djmarvin

Suspension of the group membership as well as suspension of individuals membership and rating. Self policing is basically it. If USPA has reasons to believe there is a problem, then they may start digging. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

This answer can vary depending on each person. However skill learning goes to the 1 year jumper. Knowledge learning can go to either depending on the situation. A 3 year jumper who is on a large DZ turning loads and comes out just to get their jumps and leaves, the knowledge goes to 1 year jumper who is immersed in the sport. A 3 year jumper who is on a DZ regularly but not able to jump as much as they like (load availability, weather, finances, work in ground ops) will generally be more knowledgeable. "Does time in the sport help more than currency?" I think they can play an equal part. Each brings it's own value. However none of this is relevant if the jumper is unwilling to shut their mouth and open their mind. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

You have to provide a copy of your medical to USPA, they only verify it is valid at the time of renewal. So you can have a USPA Tandem rating with an expired medical. Any smart DZO would require his staff to provide copies of all documents required to do their job. If their were ever an issue the DZO KNOWS and has proof that the Instructor was properly rated. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

Thanks Chuck. I actually charge around the industry average for full time examiners. Although the range for part time examiners varies dramatically. Like many have stated. You (usually) get what you pay for. Like many I am curious to how someone can effectively run a coach course over 2 nights and 8 hours. According to the IRM a course is "typically three days". My coach courses run 3 days and they are a full 3 days. If I could convince people to attend coach courses that ran 5 days I believe we could use all 5 very productively. As examiners it is our job to set and hold the standard. If we take shortcuts who are we really helping? As a poor example, probably not helping the coach. By not giving the coach everything we can, probably not helping the students they teach. On a side note. I believe we have TOO MANY examiners and as a result standards that are poorly held. The system we work in is a solid system as long as the examiners hold the standard. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

There is no freefall time requirement for the TI rating. Yes you do need 3 years of sport parachuting experience. This guy makes a very valid point. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

I'm guessing folks at USPA may already be discussing this topic. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

I am super stoked to have the Sequentials at Spaceland and somehow in all this that has been lost. Thanks Chuck for pointing out all this. I am proud to call Spaceland home and honored that these fine flyers chose our DZ to play at. I hope that y'all make it back to Texas soon and look forward to seeing more awesome events like this one. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

Glide has it right. Your initial rating course would count as your rating renewal seminar DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

It is common for jumpers, new and experienced to look at the altimeter but not register what they saw. You are basically looking at it, but not reading it. Most people find reading the altitude out loud a huge help to altitude awareness. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

Performance Designs has a bunch of great articles on their website under the support section. Most of their canopies have articles with their flight characteristics. There is also other articles directly below the flight characteristics (all in the right column). Enjoy your canopy course. http://www.performancedesigns.com/support.asp?filter=sport edited to add url DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

The FAA does see the danger in tandems. Not saying that this should or should not justify any type of medical. Your statement is just a bit ambiguous. The FAA has threaten to shut down tandem skydiving based on specific events. Again not making a statement for or against any medicals. Just pointing out that tandem skydiving is a lot higher on the FAA's radar than most would guess. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

I never stated that the FAA requires any type of medical. If you have acurrent DUI you won't have a driver's license, but the medical for a CDL does not license someone, it is just a medical (similar to the fact that an FAA medical is only a medical). If you have an old DUI you may still be turned down for an FAA medical (it happened to a buddy of mine who had an over 20 year old DUI). The CDL medical does not address the DUI, they leave it up to the licensing folks. I am not saying that anyone wants to have an FAA medical or any other type of medical requirement. Just stating what is currently accepted. If the person has a DUI problem, they will not have a drivers license. The SAME standard for light sport pilots and instructors. The fact is that the FAA does not require it. The FAA does not require a medical for LSA instructors. The FAA does not require a medical for glider or ballon pilots either. And you are not going to find too many tandem instructors that want to keep the FAA medical, and even fewer general skydivers. Further, the AOPA and EAA are working to get more situations where a pic does not need a medical. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

Depends if the TI in question already has a USPA rating of another type. IF the TI holds another USPA Instructor Rating: Proof of manufacturers rating, score 80% or higher on the USPA TI test, current FAA 3rd class or higher medical certificate or the equivalent verified and signed by a USPA Tandem Examiner. Fax or mail the proficiency card to USPA with the $50 rating fee. IF the TI holds a USPA Coach Rating: Tandem Proficiency Card #2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 and 16, proof of manufacturer rating, current FAA 3rd class or higher medical certificate or the equivalent verified and signed by a USPA Tandem Course Director. Fax or mail the proficiency card to USPA with the $50 rating fee. 2. Assisted in two Category B tandem ground preps. 3.* Assisted in two Category D ground preps. 4.* Observed ground preps in Categories B, C, E, and F. 5.* Correctly taught freefall stability and basic freefall maneuvers, including freefall turns, backloops, barrel rolls, front loops, and tracking. 6.* Prepared an effective canopy flight plan and provided ground-to-air(for example, radio) instruction for winds up to 14 mph. 7.* Participated in the spotting and aircraft lessons from Categories D through H (or equivalent training). 10. Correctly answered at least 80% of the questions on the USPA Tandem Instructor Final Examination. 16.* Completed one satisfactory Category D freefall and canopy training session and air evaluation during a Tandem Instructor Rating Course. IF the TI does not hold any USPA Ratings: Earn a USPA Coach Rating, then follow the procdures above. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

USPA requires an FAA medical. UPT requires FAA medical or other qualified medical such as a CDL medical. USPA keeps the FAA medical requirement partially for the DUI problem. In this case USPA is not following the "demands" of the manufacturer. If they were, USPA would accept medicals other than a FAA medical. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

A TI at a USPA Group Member DZ must have a USPA Tandem Rating. Group Members have lost their group membership and members their membership for using non rated persons on jumps that require a rating DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

Parts of TX get cold in November, but Houston is a bit warmer than you might think. http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/houston-tx/77002/november-weather/351197 DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

Try Skydive Spaceland in Houston, TX area. They have instructors dedicated specifically to student training so you will not wait around for "available" staff. They will work with you based on your current jumps (most DZs will). The weather in November is generally great for jumping. You can complete your license in a week and do several other jumps including canopy course and further coaching. http://www.skydivespaceland.com/learn-to-skydive/a-license-in-a-week/ DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

An S&TA (or IE) can waive the pull altitude to 2,000'. I suspect most AFF I/Es will do this for course jumps. I had the same question until I heard the waiver part. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

It was on the Safety and Training Comittee Agenda published on USPA's website. Input was solicited from some jumpers, I know of at least a couple that were asked about this. I am personally against the new change to opening altitudes and made it known to three different BOD members who asked. http://www.uspa.org/Portals/0/Downloads/Agenda_ST_2013_07.pdf DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

I agree, I am not 100% for this new BSR change. But if we are going to change at least it is on a side of caution. I think this change affects 10 years from now more than it does today. Once most jumpers will have never known the difference. If anything we are dressing the future for better success. I do like how it has sparked up debate and in turn jumpers becoming more aware of the dangers of pulling lower and better educated on what to do if they find themselves there on accident. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

Chuck - It is container opening altitude. Same reference as in the past. At least that's my understanding from folks on the Board. The end result and wording may change DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

I don't think you will be disappointed with either rig. That being said I prefer Infinity rigs myself. I am waiting on delivery of my fifth Infinity and been jumping them since 1999. I have owned and/or jumped several makes of rigs and I continue to stick with Infinity. The Infinity is a super comfortable rig. They have leg straps that are wider than most. I have never had any issues with loose main or riser flaps, they stay closed when they should and open when they should. You can customize your Infinity in all sorts of ways. I love the blackstainless steel hardware. There are so many more reasons I love my Infinity rig, try a search on here and you will find threads about both rigs to get more opinions. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

One of my favorites is CTRL+X (cut) CTRL+N (new) Robin Williams has this on her rig at Spaceland, makes me smile every time I see it. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

LOVE my Spectres for many of the reasons you just named. I keep two rigs and one is a spectre (other a velocity). Smooth on heading openings, great for wingsuit jumps, great for accuracy, trimmed flat so working back from long spots is solid, got a nice handful of low level crew on Spectres, on top of all this I love turning my Spectre and getting some nice swoops out of it. About 1200 total jumps on spectres and I will keep coming back (just got a new one recently) DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com

The BBQ joint is no longer there. Other than that Wendy hit on most everything. Any grocery store is about 15 minutes away (N, NW, E, or S) North of the DZ is Pearland. about a 15 minute drive. They have most anything just off the freeway there. Mall, multiple shopping centers with most any type of store or restaurant, and movie theater. DJ Marvin AFF I/E, Coach/E, USPA/UPT Tandem I/E http://www.theratingscenter.com