topdocker

Next time, be nice to your dentist and maybe they will give you some anesthetic! top (a dentist) Jump more, post less!

"We are married, they were OUR dishes." (plan out number of nights sleeping on the couch!) top Jump more, post less!

I would assume your fall rate is not a problem! top Jump more, post less!

Don't call/write me, here is my response to these questions. 1. In charge of comp and special projects. Pretty much anything that no one else seems to take on, Larry does. I've seen his job, he's underpaid. 2. All workings with employees is considered confidential. While there are board members with information, they cannot share confidential employee information, and they haven't with me either. 3. Ask the finance committee, but I bet that is also confidential because it could be considered part of his compensation. 4. I don't remember being asked to re-hire anybody. Is it in the minutes that way? Being new to the BOD maybe I'm just not privy to all the conspiracies yet, or I'm not cool enough. Craig Stapleton Pacific RD Jump more, post less!

Plants for greiving parents, not flowers. Give them something that will grow rather than die. Same for your hairdresser. Bring in a nice plant and an apology. May or may not work, its a business decision now. top Jump more, post less!

or your partner isn't "doing it right!" top Jump more, post less!

Ask if he's getting the DVD and stills! top Jump more, post less!

Maybe he does a lot of CRW. Hey, he's got his idea of how to handle it. I certainly wouldn't teach that, but he's a big kid, can make up his own mind. I think the most important thing for all of us is to keep that clock in our head that lets us know how close the ground is getting. Whether it's a hook knife in your hand or a pilot chute around your leg, the ground is getting closer, and you have to pull your reserve before you run out of time. I've been doing hardcore competition CRW for over twenty years, 6000 jumps. I have not used a hook knife yet. (no knock on wood symbol to put here!) Most people can't get their hook knives out without a major amount of work/hassle. Nobody ever practices getting their knife out of the sleeve. I asked a guy to show me his hook knife once, and as he pulled it out, he cut his chest strap! Luckily, we were standing in the loading area, so we could just pull ourselves off the load. Him because he needed some major rigging and me because I was laughing too hard to see straight. If you're in freefall groping for your knife, you are in trouble! That clock better be working!!! top Jump more, post less!

DVD and stills? top Jump more, post less!

Move to speakers corner so we can discuss. Jump more, post less!

Are you installing it yourself? That would be hot!!! top Jump more, post less!

Buy some really beautiful roses the week after for cheap! I know- it's my wedding anniversary! top Jump more, post less!

In English, but there is "Et tu, Brute." (Latin) top Jump more, post less!

You should know better than to post a straw-man argument. It doesn't help your case. Really, how would I know, just another stupid skydiver who can't remember to dive out.... How about every skydiver plan for a no cut, climbing exit on a low pass and be grateful when they get one? Then you've eliminated two factors in the equation. top Jump more, post less!

So is the fatality rate for driving, doesn't mean the roads are any safer, just better cars and roads! So, if I don't get a straight and level flight on any jumprun, I can turn the pilot into USPA? The FAA? If there is a rule, there must be enforcement. Who does that, the FAA? How straight and how level? Is 100ft/min climb too much? In turbulence, the tail may unexpectedly go up and down to maintain level flight, do you bust the PIC for that? What if the PIC is in a slight descent, there are dangers in that, too? You don't trust skydivers enough to have judgement for exit, but you want them to have enough judgement to determine the pilot's flying skills and report them? Can you imagine Joe Justahundredjumps in the door of the King Air wanting a go-round because it wasn't level enough???!! Then he wants a refund because the pilot totally screwed him by being in a slight turn!!! top Jump more, post less!

Probably so, but with the aid of GPS, AAD's, square reserves, three rings, better fitting gear, coaching, tandem training, and the wisdom we gleamed from the death of those "supermen," etc. Today's skydiving environment is way safer than it was twenty or twenty-five years ago. Or even ten. Except for landing!!! I don't think today's jumper is wimpier, but certainly they don't get near as much trial by fire as those of us who learned a while ago. And I don't want to go back to the "old way" either! top Jump more, post less!

LOL! Jump more, post less!

And that's one person's opinion. That doesn't mean that it's the only one, or even necessarily the best one. If it was, then threads like this would be 3 posts long, and done. Yes, but it was one that counted! top Jump more, post less!

[replyWas the plane climbing at the time, or flying level? Did the FAA sanction the jumper by suspending his certificate? --- oh, wait Full power climb. I talked to the FAA safety officer about this incident a little while ago, and he placed 100% of the blame on the jumper, not the pilot. Think about the "load line" in some planes where a jumper cannot be aft of during flight. There is always some dickhead who has to plop down behind it even after they have been told to stay forward of it repeatedly. It is the PIC's responsibility to keep the plane in its weight and balance limits, but it ends up being those of us on the load moving the errant skydiver forward. So the next logical step would be to get planes that do not have a way for skydivers to put the plane out of cg. Do we then get planes that do not have propellers? That don't need stairs? When does it stop? If we were really interested in improving everyone's survivability in this sport, we would ban small canopies, hook turns, and turf surfing. I see the issue of "climbing pass" as being very low on the priority list of things that can injure/kill the average skydiver. (Not wanting to hijack thread!) I think getting this discussion happening has brought it tnto many jumpers minds and that is a good thing. Hopefully, more jumpers will look/think before they leap! top top Jump more, post less!

Frick and frack. Jump more, post less!

QuoteThe FAA places the burden clearly on the PIC. That's what the "IC" part means.Quote Really?? The FAA came out to our dz after a jumper was injured on a tail strike, did a thorough investigation, and did not fault the pilot at all. The authorities were satisfied that the PIC was flying the plane in accordance with all the FAR's and the manufacturer's restrictions. Therefore, the FAA places the responsiblity for the exit of a licensed, experienced skydiver solely on the skydiver. According to Jan Meyer's mathematics, the critical factor on an exit is if someone jumps up or not. So, lets hear from pilots out there: would you rather be controlling a plane with possible damage to the tail section climbing under power, or level and cut? top Jump more, post less!

My wife and I really don't go for valentine's day, we have our own tradition. We go to Home Depot, which is freakin' deserted on that day, and pick out our Spring project to work on. When we were first dating, I bought her a chainsaw for Valentine's Day. You should haave seen the look on the clerk's face when I told him it was for my girlfriend for V-day. He knew he was staring at a dead man! (When she got it, my wife called her mom to brag about it!) Find your way to celebrate your relationship, not Hallmark's or Jerod's. it takes the pressure off mid-febuary, reinforces the things yo like about each other, and makes for better stories! top Jump more, post less!

I'm not sure I can defend it, and really that's not my purpose in discussing it here. I am sure there was some sound reasoning applied to this rule when it was made. Like you, I'd like to hear what the reasoning was and see if it still applies. What I see with this type of restriction is that it hurts some of our members, and that connot be a positive for our organization in the long run. If this comes up at the BOD, I would have to be convinced that this is somehow a positive for our organization and for our membership. Right now, I just don't have all the facts- I have what is presented here, and an emotional response to it, but need to hear the logic behind this rule. (I don't know what I don't know) Unfortunately or fortunately, we can't change rules simply by retyping them when we see something we don't like. skydiving is a simple activity, but look at all the procedures you have to go through to make that one jump tomorrow- drive to dz, get gear out, manifest, check gear, dirt dive, go to loading area, check gear, climb in plane, be reminded of dive in plane, visualize dive, check gear, climb out, actually do the skydive, open, check canopy and airspace, fly pattern, land, gather gear, safely make way back to packing area. What I can tell you is contact your Regional Director and any other BOD members, and let them know how you feel (nicely, please!). We really are not a group operating in a vacuum- we want input from the members. Blue skies! Craig Jump more, post less!

Every skydiver on every load has a responsibility to keep the aircraft as safe as possible for those still onboard, including the pilot. This means your gear is maintained so that when you climb out (on any type of exit) gear is not extracted possibly damaging the a/c. It means you minimize the amount of weight you shift to the tail as the plane slows down. Etc, etc. Kallend, you make it sound as if the skydivers can get in the plane and do whatever they want, because its only the pilots job to keep the aircraft safe. This is a patently poor way of thinking, and I hope does not truly reflect your attitude towards aircraft safety. One question no one is addressing here: if you put more restrictions on doing low passes, the net effect is they will be avoided by dropzone management. Do we want to work towards making the low pass go the way of the baton pass? top Jump more, post less!

You are having a conversation with a BOD member! OK, mostly I'm just listening here. I was not on the Board when this was put in, so I can't answer why it is this way, but it can be revisited in the future. While it might be too soon to get on the agenda for the Febuary BOD meeting, we can discuss the issue and look into it. I appreciate everyone's input on this! Craig Stapleton, Pacific Regional Director Jump more, post less!