
cruzit
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Everything posted by cruzit
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Couldn't have said it better myself. I was totally immersed the first couple of years I was jumping. In fact, I got so immersed I finally burned out(teaching the FJC twice a weekend 52 weekends a year will do that to you). You'll get to a point in time where you will have enough confidence in your skills to stop feeling like you have to jump every weekend. Remember to keep a balance and not to exclude all the other stuff you love.
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If I remember correctly the question on the test was "In the event of an aircraft emergency, what should you do." The correct answer, "Follow your Jumpmaster's directions." Every student must correctly answer this before they jump at Cushing. Unfortunately, it sounds to me as if the plane went into a stall as the JM shifted back to allow the second student to the front of the plane. If the pilot began yelling exit when the JM and the student were dosey doing into position it is probable that the JM told the students "exit after me." It's what I would have done. There is no way anyone gets out if the JM stays in the forward position between the legs of the individual in the student position. Your job as the JM is to get out of the way so as many people as possible can exit. This was a tragic, tragic aviation accident, not a skydiving incident.
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When I taught the FJC at that DZ, no student ever left the classroom until the test was filled out correctly and both I and the student was comfortable they understood what they needed to do to save their own life. I may have misread the newspaper, but I thought it said the JM told the students to exit after him. I don't know what else he could have done but exit to get out of the way....I guess the students thought he should have crashed with the plane. I really, really feel for the students who were injured, but I don't believe they are correct when they indicate their JM was "gutless" for exiting.
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Yep...good lesson to learn. A good PLF may not stop you from getting injured...but it just may save your life.
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It is entirely normal to be a little (okay) a lot scared on your first skydive. After all, you are jumping out of a plane. In my experience, once a person has spent 6 to 8 hours in the class room, most are eager to jump. Not necessarily not scared...just prepared. Remember it's not the situation, it's your reaction to the situation. I know you are hearing this a lot...but relax, relax, relax. On the way to altitude, take some deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth to help center you. Spend time on the ride to altitude going over the skydive and the learning objectives (mental preparation it very important). Once you are in the door, focus on the tasks. Don't be surprised if you have "sensory overload." This is the phenomena where you exit the plane, but your brain has decided you're crazy for jumping and takes a little while to decide to catch up to you. This sensation seems to last a long time, but in reality it only lasts one or two seconds. After your brain catches up get back to focusing on the tasks, or learning objectives, in the skydive. Have faith in your JMs and in yourself. Good luck to you...let us know how you do.
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That's my feeling exactly. When I was instructing students, my instructions during training for aircraft emergencies were for the students to exit after me with both hands on their reserve, count to two (in order for the reserve to clear the tail) and pull.
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My .02 cents. I instructed and JMed at Cushing for 3 years. Although I have not been out there teaching for the past 3 years...Mike Palmer was still the DZO at the time and I wouldn't think he had changed his safety policies. The students were IAD. All of the DZ's student rigs were equipped with Student Cypreses. Since I was not there, I don't care to speculate as to whether the Instructor or JM gave the required "what to do in the event of an aircraft emergency" spiel. However, having taught and JMed hundreds of students out the DZ and aircraft in question, I can tell you that what we told the students in the event of an aircraft emergency was that they were to follow their jumpmaster's instructions. Generally speaking, the jumpmaster has to exit first to clear the door for the students. IMO the JM and the student in the student position were lucky they got out at all as the plane was stalling and going into a flat spin. While I empathize with the injured students (the only one killed was the pilot), they themselves said the JM instructed them to exit after him. Unfortunately in a flat spin situation, it was unlikely after the first rotation or two that they would be able to exit due to the centrifigal forces.
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{{{{{{{{{VIBES}}}}}}}}}}} Your way. Jack, As I was reminded several weeks ago...take one day at a time. As much as we parents wish we could... we can't fix everything. What we can do is offer love and support. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
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While countering your turn is one solution to the problem...it could cause problems later down the road. You may have to unlearn that body position. If you do decide to counter the turn...make sure you counter just enough to stop the spin...then adjust your body position back to neutral. If you aren't getting video on your skydives, it would be well worth your money to do so. Have your instructors critique your position. Sometimes if you can visually see where you went wrong it will help you to fix the problem. Hang in there and be patient with yourself...you'll get it.
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Never, never jump with sinus congestion. Several years ago I ruptured my sinus while jumping with a cold. Not only did it hurt like hell...but two weeks later when climbing to altitude, everyone in the cessna thought I was dying because of the blood clots which came out as the sinuses opened up on the ride up...Yuck!
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Your dirt dive/organized load preference
cruzit replied to peek's topic in General Skydiving Discussions
Pretty much what I would say. Method A if you are jumping with a group of varying degrees of experience or a group who doesn't jump together very much. Method B if I'm comfortable with the skill level and generally know who I'm flying with. -
Hard openings and your neck !!!!!
cruzit replied to skydiver51's topic in General Skydiving Discussions
Wow...now I'm worried. I had a really hard opening followed by a typical Stilletto 360 in August which gave me whiplash so bad I couldn't turn my head for a week. I've been having trouble with my neck ever since but have been afraid to visit my doc to find out what was going on.... That's a real bummer. Sounds like your little rocket canopy days may be over. Definately take it easy. -
On our IAD students we used a knotted piece of bright yellow crepe paper stuffed into the pouch. Our throw out handles were the same color so the students didn't have to transition to looking for something a different color. Also the bright color made it really easy for the JM to see a successful practice throw.
