Kris

Actually, the news was in my e-mail this morning as part of the USPA S&TA news brief sent out to JM's, instructors & IE's. Kris Here's a full cut & paste: U.S. Parachute Association Publications Safety & Training Newsletter A Bulletin for the training community Vol. 2, Issue 7 August 1, 2002 USPA Tandem Instructor Course Approved By The FAA The FAA has issued a letter of acceptance recognizing USPA's Tandem Instructor Course. Part 105 requires a tandem instructor to have successfully completed, and been certified, "by the manufacturer of the tandem parachute system…or a course acceptable to the (FAA) Administrator." Prior to FAA acceptance, a tandem instructor must have held a current tandem manufacturer's rating to comply with the regulation. Now, a tandem instructor can hold only a current USPA tandem instructor rating and be in compliance. A USPA Tandem Course Director must be approved by the manufacturer to train individuals for using that manufacturers equipment as a USPA Tandem Instructor. See below for more information regarding tandem skydives. Coach Course Directors The USPA website lists current Coach Course Directors divided by Region. There have been requests to add contact information so that it is easier for members to get in touch with a course director near them. If you are a current course director and would like to have your email address or phone number added to the website send an email to jcrouch@uspa.org with the contact information. USPA will not add any contact information without a request from the individual. July Board of Directors Meeting The Board Meeting wrapped up on Sunday, July 14 after several long days of work by Board members, USPA staff and Board advisors. Below are the motions that came out of Safety and Training: USPA Licenses will be aligned with the FAI requirements effective September 30, 2003. The jump number requirements will be the following: 25 for a USPA A License 50 for a USPA B License 200 for a USPA C License 500 for a USPA D License Appropriate changes will also be incorporated into the competition and rating systems to allow for similar jump number requirements that already exist in order to obtain ratings or enter competition. Those who have obtained a license prior to September 30, 2003 will not be required to meet any additional jump numbers if they are below the FAI minimum when they receive their USPA License. The Instructional Rating Manual has been approved pending final review by the S&T Committee. The completed manual is targeted for a September 1 release date, once the changes are incorporated from the Board meeting. The 2003 Skydiver’s Information Manual has been approved pending final review by the S&T Committee. The completed manual is also targeted for a September 1 release date, once the changes from the Board meeting are incorporated. Among the many changes to the SIM are new sections for camera flying and wing suit recommendations. Several additions to the Basic Safety Requirements were incorporated to address tandem issues: Demonstration jumps into level 2 areas require a USPA D License with a PRO Rating for all jumpers, including both tandem jump participants. Contact canopy formation activity is prohibited on tandem jumps. Tandem jumps into stadiums are prohibited. Any skydiver acting as a Parachutist In Command on a tandem jump must possess an FAA Class 3 medical certificate or the equivalent. Tandem jump opening altitude has been changed from 4,000 feet to 4,500 feet. Intentional back-to-earth or vertical orientations that cause tandem freefall speeds to exceed that of droguefall are prohibited. Skydivers are to be at least the age of legal majority for jumps using a tandem parachute system. This takes effect February 28, 2003. Additional Board highlights can be found at http://www.uspa.org/default_copy(1).htm#BOD There will also be a full report in the September issue of Parachutist magazine. Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

No rubberbands, the packer is just following the golden rule of packing, "Lines to the inside, fabric to the outside." It looks like he's just making sure the lines stay centered in the packjob to help prevent a line-over. When I pack I keep the B, C & D lines held in one hand after flaking to make sure they don't move from the center of the pack-job. I don't let them go until It's time to drop the slider from over my shoulder and clover-leaf it. Kris "Happy Psycho-Packer" Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

I do love the freefall but sometimes there's nothing better than hanging under canopy with friends at 10K on the sunset load. Kris (well, except maybe stowing a beer on our chest straps for the long flight down...) Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Pam & Merrick, I can't think of two people more deserving of all the good that life brings. You two are the best! I just wish I would have thought of doing that first.

Well, n2skdvn answered the Fruit Loop question. As for the rodeo, it's amazing how a compressed accordian to a sidebody can become a compressed accordian to an, ahem, incomplete burble hop that leaves you on top of the other jumper. Psst. Don't tell the other freeflyers I know what those belly moves are. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Let's see... There's the obvious ones; Fruit-Loop & Rodeo. One no-contact move that really stood out was a jump with a newbie a couple of months back. He did this contortionists version of a back-loop that was so hilarious that when he made eye-contact again and I saw the look on his face I could barely fly straight. We're talking a full-blown belly laugh at 11K. I was still chuckling under canopy. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Hmmm, where do I start... Here's what I have on my Bonehead Mindwarp right now: "Stupidity Should Be Painful" "I Like Bright Shiny Objects" "Can't Sleep, Clowns Will Eat Me" A mad Emily sticker, a sweet anime sticker and a ton of other yin/yang, peace-sign, alien type stickers over a light clear-coat of purple & jade that lets the carbon-fibre pattern of the helmet through. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Damn nice tat! I'm really getting the urge to get one of those but I still haven't made up my mind as to what to get. And Christina, thanks for giving me your packing space two Sundays back at skydive Dallas. I was the Mexican guy with the purple Mirage. Trying to find a space to pack there was a nightmare. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

I like BitchX for Linux and mIRC for Windoze. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Yes!!! I'll be there Wednesday afternoon. I'm looking forward to seeing you two again! Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

NO!!! Not on the 6th!!! I think Wednesday the 7th for Pub Night sounds great. Call it tradition... Kris (Ummm, are you buying any of this?) Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Arriving Wednesday (7th) afternoon, leaving on the 11th. Kris "And this one time, I was going to Rantoul and I was like WHEEEEEE!" Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Skyfest was amazing! I had a really great time and some great skydives. I also got to meet some really wonderful people. I jumped nothing but the Skyvan except for my very last jump which was out of the famous School-Bus Otter. All in all, not too shabby a weekend. I miss the Skyvan already. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Wow! I finally get to sample some of the Famous Carbone Cookin'! I just hope this doesn't happen until after I get there on the 7th! Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Number of times I've lost my helmet in freefall this week 2:6:2 Okay, SkyFest at Skydive Dallas was an absolute blast!!! I owe beer for my first jump out of a Skyvan and for my first stable head-down. As for the first number... yup. I did it again. Last dive of the day today and I forgot my chin-strap. Exited solo into a sit, concentrated on my breathing and backlooped into a head-down and nailed it. I'm pretty sure I had a righteous back-slide going on but I was able to hold an X-position head-down and I was able to slowly rotate it to look around. I front-looped into a sit and as I rotated over my helmet decided to say goodbye. Stayed on my belly until pull-time since I didn't really tighten my sunglasses up all the way and then almost wept under canopy. Helmet & ProTrack gone, again. From the altitude I lost it at (around 9K) I was pretty sure I was never going to see it again. I never saw it under canopy. I landed and started getting my stuff together to leave and popped into the gear-store to settle my tab and let them know to be on the lookout for my helmet. "Umm. I was a dumbass today and lost my Bonehead at 9K with a ProTrack inside. If it shows up within the next few years, let me know." "Purple & green Mindwarp, lots of stickers?" "Yes! How did you know?" "It's at manifest, it landed in the middle of the runway." "" Sure enough, there it was and only a small scuff on the side. The ProTrack was not inside. I found the person who retrieved it and we drove out to where he thought he found the helmet. I opened the door and looked down as I got out. I didn't even have to search for it. There it was and it works perfectly. I swear, I really need to start buckling that chin-strap as soon as I put my helmet on my head. That was almost a $460 skydive. Again. My Bonehead Mindwarp must really, really love me. Thanks again to Bonehead and L&B for making such durable products. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

During the summer, baggy shorts, t-shirt and a pair of Vans or Airwalks. In the winter: Long-sleeved T-shirt and/or turtle-neck, jeans and my Doc Marten boots. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

When I was out sick last week with a chest cold and an ear infection I watched UHF, Army of Darkness, and Naked Lunch. All back to back. Let's just say that when I was finally able to sleep I had some pretty messed-up dreams... Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Heh, I missed my pieing as well. I guess I'll just have to be extra watchful. Especially since I'll probably hit #200 at the WFFC. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

I don't have anything on it right now. That may change when I send it to Mirage for a couple of small alterations this winter. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

I'll be there Saturday definitely and possibly Sunday as well. Look for the big mexican guy in this suit & rig. McKinney, TX is also about 20 mins away and has plenty of restaurants, hotels & stores. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

I generally release my brakes right after I have pointed myself back to the DZ and stowed my slider. If I have a really long spot I may leave the brakes stowed for a little while. My personal rule is to have my toggles in my hands by 1400'AGL since 1000' (having the cutaway & reserve handles in my hands by that altitude) is as low as I would like to have to cut away a spinning main. If I were to have a stuck or knotted brake under my Stiletto I really wouldn't want to find out about it 200' off the deck. For all other malfunctions my hard-deck is 1600'. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

It should be snug for freeefall but under canopy is a different matter. For high-performance canopy pilots, loosening the chest strap allows the harness and, consequently, the risers to spread farther apart and helps to flatten out the canopy for better performance. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Heh, I wish but the helmet didn't even have a scratch on it. Nope, I'm pretty honest with The Book. I showed that it recorded 53 seconds but I only claimed 11 seconds. Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

Mmmmmm, Alyson! Kris Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

I am on my second Gotcha Covered freefly suit and I have been nothing but pleased with the fit, performance and comfort of this suit. Kris Waldo, the seamstress, is excellent with delivery and customer service! I strongly reccommend her suits. Not just because she's a hottie, too. ;>