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Larry Fatino -- died in the 1992 Perris Crash He had been manager of both Perris and Elsinore at various times over the years. Did you by any chance photo copy that logbook page? If you didn't, any chance you can contact the student and ask her to make a copy? One of these days I've got to spend the time to scan all my old logbooks, just in case. Blue Skies! Harry "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

Check out the field elevation at the Prairie. Think "extra altitude" "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

This includes not only swoopers, but accurancy jumpers, or even beginners really concerned with their landings. As has often been said, any time you are more concerned with where you're going to land than the location of other canopies, you're increasing your chances of a collision. YOU are responsible for YOUR safety. If you are more concerned with walking away from your landing, land away from everyone else. If you're not near them, they can't hit you, and you can't hit them. If you are willing to leave the DZ in a hearse, pay attention to where you land and forget the other canopies. "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

At a recent factory training course, the instructor asked: What causes hypoxia." All I could answer was: "Shell in the right seat of an Otter at the Prairie." "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

You seem fixated on the "1,000 foot line." It sounds like a "funnel" into which many others will fly, causing congestion from that point down. Talk to the instructors, S & TA, and DZO at your DZ and get their input on how to stay OUT of the area that's congested. Especially with your low jump numbers, you've got enough to worry about just controlling YOUR canopy to be worried about what the others, who may not how to control THEIR canopies, might be doing. I'm saying this not as an instructor, but as an old jumper who wants to get older. Take this advice however you want to. Blue Skies! Harry "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

Bingo --- If you're in the "landing pattern" you're not staying away from the congested area. See my post #32 above. "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

Did you know that he's in the November, 1986 calendar photo for the USPA calendar? It's a photo I took over Santa Ynez. Congrats on passing the exam. Let me know if you'll ever be around LGB. Blue Skies! Harry "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

Good luck -- Which examiner? Blue Skies! Harry Leicher 2004 CFI of the Year FAA Western Pacific Region "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

It should be done at the "Center of the World" http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3187015;search_string=istel;#3187015 "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

Since you no longer have the weight of your main on yoiur back, you have a better chance. "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

On a night demo from a helicopter under a low overcast, Michael said: "Harry, turn off the light on your altimeter. It will only scare you." While still in freefall waiting for the canopy to open, I could hear the PA announcer: "I think they're getting out now." "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

If you go low on a big way, you can dump your main, and then when the formation goes by cut away and give it a second try. (Was anyone out there at the '85 Freak Brothers 100 way attempts @ Freeport?) "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

When I started jumping almost 40 years ago, we were told during the FJC: "the moment you leave the plane, you are dead unless YOU do something about it. YOU not USPA Not the DZO Not the instructor Not the rigger Not the pilot Not the other jumpers on the load. YOU So what can YOU do to avoid canopy collisions? Don't do HP turns unless you can visually account for EVERY other canopy on the load. Don't jump a highly loaded canopy on a load with other jumpers in the air. When arriving at a new DZ find out 1) Where the congested landing areas are, 2) Where people who are making HP landings make their turns, and 3) alternative landing areas. Resolve to avoid the airspace used by people landing in #1 & #2, and land in #3. If there are no acceptable alternate landing areas, and you are not sure you'll be in a position to keep track of every other canopy on the load, don't jump at that DZ. If you want to do some good for the jumping community, you could tell the DZO "I'm not buying jump tickets because the landing patterns are outside of my comfort level." That shows that YOU are taking responsibility for your own safety. You're not accusing the DZO of running an unsafe DZ. If enough people vote with their $, the DZO may change the rule, or again, may not. It's YOUR decision whether to jump there or not. Even if you decide to open your own DZ and enforce strict penalties for violations, it only takes one error. Too late to ban someone after the coroner leaves the scene. It all comes down to YOU being responsible for your own safety. If everyone did this, there would be far fewer collisions. Blue Skies! Harry "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

I'll be here! Say hello to Star & Chelle for me. Blue Skies! Harry "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

Nightingale didn't keep you entertained? I could have taken you flying. Ask her. Have fun at the Prairie for me. Blue skies! Harry "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

Another problem with getting back in the sky too early is that you will favor the injured leg, thereby putting more stress on the "good" leg. Then you'll get a chance to leave a voice mail like the one I got recently: "Hi, I'm in the back of an ambulance......" "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

How about: "It's better to be on the ground, wishing you were in the air, than in the back of an ambulance, wishing you'd stayed on the ground." "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

and the harness was made from tyrannosaurus hides, and the hardware was made from stone because they hadn't learned to work with metal h=yet. "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

And that could be just enough to put the reserve handle out of reach as the harness shifts when you cut away and the tension of being suspended under the canopy is released. "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

In this sport, getting old is something of which to be proud. I've got a group photo taken at Taft in 1980 -- the camera man as well as many of the subjects didn't get old. What's so sad is that people are dying today because they're forgetting rules we learned 40 years ago: "After opening and clearing from other canopies, your first task is to make sure you have a canopy you can land." "Hook (or whatever you want to call them) turns can be dangerous." There was a hook turn fatality under a square in the 1971 fatality list. "keep your head on a swivel, look out for other canopies" "When in doubt, whip it out" If your main is doubtful, don't waste time; go for the reserve." Can anyone come up with some others? BSBD Harry "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

Like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvXz2xaLNMQ "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

Steve- Glad you & Gia made it. I can land in the "main landing area" if I want to...just usually don't at the DZ! Blue Skies! Harry "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

Dav3e Ruckert will organize it! "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

I was fortunate that I knew about enough skeletons to be let go on my terms 10 1/2 years ago. Best thing that ever happened to me. Now when I get in my car to go to work in the morning I feel like a nympho working in a whorehouse. People have 2 choices when laid off -- to see themselves as victims or to look at the situation as an opportunity. Hopefully most have been planning their finances to give themselves some breathing time. Glad you're OK. Blue Skies! Harry "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."

Actually, that's the way we talk when things are going normally. The objective is to use as few syllables as possible to avoid tying up the frequency. That's the sign of a competent, relaxed pilot. When pilots start getting really wordy, that would be a sign of stress or discomfort. "Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question."