matthewcline

As I read the SIM, a jumper must be "B Qualified" to make a night jump. But there is no restriction for someone who is not "B Qualified" to stay off the sunset (or late sunset) load. Should we have a BSR that says no sunset load until you are B qualified and have a night jump? (Is that actually already a requirement as the SIM is written now, and if so, should we start enforcing it more strictly.) Or should we allow any licensed jumper to do night jumps with proper training and the approval of the appropriate authorities (I, I/E, S&TA, DZO), regardless of his B qualification status? (Of course, all this says nothing at all about why a D license needs night jumps.) Why do we do any of the requirements? It is for Safety, through training and experience. Matt Was that an answer? Should we limit the sunset load to "B qualified" or better. Or is it actually a requirement now that is widely being ignored? If sooner is better (see red highlighted text above), should we make it a B requirement instead of a D? You say it is about safety. Great. How does that relate to the D night jump requirement? Not sure what your beef with me is, but sure I answered so I am a good target. If Sunset is defined as actual Sunset, then I think your question is answered with: Yes, only B qualified or higher and wearing the proper lights and other items done. This would jive with the FAR's (Lights) and BSR's (B Qualified or higher). And no I do not think ANY DZ does that. They go till it is REALLY dark, and some well beyond. The jumps can be noted any where, they are currently noted in the D license application. Maybe we should put them in the B license requirements, good idea. Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

Really, repacked? Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

As I read the SIM, a jumper must be "B Qualified" to make a night jump. But there is no restriction for someone who is not "B Qualified" to stay off the sunset (or late sunset) load. Should we have a BSR that says no sunset load until you are B qualified and have a night jump? (Is that actually already a requirement as the SIM is written now, and if so, should we start enforcing it more strictly.) Or should we allow any licensed jumper to do night jumps with proper training and the approval of the appropriate authorities (I, I/E, S&TA, DZO), regardless of his B qualification status? (Of course, all this says nothing at all about why a D license needs night jumps.) Why do we do any of the requirements? It is for Safety, through training and experience. Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

I agree that proficiency in canopy piloting is the foremost skill we need to improve. I would support requiring night jumps for the pro rating only. Or, perhaps have night demo as an endorsement to the Pro Rating. The only way I could see night jumps improving safety and creating meaningful experience is to have a re-currency requirement for night jumps. Experience and skill comes only through regular practice. I'm not proposing that, and I don't think anyone would want that. I just don't believe that 2 jumps will build an adequate level of experience or safety. To you or me it may not be adequate and I would base my opinion on the hind sight gained in experience of several hundred night jumps, mostly Demo's. But some experience is better than no experience. I think we should keep it as is, BUT emphasize them being done as soon as possible, just like a canopy control class. Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

Do a search, instead of starting yet another Skyride thread... I searched for Skyride and this is the top thread that popped up Out of interest I was searching on Google for dz's in South Carolina and one of the top hits is for a Skyride website. Honestly for a business website it is really poor with abstract contact details, no location entered, no details for fun jumpers. My point? The website does a very poor job of selling and I was quickly off to a "real" dz's website. I can see a tandem being suckered but that is about it. That there is the problem. Tandem Students who are directed away from a REAL DZ because of the FAKE DZ. Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

I stand by the reason to do them is experience, which when done right leads to education and safety. I agree they should be done earlier. I propose they be done at the B License stage. But we also want to add Canopy control there too! OK So maybe the "C" License instead. But I would be behind USPA making it a PRO rating req instead. DEMO Jumpers will do a night DEMO eventually. Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

So, my post right above you inferring having experience in a night jump so as to not be inexperienced for that "Oh Shit it's dark now" jump is not good enough? It is far better than "Cause I had too". But I say leave it in. If you want a D License make the night jumps. You only need a night jump for Recognition and Tandem's at the moment, and the BOD will waive it for "Tandems Only" according to a previous post. And like, you have not read a good argument to keep them, I have not read a good argument NOT to do them. Other than the "I don't want to do them crowd". Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

Yep, me. Best side too! Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

Inflation is the wrong word. Skydiving gear Depreciates, it only appreciates if it is a museum piece and several museums are asking for it and you have the ONE good item left. Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

Yep....right up to the point of wanting to become a Tandem Instructor. I know it may seem odd. BUT, I am of the mind set either make it a standard for all or none. Waivers have a place, but just to waive it cause "I am only going to do Tandems" is a cop out, IMO. PLUS, we all know the T-I will be on THAT load and will make THAT "Sunset" jump. Why not have a small idea of what it will be like? Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

The "H" Mod comes standard from the Factory now and can be removed in the field, if not needed by the jumper as they are done after the whole canopy is assembled. Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

She may need the master bedroom, you willing to scoot over for her? Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

I agree, do the jumps or don't get the license. Big deal right? Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

A 'D' license is not required to be an AAF-I. He was saying that you could do AFF-I duty for a few years, but if you want to progress to tandem, you have to get your D (and the required night jumps) I suggest a course in reading comprehension. I comprehended just fine, he just wrote it backwards. You're right, I need a course in ESP. Actually a PRO Rating would have been a better example. It is a Different type of rating, but does require the "D" License. I disagree with the "Tandem Only" restricted license any way. Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

Nice series of pics. But it looks like he flared and held most of the flair through the whole sequence, or was the first flare the high one? Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

I thought the Sharpchuter was a 245. But 7 or 9 cells is not a big deal. Yes the Sharpchuter is designed as a "Accuracy-Demo" canopy, but they are used for "every day" jumping too. They do open fast (some say HARD), they do not glide as far as a 9 cell or a ZP or hybrid canopy. But they are strong and fly in most conditions very well. I have several hundred jumps on a Sharpchuter. The rig I can not speak too, I had a Racer as my first rig but do not know if it was an SST and only had it for one season (250ish jumps), it worked fine though. Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

I have never seen a "Tandem Only" "D" License. As an I/E I would be curious to how this plays out. Matt I doubt you ever will see one either because Licenses and instructional ratings are two entirely different things. It's been a couple years since that discussion, but as I recall, a written waiver is submitted to the BOD and if approved the license would be issued and notated to reflect the nature of the waiver. In other words if the waiver was for Night Blindness the D license would be notated to reflect that. This waiver would have no direct bearing toward and instructional rating since all instructional jumps, including Tandems, must take place during daylight hours. I was referring to your post #18. As an I/E seeing the license is part of my duty in running the Course, so I would see a "Tandem Only" restriction of there was one. I am well aware of when the tandem jump with a student is to be conducted as far as USPA is concerned. Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

I did my night jumps. I was just giving the OP some more info from a discussion I'd had. OK, so not specifically you, but any person who went and got a "Restricted-D" License for "Tandems Only". Did the President of USPA address that? or was it not discussed at that time? I have never seen a "Tandem Only" "D" License. As an I/E I would be curious to how this plays out. Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

Me, too, sorta...Having a Pro rating doesn't mean that one HAS to do night jumps for any reason. There is nothing that requires one to do a night jump. Doing a night jump is strictly voluntary with one "possible" exception...an emergency bail-out after dark...and that doesn't include twilight. We've given them numerous reasons why night jump requirement for D doesn't make sense but they refuse to listen. We've shown them numerous times that the logic USPA uses to justify the requirement doesn't make sense but they refuse to listen. For them, it's all about, "I had to do it so you do, too" or "We've always done it that way". They should have kept the water jump requirement somewhere in there. Of "they" could just allow the "C" License holder who has the Freefall time and Jumps to get the AFF and Tandem rating, apply for awards, compete, do certain Demo's, record attempts etc. (yes some of this stuff already happens). Then the "D" license can still be the "Master" with its night jumps, for ego and bragging purposes more than likely. Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

Sure, if the ADD firing hirer would be the only reason for the reserve to deploy in time and any hesitation was not do to body position, rig design or canopy design. Personally, I don't think we need to mandate this, individuals can raise their pull altitudes and communicate with the other jumpers on the load and AAD Manufacturers can meet the Industry half way here. Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

So, if after a few years of Tandems, you decide to go for and AFF-I Rating you will need to do the 2 Night Jumps first? Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

Not hard to undo for me. Never really noticed any issues. Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

Other than a few "Tandem Only" Jumpers, I am not aware of any other reason beyond the "Night Blindness". Side Bar Question directed to those who know: Do those who have a "Night Blindness" issue have restrictions in other parts of their life? Can they get a Drivers license? Fly? etc. Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

He has one listed in his profile. Matt An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!!

They are still required