tombuch

It is correct, and it does have huge implications. There are actually many reserves and containers that are not TSO'd, but the rule does apply a penalty to foreign jumpers who choose to use BOTH a TSO'd reserve and harness/container. Many DZ's do not know about the specific interpretation, or have chosen to ignore it. To the best of my knowledge the FAA has not brought any enforcement action regarding this matter, and would probably not look at the issue closely unless there is an accident. I have attached a copy of the USPA paper on the topic. It may provide a bit more information. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

The specific regulation is discussed in detail at: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/safety/detail_page.cgi?ID=96, as listed in an earlier post. Please see the following: The short answer is that if your rig is approved for use in the USA it must be packed by an FAA rigger while you are jumping here. If either the reserve or container is not approved for use in the USA, then you may follow your home country regulations. The word "approved" means TSO'd by the FAA. Enforcement of the regulation varies. Some drop zones ignore the approved/unapproved part and simply let foreign jumpers use their own gear, whatever it is. Some DZ's stick to the regulations. Contact the specific DZ you will be visiting in advance to get their interpretation of the regulation. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Click on the link to download the complete SIM in either html or pdf format. The pdf comes up fast, and the BSR's are on page 6. See http://uspa.org/publications/manuals.htm. If you have a high speed connection you shouldn't need to wait for the hard copy. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

A group member promises to follow all the USPA Basic Safety Requirements (BSR's). That doesn't mean they really do, but that they have at least made a promise to do so. Non USPA member DZ's are not necessarily bad, but I would consider it a general negative, and the DZ should be avoided unless the non-USPA membership is balanced by some other factor(s). Do ask the DZ why they are not a group member, and then take their answer with a small grain of salt. Also, consider that USPA is the industry trade group, and through their government lobby effort they make it possible for all of us to skydive. Group members are supporting that effort with their official support through membership, and through their membership fees. Non group members are not participating in the process, or supporting the industry effort. I would choose to support those drop zones that are supporting the industry through USPA group membership. That's my personal opinion. Others will disagree and vent about politics. The group member program is a hot button topic on this forum, and we can expect it to drag on for 80 posts or so. Listen briefly, then move on. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

PC's are amazing, for rounds. They can be landed very softly, but of course they can also land very hard. Have fun with your jump, and think carefully about the spot! Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

This was an experienced jumper, not a student. Each of us is responsible for knowing our own gear. The Cypres has an excellent instruction manual, as does every rig and parachute on the market. So, in keeping with the texture of the original post by Feeblemind: 7) Know your equipment. Read and understand the manual. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

The specific regulations in the United States are FAR 91.15 and 105.5 91.15 Dropping Objects: "No pilot in command of a civil aircraft may allow any object to be dropped from that aircraft in flight that creates a hazard to persons or property. However, this section does not prohibit the dropping of any object if reasonable precautions are taken to avoid injury or damage to persons or property." 105.5 General: "No person may conduct a parachute operation, and no pilot in command of an aircraft may allow a parachute operation to be conducted from an aircraft, if that operation creats a hazard to air traffic or persons or property on the surface." Each drop zone and pilot needs to consider the specific kind of objects (spaceballs, sky surf boards, etc.) to be taken in freefall, and consider the surrounding area. Dropping a car isn't much of a hazard in the Arizona desert, but it might be considered a hazard to drop something as small as a spaceball over a residential area. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Good points. If the jumper knows better and was just doing something stupid, then a grounding may be appropriate. If the jumper didn't know any better, then education is a better option. I like to start with discussion and education, then warnings. Groundings are very rare at my DZ. Grounding a jumper for an extended period may send the problem to another drop zone, but shorter groundings tend to get the persons attention without driving him away. Plus, grounding a jumper can be used to demonstrate to others that the DZ is serious about rules/safety. When there is a serious issue that requires a longer term grounding, or a jumper is a serious threat to himself/others, a S&TA will sometimes call the nearby drop zones and offer a heads up so the problem isn't simply being pushed downstream. Many years ago I was grounded for a few days following a naked low pull contest. I won with a score of about 500-700 feet. Yup, I was pissed, but I deserved the grounding, and I didn't pull that stunt at that DZ again. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

That assumes the rig is actually unapproved. If both the harness/container and the reserve are TSO'ed, then it must be packed by an FAA rigger for use in the United States. If either component is not approved, then it must comply with the home country regulations. See http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/safety/detail_page.cgi?ID=96 elsewhere on this site for a deeper discussion. My understanding is that the rig was unapproved because it was jumped in the USA as packed by a nonFAA rigger, thus the home country rules apply. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Interesting question. A couple of years ago I wrote a book for first time jumpers just like you called JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy. The book is designed to help guide you through the selection process. It sounds like you already have a good handle on many of the things to look for. I suggest you begin by evaluating the look and feel of the web sites of at least three drop zones. Then make a call to each, and as somebody else here suggested, and just talk them up about skydiving. Some specific questions that I include in my book are: Is your drop zone a member of USPA (why or why not)? How many instructors do you have on staff? Are all instructors rated by USPA (Yes, you can ask for their certification cards)? How much experience do your instructor have? How many students do you train in a year? How many get a USPA license? Who packs the student parachutes? Is that person rated by the FAA? How dangerous is skydiving? How long have you been in business? What kind of airplanes do you use, and how many jumpers go up at once? What kind of training do you offer (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem, or some combination)? How old is your student equipment? Will I be given an altimeter? The answers should be carefully evaluated, and in many cases there isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer. JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy is loaded with information to help you evaluate the answers against both safety and your needs. After you make your calls, evaluate and compare the answers, then visit at least one of the drop zones. Ask the same kind of questions, and evaluate the operation based on what you were told over the phone. Most drop zones are solid and will treat you well. For more detail, check out JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy, published by McGraw-Hill, and available at many local booksellers, and at Amazon.com. Blue Skies, Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Very good point. AAD's have become so common that we do take them for granted. Most new users seem to get a quick briefing about how to turn them on in their student training (push the button, chase the light), and think that's all there is to know. Of course each AAD comes with a complete instruction manual, but few users probably read that, and even fewer read it more than once. So, if you have a Cypress, or if you are a student, take 15 minutes and read the manual cover to cover. Perhaps ask your instructor, rigger, or S&TA to hold a 30 minute seminar about the AAD covering when it might work, and when it might not. We should all add this topic to our early season safety review. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

As others have pointed out, they are universal, but there are also some variations. The pointed finger meaning "PULL" is so standard that it is sometimes used by experienced skydivers dealing with a freefall emergency, such as an open container. The other signals sometimes vary a bit, but not much. The thumb and little finger extended seems to vary the most, sometimes meaning relax (as in chill out dude), or it can mean check your arms. I think in Texas it also has some silly sports connotation, like go Longhorns, or whatever. Texas is weird. It's always a good idea for an instructor to go over every hand signal that might be used with a student the first time they work together. It's great review for the student, helps assure the instructor that the student remembers the material, and helps to prevent confusion in the air. If there is confusion, the instructor should be able to easily confirm the student version of the signal, then the instructor should be the one to adapt. Students shouldn't be expected to relearn hand signals. I review hand signals and general procedures with another instructor the first time we work together too. It takes almost no time and gets us on the same page super fast. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Perhaps the experienced jumper just didn't know any better. The 135 may have been a conservative canopy to him and his friends, and he may not have much experience judging the qualifications of novices. To that kind of jumper, selling a 135 to a person off student status might seem fine. My "take home" from your post is that individual jumpers selling gear should probably speak with a respected shop and seek guidance about who a specific canopy might be best for. I have always thought it is a good idea for novices to buy from a respected shop until they have the experience to make equipment decisions on their own. Now, I'm thinking it is probably important for individual jumpers to sell to a respected shop too, even though the price for the used gear might not be as high. Selling to a shop, rather than an individual, relieves the previous owner of the responsibility of evaluating the skill or experience of the buyer. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Interesting post. I’ve also found that forcing more of the residual air out of my lungs before taking another breath at altitude helps manage hypoxia. (For anybody who is interested in more detail, follow the link Bill provided: http://www.avweb.com/news/aeromed/181934-1.html). Your thought that age might be part of the process is also a good one. I noticed that I get hypoxic much sooner now than when I was younger, and that is especially apparent in a chamber. The last time I did physiological flight training in a chamber the staff confirmed that as we age hypoxia manifests faster. They explained that symptoms will remain the same over time, but that they will manifest earlier. Your note about NOT being hypoxic in a Skyvan touches on a point I’ve often wondered about. When we load Skyvans it is usually a fast process. When we load Otters some of us end up standing outside the door for a minute or two, breathing in the hot smelly exhaust. Is there any chance we are filling hemoglobin with CO, increasing our risk of hypoxia? When I was doing tandems I noticed hypoxia a lot more than on regular jumps, probably because I was working so hard in the airplane, and talking to my students so much. I also associated standing outside the door for a while with increased hypoxia at altitude, so now I try to stay away from the area that is especially hot or smelly. I don’t know much about the gas mixture within the exhaust of a turbine engine. Typical pulse-ox meters simply measure filled hemoglobin, not actual oxygen saturation levels, so CO will usually show as oxygen saturation because it is bound to the hemoglobin. CO also binds faster than oxygen, and remains attached to hemoglobin much longer. The best way to check for CO in the blood is with an actual blood test, but a CO test of ambient air in the boarding area might tell us if there is an exposure risk. It’s an interesting thought worth investigating if a mechanic wants to address exhaust gas mixtures from a turbine engine. There are also a few other tactics we can all use to reduce our risk of hypoxia. Since hypoxia is caused by not enough oxygen being carried by the hemoglobin, we can improve the ability of our blood to carry oxygen by staying well nourished and well hydrated throughout the day. Those are simple things that we should all do anyway, but the management of hypoxia adds an extra reason to eat and drink well throughout the day. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Please let me offer a word of caution based on experience. Several years ago I was asked to take the brother of a drop zone staff person on a tandem, The DZ staff person was a packer with tons of jumps, and his brother, the student, was an adult with Downs Syndrome. The student had spent lots of time on the DZ, knew our sport well, liked and trusted me,, and could do everything that might be expected on a tandem, and he desperately wanted to make the jump. He seemed like a great candidate for a tandem jump, and with smiles all around we boarded the airplane. The student was happy and excited as the airplane climbed. He became very quiet as we neared jump altitude, and became quite nervous as the first people got out of the Otter. As we neared the door he suddenly became horribly agitated. He slammed one very powerful arm against the ceiling, and reached his other arm around his head and grabbed my head in a terrifying vice-grip. He started screaming “I don’t want to die, no no!” He was very strong and easily overpowered me, nearly breaking my neck in the process. As the event unfolded the door was closed and several of the others worked to calm him down. We moved back to the front of the plane, disconnected, and began the descent. Initially he was very relieved to be riding down. As we got lower he became very depressed and started crying softly, saying that he was just a baby and everybody was going to hate him. We talked some more, hashed out the issues, and helped him to realize that he had just gone all the way to 14,000 feet, something that very few people, and none of his friends had every done. We landed uneventfully, and he promptly started telling the story of his fun airplane ride. That jump, although it never actually happened, was probably the most frightening of my 1,000 tandems. If he had freaked out in the air I could have easily been incapacitated without any help nearby. As I analyzed the event it became clear that a student with Downs Syndrome experiences every emotion that a “normal” tandem passenger does, but has very limited means of dealing with or controlling those emotions. It was a very dangerous, but educational experience. If you do make the jump, please be careful. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

It's not just the pilot that is responsible. The FAA places responsibility on the jumper(s), pilot, drop zone owner, manifester, riggers, mechanics, or anybody (or corporate entity) involved in the "parachute operation." See article 13 (FAA Regulations Applied, on The Ranch web site at: http://ranchskydive.com/safety/index.htm Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

In addition to the web link already listed, there are a few books you might find helpful. First is my book (shameless plug) called "JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy." It is written for folks interested in knowing what the sport is all about, how to find and evaluate a school, how safe skydiving is, how to deal with the stress of a student jump, and many other topics of interest to beginners. "JUMP!" is also a great book for experienced skydivers interested in how to answer all the whuffo questions. "JUMP!" includes an extensive glossary. The second book is called "Parachuting, The Skydivers Handbook" by Turoff and Poynter. This is a longstanding text written for beginners and advanced jumpers. It includes tons of good information. This book also includes a great glossary. The third book is called "The Skydivers Survival Guide" by Emerson and Antebi. This book is primarily targeted at jumpers just off student status. It is written to bridge the period from formal training to experienced status. Hope the above helps! Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

BSR's that can be waived by an S&TA include: 1) RW training jumpers with students by a jumper who lacks a Coach rating. The waiver is jumper specific. I think it is reasonable for some specific experienced jumpers who lack a Coach rating to train students. It should not be routine, but an S&TA should have this authority, and should feel comfortable using it. 2) An S&TA can waive the 14 mph maximum wind for students jumping squares, or 10mph with rounds. I can't imagine ever issuing a waiver for this BSR, although I know of at least one S&TA who feels otherwise. 3) The drop zone obstruction limits can be waived by an S&TA. In the case of a large field with some isolated hazards it is reasonable for the entire field to be listed as the student landing area if there is an adequate area free of obstructions. I think it is reasonable for an S&TA to make this determination based on the size and orientation of the field, and placement of the obstructions. 4) The requirement for water gear on all students when jumping within one mile of an open body of water can be waived by an S&TA. It is reasonable for an S&TA to waive this requirement based on the actual size and orientation of the landing area, and the size and position of the water hazard. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

As others have said, first man down isn't really the "safest" but is just one way of doing it. I like the idea of everybody discussing the landing direction before boarding. Check out Article 12, "Landing Direction Defined" at http://ranchskydive.com/safety/index.htm for discussion points. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

It shouldn’t happen, but of course any component can fail. The rigger should save the faulty ripcord and return it to the original manufacturer. I’d also recommend an email to the national skydiving organization as an advisory. Your profile says you are in Italy. If the rig is approved for use in the United States under a TSO, the ripcord should have a marking indicating when and where it was manufactured. The TSO process allows a manufacturer to trace a defective component to a specific lot, and that allows direct follow-up with distributors and users. If it is not covered by a TSO or other quality control process, then there may be nothing much that can be done to trace the component or follow up on the specific manufacturing process. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Parachutes are NOT mentioned in right of way rules. However, we are tasked with not creating a hazard to air traffic under 105.5. Thus, it is our responsibility to yield to other traffic BEFORE we jump so there is no confusion once the parachute is open. If you are in conflict with an airplane, glider, balloon, or whatever when under canopy, you probably failed the 105.5 test. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Or it takes a single fun jumper 23 jumps to equal the profit of one tandem. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

It is a common threat from the United States government. USPA and AOPA, among others, are working to keep the taxes under control. One of the biggest arguments is that we pay our tax for aviation fuels, and thus a new ticket tax (or landing fee) is not necessary. USPA and AOPA argue that general aviation more than pays for their share of the national airspace through the fuel tax. The original post seemed a bit political and off topic for the General Skydiving Discussions, but it is worth mentioning how important national representation is to our industry, and how much AOPA and USPA do fo us in terms of lobbying to keep those extra taxes away. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Alright, I'll buy your math, now think about mine. That tandem customer is going to make one jump in his lifetime at $175.00, but a fun jumper making 100 jumps each year at $20.00 each is worth $2,000.00 in jump revenue each year! If the profit on each aircraft slot is $2.00, the fun jumper will generate $200.00 in jump profit each year. The fun jumper will also be buying gear from the store, and food from the DZ restaurant. Plus he will be bringing a few friends along to make those $175.00 tandems. And, the fun jumper will be back next season, and the season after that. Who is the better customer? Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I do NOT know anything about this specific problem, but will comment generally about how a USPA Regional Director should interact with the local skydiving community. If a problem is brought to the attention of a Regional Director, then he/she SHOULD investigate, even if it is just a rumor. An investigation of a rumor could be as simple as the RD calling the DZO and saying "hey, I got a call from a couple of jumpers (or local whuffos) saying....." A quick rehash of the complaint will often yield a reasonable answer and determination that nothing really happened, and no further action should be taken. That phone call also alerts the DZO that there may be a perception of a problem, so the DZO can work on improving overall relations and perceptions. Sometimes that initial phone call establishes that there may be a serious or continuing violation, and the problem does need to be addressed directly. A Regional Director should be able to do that. It would be very wrong for a Regional Director to ignore a reported problem just because the local DZO or jumpers don't want to discuss it. BSR and FAR violations are serious, and USPA should be taking a more aggressive approach to management of these issues. With that said, if the DZO is really out of line, contact another board member (perhaps a National Director from outside the region) and ask that person to speak with the RD. If that doesn't work, then take the matter to the full board. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy