JustChuteMeNow

If this question pertains to why people attending an AFF course need to have a coaches rating before they are qualified to attend the AFF course, I don't think the skill set differs at all. I think many people get bent over on this requirement. More money for the CD and more money for the USPA. Yes, different information is covered in each course and depending on the CD excellent tips can be picked up BUT I'm betting that handouts and a review could do the same thing. Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that statistically half of them are stupider than that.

There is nothing that states that licensed skydivers can not still jump in whatever winds that they want even if they are doing a recurrency jump. Actually there is nothing that says a licensed skydiver MUST do a recurrency jump. The wording in the SIMS just states SHOULD do a recurrency jump. I should eat more healty and I should check my gear before each jump. The SIMS states a lot of shoulds but ultimately the USPA says jumpers are adults and can make adult decesions. Like was stated earlier, DZs can set their own rules and guidelines but it is not a BSR and it is not required by USPA. EDIT TO ADD: I think having a DZ policy that does require uncurrent skydivers to follow student wind guidelines is a good idea. Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that statistically half of them are stupider than that.

I think he was implying that if a person was a coach that they could do fun jumps with newer jumpers without charging a fee even at DZs that utilize coached jumps for revenue. I have been to many large DZs and I often try and find new jumpers just off of AFF to jump with. I do this for the smiles.

This may be a new change if they are requiring it now but I have seen course directors fill out photocopied profieciency cards for various reasons. This used to be acceptable. I have always been given the original and the CD would send in the paperwork to the USPA. Obviously the CD didn't send in the original P-card if I had it. I'll take this one step futher and say why the hell would the USPA care if the P-card was an original or a photocopy as long as the signatures were signed and valid. Again I recognize that this may have changed but that would seem counter productive. If a card gets destroyed or lost during a course for whatever reason will the CD require a candidate to get a new book just to get a new card. I would hope not. Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that statistically half of them are stupider than that.

Photocopies are acceptable. Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that statistically half of them are stupider than that.

It is way easier to just use the beer helmet than it is to modify the crutches.

I don't think there would be any harm in doing it and it would increase the standard BUT if we make it 200 people will still bitch that it is too low and that coaches aren't qualified. Like I said earlier, if a person can meet the standard then they should get a rating. If they haven't met the standard then they haven't earned a rating and they should try again when they are more qualified. I jump at a small Cessna DZ in Iowa and our coaches don't even charge. They got ratings so that they could legally jump with newer jumpers. That said our instructors don't charge for coach jumps either. I think it is called giving back to the sport. I think it is a great system and it has benefited the coaches and the newer jumpers and our sport. Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that statistically half of them are stupider than that.

There are people with 100 jumps and a lot of tunnel time that can easily pass the coaches course. Then again there are people with 300 jumps who can't pass the coaches course because they don't know how to fly on their belly. IMO no one should be a coach unless they can pass the standard. But if they pass the standard and the course directors are doing their jobs, the coach candidates have shown the competency and proficiency needed to work with students. Jumpers who have just completed AFF have a lot of learning to do and coaches can help fill that gap if they are competent. That statement again implies that the coaches have earned the rating. I guess what I'm saying is that there are piss poor coaches with 500 jumps and there are great coaches with barely a 100 jumps. Competency and attitude determine a good coach and not just an arbitrary jump number. Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that statistically half of them are stupider than that.

Part of the dues pay for a magazine and so I would hope that the USPA would provide 12 magazines for your yearly subscribtion. I don't know how the USPA determines what 12 magazines a person gets but IMO they should give 12. I would think that next March you will recieve the March issue since the subscription expires in March. If you don't recieve an April issue this year I would expect that the April issues will also come next year. There are some things that I disagree with regarding the USPA but this isn't one of them. The option to buy these issues seems reasonable assuming that you will recieve the magazines next year. At the very least I think you should buy beer just to prove that you are not a cheap bastard. Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that statistically half of them are stupider than that.

