camamel

Here we use the video for the last two or three years and it is a huge plus for us here I explain. Since we do between 130 and 150 tandems/day during the week ends TI are very busy and for that reason sometimes they cut corners and forgot some little things, like asking the passengers if they had any medical issue that we should know like a dislocated shoulder, a bad knee, sinus problem ect. Of course all these questions are in our waiver that they are ask to read and sign. But we all know they are anxious, nervous and want to jump right away, so not all of them read it carefully. The reason why we didn't do that before is because we were afraid not to be able to keep there attention from the start to the end of the video. When we decide to go forward with this project we decided 1. To built a mini stage outside, with a big screen and a roof all that good for 30 persons dedicated only for the tandem video and in a quiet place. 2. We ask one of our partner that is a very well known actor here to be the narrator in order to keep the attention of everybody all the time. 3. We put everything that Minister Of Transport is asking like a map of the plane with all the emergency exit, fire extinguisher and ELT as well as every details instructors might forgot. Having all that in mind we work hard to put all that together and finally we went to a professional studio to end up with a 7 minutes video. We also have an hostess that welcome our customers there and have them sign the waiver after word. After that a TI do show and ask them to practice the body position on a bench, with a group of 25 that takes 3 to 4 minutes max. When we decided to go that way I told my partners that because of the high tandems volume we have here if we go that direction we have to take our time to make sure we do it wright the first time, thats what we did ..and it work fine for us. Richard When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

Even if your packers keep there t-shirt on, if they are sweating a lot and put there face on the canopy to deflate it while packing it might be a cause! Here we put huge fan in the packing area to make sure this doesn't happen. Are you closed to shore in a salty environment? Do you make a pull test on the main fabric each year or at least on the oldest mains? That's all I can think. My last idea would be to contact UPT about it. Let me know if you find something. Richard When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

I have 15 Sigma 340 that have been reline with vectran and new colapsable slider two years ago ranging from 1000 to 1900 jumps with no similar problem. Slider doesn't last as long as before. I also had an issue with a green that was fading on one main, PD test it and everything was O.K. but doesn't look very good so I ask them to give me some credit to buy another one...witch they did. I have the same problem this year with an orange but after 1500 jumps I will have to live with it. Otherwise nothing at all with an average of one cut away per 2000 to 2500 jumps in the last 17000. Did your packers keep there t-shirt on when they pack? When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

Well nothing complicated here. If you jump a Sigma rig, just follow UPT guide lines. If you jump a different rig and your passengers are not comfortable then buy or ask your DZO to try Sigma's . Richard When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

It was held April 1st and 2nd on the Expo site. 30 + Examiners attend that meeting from all over the world but mostly from States. You have 2 years to attend one of these meeting otherwise , at least in States for sure, you'll loose your examiner rating. After that you have to attend these meeting each other year. Next year it will be on the west coast. I am very happy that they put that new ¨system¨together. It was very interesting. Richard When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

WOW thanks for that picture. How do we go to his web site? I can't find it from here. Is there a picture of the second point there? Thanks When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

We are 45 minutes from Montreal in Canada. So far we are the only DZ in the country with two full time turbines . in 2012 we will also have a third turbine to support our specials events but this time it will be the fastest climbing Caravan in the country!!! Richard When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

My goal for the coming summer is to built a 30 way star at my DZ. If we have enough talent, and I think we will, we should be able to do even bigger then that. To support that event I will have three GranCaravan on site. Richard When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

Do you have picture of it? What is a starfish compare to a regular star? Was it a 100Way or 104 Way? Thanks Richard When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

Thanks Ron I remember a big one using a looped technique to built it. That's the one. I never herd about any more attempt at that kind of formation. Anybody out there have a picture of that big star? When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

Some body know what is the biggest star so far and where and when it was done? I remember 30 and probably 40 way star at Z-Hills back in the early 80's. But I am pretty sure it as been beat since, even if the tendency is not toward that kind of records any more. I think that record was broken in States in the 90's with something like an 80 way. Any information about that kind of formation will be really appreciate . Thanks Richard When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

You choose the right system , in my mind the Sygma is by far the most advance and safe system in the world, so far. Personally I would like UPT to raise his minimum jumps to 1000 jumps, by experience 500 is not enought. Richard When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

Skydiving is like any other sport. Experience worth gold, if...and only if the skydiver is still current. Richard When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

The rate of injury is a lot lower then on the solo side. First the one flying the canopy ( the instructor )have at least 500 jumps and in most case a few thousands. Also for that level of experience the instructor doesn't have a very high load under his main. Upt and other manufacturers, USPA, CSPA and DZO should start thinking raising that minimum to 1k soon. In fact, I think, it shoul be like that since a few years. Richard Lavoie When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

According to your thread and your experience level you did fine. When you know you will hit hard with some forward speed trying to rool is probably the best way to avoid the worst. In a case of a down draft or a high rate of descent with minimal forward speed then rule # 1 is to try to land foot first, both feet together and hope for the best. But as an experience skydiver and a DZO my first question would be why this happen? I think the best way to deal with a lot of difficult situations in our sport is by ovoiding it in the first place, so that way you don't have to deal with it at the end. Then my next question will be how long since the maintenance was done on that main (reline), or did you open head down? Since you never mention a hard opening I would suspect either a problem of rigging if the reline was new or the DZO wait too long before doing that reline. When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

Oups I forgot to say that, as an examiner for UPT for more then 12 years , I usualy don't agree to give any tandem master rating to a skydiver with only 500 jumps. A 1000 jumps is my minimum 80% of the time. If you are under my own minimum you really have to show me that you are an exceptionnal skydiver, and even then you really have to be very closed to 1k. Richard Lavoie When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

