nightjumps

Bruce, You bring up a good point. One of an Instructor's top priorities is to be "Approachable." Nobody learns at the same pace, nor learns the same way. Over the years, we have developed an "off-the-shelf" 6-8 hour First Jump Course. And, while this is good for about 80% of the folks who walk through our doors, there are another 20% that either "don't get" what we're saying or we have a communication barrier. I work at a small drop zone. As such, I have a lot more flexibility of time. We hold classes for those who wish to jump that weekend the Thursday prior to jump day - no matter which level, no matter which learning discipline (IAD, S/L, AFF, AFP). They are then given homework assignments to practice and encouraged to find questions to ask when they come in on jump day. Our goal is to teach for the 20%, not the 80%. On those occcasions that I can see the student's nonverbals that they are not getting me... they first get additional training with me after class. If we are still not communicating, they get handed off to another Instructor. On those occasions, that I feel myself suffering from "Instructor Burnout," I will talk with the DZO about it, take myself out of rotation and go play in someone else's backyard until my batteries re-charge. This is a two-sided coin. Instructors must ensure they are "Approachable" and students have a "responsibility" to communicate to their instructors or someone else on the staff that they "feel" they need more than what they are getting. The DZ's have a responsibility to ensure they provide a climate that encourages questions and that students won't feel "stupid" for asking questions. I will tell you that as I travel to different DZs and observe training to take bits and pieces from each one to include in my training (steal, steal, steal), rarely have I found an environment that you describe. Your situation is the exception, not the rule.

When it doubt, change it out.

You absolutely must address this with your Instructors.

You're welcome. Tom's thread has a lot of good info also. Bottom line - need a good tax accountant. Mine is retired IRS.

An erection can drain the blood from extremities as well as your head.

Easy Rule: Black & White Coach - may discuss the generic portions of the FJC and dive flow regarding Cats G & H Instructors - Category A - "A" License Non-rated skydivers - share your experience and close the sentance with - discuss it with your Instructor or Coach first. If you are sharing your exerience to help - good. If you are sharing your experience to make yourself look better - bad. That's all we ask.

When are you going to the course? How long will you need them? I have everything you need to be successful including training altimeter, harness, etc. You pay shipping to & from. You burn it, you've bought it. Will include a shipping list of what was sent & you check off what you're sending back. Fair enough?

How about just a quick reference table for pilots & Instructors. Ground speed | Secs/Separation 20 MPH | A 30 MPH | B 40 MPH | C 50 MPH | D 60 MPH | E 70 MPH | F 80 MPH | G 90 MPH | H 100 MPH | I Etc.

I've got one also that is in a form format - if anyone wants it, you'll have to email me - its 64kb.

As Coaches and Instructors, one "may" have some tax relief as a "Sole Proprietorship." 1. Setup a sole proprietorship checking account. 2. Account for all monies that are spent and income received for jumps (educational jumps where someone pays for your slot is considered income for your sole proprietorship). 3. If at the end of the year, your losses exceed your income, you may deduct those losses of your gross income and receive a refund for an apportionment of those losses. Some caveats - I do all my own book-keeping and my tax accountant assists me in making sure that I stay within the IRS guidelines. He assists me in maintaining that line of difference between hobby and business. I deduct: 1. mileage to & fro DZs 2. Fun Jump tickets - as a requirement for currency. 3. Depreciation on gear purchases (if sold, the IRS wants that depreciation back). 3. Meals 4. Packer fees 5. USPA membership 6. Rating fees 7. Professional magazines 8. Rigging fees. 9. Jump Suits. 10. Computers 11. All costs associated with the WFFC Convention. I claim as income: 1. Instructor payments 2. Coach jumps that are paid for 3. Barter Income. Best advice is - talk with a good tax accountant prior to going in this direction to see "if" its an opportunity for you and you could survive an audit. And the good news is - what I pay him annually is also... a tax deduction.

When asked to be a Tandem Master at a sister DZ and bring my own rig, I will tip the packer at the end of the weekend. If I use their rigs, I do not. I do not tip at my own DZ. Anyone has access to my beer chest.

Awesome!! Thank you!

Hey!! When you get there... Tell Little Brad, Bigun from Tulsa said, "Hi" would ya? He luvs to freefly if ya wants to learn.

Man, I am sooooo a "walkabout" kinda guy. I get up, I go, I drive, I thumb, I don't make reservations for nuthin. I love to make it up as I go.

Is "pussy" a noun or an adjective?

Man. With a mouth like that, how did Monica get in line?

These are probably the same guys that if offered the "female" option would have some objection to a "woman" taking them on a tandem.

Soft Open Field Area

...that's part of my FJC training here in Oklahoma... roads = obstacles (power lines & barbed wire fences). Look for a SOFA. WE got lots of them.

I don't know if you're familiar with what these folks are doing... http://www.skydivementors.com/

I did the same thing as VanillaSkyGirl. I went to a college that required you take either 9 hours of Math, 9 hours of Science or a combination of both at the lower level. I chose the science path. Took Biology, Environmental Biology and Zoology. I loved Zoology and probably could have majored in that, but that would have required.....more math.

Wow, sounds like they been wooin you all wrong!!

1. I would send a red rose to everyone I have ever loved. 2. I would have a nice bonfire dinner with my friends and watch the sunset. 3. After the sunset, I would read some excerpts from Poe and Shakespeare by the bon fire. 4. I would stay up all night looking at the stars, listen to the sounds of night and smell the darkness. 5. About 5:00 o'clock in the morning, I would play Bocelli's, "Romanza," watch the sun come up and drink some coffee by myself. 6. Make one last solo skydive, 7. Have a snort of Crown Royal and walk away.

As I stated earlier, with my level of experience on tandems, I may wait awhile until embracing the handycam. I do wonder - if rather than having a handycam; if there would be as much concern with a student harness chest-strap mounted mini-cam. We used to strap an altimeter chest cushion on students prior to going to wrist mounts... What if someone were to develop a mini-cam chest mount for the student's harness? OR... what if we put the handi-cam on the student? They could do all the videoing, leaving our arms free and once we're in stable freefall we could grab their wrists to direct some additional footage. This would prevent us from placing our hands in front of them to grab. Just some thoughts...

Downloadable resignation samples with some do's & don'ts. Sample 5 sounds like it fits your needs. Hope it helps. http://jobsearchtech.about.com/library/weekly/aa030998-6.htm