grimmie

yes.

All of the info is up at www.skydivenicaragua.com All inclusive resort, beach landings, world class load organizers, demo jumps, nightly events. The Nicaraguan Tourism Board has welcomed us with open arms. I already have just over 100 participants signed up. Call or e-mail if you would like to join us. "B" license required. March 2-12, 2012 Follow us on Facebook also: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Tsunami-Skydivers-Inc/161011600629172

The original "In Laws" movie was classic. He was great in that role.

Easy.

This thread has taken a turn for the worse. It is sad to see the Vandalia Park District and municipal airport named in the suit. Does anyone know if there is a state law exempting public entities from being sued over adventure sports related mishaps like we have here in California?

The Flyers traded their two top centers. They're going to make a move to youth it looks like, and behind a pretty good goalie. The Kings just got better, but I hated to see Symmonds and Schenn go. Mike Richards is a good start, I hope Lombardi gets some more scoring help.

No you're not. Just a highly experienced jumper with strong convictions about our sport that doesn't hide in anonymity here, like some. I wonder if the student was told during his FJC that if his main parachute didn't deploy, his reserve would. Was the student incapacitated somehow, or just froze up? There have been very experienced jumpers do the same after thousands of skydives. I agree with you that the student, or any other jumper is responsible for saving themselves. But I think emotions run high in these discussions and because it was a student jumper, everyone is casting stones. If this was a well known jumper that went in on a big way collision, the rigger would be vilified. Remember James Martin and Reflex? Who's fault was that? Everyone here hates lawsuits, but loved that Skydive AZ won a big suit against Skyride. How do we want it as a sport? If you sign the wiaver, it's a free for all and everyone has no responsibilities in a student's jump? We don't have x-ray vision, that's why a jumper relies on a rigger and his/her FAA certified expertise. Would the AAD have saved him? Who knows, but he didn't get a chance, and I think that is wrong. Yeah, we have different opinions. I'm comfortable with that.

Great post. I hear crickets...

My Gramps (who worked in a steel mill for 48 years), when I was 12. "Boy, don't ever invest in anything that eats and shits, and get a city job."

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/safety/detail_page.cgi?ID=386 From 1991.

Skydivers have been suing other skydivers for years.

Hell, some commuter airlines make the co pilot PAY to fly with them.

Sandy Wambach, great skydiver, went in unconcious on a big way, no AAD. It can happen, sadly. I was knocked out last summer on a 16 way exit. Luckily I came to after a few seconds. Are we really sure the student jumper was fine? We will never know. My point was to just take the emotion (student bias mostly) out of the discussion.

There is a lot of emotion in this thread. No one in the skydiving business likes lawyers or lawsuits. But, What if this same mistake killed a very highly skilled world champion skydiver instead of a student. What if that skydiver was hit on a big way and rendered unconcious? What if he or she had a couple of great young kids and a wife? What would be the conversation then? That rigger would probably be blasted to bits here. IMHO I remember seeing an article about a rigger that left a molar strap on a reserve. When it went in for a repack it was there, wrapped tightly around the reserve. I might have been in jail if it was my rigger for killing him. Choose your rigger wisely. Carry on...

Way back when, I used to LO at Skydive Arizona. We did a 4 way. Totally uneventful until break off at 4,000ft. One of the guys goes right on his back and collides with another. I see all of this out of the corner of my eye as I start tracking and turn to watch the carnage. One guy tracks away fine, but the other guy is on his back spinning wildly. So I go into a head down to catch him, thinking he is unconcious. Just as I get to him he pullls on his back. That was an opening I will never forget. Dramatic and painfull for him, but he lived. I pitch and check my altitude. 900 feet. What a dumb ass. All friendship now ends at 2,000 feet. So Bryan Burke comes over in the old white van to pick us up. He yells at the dude for going on a jump. I guess he was banned from the DZ and no one told me, or manifest. Lesson learned.

Nice idea. Will your DZ give staff rates or LO slots to experienced jumpers that will jump with low timers?

http://www.cffjac.org/go/jac/cpat/

I'm sure the student's family has hired a team of very good personal injury attorneys. Do we have to spoon feed them here.

She's really nice, not a stalker at all like everyone says.

Here is the current status. I have spent hours on the phone with Randy O at USPA HQ. We have dealt with FAA folks at all levels. It's a dog chasing it's tail so here is what I have agreed to with the city. On Wednesday I met with the city attorney, the planning dept officials (they handle the business licenses) and the main principal for Airport Property Ventures, that runs the airport for the city. We are going to go through a process to get a Conditional Use Permit. I can't go into the details here, but it should be a smooth process. The city attorney knows the mayor and council want us there, as well as the Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism folks. He has also been informed by the FAA we have a legal right to jump there. If all goes accordingly, we should be jumping there by October or November. Stay tuned...

go drop by someone elses thread!

The Bruins played a great, physical series. Thomas was unreal in net. The Sedin sisters, Kesler, Luongo and their coach should do some serious soul searching on the golf course this summer. Imagine the leading scorers in the league doing nothing for 7 games for the Cup. Unheard of. It's been great fun debating hockey with all of you this year. I only have one final thing to say... GO PENS!!

Ogie Oglethorpe!

e-mail or call me.

No new guesses after the debate?