Personally I started with Highlifter 360's back in 85, then 421's , 384's, 370's and now 340's all from PD. At my DZ in the last four seasons we put well over 15000 jumps on 370's and 340's. The 340 is the first tandem canopy from PD that make a real difference in toggles pressure. It is exactly like a big Stiletto. Very strong in turbulance. Even a novice tandem instructor can handle it well if well brief. Easyer and quicker to turn but doesn't dive really more then a 370 after a turn. Flat out like a 370, and a Stiletto on landing. Compare to the A 2, this canopy is very solid thru turbulance specially with an experience tandem master. I agree with Skydivedoc on the positive aspect of that canopy. Opening are nice and tension nots seem to be lot less frequent then on 370's. In the last 24 years,and after 4000 tandems, this is the best tandem canopy I ever jump. Richard When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

I know almost everything have been said in this thread. At my place we also have only Sigma rigs and Sigma mains as well as Micro Sigmas with 340's.We do a few thousands jumps with theses each summer. When UPT says we can and should use tandem tube stoes for the two middle grommets we did it. But what we found last summer, most of the time after bad openings, is that tandem rubber bands were still in one of the last two outside grommets after landings!! That mean there is no way the main can go out of the bag ...clean. This kind of situation can create tension nuts as well as line over and for sure bads openings. We call UPT about that and they told us to use tubes stoes for all the 4 grummets. When you land have a look at your outside grummets. Richard When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

My understanding is yes you can if the pictures was taken after the second handles was released. Richard When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

If you take a Sigma owner's manual in the introduction they say, if I resume. >On all other container systems, the main container closing and the drogue attachement are two separate systems, at two different locations. By far the most important problem is that these systems allow the possibility of the main container accidentally opening, while the drogue is still attached.Since 1989 this scenario has killed 9 tandem pairs. It is the leading single cause of tandem fatalities, accounting for almost one third of the total. The Sigma system éliminate this deadly malfonction.> This jump is a perfect example of an out of séquence deployment witch is a deadly mistake...most of the time. But pulling the wrong handle in the wrong order is only one of them, I call it the last mistakes! Worn closing loop, packing error, no good rig check prior to put it on the instructor back,not being carefull enough in the plane, on the way to the door and thru it, and pulling while unstable are all common mistakes that lead to the final error. Usually there is a big chain of events that lead to that final error and this is where examiner,DZO and experience TI should work on with new instructors. When an instructor do the final error most of the time that's because he was not prepare for it. Of course there is some instructors,examiners as well as DZO that have hard time to say no to stay friendly,to look cool,to have some staff! Safety should come first and the freedom closed next. Richard When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

Hum The cameraman lost some part of it so it's not easy to see. Anyway the main came out while the drogue was still attach. I don't know the system (not a Sigma for sure) but it is probably a broken closing loop or a closing pin that has been pull on exit or while moving in the plane. Again we don't see the plane. In that kind of situation the instructor should pull the drogue release immediately so that one will perform as a pilote chute and pull the bag of the back of the instructor. The main might open perfectly or not and at a higher altitude for sure. But in this case this is not what a saw. It look like the Instructor pull the cut away first then the release after. Not sure if the RSL pull the reserve or the instructor maybe the RSL. With that few information available it look like more then one mistake to me. I am very happy for the passenger and the instructor they don't have to buy a lottery ticket...they already win it big time. Richard When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

Why not Sigma 340 then? They are so more fun then the 370's. They have less tendency to tension nuts, a lot less toggle pressure, even softer opening, very solid thru turbulence with amasing swoop landing. Last year we had 5 370's, and for the first time 4 340's. Everybody want to have 340's. Best main canopy I had so far. Richard When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

It cost so much money to start such a business here that you better be at least 3 or 4 investors. In order to run a DZ in Canada you have to earn a certificate from MOT, 12 month of paper work, and in order to be elligible to apply for one you have to own a plane. Otherwise you can operate under another DZ certificate and lease a plane but the other DZ will be 100% responsible because for MOT this is there DZ. So to start a DZ you need at least one C-182 ($80000 +), two tandems ($10000 to $15000 for used ones) and two students rigs ($8000 + for used ones). You also need a trailer or two for the manifest, your rigs, a packing area ect. Don't expect too much help from your bank for trailers, or used rigs, that's why you need a good amount of money to start up with. If you have only one C-182 you won't attract up jumpers at your place and thoses up jumpers are your staff! Even in Canada it is now turbine fever!! Remember you also need an airport or some kind of a strip. All in all it is harder and harder to start such a busines thoses days. But nothing is impossible. 7 years ago I start my business from scratch with a C-182 and a leased T206. Next year we will be the first DZ in Canada with two full time turbines,two Gran Caravan. Hope that can help. When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

I agree 100%. Richard When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.

I always tell all my TI to have complete controls of their passenger legs on opening. Very easy to do, doesn't hurt the passenger at all and doesn't take any freedom away from anybody, it's only a safety routine. Can you imagine, on the picture, the instructor having to cut away an high speed mal? He will end up going for a back loop with the RSL pulling the reserve at the same time. As an instructor and/or a passenger, this is not a situation I want to be for sure. That's the main reason behing Bill Booth skyhook. He want a system to be as idiot proofe as possible. On the other hand only the Sigma's have that safety system! So that's why TI should be better train and all DZ owner should have a way to keep up with them to make sure they still follow what they lurn and the DZ standards and policies. The reason why Bill and others are making idiot free tandems rigs ...is probably because there is too many idiot tandem instructors!! Richard When you think you're good...this is when you become dangerous.