grimmie

Volunteer to help with things at the boogie. Keep your eyes open and watch what goes on. Introduce yourself to everyone and try to make a jump or two when it is slower, like the earlybird load with the only few sober jumpers. You'll meet a lot of new friends and see what it's all about for next time.

There aren't enough trees to publish a 'Skydiver Down" book.

That's the issue right there. A demo costs jumpers nothing to put on. Jumpers should be charging a client for their skill set, plane costs, and insurance. The entity they are jumping in to may have different insurance needs. Some venues want the $250,000 policy, some want the most you can insure, $5,000,000. We have a group of skydivers that are dedicated to doing high profile demos with great skill. They charge for their skill and the quality of show they perform. We also have a group of skydivers that will give away the farm to get to jump in to an event. They don't charge the client very much, if at all, they don't rehearse, they don't purchase insurance and they don't follow the COA rules, if they even file 7711 paperwork. Those jumpers don't understand the liability involved, what they are doing to the business and the seriousness of their screw ups. Every demo should be handled like it's in to the Super Bowl.

This is the hard part, I agree. Until the BOD begins to understand the impact of the 'peace love skydiving' approach, credibility of passionate and skilled skydivers will plummet. What did the BOD do with the guy that dropped a flag weight through a house (He's an S&TA) What did the BOD do with the tandem instructors doing CRW with their passengers? What happened to the three clowns that did a wingsuit rodeo from 2000' and had AAD fires? The organizer that was caught cheating on records, and records officially rescinded? What about the AFF instructors that left their AFF student alone in the plane while they went off on a fun jump during an aircraft engine failure? The Demo group that consumed "approximately two sixpacks" prior to a demo (and caused a small, but very visible) incident? ~nothing. I think you'll find that the newer guard of the BOD really wants changes to occur. The older guard of mostly non-jumping/DZO's, doesn't. Spot, it's not about disciplining these jumpers. The damage has been done. you know what they say about stuff posted on the internet. Once it's out there, it's like pee in a pool, no getting it back. We have got to educate the masses on the do's and don'ts of demos. I teach a demo course at the DZ with Ron Lee of Skydiving innovations. We always ask a few questions before the course starts. Most jumpers don't have a clue about the COA, ground crewing, WDI's, the liability involved and the demo insurance. We have jumpers use flags, banners, smoke, etc. We do this at the DZ and to see the amount of anxiety they have to perform and land on the target is interesting. There is no such thing as a routine skydive. A demo is NOT a regular jump. Do your homework, educate yourself, get the insurance, rig properly, train like you perform and DO NOT TAKE IT LIGHTLY!

Don't listen to all of these guys. Bring your camera and jump at my DZ. I want you on my new 4 way team. We should be pretty good with your perfect 360's. Don't worry, 15 jumps in 5 years will get us a good score at nationals. Bring your homeowners policy too, just in case. Bring your unicycle too, I always wanted to learn how to ride one of those contraptions.

One more time... Your DZO is required by his agreement with the airport for you to be a USPA member so when you are busy GoProing jump 16 and go in on top of a parked airplane because you are uncurrent and snag your pilot chute on your camera he will have third party liability insurance to cover the damage. Sorry you won't get to read about it in that crappy magazine. Yes, you can get around this, when the guy opening the new DZ in Cambodia gets going, jump there.

We should all kick our own asses for responding

Your DZO is required by his agreement with the airport for you to be a USPA member so when you are busy GoProing jump 16 and go in on top of a parked airplane because you are uncurrent and snag your pilot chute on your camera he will have third party liability insurance to cover the damage. Sorry you won't get to read about it in that crappy magazine. Yes, you can get around this, when the guy opening the new DZ in Cambodia gets going, jump there.

15 jumps in 5 years is not a hobby. Well maybe for a troll it is

As an entire group, we have to get our acts together. I'm not suggesting any more USPA or FAA rules, BSR's etc. What we have to do is start being professional. A weight through a house should never happen. Rig properly, do a full dress rehersal jump at the Dz, have a competent ground crew with communications to the team, follow the rules on the COA and STOP doing demos on the cheap without demo insurance. Things can and do happen on demos, but with proper training and prep work we can eliminate most all mishaps. Scrubbing the jump when conditions suck is a big part of it also. I have spent all week convincing clients and the city that we know what we're doing and have a great safety record. It's the only thing you can do. Convince them you're the best and then perform like it. We aren't doing beach jumps this year at our Surf's Up boogie because of viral videos. I am meeting with city staff next week to work on it and smooth over their fears. Jumping into a minor league baseball field should be handled as responsibly and professionally as if it was into game 7 of the world series or the super bowl. IMHO.

Due to a recent video of the shortstop getting flown in to, many demos have been cancelled, and many more have been denied nation wide. The crew that did that particular jump into a stadium did not have demo insurance. I almost had a very, very high profile demo, which will be live on national TV, get scrubbed because of said jump. It's difficult to explain to a client the safety aspects of doing a demo when crap like this keeps happening. Many jumpers think it's funny when a NASCAR race car gets dented or a player gets hit or Larry the Cable Guy crash and burns in front of a national audience. In case you guys haven't noticed, airport access is a constant battle for skydiving. In a recent meeting regarding the airport my DZ is located, these demo mishaps were all brought up. How do we explain " steerable" parachutes to whuffo administrators when these images pop up on news websites and TV shows? Here's a news flash...liability is now the word of the day. If we keep this up, our demo insurance costs will skyrocket. One client wanted to know if we could get a $10,000,000 policy for a pretty simple demo. If you are going to be a professional skydiver, perform like it.

So now a shooting at a school, even with no one injured or killed, shouldn't be news? We're that desensitized to gun violence as a nation...sigh

Sparky, Hop on the bike and come down to Oside for a visit. Good points. The guys we hired in their 40's all had academy, EMT and paid call time. See you soon!

I have 4 lawyers on staff for my DZ. A land use lawyer-helped with our access battle and keeps things smooth on the city relationship. Contract lawyer-waivers, permits, etc. Aviation lawyer-FAA, airport, city stuff. District Attorney-I'm married to that one

The USPA is busy keeping American drops zones on airports. Who do you suggest he call in the FAA? I'm all for starting new DZ's worldwide, but the USPA and FAA isn't a starting point for SE Asia. Step one is contacting the country's aviation department. Actually, step one is having $$$ in the bank to make it happen.

Looking forward to seeing Gus and Doc come down and jump with us! Dave Kaiser???? Pilots don't need rigs!!!! Strong work guys!

Don't bother the USPA or FAA if you are trying to start a DZ outside of the USA. Really. Starting a DZ in foreign lands is one of the most difficult undertakings you will ever encounter. If you don't have serious political connections, bribe money and a ton of knowledge and patience, forget about it. Really.

If you don't already know these answers, you shouldn't start a DZ in a foreign country. Unless you are from that country.

Something doesn't smell right with that article. Where was the DZO interview after the meeting? No mention of the pending FAA Part 16? And what is up with the county requiring some sort of permitting process? I doubt that a $50K settlement would legal fees the DZO has incurred. I would like to hear from the DZO what is really going on. I don't think we have heard the end of this. IMHO

I'll trade you some jump tickets for them! I have old magazines from about '91 at the DZ for everyone to read on crummy weather days.

August 29-September 2nd! $20 skydives No boogie fee A-Star helicopter Sept. 1, $70 to 5K Sunset booze cruise, Saturday, Aug. 31st. $60 includes food and beer RW with Josh Hall, Sunday Sept. 1st World champion freefly load organizers Weenie roast and free beer What? Free beer!! Tsunami Skydivers, Oceanside, CA

Who is Airborne America and who did they sign a contract with? Lots of tunnel rumors have beeen flying around these parts lately.

44 is a bit old, but we hired a couple of guys that age. Stop in where you live and speak with the guys. They will steer you in the right direction, as most FD's have their own ideas of who they want to hire. And they will help out when you get to the interview process. signed, retired at 50 years old after 31 years on the job.

Hyundai commercial. That is my lovely Miami Dolphin colored Icarus in a Sigma being flown by Lewmonst. Filmed up in Santa Clara, Ca.

http://vimeo.com/68934659 Exhibit A of tight reserves being discussed.