tombuch

Ticket prices aren't that outrageous. When I started active skydiving in about 1981, jumps were USD 1.00 per thousand feet, with most jumps from a Cessna at 7,500, for USD 7.50. A super-high jump from 12,000 feet was USD 12.00. Using the CPI calculator at the Federal Reserve site at: http://minneapolisfed.org/Research/data/us/calc/index.cfm that same 12,000 foot jump would cost $25.69 in 2005 dollars. The first top of the line rig I bought back in 1982 was a System (piggy back) with a Unit (square main) and a TriCon (round reserve), at a cost of 850.00. The rig was used, but had only about 7 jumps on it. That calculates to $1,714.09 in 2005 dollars. I bought a brand new Mirage container in 1985 for $535.00, and that would be $1,145.34 in 2005 dollars. My first Raven Main and Reserve were purchased in 1985 at a cost of $588.00 each, and that would be $1,063.43 each in 2005 dollars. My first altimeter was an Altimaster II that cost $89.00 in 1982. That would be $179.48 in 2005 dollars. The first available audible altitude warning device was a Paralert, and I bought one in 1983 for $89.00, a purchase that would cost $173.89 in 2005 dollars. My first new state of the art jumpsuit, a SFR Flite Suite with all the options was $140.00 in 1982, and that would be $282.32 in 2005 dollars. Back in 1983 I started jumpmastering static line students at $5.00 each. That would be $9.77 in 2005 dollars. My book, JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy has a list price of $14.95 today. Using the CPI calculator, that same book would have cost $5.58 on the day I made my very first skydive in 1979. That first jump, a static line with six hours of ground training, was selling for $40.00 with a college I.D., and that would be $107.22 in 2005 dollars. I actually got my first jump free, and the CPI calculator tells me that would be $0.00 in 2005 dollars, so at least some things don't change! . Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Don't sweat it. It sounds like you have plenty of experience under your belt. The practical exam is pretty easy if you just take the process one step at a time. The written is a breeze. On the written, try to get the best score you can because the examiner will look to that as an indicator of your preparation, but all you really need to do is get a passing grade. The class is long and hard, but you will meet lots of good people, and everybody there will be working together for a 100 percent class pass rate. When you get your ticket take a bottle back to the rigger who has been helping you as a thank you gesture, and then keep learning and sharing your knowledge. . Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

My suggestion is to get as many repacks done and logged before you attend the course. That will take some of the pressure off, and will give you a chance to really dig into things like rounds, and to digest all the information being presented. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

The heart bypass is a big issue, but of course the point of the bypass is to provide better blood flow to the heart than before the procedure. With that said, taking a person post-surgery is better than taking a student with undiagnosed blockage who is in need of surgery. Often folks who have bypass are in far better shape several months after the surgery than they were prior to surgery. I'd suggest he speak with his doctor and discuss making the jump. His doctor should understand that he will be climbing to 13,000 feet where there is 40 percent less oxygen (it's about .65 ATM). he will be under emotional stress, and may be exposed to high or low temperatures. His cardiac issues should be evaluated on his ability to handle those conditions. I'd also be very concerned about the back issue. Openings can be very firm, as can landings. His doctor should help him evaluate the potential harms, and assist in making an informed decision by balancing the very real medical risks, and the perceived benefits of "living" while making the jump. It's never a yes or no answer, but rather a balance, and an adult should be able to make that decision as long as he/she has full information. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Pick up a copy of the Skydivers Information Manual from USPA, and buy "Parachuting: The Skydivers Handbook," written by Turoff and Poynter (available through many bookstores or Amazon.com). . Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Yeah, you did get sort of flamed. All of that information becomes apparent to an experienced skydiver, and as Bill Von said, projecting it would be a distraction. I understand that with your low jump numbers there is too much happening under canopy for you to take it all in, and you think you might be served with having projected information. My hunch is that you would actually be better served jumping under ideal conditions with limited canopy traffic for a while as you build your experience. All those things will fall into place and your situational Awareness will grow over time. It's cool that you are thinking about all the information you would like to have under canopy. Now, find ways to get that information without technology...it's probably safer in the long run, and definitely more fun that way! Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Ughhh! I’m one of the S&TA’s at this drop zone, and an EMT, but I don’t work for the local volunteer squad, and wasn’t at the DZ at the time of this incident. We do have a horrible relationship with the local volunteer ambulance squad. We have tried everything we know of to mend the relationship, but nothing has worked. To defend the rescue squad for a second, there are some personalities at the DZ that are difficult to deal with, but obviously that doesn’t excuse unprofessional conduct. Frankly, I don’t think there can be a solution that will hold given the personalities both at the ambulance squad and drop zone. When there are specific concerns about a specific call, the patient can file a complaint with the local EMS system (in this case, probably with the medical director at the hospital), and the call will be reviewed as part of the Quality Improvement program. That creates some added political conflict with the local squad, so it probably isn’t a good way to build relationships, but it does get ‘the system’ to look at the performance of the health care providers. Are there broader solutions for this specific DZ? You bet, but they take money and effort. The DZ could establish their own responders to handle accidents on their private property, and they could establish a relationship with a paid professional ambulance service, rather than use the volunteer squad. That’s a tough task that requires a bunch of work and cooperation within the DZ community, and a commitment to work within the general EMS system. I don’t think the DZ has the people in place to make that happen, or the resources to sustain such a program over time. I don’t want to hash this specific problem out any further in a public forum, but it should be understood that there are mechanisms to deal with these issues within each EMS system, and if a DZ wants to break away from the local volunteer service, there is a way to do that. . Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Try flying the student position on a SL and IAD jump. You will probably be sold on the comfort of the IAD openings too. I hated the IAD program until I wrote my book. At that point I decided I had better learn about they program if I was going to trash it in print. So, I set-up a dual SL/IAD rating at my DZ and added the IAD to my old time SL rating. One jump in the student position deploying a square with a SL from the Otter was enough to convince me that IAD is a better method for modern parachutes. Along the way I probably watched about 50 IAD and SL jumps tossed one after the other, and that double convinced me. Writing JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy was a great experience because it forced me to do real research and confront a lifetime of bias. I came out of it far better informed, and with a much deeper understanding of the sport. I can't tell you how many of my opinions changed along the way! . Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I learned through static line 'back in the day, when it was all we had, but now I have both SL and IAD ratings. SL is a great way to deploy a round parachute, but IAD offers a more staged and comfortable square deployment. A direct bag deployment with a static line does a better job of assuring the canopy will actually open. With an IAD there is a greater chance of the student sagging the pilot chute, or the pilot chute going over the tail of the airplane. Either method is fine. IAD requires a bit more attention from the instructor, but if that attention is provided it's a fine way to learn. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Sure. It's a big part of who I am. I'm always ready to talk about skydiving in terms of risk management, goal attainment, customer satisfaction (instructing), or any number of other skills/experiences related to the job I'm interested in. Many years ago I was working as a newspaper photographer. There were a couple of freefall photos in my portfolio that I used when seeking a job. Those photos always started a short conversation about my life away from the camera, and some tech talk about shooting in freefall. At one point I was hired by the Gannett Utica Newspapers (New York). One of the managing editors later told me the thing he remembered about my job interview was the freefall photos, and how I shot them by using my tongue. He thought that was enterprising and creative and it sealed the interview. . Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I'd discuss the questions with the instructor. If that doesn't work, then seek out the S&TA and discuss it with him/her. With any luck the S&TA will be willing to follow-up as a second voice. Of course it may be that YOU are wrong about the issue, in which case the S&TA could help you to learn. Another option is to chat with the DZO or school manager. As a final resort, you could chat with the student and let him know there is at least one other opinion on the topic. . Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

The technical answer is if the main AND reserve are TSO'ed it must be packed as per FAA regulations. If EITHER component isn't TSO'ed it can follow the home country rules. See: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/safety/detail_page.cgi?ID=96 . Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

The reported winds are for Syracuse. At 3,000 they are from 330 at 31 knots, at 6,000 they are from 340 at 30 knots with a temperature of -11, at 9,000 they are from 330 at 34 knots and the temperature is -15, at 12,000 they are from 320 at 33 knots and the temperature is -19. My general impression of these winds is that they are consistent in terms of direction and speed, and they are a bit high at 3,000 feet, but not seriously so. For more help see the attached document that is included in the print version of the S&TA features at The Ranch, but not yet on the web. . Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Try the Australian Parachute Federation site at http://www.apf.asn.au/main.aspx. Find the "Manuals" link on the right and click away. The foks in Australia read and write English, and their manuals are really solid. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I like Weatherunderground too. For official winds aloft, try the NOAA site at: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/. Click on "Aviation" under forecasts on the left, then select "winds/temps" (Text). . Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Yes and no. Technically, jumps used to meet license requirements must be made in accordance with all USPA BSR's. That means you must be 16, or have notarized parental consent when you make the jumps. So if you started jumping before you were 16, those jumps won't count for a license. With that said, an instructor or S&TA will check your logbook before signing off your license application. If you are at least 16 when you apply for the license and are otherwise qualified, I think most instructors and S&TA's would look beyond what age you were when you made the jumps. If you run in to a 'by the rules' person, you can always shop around for somebody else to sign your application. It does not matter if the jumps are made at a USPA drop zone. So, jumps at Mike Mullins DZ will count for your license. . Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

He is the owner, and his children have been jumping since long before they were 18. Mike is also a director of USPA, although his DZ is not a USPA drop zone. Umm, he also has one of the fastest jumpships in the country and a great reputation as a first class DZ. . Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

As soon as it is known that a jumper had a reserve deployment. Initially, the pilot should be advised on his descent or climb for the next load so he can relay a high canopy call to ATC. The pilot should also be looking for the canopy in the air, or on the ground along the wind line. The load should be called to manifest immediately to determine who had the emergency (if it isn't already obvious), and to obtain witness reports so searchers have a better idea if it was a "normal" deployment or a malfunctioning parachute. After one load it should be assumed the jumper is on the ground and may be in trouble. At that point an airplane should be dispatched to check the full wind line, and then to search off the wind line. The DZ should also dispatch a few people in cars to check obvious open fields and roadways where the jumper might have landed. These kinds of things happen, and generally they are not a big deal. The jumper has a problem, reacts, lands fine, and then walks back to the DZ. Still, there should be a rapid and escalating response on the ground in case the jumper is injured. I'll also add that if the jump happened close to sunset the response should ramp up much faster to take advantage of limited daylight. . Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

No new loss, and it isn’t a problem, just an observation. I happened to attend a lecture by Jill Fredston, author of Snowstruck, a new book about avalanche survival and recovery. She is a very interesting and entertaining speaker, and the book has been added to my Amazon wish list. She handles much of the avalanche forecasting and recovery in Alaska, and had similar thoughts concerning the build up of body counts over time. It was just an interesting and shared observation. From the comments I have received it seems like a bunch of us old timers are seeing the same thing. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

When I made my first jump I innocently asked my instructor how dangerous skydiving is. He started by saying the sport is pretty safe, but then added that anybody who has been jumping long enough will know somebody who died. I thought that was crazy, and I thought it was especially crazy that... ...I know somebody, who knows somebody, who died skydiving, but I'm going to do it anyway. That was more than 25 years ago. Now I can say that I know somebody who has died skydiving. Sadly, I can no longer remember how many somebody's I have known that met their end in our sport. Nor can I remember all the bodies I've watched slam into the ground. The accidents and fatalities run together. I remember some names, but forget others. Images return now and then, but my mind won't sort through all the death, and it won't package the names and faces in a countable listing. There have been too many. Here is an interesting statistic. I've been reading Parachutist Magazine since about 1980. That's 25 years of fatality reports. If our sport has averaged 30 deaths each year over that time (it's fewer now, but the average was far greater in the early days of my career), then I've probably read roughly 750 fatality reports. That's 750 real people with families and friends, and they all died skydiving. It's something to think about. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Once for winning a naked low pull contest. Yes. . Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

It doesn't look evil to me. As others have said, the domain name checks out, and the service looks real. I saw a news release for another company called Excitations doing the same thing in the local Washington market at: http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/051024/245316.html?.v=1. Both companies seem to be legitimate packagers that resell the services of adventure providers. . Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Oh crap, I've been trying to stay out of this one, but... Correct. The maximum demonstrated crosswind is not a limiting factor. The maximum weight is, as is the balance part of weight and balance. Read FAR 91.9 that says in part: Part 91 deals with aircraft. There is no similar regulation under part 105. In fact, when part 105 was reworked in 2001 several parties, including USPA, suggested that with regard to tandem operations manufacturers directives be made mandatory. The FAA rejected those comments because they were outside the scope of the rulemaking process. The FAA had their chance to make manufacturers directives mandatory, but they declined. When I read all of that, I am left with the impression that pilots MUST follow manufacturer guidelines, but that there is no regulation or intent for skydivers to do the same. With that said, if a student is killed jumping an overloaded reserve (or main), it will be tough to avoid financial liability, and there is the potential for criminal liability. If an experienced jumper is killed jumping an overloaded reserve there is always the "gottha" of 105.5 that deals with creating a hazard to persons or property on the surface. . Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I like to keep them simple. My first favorite uses a round between each point to reset fall rate and position. The actual dive can be changed up any number of ways, but always returning to the round between points. For a scrambles or a small group I like to stick to just four points, then back to the top, but for a more experienced group you can keep it going. The way I like to organize it is: -Round -Opposed Diamond (everybody facing the in-facing point person, or it could be a stairstep diamond, or a classic diamond, depending on how difficult you want to make it.) -Round -Open Accordion -Round -Compressed Accordion (Or go back to the top to keep the brain work simple) -Round -Donut (It's a lot of points for a scrambles, but fun) -Round -Bi-Pole (ok, not really for a scrambles, but go for it if you dare to be great) -Round My second favorite is an opposed diamond rotation. The dive begins with one person on the point, the two wings facing forward toward the point, and the tail facing forward. The point then rotates clockwise, so the right wing becomes the point, the tail becomes the right wing, left wing becomes tail, and point becomes left wing. Keep the rotation going. You can make it easier by adding a round at the top and between each opposed diamond to reset fall rate and proximity, or you can make it more difficult by using a stairstep diamond or classic diamond. . Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I'll second what Viki said. I think what you are experiencing is sensory overload. The prompts from your instructor help with recall. Time also helps, and you may find that hours later you recall new details. The problem will go away with experience. You will also find that being forced to tell your instructor what happened helps you to build recall and awareness through the actual dive. So, debriefing to recall what happened on the last dive will improve your recall on the next dive. The human brain is a really cool thing. Ugly as heck, but cool. . Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy