tombuch

To be precise, is any tandem passenger a student? And when was this BSR added? I know of more exceptions to this as recently as last summer. I've checked my S&TA Newsletters back to 1992 and can't find mention of the regulation, so it's at least a few years old. At the time tandems students were considered students, and the BSR was intended to apply to them. It still does, as far as I know. The BSR is marked as not waiverable, so if your DZ is not giving an altimeter to students you should check with USPA for clarification. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

On a tandem would could that be read as "the TI can show his/her student the altimeter and it is 'visually accessible' for the student?" I don't think so. The BOD discussion regarding the added regulation required that each student be equipped with an altimeter. At the time some schools were giving students an altimeter, and some had the instructor show the student his altimeter. The BSR was added to make it clear that each student must be given an actual altimeter. Contact USPA for further clarification or confirmation of the intent of the regulation, or better yet, just give each of your students an actual altimeter. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Here is another good collection of data from the National Safety Council http://www.nsc.org/lrs/statinfo/odds.htm Keep in mind that the ten year fatality rate for experienced skydivers is about one fatality for every 1,000 active jumpers (average annual USPA membership divided by average number of fatalities), and the annual USPA member injury rate is one reported doctor visit for every 22 members (as listed on USPA membership renewal forms). At my drop zone, our injury rate last year, as measured by ambulance calls, was one ambulance call for roughly every 3,000 jumps. The previous year it was about 1 ambulance call for every 2,225 jumps. Remember these numbers are from a single DZ in a single year, actual statistics will vary a bunch There have been a lot more ambulance calls at my DZ this year, so I wouldn't read too much into the year-to-year statistic. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

http://ranchskydive.com/safety/tb_article07.htm Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

It does? Does that apply to any tandem, or just training oriented ones? How long has it been in effect? I didn't on either of mine, but they were a ways back in 1995 and 2000. Basic Safety Requirements mandate "a visually accessible altimeter" for "all students...until they have obtained a USPA A license." See BS "K. Parachute Equipment" Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

That shouldn't be a problem. Most drop zones let you do those things on your first jump, and in fact, the United States Parachute Association (USPA) requires that every student have an altimeter on every jump. If you feel like you are not getting adequate training or equipment, seek out another drop zone. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Sorry it was a play on the word "bootie." I figured most people would get the joke when I wrote the following... I guess the joke didn't come through. Riggers generally do NOT like doing silly little jumpsuit projects, nor do they enjoy fixing a rip in your pants, or sewing buttons. But "bootie," hummm, I figured at least a few riggers would enjoy that. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Anybody that sews can do the job, so you could take it to a local seamstress, along with a sample of your favorite bootie design so she understands your preferences. You would, however, get better quality from a skydiving rigger who is familiar with jumpsuits, and likes working with different kinds of booties. Beyond that, you would probably get the best quality from the original manufacturer of the jumpsuit. Most jumpsuit manufacturers have at least a few people working for them that know a lot about the ins and outs of bootie design, and are always happy to deal with their customers booties. So, if you want fast local service, give the suit to a local rigger. If you want the best quality, send it back to the manufacturer. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Nope. Worst case is they think you are being coy, or they consider you a terrorist threat. At that point they can hold you and your rig, and do a full inspection of both. If TSA considers you a threat or a person of concern, they may NOT release you until they are satisfied you are harmless. That's not to say you shouldn't ask for a supervisor, or offer the information the crew needs to resolve the case. However, we should always remember the options available to TSA are a good deal more powerful than simply denying access to a flight. With that said, don't mess with a minimum wage worker who has a tiny bit of power. It's a bad combination. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Ask your local DZ pilot about specific regulations in Canada. Here in the USA all airspace is available for public use, and that means airplanes and skydivers. The exception is some unique security airspace used for temporary protection of the President and and protection of other post-911 targets. Airspace and use is not very well marked in the United States. For a better discussion of airspace issues in the USA, see Article #8 called "Airspace," and Article #1 called "Checking For Traffic." Both are available at http://ranchskydive.com/safety/index.htm. For a discussion about depiction of drop zones on GPS systems used by pilots, see a thread on dropzone.com at: http://dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1133168;#1133168. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

That sounds like the best solution. You could also suggest they do a chemical swab, X-Ray, and allow dogs to inspect the rig. The idea to to let them know you are not opposed to an inspection, but simply wish for the least intrusive inspection that will satisfy their security needs. You can also tell them the rig was inspected and packed by an FAA parachute rigger certificated under 14 CFR, Part 61, and sealed as per 61.133, and that the packing complies with 14 CFR 105.43. It could help to have copies of those regulations handy. For some security people having that official detail available will give them something technical to "hang their hat on." Of course at the end of the day security and customs inspectors have a right to open your rig. You are least likely to have problems if you are polite and respectful, and don't offer any reason for them to suspect a violation. If all that doesn't work, perhaps you could have an emergency bag of donuts handy? Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Each national aero club (like USPA) collects data from their own country. There is a specific duty to identify and report accidents, and an established structure for those reports. Most other nations are smaller, have fewer drop zones, and less jump activity than the USA, so it is even easier for the national aero club to identify accidents than it is for USPA. Further, the standard of collection and participation is consistent from season to season and year to year. It's a better and far more reliable data source, but in many cases it doesn't offer as much narrative detail as Internet reports, and the collection is much slower. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I like the idea of a full commercial with instrument rating, and more flight hours than the FAA minimum. Insurance requirements are a pain in the butt for operators, but a great thing for passengers (jumpers). As we select and evaluate drop zones, we should remember that not all DZ's have aircraft insurance, and thus not all DZ's are required to meet the same pilot requirements. Many small Cessna DZ's don't have insurance, and jumpers are assured only that a pilot meets the FAA minimums. I understand that some of the larger turbine DZ's are considering dropping their insurance due to the escalating costs, so we may face a reduction in pilot training and experience in this category. It's something to watch for. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

SDU offers a program that combines conventional AFF and tunnel time into a unique option recognized by USPA. See the SDU web site at http://www.adventuresinflorida.net/SkydiveUniversity.htm I like the idea of SDU training from day one, and if travel is possible, I'd definitely go with that option. If a student can't travel or concentrate the training, then a local DZ with an AFF program also works. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

The source is identified in the post. Double click "source". I hadn't seen the source in the original post. Thanks for pointing it out. I stand by my original position. The source is based on Internet reporting, and as the Internet has gained popularity, reporting has increased. I also suspect that more jumpers are participating in skydiving forums "in season" and are more likely to report accidents that happen when they are using computer based skydiving services. Voluntary Internet reporting is great, but there are some flaws in the system, and they should be recognized. Please note the significant differences between the total number of fatalities reported using this system, and the larger number reported using conventional reporting from nation-specific official channels (IPC/FAI). It may be that fatalities have increased over time, or in August of this year, but this source is not a credible means of showing those changes, and won't be, until the technology matures and stabilizes over time. Internet reporting gives us faster access to information than we had before, and allows for alternate reporting channels which gives us (in many cases) additional detail. Internet reporting may also bring a small number of fatalities to light that would not otherwise be known to the official reporting outlets. It's a great resource, and as time goes on it will gain value, but I’m not comfortable using it to “confirm” an “actual” increase in fatalities in a single month or year. See other posts in this thread by PhreeZone and Bob.dino Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I don't know what you mean by a "Limited" Commercial. As far as I know, the FAA only issues one level of commercial certificate. You may mean a commercial certificate without first obtaining an instrument rating. My suggestion is to get the instrument rating, then the commercial. Each should cost a couple of thousand dollars through a conventional FBO, although there are accelerated schools that can do it for a little less. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Demos are not just "approved" by the FAA. They are approved with conditions. Some of the other posters have listed a few of those. When you are doing a demo do not assume everything is approved, and that you have no FAA restrictions. Confirm everything with the organizer. Ask to see the waiver/authorization, and read all the fine print. Ask if a NOTAM was filed, and what area and times are covered. Confirm crowd control plans and alternates, and confirm ground to air communication has been arranged. Check the weather yourself, and be sure you have updated sources available on site. It is also a good idea to review the USPA SIM as well as Part 105 and AC-105 before the jump, so you are familiar with those requirements. If you think the organizer has arranged insurance, ask to see confirmation or proof. Each participant in a demonstration jump is liable for safety and compliance with any restriction in the authorization, so you must know what the local FAA office has approved. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Welcome to the sport. You have already made six posts asking basic questions, and might be better served by checking the USPA site at: http://www.uspa.org/about/index.htm. There is a great beginner FAQ on that site, and you will probably pick up tons of information by just lurking here. Be cautious about reading forum posts...sometimes the information can be incorrect. It's tough to know who is really posting, in spite of the profiles. If you are interested in more comprehensive information, try picking up my book called JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy published by McGraw-Hill last year. It was written specifically for beginners, and should answer all your questions. Another solid book is Parachuting: The Skydivers Handbook by Turoff and Poynter. Both books are available at many local booksellers, and on the internet at places like Amazon.com. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

wow, i didn't realize we have had more deaths in August this year than any other year all the way back to 1997? considering how much the equipment has improved over that time period and how the number of jumps has remained relatively constant?? (not sure about that), it seems to me that safety was not an issue in many minds this summer. I don't know where the above numbers come from, but suspect they are based on Internet reporting. If that is the case, the increase may be a reflection of greater access and use of the technology, rather than an actual increase in fatalities. I just checked the official IPC year 2000 Safety Survey (produced by the International Parachuting Commission/FAI) and page 5 shows the following international fatalities: 1990 70 1991 74 1992 59 1993 101 1994 70 1995 64 1996 76 1997 78 1998 72 1999 60 2000 63 The IPC/FAI numbers and the numbers quoted in the original DZ.com post do not agree in the overlap years. Global numbers are tough to come by and will always be suspect due to different reporting standards, but FAI reports should be given at least some credibility. My preference is to discount the original numbers in this thread unless a specific and reliable source is identified. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Your post is a bit confusing. The term you should be using is WING loading, that is the weight the wing (parachute) needs to support. It's a common term, and you you should understand it in concept before flying something with a wing load of 1.5. You did not include any information in your profile about experience or home drop zone, so I'm not sure if you are seeking information well beyond your current experience level, or are using English as a second language. For more information about downsizing, see a feature by Bill Von Novak at http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/safety/detail_page.cgi?ID=47, or use the search function at the top of the page to check "Safety Articles" for "wing loading." You might also consider a book by Brian Germain called "The Parachute and It's Pilot" available at http://www.bigairsportz.com/publishing.php. Another good source book for experienced jumpers that covers many topics of interest is "Parachuting: The Skydiviers Handbook" by Poynter and Turoff, available from many booksellers including Amazon.com. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Think about the "culture" of the operation. Much of that is not under your direct control, but as an active skydiver you will have an effect on how the culture matures, and thus you will have at least some control over the long term. Take a moment and read a feature I wrote for The ranch web site about culture. It also includes a fictional accident with multiple causes. The feature is available at: http://ranchskydive.com/safety/tb_article17.htm. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Welcome back. First, what you will need to do will be dependent on the requirements of the local drop zone. You shouldn't need to step through an entire AFF program, but some recurrency work will obviously be needed. So, get some opinions here on dropzone.com, then call the local DZ for their requirements and recommendations. With all that said, I strongly suggest a full ground course followed by a custom designed level 4 with an AFF instructor. You and the instructor can figure out what needs to happen from there. For the most part skydiving is like riding a bike, and it should all come back to you. However, parachutes have changed, you will need to recover your emergency procedures, and will need to revist many of the things you haven't thought about in ten years. Working with an AFF instructor should improve training efficiency and increase your self confidence. Take your return one jump at a time and don't push yourself too hard. Visit the DZ on a weekday, if possible, to maximize individual attention.Have fun. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Tandem students don not have their own gear, ever. Crosskeys is a good and reputable drop zone, but their break out of equipment rental is a nasty scam that is far beneath them. Check out the front page of their site at http://www.freefalladventures.com/, then click on the "First Skydive" link. The front page doesn't even mention the added gear cost. The inside page does, but it is an absolute disgrace. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Humm, I've got to wonder if this is a case of a reckless jumper pushing himself, or of a beginner who made a mistake. From the initial post it sounded like a guy who is consistently making crazy approaches witnessed by others on a regular basis. Now it sounds like a beginner with a couple of dozen jumps, who got himself in trouble on a windy day and made a poor decision, but survived. I'm guessing the local DZO or S&TA will deal with it differently depending on the actual circumstances. With that in mind I'd suggest you have the packer who told you about this speak to the S&TA directly. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Short diversion...it's spelled and pronounced Valsalva. See: http://www.whonamedit.com/synd.cfm/2316.html Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy