azureriders

I dont think it changes the point of your discusion, but as I said HERE, Sky was not wearing a full face helmet on this jump.

Getting your reserve out before hitting the ground: UNDER RATED Getting stable before deploying your reserve: WAY WAY WAY OVER RATED. I do not jump an RSL because of jumping large cameras, a whole other debate, and as someone else said, I only need one set of EMPs. If I were not jumping cameras, I would for sure use an RSL. Both of the following chop stories are from RW jumps, not video. My third chop: Spinning semi violently on my back with no altitude to spare. Red --> Silver, Bam Bam, quick. Look up to a perfect reserve, find a place to land. My fourth chop: Spinning not so violent on my back with some altitude to play with. Red --> Roll Over --> Relax --> Silver. Look up to 4 complete line twist on my reserve. Kick Kick Kick, find a place to land. FYI, both of these chops were on the same day and on two different DZs.

I am calling no fair to the first picture. i thought I was the only one who jumped bright orange black and decker gloves.

A very good reply, and in my opinion the perfect response to this situation. Nice job Dave.

ditto

Our DZO was cool enough to never raise his prices above $23 to 14k even when fuel was at its highest, so I dont think any one jumping at Gold Coast should expect him to lower it back down for a while.

I have not read all the posts in this thread. I have read some of them and I have had this discusion with several people, including some riggers. There have been several points made, less work, less income, supply and demand, etc, etc. I have only one question: If the FAA would have lowered our packing schedule to 80 days, would the riggers have dropped their prices by 33% ????????

What he said. However, the $20 is highly recommended. If you loose your stamped card, with out first sending in a copy for a number, then all is lost and you have to start over. However, to the OP, you have enough jumps to get a C license. All that info can be got from USPA.org. If you complete the requirements for A,B, and C then you could only pay the $20 for the C. Personaly, I only have a D number, skipped over the A,B, and C. But that is not the way I recommend to do it.

http://uspa.org/Portals/0/Downloads/Form_ALicProfCard_2008_02.pdf all the requirements are on this card. Each block needs to be signed by a USPA rated Instructor. Judging from your profile (jump numbers) you should have most of this done already. Make sure these items are logged in your log book and an Instructor should have no problem signing for them. Join the USPA $51, and send in a copy of the completed card with the $20 license fee and you are done.

You should get plenty of good stories from this thread. I have had several good ones. Just two weeks ago had a group of three (mother, daughter, and daughters boy friend) who wanted to do AFF for their once in a life time thing. I encouraged a tandem but that was not what they wanted, so I expressed the safety concerns and how serious they needed to take the FJC, even if for only one jump. All seemed well so off we went with the mother, which ended as an average L1 and a happy smile. Boyfriend was next with the flattest superman position I have ever seen but uneventful. Now it is the daughters turn and to date the best L1 I have ever been involved with. She was aware, and spot on for all her maneuvers. On the ground was ecstatic and asking all sorts of questions, logical questions, questions and comments that is not uncommon to be thought of only after 20 jumps or so. I was amazed and an hour later going back up with her for L2 which turned out just as good as the first. I expressed to her and her mother what kind of natural she was and encouraged a return visit with in 30 days. She has two more weeks so I am waiting with high hopes. As said up thread, always be ready, my worst was a recurrency jump with an A licensed skydiver, 34 jumps, 65 days since last jump, can't find hacky, spinning back sliding panic as he flails for it until I tackle and pull for him. (he DID NOT train with us originally)

First off, let me say that I think the 500 jump minimum is a good number, and should also be followed up with a minimum of 100 or so video jumps before videoing a tandem. Now, so that you do not think that I can not see things from your eyes, I am one of those guys that was not only flying with tandems way before 500 jumps, I was getting paid to do so. So, from a guy that has been in your shoes, let me say this: If you think filming four way is as dangerous as filming tandems? If you think filming four way safely requires as much skill as filming tandems safely? If you think filming four way properly (training/archive) requires as much experience as filming tandems properly (artistic/archive)? If you think filming four way brings as many liability issues to the table as filming tandems? If...If...If.... You have a lot to learn. A whole lot in my opinion Trying to explain all the differences to someone who does not want to hear them, is IMO a futile effort over the web. However, if you are interested drop me a line, I would be more than glad to share some battle stories, and maybe some helpful hints. One should walk before running, and trust me, four way is walking compared to tandems. Be careful and be safe.

As I posted I had another thought that may be good and on line with what you are trying to do. What about a small glossary of terms that your instructors may use. (COA, PHT, etc)? Then I would for sure not have a problem with using them in the log book. Maybe even a small section in the preface about emergency procedure (EP's in the glossary) key words (look right, reach right..........) and equipment type (BOC/RC; SOS/DAS; etc) that is used and taught at your school. This would only add a page or two to even a very small log book. Just a thought.

Great Idea and would/could add detail that most Instructors may/will leave out. A seperate Issue in my opinion. Instructors should not use short hand that can not be read or rmembered a month later. I will use COA, we go over it and the hand signal for it over and over and do not see a student forgetting this. I would never use PHT or other term that I do not continously repeat in the same exact phrase over and over. My conclusion of My opinion: If your check box adds detail to the log book that may not otherwise have made it in, Good. If your check box fixes an issue that should be fixed by having your instructors use better language, Not So Good. If your check box makes your instrcutor's job quicker and could even possibly lead to less time and effort going into the log book, Very Bad. In the latter jumps, I really like having them fill out their own log book, checked in detail by me of course. I don't think this is an issue with your plan, if I understand you correctly your pre filled jump description would only (possibly) be used for the first couple or three jumps.

Depends? Are you thinking on your head, or on the Otter?

Had a student with ~20 jumps stop by, made a coach jump during which she blowed the hard deck so her coach recommended she jump with an AFF-I. Going through her log book before I was to make this next jump with her, I found her first seven jumps loged as: AFF-1, AFF-2......., AFF-7, with signatures but not a word more, no clear, no repeat, no nothing. After these she had jumped in a variety of places and it was obvious which jumps were logged at her local DZ and which ones were not. Upon questioning the coach (from the previous jump) and manifest girl, I learned that they did indeed verify the Instructor with the USPA and even called her to verify the log book. They said she acted as if it were no big deal. One of my Instructors did this, I do it with some students and yes, it does work very well.

Try once, Try twice, Try something the hell else, NO EXCEPTIONS. Now, I am not saying that pulling silver was the only "something else" that he could have tried, maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. IMO, "3500 seems plenty high to keep on looking for your main" is a serious bad choice of words / mind set. Maybe better to say "with 3500' of good air, after reaching twice, I would have tryed locating my container, or harness, and following it to the handle" OR "I would have tried xyz". To keep trying something that did not work the first two times, is just bad practice. Again, just my opinion. To the OP, good job saving your neck.

I know that it has already been mentioned, but please read your owners manual, know both field elevations, and set the offset as described in the manual. Electronic AADs and Altimeters do re-zero them selves. If they did not, they would not be able to adjust for changes in the weather during the day. Turning on an AAD at the jump location and driving across town to another field elevation to board the plane is NOT SAFE Another situation I have wittnessed: Taking off at the DZ, being diverted to land at another airfield for a fast building thunder storm near the DZ, spending a hour at the other airfield before taking off again and jumping back into the original DZ. Leaving your AAD on the whole time does not mean that it is still set to the original field elevation. Read the owners manual. Wendy, I replied to your post and your comment, but my intent is not to be blunt to you, their are many many skydivers out there that do not understand this.

YOU would think so, wouldn't YOU?

On your 28th jump it will make no difference what so ever. Myself, I made it on #32. You have a great attitude and that will serve you very well in this sport.

so, lets see, if I made 700 jumps, 700 times, then I would be due for a reserve mal????? I think I will make 489,999 jumps and then stop thank you for me, first on #249, then 791, made it to 1500 with out another, so I was ahead of the curve for a while, but shortly after (sorry, log book is behind a bit) I had two in one day. I hope that means I am good for the next 1300 or so

I know it is long, but I think very well worth the read to you, other students, and aspiring coaches alike. First, no one can give you the answers you really need over the www. We have not seen you fly and have read your log book, etc etc. But I will give you my perspective from what I am reading into your post. A comment, or thought process, that I hear all to often is this: "Lets see, next thing on the A card, oh A dive and dock, so lets go do that" This sometimes comes from the student, but sadly it normally comes from the coach. In any case, it is 98% of the time, the wrong answer. You can not do a dive and dock, until you can dock, you can not dock, until you can match fall rate. As with any other part of skydiving, you should never add more than one new thing at a time. So, a better course of action is a jump with nothing but fall rate drills. Then a jump with docking drills, and if they go well, by the bottom end of the jump your coach should be complicating things a bit by giving you docking with fall rate issues. If you did not get to the more difficult docks in the second jump, then maybe another jump that is fall rate and docking combined. Once you can do this, then you should be ready to add the dive in there. It does not really matter what order you do these in, just remember to only add one at a time. I saw a coach teach a student to only Dive, the student would stop 10-20 feet out and the coach would drop out causing the student to have to dive again. In later jumps the other components were added. This is not the order that I use, but it worked out very well. A coach, while not allowed to assist you on your dive and dock for the A license, should still work to keep up the success rate through your progression. When giving you fall rate drills, they should start mildly, allowing the student to achieve that level before moving on. The same with docking. The coach can, and should, assist with the success rate of each jump, reading the student and pushing more and more with each dock, and each jump. Now I know that what I have just described is a minimum of three coach jumps to get your dive and docks, but step back and look at the options here. You could have a very nice fall rate jump with a complete debrief; then another with docking and another complete debrief; and then a very successful skydive, knocking out both dive to docks in one jump. OR, you could attempt a dive and dock right off, getting no closer than 20 feet to your coach; go up again and manage to touch him once which he logs as a successful dock, and it is not; then on the third jump you do a bit better and get a dive and dock, but your fall rate and docking skills are still lacking. Now which is option is better? If it takes more than three jumps, which option is better? Be in a hurry to sign off your card, OR take the time to learn each step, and probably sign off the card just as quick anyway; which is better? Again, I am responding to your request for info on an internet forum so I could be off on your actual needs. However, I am certain that if you are not getting closer than 20 feet to your coach, you were not ready to be 20 feet from him in the first place. Some of my coach students do indeed wind of making extra fall rate and docking jumps, but it is very odd that one of them do not get both dive and docks, most of them even getting a third, on a single jump the first time we try them. It is not my intent to be bashing on your coach/s. A lot of time we get pressure from the student that thinks he is ready and does not want to pay for three and four coach jumps when all they think they need is just the one for their dive and docks. Also not saying that this is you, just make sure that it is not and that you are willing to work on what ever the coach thinks you need. You should also make sure that you are learning the reason for this drill to be a requirement of an A license. When you dive and dock on a coach, he is laying base, the same as a formation would be doing. While a coach should have the skill to avoid any danger you may create for him while attempting to dock on him, a four way does not have the maneuverability to do the same. I have seen A cards signed off for “I managed to touch him just before break off, so now all I need is one more dive and dock”. I hate to admit it, but that was a quote from my own log book when I had 25 jumps, so I know this happens. Back to the point, does someone that can touch a coach once in a skydive, have the skill not to dive straight into a four way at a high closing speed, or to not sink out, or float up under, or cause any other danger of a long list that a base formation that can not move or may not see him coming. Of my ~1500 jumps I have ~150 AFF, ~600 video, ~250 pre A license coach jumps, with the rest being RW and misc. I only mention these numbers to point out my most favorite of all my jumps, I have ~250 of them. With AFF and video I have lately found it hard to have the time to coach jumps, I miss them so bad that I am now working on getting my Coach Course Director rating so that I may continue to be a part of our coach program. You are doing very well in the fact that you are wanting to learn, you are thinking of your skills even when not at the DZ, you are asking for help (both here and I am sure from the people you trust). You will do fine and don’t get discouraged, you are right on track with everyone else. We all have had our stumbling blocks, you and I just happen to share this one. Good luck to you and I hope I have helped.

What is wrong with pink?

Exactly what I thought. Now, from previous experience of some older machines, I have found it best to leave the thing alone while it is rendering and burning, to avoid hang ups. But with a new system that is not overloaded, I would expect that you could capture while editing, or edit while burning, etc etc. Allowing you to work on two vids at once, and therefore, if the burn time is truely fast, this would be much (at least somewhat) faster than linear?????

I know this subject has been beaten to death in the past but my question is about newer Hardware. I have been hearing a buzz that the newer pc systems are editing as fast as Linear. With the best system that you could put together, money of no concern, the render and burn may be smoking, and with some good software and a few templates the editing time is going to be negligible, but the capture speed is still real time, right? (I am speaking of mini DV here, I understand that solid state may be different). So unless I am missing something, a good non linear system is going to be at best, slightly slower than real time. In comparison to linear, although I still prefer to edit on my slower computer, the speed is at best going to be equal. So after a long drawn out speech, my real question is: is there a way to capture mini DV footage to a computer at a rate faster than real time?

I will second JP on the fact that I "trust" no one. With that said, I use a well established master rigger with tons of experience who has saved my ass four times now. Although I still do not trust him, I will let him pack my reserve with out my attendance. I will also let anyone with a ticket pack my reserve any where and any time that I need it packed with my attendance. What will my attendance do you ask? Although I have no ticket, I have read the owner's manual of all my rigs and reserves. The points that I did not fully understand, I asked my master rigger and now have a better understanding. So, yes I trust myself, even with no ticket, to observe most anyone who I am in need of to pack my reserve. I can't find the actuall quote, but Walt Disney once said that any horse back rider should 'know' how to shoe a horse, even if they had no intention of ever being a farrier. I think the same logic applies here, and even more so.