nightjumps

I bought a steel handled knife, slip it through the thread thru legstrap on my right side, then pull it up over the thread thru when I cinch down my legstraps. That way it is secure and visible. ...Bigun

When I was with 12th Group (Reserves), several received Dominican wings while on AT. ...Bigun

Oh yeah, I wear combat boots under the ankle bracket when I use the M18. ...Bigun

I use a military M18 smoke canister when making a smoke jump. 1. Have a thick bracket made to fit your ankle (mine is a "T" bracket... One side goes under my heel and the other serves as a seat for the canister's "hot" end). 2. Smoke canisters burn up very hot. 3. I use radiator hose clamps to secure the canister to the ankle bracket. 4. Step way out on the step before pulling the fuse (plane owners get really pissy when they have smoke trailings on their aircraft). 5. Ensure you have NO fabric close to the smoke canister. 6. Pull the fuse about 10 seconds before the spot (takes five seconds for it to ignite and begin smoke). 7. Under canopy, keep your airspeed up (sashays work well) to prevent smoke trailings from embedding on your canopy and lines. 8. Ground crew needs to have: a) cutters to cut the hose clamps if necessary, fire extinguisher, and metal bucket to dispose of the canister (Do not use the fire extinguisher on the canister... it can explode... for grass fires only). Test your ankle bracket and the hose clamp cutters (Sheet metal snips work best) on the ground prior to making your first jump. Test the cutters with a canister on your ankle before firing it. Practice emergency procedures for cutting and disposal with your ground crew. Don't do CReW with a smoke canister burning ...Bigun

C'mon Chris... this is the same argument that those who engage in recreational actitivties offer. You're using their exact argument. Here's $4.35 back, you argue better than that.

I literally sat here for thirty minutes looking at the poll question and voted, "No." While that may seem 180 degrees to my thread posts (Bladder Cops) to DJan, at no time was I questioning her professionalism, character, or integrity as an Instructor. While I don't know her personally, over the years, I've come to know "of" her and that professionalism. My challenge to her was in line with her leadership position in the USPA. As an individual, she maintains the highest of professional standards. Safety has always been her creed. As one who holds a leadership position, we must recognize that over the past couple of years, there has been more than one case of an instructor's irresponsibility (Toxicology report indicates enough to "significantly impair judgement) resulting in a student or their own death after teaching that day. On more than one occasion, I've had to approach an instructor to take a "Time out." Not just for recreational reasons, but knowing how much they had to drink the night before, their spouse or significant other leaving them, death of a loved one, etc. While I applaud their commitment to do the job, sometimes we're just not 100 percent there mentally. What WE have to do is allow some flexibility to allow folks to "Time out" with them feeling like their contractor relationship with the DZ isn't in jeopardy. I have always assured the person approached that it is a "Time out," chill out, enjoy the day, work with students on the ground (Assisting under observation)... but let's take the day to take some of the pressure off you. It has always been met with gratitude and actually reinforces their loyalty and commitment to the DZ. In fact, its gotten to a point where they feel their S&TA can be approached voluntarily and told, "Keith, I need a mental health day." As such, I respect their level of professionalism even more - rather than chasing a few bucks for the day, they take responsibility for not being 100%. Does it jam up the DZ... Sure, but not as much as having someone who's not all there. The DZ always rallies together to pick up the slack becuase we've all been there. This mandated drug-testing controversy opens up a much larger can of worms than I'm sure most have thought about.... Now that the drug-testing companies have been approached by a couple of DZ's, they will in-turn get a list of all DZs to approach - its a new market for them and make no mistake, they too are about generating revenue. If a DZ refuses, it will "appear' as though they support the use of recreational acitivities even though none may be present. As a result, that refusal may hit the media limelight, thereby focusing the attention of a broader gorup of people outside our industry. This could eventually lead to our being placed under the microscope by more than one govermental agency including that of the FAA. Once that happens... It will become forced compliance and for those like DJan and myself who highly regard the "Right to Privacy" and the Freedomn of Choice," we will be forced to make a decision between mandated drug-testing and our individual beliefs in those constitutional rights. We will be judged on the content of our urine; not the character of our professionalism by reputation. I spent ten years in Special Forces with some time as an SF Instructor at Bragg. I found it very demeaning that the military could trust me with training some of the very best, but felt it necessary to encroach on my constitutional rights to validate by professionalism with a urine sample because "It was a requirement for the whole Army." The message I received was, there are a few bad ones, so we're going to test everyone in the interest of fairness through random testing so that "they" don't "feel" like we're singling them out. Mowing the field doesn't get rid of the weeds. It may give the "appearance" of not having any weeds, but they are still there. You must individually root them out. DZO's know who the weeds are. Pluck them by the roots and toss them. DZO's are not in jeopardy of litigation in this area because it is usually a contractor rather than employer/employee relationship and as such in most every state consitutes an "at will" employment by both parties.. DZO's "may" perceive this drug test as an external device to justify getting rid of the bad ones while remaining popular with the group "Why was so & so terminated?" If "so & so" is a popular prerson on the DZ, its easier to say, "Well, they fliunked the drug test." But, in my opinion that is a lazy way of dealing with the problem. Nobody ever said, "Leadership was easy." Sometimes you have to make hard, firm and unpopular decisions. But, you have to do that at times. Rather than taking the broad brush stroke approach with mandated drug-testing that makes the weeds "feel" like its fair; it is unfair to the majority of professionals, whether its pilots, truckers, soldiers, or instructors. Drug-testing is a deterence, but a public proclamation of "zero-tolerance" followed by the leadership acting on that policy can be just as effective a deterrent. So, before we take the broad brush stroke of mandated drug-testing in the interest of fairness. How about we try an industry-wide "zero-tolerance" public policy for the next year or two in the interest of protecting the majority of professionals, rather than acting in the interest of "fairness" for the minority of bad weeds. First, I challenge the USPA to publish a "zero-tolerance" public proclamation that anyone who engages in illicit activities while a student is in their charge be subjected to the fullest extent of the law and be banned from the USPA for life. I challenge the DZO’s to NOT implement mandatory drug testing. You have been in the business long enough to know who the true professionals are and those who are not. You are leaders. Act like it. Make the tough albeit unpopular decisions. If you suspect someone needs to be sent packing – Send them packing. Allow only the true professionals to represent your organization. Create and foster an environment that allows you to be approached individually for a "Time out." and respect that person for having the professionalism and courage to come to you for whatever reason without jeopardy. If they come to you on a regular basis, then you need to take them aside and explain that they've had a lot of "Time outs" lately and perhaps they should relinquish their standing as an Instructor until such time that they feel they can work as a contractor on a more regular basis. I challenge the membership to avoid situations that may negatively affect not only students, but also your fellow skydivers. What you do off the DZ is your business. What you do on the DZ is everyone’s business. If you signed up as a contractor or staff, you have two responsibilities; one is to ensure you are able to work on a regular basis so that DZO can generate revenue to keep the DZ open for all skydivers. Your second responsibility is; If you’ve had too much, an emotional argument with a loved one, death in the family, whatever the circumstance… Walk away for the day. If your DZO is one that holds it against you for communicating responsibility, feel free to act responsibly at another DZ. If your head is not in it one hundred percent, jump another day. If you see someone whose head is not in it one hundred percent, take it up with that person directly first. Chances are, if you see it, they’ll know that others will see it. If ignored, go to your S&TA. Each and every one of us is responsible for a safe environment and the protection of our rights and freedoms. I challenge the USPA, the DZO’s and the membership to take that responsibility. ...Bigun

Please feel free to PM or email me (nightjumps@anvilbrothers.com). There is a lot more information you need than you can receive in a few thread posts. At 6'6" and 240#, started jumping 23 years ago and specialize in helping "Anvil Brothers" with gear choices and how to fly with the "little'uns." ...Bigun "Size Does Matter"

Makes me wonder if one "was there" but not the mastermind and rolled over on the other for the dropped charges. ...Bigun

You've received a lot of good advice here: 1. 1:1 or less (preferably a little less). 2. Talk to those instructors who've seen you land for advice. My $.02 is; 1. After you get off student status, borrow or demo something < .75:1 for at least five hop & pop jumps from 6-7.5K feet while using a radio with an instructor. This way your total focus is on canopy control. 2. On each of those HNPs, incrementalize your way back through the canopy control portions of your student training (Toggle turns, riser turns stowed, riser turns unstowed, front riser turns.... etc.) Do several practice flares at the top. You will not have anything relative, but will get a sense of the stall point as you toggle down. 3. Setup for a nice downwind, base & final straight-in approach. 4. On landing - feel the flare (match your toggle down pressure with the speed of the ground coming up at you). 5. Finally, consider a semi-elliptical for your first year in the sport. They are a *little* more forgiving on the bottom end than fully ellipticals. Recognize that parachutes have become considerably more "opening" reliant over the past ten years but the incident reports are respite with skydivers downsizing too fast (exceeding the weight-loading and parasitic drag) too soon in their path of progression. Which means be very conservative weight-loading and landing for the first year or two. Step down conservatively (.6:1, .75:1, .9:1, 1:1, etc.)and repeat steps 1-4. ...Bigun

The "recommended" number of jumps for the static-line progression can be found at the beginning of each category in "Category at a Glance." In addition, there is a "Swim-Lane" Diagram on page 20 that gives a snapshot of all categories. Hope that helps... ...Bigun

Hand on hackey at "Pull Time." ...Bigun

Affirmation of the test's reliability exists in your comment... They were able to recognize it as a "False Positive." Folks, I'm going to step out of the peripheral discussions. There is validity to both sides of the argument. However, we must recognize that we are "a self-regulating" industry. As such, we recognize there is a responsibility as staff or Instructors to ensure students are not at risk. I think I'd like to wait to hear from Djan regarding her thoughts on what she is "for" in terms of presenting a solution in her leadership role with the USPA. Final thought... If everyone acted responsibly, we wouldn't be here. I too, am resistant to subrogating our constitutional rights. It would be great if Instructors and/or Staff knew they could "Time Out" for any undisclosed reason (emotional, too much last night, etc.) without jeopardy from DZO's. I don't know if that's feasible. If we don't charge headlong into this, we're going to find it snowballing. So, the question is; What are "we" and the leadership of this "self-regulating" industry willing to do to ensure that Staff and Instructors have the opportunity to act responsibly. Because, if they don't take that opportunity, then it will be "imposed" responsibility and encroaching on the everyone's Freedom of Choice. We should be defining possible solutions, not stepping away in defiance or engaging in circular argument. ...Bigun

Yes, to both questions.

Djan, I respect your position and your accomplishments. I too, am from your generation. The courts have held that the Freedom to Choose is the Freedom to Choose unwisely, EXCEPT......when another person's life is directly or indirectly your responsibility. I seriously doubt the parents of those dead students would believe the freedom of choice overturns their expectations of; or the need for an imposed drug-free USPA Instructor. You've been around skydiving enough to know, have seen, have read about AFF or Tandem Instructors involved in a fatality where there has been a positive test for drugs on the coroners toxicology report. When this happens we all say, "How stupid was that?!?!." But yet, it happens again. You stated to Jeremy; So, I must ask, as one who holds a leadership position in the USPA - if you don't like the urine test as a means of preventing another similiar occurence... What are you "for" to ensure this type of incident doesn't recur and the expectations of drug-free USPA Instructors be met, while protecting the Freedom of Choice? ...Bigun

Same here... Works great. Two way commo with a student = warm fuzzy. ...Bigun

Henri P., the designer of the Wings containers has been doing this for about 1000 years. He's also a co-designer of the Javelin. I'm thinking he's forgotten more about rigging than your rigger knows. ...Bigun

That's not a bad deal for your first year in the sport. Sounds like a good opportunity and will give you a year to learn more about other stuff and demo some rigs while you learn more about the industry. You would be pushing the 1:1 requirement for F111 canopies, but if you flare a little high, you should have some good landings. Falcons have been around a long time and at one time was a DZ choice (along with Mantas) for students because of its docile nature. You'll probably lose some value when it comes time to sell, but that would be more about your Cypress than the rest of the rig. We've all made bad gear choices in the beginning and no one is ever really satisfied about 100 jumps after their first gear purchase. Its just part of the learning curve. Jump it a few times before you decide to buy and if you do decide to buy it, do so with the understanding that you may have some difficulty selling it or.... worst case scenario, you can use it as a back up rig. ...Bigun

There's no way I'd play this game.. ...Bigun

Order the suit you want. By the time you get it, you'll be off student status. Tonysuits - Freefly suit. ...Bigun

We had a guy (Paul Scott) go thru AFF in 6 dives. When he graduated, they handed him off to me for some coach jumping. I went up on one dive with him and when we got on the ground, I told him he didn't need me, he needed to be working with a 4-way team. He did. In about 9 months, his team took 7th in the Nationals Intermediate team. His wife went thru AFF and graduated in 6 dives also. Little turds. (Luv ya, Paul) ...Bigun

Yeah Lou, it was meant as a focal instrument with the D=KAV in mind. I have used this in teaching spotting where the release point in military ops is equal to where you want your canopy to open in civilian freefall. Its a 101 course. It gets them closer than "Make sure you're upwind of the DZ before climbing out." I've been trying to get my fingers on an FM 31-19 for awhile. If someone gets one, email me for an address, I'll convert it to .pdf and push it out to a website for everyone. Maybe diverdriver will post it also. ...Bigun

I made a post below yours from FM 57-220 just to give the original post some information to read to begin the process of learning to spot. And, you must agree that most military pilots have no problems surrendering the A/C to the JM (except CARP jumps). Military pilots respect the line of "Door Closed" = PIC; Door Open = JMIC. Course, the flip side of the coin is both respect each other's formalized training in their areas of responsibility. In the civilian sector, spotting is no longer taught.. about the most they learn is to point at the ground and recognize the A/C is upwind based on surface winds. And they never learn anything else. ...Bigun De Oppresso Liber

1. Read this to build your knowledge of the science of spotting: https://www.doctrine.usmc.mil/mcwp/view/mcwp3157/21.pdf 2. Learn how to spot at a Cessna DZ. 3. Listen to what Diverdriver (Chris) says regarding GPS, because at the larger turbine DZ's those pilots can give you the right spot 90% of the time. They've flown those DZs so much, that even with varying winds at alititude, they've been exposed to them so many times before and build an internal knowledge database about "Release Point" at their home DZ that they can do it in their sleep. 4. In addition, they are in touch with ATC and know what's in the area more than we do. 5. However, (ref #4) - Always look 360 degress horizontally and 360 degress vertically if you're the first group in the door before the green light comes on to ensure clear airspace below. 6. If you see an unsafe situation... pass it up to the pilot. The pilot is the PIC (Pilot in charge) of the aircraft and all personnel and safety during the airplane ride. If you feel s/he's presenting an UNSAFE situation to exit, stay with the plane and talk to the DZO when you get on the ground. But you better be DAMN right. His/her not making the spot "perfect" for you isn't DAMN right. 7. Many of the pilots have read the document in section 1. There is 1) a top-down (GPS), 2) a bottom-up (D=KAV, etc.) and 3) a SWAG component based on experience to the science of spotting. Those pilots that are well versed in all three are the best one's. 8. And if you really want to learn to spot; go to a Cessna DZ and jump a round canopy 100 times - you'll learn how to spot ...Bigun

Yeah, Chuck.... But did you ever get it right ...Bigun

Did you ask him if he was an Officer or Enlisted?