple modification to cover it or secure it ?? thanks

Yo, So ... we found out who each other were this last Sat. I thought that was you ... How was the wind Sun ? Did you get a chance to get in your hop-n-pop ? See ya next time ! darrell

weird, on "paper" we look like twins I've wondered how many are in the SF area also and I- like you - will be getting my A license soon and I also jump @ Byron. My name is Darrell Williams. Who are you ?

Hi everybody, Can anybody give me their 2 cents on the quality/ problems/ experiences of an older (1997) Infinity container? I'm looking for my first rig and found one with 200 jumps on it for sale and could use some input... thanks! darrell

My friend is selling a FIRELITE reserve - no deploys Anybody know about this chute? Any info would be great! (track record, quality, reliability, "manners", etc...) thanks!

The thing is this- They will teach you what you need to know. That's why you pay 'em the bucks and why you spend a day on the ground going over this stuff BEFORE you jump. Don't get me wrong, I believe in being thurough, that's why I suggest to anybody about to take the AFF to read the STUDENT HANDBOOK I feel that anything more is overdoing it, go ahead if it makes you feel better, but it all boils down to just keeping some basic tennents in mind while you are doing your first jumps; all of which you will find in the class instruction and tha STUDENT HANDBOOK.....why complicate the issue, it's not taking the SAT, it's keeping cool and keeping in mind basic techniques while you are YOU WILL HAVE PLENTY TO DO JUST DOING THE MINIMAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES in your first dives. Download the STUDENT HANDBOOK and read it, take the class and do what they tell you to do, have fun.................. resist the temptation to cram information into your brain that is for the next "level" You learn to walk before you learn to run..... darrell

Cielos Yes, I just did the AFF To be honest with you I believe in keeping it simple... You will have your hands full when you hang your ass out the door (alot of emotions, thoughts, ect ...) So I would keep your mind clean if I were you, don't over do it with alot of info that you won't be in the mental space to use... read this and you will be cool ... http://www.dropzone.com/safety/resources/handbook/ This may sound simplistic, but I would give my brother the same advise I just gave you... darrell

Wesley, be safe, have fun !

what42, FYI AFF is most amazing... If it were me I would consider reading the STUDENT HANDBOOK : http://www.dropzone.com/safety/resources/handbook/ before & during your AFF...this was writen for just that purpose(as a matter of fact in it you are directed to then read the SKYDIVER'S HANDBOOK after you complete the AFF.) Unless otherwise advised by your instructors/ jumpmasters I would leave the SKYDIVER'S HANDBOOK for after the AFF. You will have your hands full ...... darrell

Thanks guys! WOW, this forum really works blue skies

I just finished my AFF and then discovered THE STUDENT SKYDIVER'S HANDBOOK ... (wish I knew about it during my AFF levels) Anyway, the last page of the Student Handbook suggests the SKYDIVER'S HANDBOOK for those finished with the AFF and working toward their A license. Where do I find this book ?