I agree with you and of course there are many teaching styles that will meet the standard and not just one. It sounds like you have a very good mentor. Good luck with everything.

I'm thinking a matching shoes to rig thread should have been posted in the women's forum. Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that statistically half of them are stupider than that.

Fortunately my wife makes the decesion easy. Sure things are awesome.

Once a person recieves their license there are no wind restrictions in the US per the BSRs and the SIMS. There are also no guidelines for licensed jumpers regarding winds and recurrency jumps. Commen sense and judgement is left to the individual jumpers. That said a DZ can set up any rules and guidelines that they want and in this case it sounds like they made a very good call since you were uncurrent and a fairly new jumper. Last but not least, Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that statistically half of them are stupider than that.

As far as expenses go, it doesn't get really expensive until you join the titanium club.

Sorry to hear you are all banged up Gail. coming your way from Iowa. Hopefully you will heal fast and definitely follow the advice of SkymonkeyONE. Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that statistically half of them are stupider than that.

This is true but you do need a gun. However, she said a warm place and NYC in the winter time is not warm and balmy. Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that statistically half of them are stupider than that.

I knew you knew. That was just Jim's attempt at going for a cheap laugh or should I say cheep laugh. There is a reason that I don't try and make a living at comedy.

I'm not a goose expert but I do work at a place with 5.5 million chickens. With that said, I'm pretty sure that they will be featherballs and not furballs. As an alternative to taking pictures, fresh goose eggs can also make a tasty omelette.

I didn't take your statement as an absolute and yes there are plenty of asshat instructors that have serious attitudes and don't know how to act professionally. There are plenty of those asshats who have never been in the military. As far as the OPs question, I was the second one to answer it in this thread. However, based on some of the comments I will add some more of mine. IMO if a person is qualified and meets the standards then they should recieve the rating. The standards should be known up front and they shouldn't change at the will and pleasure of the CD. However, if the standard isn't met then like you I don't believe that they should receive a rating. If a person just barely passes the course and just barely meets the standards, they should still recieve a rating and that is when people like the OP should help the new rating holder to improve their skills. FWIW I also don't like instructors that try to intimidate students. I much prefer instructors who try to teach. What I was trying to imply with my initial statement was that I prefer instructors that are direct with their critisisms. i.e. here is what you did wrong and this is how you can fix it. I didn't mean to imply that the same instructors couldn't also give positive direct feedback as well. Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that statistically half of them are stupider than that.

I second that. Altitude...mmmmmmmmmmmmmm Hope to see you and your plane soon.

Some of the best skydiving instructors I know or knew were old-school, long-term military. Most of the military instructors want people to succeed and they want people to do well. They do it in a very positive way. Some names that come to mind in no particular order are: Paul Rafferty, Chris Talbert, John Hoover, Craig Girard, Kip Lohmiller, Jay Stokes, etc. Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that statistically half of them are stupider than that.

Hey Ken, I don't know who it was but I'm betting that they aren't getting an invite to the next bigway invitational. Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that statistically half of them are stupider than that.

I think new skydivers definitely need encouragement but I also feel very strongly about candidates meeting the course standards. If the candidate didn't have the teachiing skills then giving him a rating in my opinion would not be approbriate. it sounds like the evaluator could have sugar coated the message a little bit but I have always preferred evaluators that could key in on my weaknesses so that I could fix them. I also have always preferred the non-sugar coated version. It sounds like the evaluator was up front with his criticism but giving encouragement and positive feedback is also something that many very good evaluators practice. I wasn't there and so my response is based soley on the information that you provided. Howver, in your own words you stated that the candidate would need to gain some new skill sets over the next season or two. During that time I'm sure that your friend can develop the skills and earn his rating if he doesn't pass this time. Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that statistically half of them are stupider than that.

Well OK she can do it but everyone on the load has to promise not to look.

I guess the police think he raped the picnic table because he is being charged with a felony picnic table assault versu a misdeamenor charge. Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that statistically half of them are stupider than that.