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Got family members that skydive?
cruzit replied to vonSanta's topic in General Skydiving Discussions
My husband got me started skydiving. He has 2500 jumps or so and has been jumping since 1982. My daughter has two solo jumps (AFF level 1 and an IAD) My son hasn't made a jump yet (he will turn 16 in March) but he has more time in the right seat of a King Air than a lot of pilots. -
Skydiving is one of the safest risky sports
cruzit replied to pkasdorf's topic in Safety and Training
Sorry, I respectfully must disagree. I have been skydiving for 11 years and rock climbing for 4. I have an excellent understanding and respect for the dangers of both sports. Based upon my experience with both sports, rock climbing is much more dangerous than skydiving. There are many, many more outside forces affecting you during a "lead" climb (I don't include "top-roping" which I agree holds a lesser degree of risk of injury). In climbing, you are dependent on your personal skill in gear placement and climbing technique. In addition, you are also dependent on the attentiveness and skill of your belayer (unlike skydiving where the sole responsibility for your pull belongs to you). This factor alone in my mind makes the sport of rock climbing more dangerous. Additionally, while there is potential for mechanical failure in both sports, it is unlikey you will be struck by lightening, be injured by falling rock or failed anchors, or be eaten by a bear (you may laugh...but I almost stepped on a massive black bear on my hike in to climb Grand Teton last year). Both sports are potentially unsafe...but I have been injured only once skydiving seriously enough to have to lay off...I have been injured at least four times climbing seriously enough to require recovery time. I have a whole lot more confidence that I will walk away injury free after a day of skydiving than I do from a day climbing. Jackie -
It absolutely astounds me that anyone can complete the AFF program with the minimum number of jumps. Think about it. You have approximately 8-9 minutes to MASTER this skill. I can't think of any other skill where you spend that little time and are then expected to be competent. Hey...hang in there. You will do this. Don't be discouraged. Your time off may have indeed effected your performance. Or maybe, you just had a bad hair day...either way you'll get it. Good luck...and keep us posted.
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Exactly, which is why you should be very careful about your advice. What works for you may, and probably, will not work for someone else. That would be my advice as well.
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Have you ever landed inside the plane?
cruzit replied to mazevedo's topic in General Skydiving Discussions
Many times. When JMing large IAD classes, I have done back-to-back loads on numerous occasions, where if I was lucky I got to jump every 3rd or 4th load. I've ridden the plane down 3 times with students who decided not to jump. Fortunately, I've only ridden the plane down 4 times because of deteriorating weather...and all 4 times I was happy to be landing with the plane. -
As of today...I have never refused to jump with a student. The biggest problem I have encountered is students failing to disclose medical problems (you know all the tricky stuff you can't see). Twice I have seen students dislocate shoulders (one while in free fall on a level 1 and one while hanging on to the strut on an IAD...I pulled him back in...don't ask...it wasn't pretty. Found out later both had a history of dislocations). Another time a student failed to let my husband know he had high blood pressure...he also neglected to take his meds for it and ended up passing out on jump run in the door of the plane. I'll take a student who is less than stellar intellectually as long as they aren't cocky. I draw the line at cocky because those are the kind of students who break my golden rule which is...Don't hurt or scare me
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what's the lowest you've ever exited?
cruzit replied to panzwami's topic in General Skydiving Discussions
Launched a 3-way out of a Porter at 2,000. Several H&P from 1,800'. -
I agree you should see your doctor to see what's up. I have several friends who skydive who have had this happen and yes...once it has happened once, it is more likely it will occur again. You're very lucky it popped back into place. I once had a level 1 student's right arm pop out during the exit. We ended up pulling for her. Thank goodness she was heads up enough to grab both toggles in her left hand at flare time.
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lowbie says she don't need no steenking cypress...
cruzit replied to pds's topic in Safety and Training
While it's up to the individual if she is licensed, jumping with an AAD just may save your life sometime. From personal experience I have been in two situations which turned out OK, but were potentially very dangerous without an AAD. On one occasion, I was hit in the mouth by an altimeter on exit (pre-full face helmet days) and was knocked out for a few seconds. When I came to, I was tumbling out of control and had lost about 2,000' feet. On another occasion, I was exiting right behind the base on a 20-way and was kicked in the helmet on exit. It almost removed my helmet from my head as I was exiting. After that, I bought an AAD. In both cases, the worst case scenario didn't occur, but it certainly could have. I equate having an AAD to wearing a seat belt in a car...if you have the safety device available, it's crazy not to use it. -
Shameless plug for Larsen & Brusgaard. When my older ProDytter (I got it as a Xmas present in 96 I think) died earlier this year. I e-mailed the company and they replaced it...no charge except the cost of shipping the old one to Denmark. They even sent me an extra set of batteries for the new one
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Don't drink heavily the night before...why, you ask?, because if you're hungover, you'll feel like crap and your breath will stink Seriously, try to get a good night's sleep the night before your class. Don't miss your morning meal. I would recommend high carb as it will be long day and you'll need fuel. Dress comfortably for the weather and the activity as you'll likely be both inside and outside during the class and will be practicing your exit and arch on the ground prior to your jump. Sweats, tennis shoes, etc., are a good choice this time of year. This time of year you sometimes end up making your first jump the next day or on a subsequent weekend due to weather. Don't let this discourage you. AFF is an extremely safe way to enter the world of skydiving. You will have an instructor with you from the moment you board the plane until your canopy opens. Generally, you will be on radio control while under canopy, so while you are expected to land the canopy, you have someone there making sure you don't screw up. RELAX, RELAX, RELAX....you'll do just fine. Hey, keep us posted and let us know how your first skydive goes. Good luck!!!