topdocker

When I see a plane overhead, I check to see if it is at a jumpable altitude, a type of plane I could get out of, and if they are holding a good jumprun. top Jump more, post less!

You may not be able to control all the things that happen to you in life, but you can control how you respond to those things. Dave Pelzer, "A Child Called It" So you are 100% responsible for how you respond in life! top Jump more, post less!

Ken, we have heard rumors that this year, you are doing 2way Pro Am with a goat. So, who's the Pro? top Jump more, post less!

After the age of fifty, that's still creepy. Wait until you turn fifty, then it won't seem creepy to you! top Jump more, post less!

My question about this discrepancy is why did the USPA make the change in 5-1 H-3.b to the 10-11 SIM from the previous 10-09 SIM? From the 09-10 USPA SIM: 5-1 H-3.b 3. If a collision is inevitable: a. Protect your face and operation handles. b. Spread your legs to avoid going between lines. What do they what Instructors to teach students? USPA has been trying to modify what to do in the event of a canopy collision to reflect the higher speeds of canopies and smaller dimensions of lines by having jumpers pull in their arms and legs, tuck their heads, and cover your handles. If you hit HMA with an arm at 70 MPH, you may not have a functional arm afterward (if its still attached). The original "spread out" was from the days of rounds, and closing speeds were much less. The idea is you have to survive the collision first, and be able to think and operate after. By essentially PLFing into the other canopy, you have the greatest chance of being able to respond and survive. Also, it is critical to keep your handles covered to prevent accidental deployment of your reserve. Does that help? top Jump more, post less!

Cat B C-8-c c. If in a canopy entanglement with another jumper below 1,000 feet and it appears the canopies cannot be separated in time for a safe landing, deploy the reserve (will result in a cutaway with the SOS system, so may not be an option). 5-3 F-c c. RSLs can complicate certain emergency procedures: (1) cutaway following a dual deployment (2) cutting away from an entanglement after a collision (3) unstable cutaway, although statistics show 6-6 F 1. Entanglements are the greatest hazards when building canopy formations. 2. Jumpers should know their altitude at all times, because altitude will often dictate the course of action. 3. If a collision is imminent: a. The jumpers should spread one arm and both legs as wide as possible to reduce the possibility of penetrating the suspension lines. b. The other hand is used to protect the reserve ripcord. 4. Jumpers should be specific in discussing their intentions. 5. If altitude allows, emergency procedures should proceed only after acknowledgment by other jumper(s). 6. In the event of multiple cutaways and if altitude allows, jumpers should stagger reserve openings to avoid possible canopy collisions. 7. Respond to the given situation. a. When entanglements occur, jumpers must be prepared to react quickly and creatively. b. In many cases, the emergency is one that can’t be prepared for in advance; it may even be a problem no one imagined could happen. 8. If the entanglement occurs with sufficient altitude, the jumpers should attempt to clear the entanglement by following lines out before initiating emergency procedures. 9. Jumpers should try to land together following a canopy relative work emergency. 5-1 H-3-c 3. If a collision is inevitable: a. Protect your face and operation handles. b. Tuck in your arms, legs and head Note the bolded discrepancy above 5-1 H-3-e e. Communicate before taking action: (1) The jumper above can strike the jumper below during a cutaway unless one or both are clear or ready to fend off. (2) The jumper below can worsen the situation for the jumper above by cutting away before he or she is ready. (3) If both jumpers are cutting away and altitude permits, the second jumper should wait until the first jumper clears the area below. (4) The first jumper should fly from underneath in a straight line after opening. (5) At some point below a safe cutaway altitude (1,000 feet), it may become necessary to deploy one or both reserves (may not be a safe option with an SOS system). (6) If both jumpers are suspended under one flying canopy at a low altitude, it may become necessary to land with only that canopy. (7) Communications may be difficult if one or both jumpers are wearing full-face helmets. We atteempted to update the SIM with regard to canopy collisions last year. We might have missed some areas where it is repeated. Mostly the change in wording is to reflect the change in canopy lines and speeds. Sticking your arms and legs out in a collision with today's gear, you might not have a limb to work with, and it is easier to cover your handles with your arms in. Tough video to watch at the end there.... top Jump more, post less!

Hand her a bill for the "therapy" your dog now needs since her dog attacked yours while on a leash. I think $1000 for dog therapy is cheap to get your dog over its fear of leashes and going outside to do its business. Also remember, just because your dog got the better of hers, in dogworld her dog may have been the provocator, and since she was unable to control her dog, she may have to deal with the consequences. Dogs use a different language than we do, and hers may have been saying it needed its ass whooped. top Jump more, post less!

I would bet the are called "targets!" top Jump more, post less!

Yes, but people being who they are..... You kick (couple of seconds), awaited response (couple more seconds), kicked again more vigrously trying to ellicit response (couple more seconds), and awaited response (couple of more sceonds). Easily someone could spend ten seconds focused on one canopy and not scanning for other threats. The radio analogy is fair at best. You can be plane-specific as to who you see or do not see and who you are talking to. Just because you are talking on the radio does not mean you are not scanning the sky with your eyes, you can listen and watch at the same time. And everyone nearby is on the same channel, hearing where traffic is located. And do you really kick your legs on final at every canopy you see? Because at Eloy or Perris (or any other busy DZ), that would be like going to Jazzercise! top You are clearly taking this to the extreme to fit your argument. No one said we should leg wave to every other canopy in the sky, just the traffic that could be a factor. Additionally, mutual visual confirmation is typically not needed in the last few hundred feet as by then everyone should already be flying a predictable pattern. Mutual visual confirmation is most valuable between opening and entering the pattern where there is no specific flight path for anyone. See, now the newbies have learned something! top Jump more, post less!

Some people never stop. Using your logic, we shouldn't even look for traffic because we might turn toward it by accident. Give it a rest, already. If you don't want to confirm visual identification of traffic with a simple mutual leg wave, don't. It seems to work nicely for those who do. Geez brother, have a drink. Oh no WAIT - DON'T! You might spill it - or worse, you might drop the glass and it might break, and you might fall on the glass and cut a major artery. And the ambulance might have a wreck on the way to help you and kill a family in a car taking their new litter of adopted kittens home. Geez. No, Chuck, I don't really care that much, just having a discussion. That is what this area is for, if I recall correctly. We call it "learning." Maybe, someone will convince me of the error of my ways, or I will convince them of my wisdom. Either way, we speak respectfully of each other and appreciate each other's viewpoint. And those lurking can learn the validity of both sides, and form their own opinion. And don't talk about spilling my drink, that is a PA! top Jump more, post less!

Yes, but people being who they are..... You kick (couple of seconds), awaited response (couple more seconds), kicked again more vigrously trying to ellicit response (couple more seconds), and awaited response (couple of more sceonds). Easily someone could spend ten seconds focused on one canopy and not scanning for other threats. The radio analogy is fair at best. You can be plane-specific as to who you see or do not see and who you are talking to. Just because you are talking on the radio does not mean you are not scanning the sky with your eyes, you can listen and watch at the same time. And everyone nearby is on the same channel, hearing where traffic is located. And do you really kick your legs on final at every canopy you see? Because at Eloy or Perris (or any other busy DZ), that would be like going to Jazzercise! top Jump more, post less!

The problems with "kicking cuz I saw you," is not that it isn't a good idea, it's that it is not specific enough. Looking with a full face helmet at a direction and kicking may signal two people you see them, when you only see one. Kicking your legs may signal to another canopy "I see you," but really it may be that you are trying to reach and collapse your slider that isn't quite all the way down, or you are excited about the dive, or there is a bee in your full face helmet. Your definition of close and mine may be different. I consider myself close if I can read the writing on your gloves, you may consider me close if you can identify a canopy on the horizon. People tend to fly where the are looking, just a natural tendency. So, if you are kicking your legs and looking for a response, you may be inadvertantly converging our paths. And if you are focusing on one canopy awaiting that response, you may be missing another danger lurking even closer. At that point in time, your head is no longer on a swivel, it is locked looking at one canopy. Does seeing another canopy and knowing they see you change what you do? My answeris no, you still work to avoid them, so why are you wasting time, energy, and focus when gaining the knowledge does not change your response? "The most dangerous canopy in the sky is the one you do not see." My repeated mantra whenever I am in traffic. top Jump more, post less!

I had a broken hand/finger that had me in a cast for 6 weeks one summer. Sucked! But I managed to run around and help with tandems, drive the cart/truck, and watch people in the landing area. There are so many little tasks that go on unseen at the DZ that someone can help out with if they have the inclination. Yeah, it wasn't jumping, but it was better than sitting around staring at the idiot box or watching the lawn grow. top Jump more, post less!

My wife has her uncle's gear he was jumping up until about ten years ago. I think one is a '24 Twill in a bellymount, last packed in '67! Any takers to jump it? top Jump more, post less!

Yep, that's enough.... top Jump more, post less!

Take up CRW. Unless your legs end up in your main on opening, they will be in the right place! top Jump more, post less!

Okay, real advice from a dentist..... Lots of jumpers have dentures, so don't worry too much. Keep your mouth closed when spotting, in freefall, and on opening. Yes, they can be dislodged and lost during those times. Adhesives can help, but really only so much, mayber a full face helmet would really be the ticket. The most common thing I have seen with dentures in skydiving has been teeth broken on exit, very similar to those with natural teeth, but the denture teeth break/fracture out of the base a little easier. In general, keep them clean. Over time, bacteria can build up in the plastic and really stink. Smile! top Jump more, post less!

Is that the back room of that whore house in town? Do you get a discount? top Jump more, post less!

I did just receive a legitimate email from USPA HQ regarding an uncashed check form last year. They merely wanted to know if I had the check still, wanted a new one, and where to send it. Under no circumstances would they ask for routing numbers or account information. Phishing expedition! top Jump more, post less!

Really, at 60 jumps, who or what can you possibly be videoing that it is worth risking your life? Read DSE's 28 incidents with small format cameras, then think again. Oh, and are you jumping a sub 100 square foot canopy yet? top Jump more, post less!

Why are new students so resistant to focusing on becoming proficient on their own? Why are new instructors so resistant on making sure they are able to teach properly, and ensure that student meet the requirements no matter how many times they have to repeat a dive? Also, the skydiving world is a more complicated place these days. Back in the stone age when I started, canopies all flew at about the same speed (way slower), jumpers all fell at the same speed, and loads turned much more slowly. Experience and information came at slower rates, so the student had time to absorb information. Today there are so many more things going on in the air over the average DZ. Freefall speeds vary dramatically (belly, freefly, wingsuit), as do canopy speeds. Not to mention other factors- GPS, GoPro, collapsable sliders, zero-p, etc. All these things make jumping more complicated and therefore, teaching a student and being a student should be more involved. We need to prepare our students better than ever before. top P.S. And those "skygods" were once students. Jump more, post less!

I get what you guys are saying and appreciate it. It is nice to get some intelligent conversations in here! top Jump more, post less!

I'm sure you realize that was not directed at you. If there was someone who could vet each person on their own abilities, and assign them responsibilities based on that, then you might have a point being insulted. The fact of the matter is that you hold a rating available to jumpers with as few as 100 jumps, so in designating the level of responsibility a coach, it has to be done with the 'least common demonenator' in mind. If it's not something you want a 100-jump wonder doing, than you cannot have it fall under the responsibilities for a coach. No, as a Coach it is directed at me. 100 jumps is the minimum to take the course. It is up to the CCD to evaluate if the candidate has the minimum skills to fulfill the rating. If he/she does not, the he/she should not have a rating, simple enough. Just like AFFI, there is no "main side only." Either you trust them to work with a student in most situations or you they don't have a rating. top Jump more, post less!

I've heard of it. It's rare, usually because of airspace concerns, not a fatality. If you PM me, I'd love to talk to the DZO and find out the scoop on this. top Jump more, post less!

I just got my coach rating, and I have a few more jumps than a hundred; I've even been around the block a time or two. I think I've been insulted, but in all my "100-jump wisdom," I'm not sure. top Jump more, post less!