tombuch

I like method "A." It allows everybody to think through the skydive, then forget pieces, then get those pieces back in their brains. I've also found that when I'm jumping with a group that first dirt dive brings us together, then we sort of hang out for the 10-30 minutes before the loading call. That's not to say we ALL hang out together EVERY time, but rather that the first dirt dive gives the players a focus and 'sense of being' as a group. I agree it's tough to keep a large group together between the first and second dirt dive, and there are always stragglers. I wouldn't suggest yelling, but perhaps mentioning to the offenders quietly that the group was waiting. If the same people keep missing the dirt dives then try placing them in non-critical positions, or dirt dive without them and then say...sorry, maybe next time. If I'm being organized, or doing the organizing, it always helps to leave the first dirt dive with a rough idea of when we will meet again. It also helps to have a group name such as "Gary's Big Way." While you are at it, make sure the manifest calls can be heard at all points on the DZ. Tom Buchanan Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

That is astonishing. It should be extremely rare to have a student fixate on the altimeter or ripcord. It does happen on very rare occasions, but it shouldn't be so common that it is a concern even worth discussing. Try modifying your training and actually teaching your students. I suppose to do that you must first recognize yourself as a teacher and not just an operator of a carnival ride. Seriously, your customers need to be respected as intelligent human beings capable of learning. You may also find a well trained student with access to a ripcord and altimeter might actually save your life some day...they have saved my life about a thousand times! Oh, and if you are jumping at a USPA dropzone, please remember the BSR's (k)(2)(c) require that each student have an altimeter. That applies to all students including tandems, and it is not waiverable. Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) S&TA Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

My suggestions: 1) Make non-working fun jumps. Tandems can become a grind, and then a rotten job. Don't let yourself get trapped. Keep making skydives for fun with nobody paying you for the honor. 2) Teach on every tandem. Even try teaching on those "I just want a ride" jumps...especially teach on those jumps. It doesn't need to be much, but provide every student with some level of accomplishment. 3) Do your handle touches on every single tandem. If it's a routine skydive your mind will tend to wander, so use those moments to think through unusual tandem situations. Remember, a tandem is never "just another skydive." Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) S&TA Author JUMP! Skydiving made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

We never know which students will be returning, or what they will tell their friends. I like to think of three goals: Safety, Fun, Learning. Each student should be fully briefed about safety, each should have fun, and each should learn enough to feel a part of the process. That generally takes about fifteen minutes of instructor time, but could be extended for a student who obviously wants more training or expects to return. Many of our experienced skydivers made their first tandem as a one time thing but were hooked by great instruction that made skydiving seem like something fun that could be accomplished. Let's always think about our students and try to give them both an experience and skills they will take home and talk about. As for the minimums, all instructors in the United States should be aware of FAR 105.45(a)(2)(i): The person acting as parachutist in command...Has briefed the passenger parachutist before boarding the aircraft. The briefing must include the procedures to be used in case of emergency with the aircraft or after exiting the aircraft, while preparing to exit and exiting the aircraft, freefall, operating the parachute after freefall, landing approach, and landing. Keep in mind that after an accident a good attorney will interview your past students to discover if you are complying with the law. If your students say they were never told about those things required by part 105 your defense may be much more difficult, even if the accident had nothing to do with any of those factors. Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, Iad, Tandem) S&TA Commercial Pilot (IAMSEL,G) Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

The above is from the USPA web site. It sounds like the FAA is trying to cut costs and allow some industry organizations to self-approve some functions. One of the examples used in the NPRM is “…Included are functions leading to certification authorization for parachute jumping operations.” It sounds like the FAA is willing to let us self-certify some demo activity under the umbrella of a national organization such as USPA. The program would require an extensive and consistent approval and supervision process at the USPA level, and would then involve FAA oversight above USPA. It would probably simplify the process of demo approval for jumpers, but add infrastructure to USPA, and possibly add additional liability to the organization. For those who don’t like USPA, it could give the organization direct control over the demo functions now handled by FAA. The NPRM and the final rule would NOT automatically transfer any authority to USPA. Rather, assuming the rule is passed USPA would need to request that authorization and meet FAA standards. It sounds like any change is a long way off, and it might not be in the best interest of USPA or member skydivers to go the route of self-certification, but it is worth looking at. Check out the NPRM and let USPA know what you think. Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) S&TA Commercial Pilot (IAMSEL,G) Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3426111.stm This is a link to a short BBC story abnout the mass jump. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I disagree with your goat. I think we both understand that it's often tough to pin a fatality on one single thing. Generally, there is a chain of events that creates the fatality. In the case of a bad spot, the spot is may be first link in that chain. The failure of the jumper to recognize the poor spot is the second link. The failure of the jumper to land in an open area can be the third link (but sometimes even that's the fourth or fifth link), the failure to land correctly in the selected area is another link, and sometimes that's followed by a failure of others to locate or assist the jumper. The whole thing may actually start with the jumper deciding to make a skydive under adverse weather conditions, or in an area with no outs. Whatever. The key here is that the spot was the first element of that chain. The poor spot might not have been a big deal for a more experienced or attentive jumper, but in the case of a fatality it shouldn't be discounted as the first link. With a better spot the other links might never have materialzed, and the jumper might be alive. When we discuss fatalities we need to look for every link and understand how important each is. Your goat is correct that a bad spot doesn't cause fatalities, but it is an important part of some fatal accisents. Those of us who spot for others, or take the spots offered by others, should understand how important the spot is for creating safe landing options. Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) Safety and Training Advisor Commercial Pilot (IAMSEL,G) Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

For definitions please see FAR 1.1. The specific definitions are as follows: "Glider" means a heavier-than air aircraft, that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its lifting surfaces and whose free flight does not depend principally on an engine. "Aircraft" means a device that is used or intended to be used for flight in the air. It sounds like you could call a parachute a glider, but then you would need to meet the pilot certification standards of part 61, and all the pilot requirements of part 91. Let's not try to wiggle a parachute into the glider category unless we all want to be licensed as pilots. Tom Buchanan Commercial Pilot (IAMSEL, Glider) Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

That applies to aircraft only. Ideally, the most maneuerable will yield to the least maneuverable, and ideally that will include parachutes, but we are NOT included in the right of way regulations. Please see part 91.113 at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfrhtml_00/Title_14/14cfr91_00.html. Also see 105.5 that includes the restriction to creating a hazard http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfrhtml_00/Title_14/14cfr105_00.html Tom Buchanan Safety and Training Advisor Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) Commercial Pilot (IAMSEL,G) Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Yes, but parachutes have the rightaway. Also, the person who spoted the load may not have seen the aircraft, since depending on its type, it could have been over 3 miles away when they exited. Parachutes do NOT have the right of way. In fact, we have an obligation under 105.5 to not create a hazard. Further, spotting isn't just for the spotter! Everybody on the load needs to check for traffic before every jump. Please check out a couple of features I wrote on The Ranch web site. They are specific to The Ranch, but should help you to understand jumper responsibilities and the complexity of the airspace. Please see http://ranchskydive.com/safety/tb_article01.htm for some hints about who should be looking, where, when, and how. Please also see http://ranchskydive.com/safety/tb_article08.htm for a couple of charts of our airspace and a discussion of the specific regulations, as well as a briefing about why even a good pilot might stray over a drop zone. Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) Safety and Training Advisor Commercial Pilot (IAMSEL,G) Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Check out The Ranch at http://ranchskydive.com/. It's a really fun DZ with year round jumping. In the summer we fly 3 Twin Otters. In the winter we fly an Otter on busy weekends, and a Cessna 182 when there are just a few folks around. If you can stand some cold weather skydiving, come visit us! Tom Buchanan Safety and Training Advisor Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I'm the S&TA at The Ranch and covered this topic in a monthly post on our site. It's available at http://ranchskydive.com/safety/tb_article15.htm. You may need to adjust the specific times for your aircraft, or for the separation that is expected at your own drop zone, but the article should give you enough background to understand the concepts. Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) Commercial Pilot (IAMSEL,G) Author, JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Include still photography as well as video. Also, perhaps a discussion of employment Vs. independent conrtactor status with regard to taxes and workers compensation for instructors and packers. I'd like an understanding of why skydiving drop zones consider a "full time" instructor to be an IC, while the same relationship in the ski industry is clearly an employment relationship. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

It's a joke, just a silly bit of political satire. For additional detail please contact customer support at any one of several American companies including America On Line. Alternatively, visit the home page of the "news" site at http://www.peapit.com/index.htm Tom Buchanan Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

And less distortion of the airfoil at higher speeds. Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) Senior Parachute Rigger Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Yup. I'm with you on this one. One of our local jumpers presented the first indication of this problem early last summer and Airtec didn't see it as a big deal. They agreed to replace the unit, but the replacement failed in the same way. Another Cypress purchased at the same time as the first and used on the same jumps was fine. Frankly, I think they should have recalled every single unit right away and made the required fix at no charge. Allowing those units to stay in the field with no way of knowing if it is on or off is crazy. The response of Airtec to this problem makes no sense, and that is especially so given the new competition they face from the Vigil. I like my original Cypress and would not have considered the Vigil until this problem. Actually, I still won't consider the Vigil because it doesn't have a field history, but in 2 years when my original Cypress needs replacement I'll carefully consider both options, including the manufacturers service/support history. Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) S&TA Senior Parachute Rigger Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Actually, the training for a tandem skydive can be done in about 30 minutes. AFF and Static line training takes much longer. Tom Buchanan Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Gosh, there are a lot of places in your area. There are at least two very different dropzones on Long Island, a few more North and West of the city, and a couple in New Jersey. Check the USPA web site for a listing of affiliated dropzones at http://uspa.org/dz/index.htm. Call each and compare them. You will find significant differences in price, programs, history, size, airplanes, altitude, and style. It's important to evaluate each dropzone and then pick the one that seems best for you. Your needs will be different than those of experienced jumpers, and perhaps different than those of other students. There are tons of posts here about topic, and other posters have already suggested specific dropzones. There are also a couple of good books that offer excellent wintertime reading and will help you make an informed decision. The first book is one I wrote specifically for people like you who don't have any jumps yet, but wonder what the sport is all about, how safe it is, how to find a dropzone, how dropzones and instructors are certified, and how to select among several competing dropzones. The book was published last spring by McGraw-Hill and is called JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy. Another good book is called Parachuting:The Skydivers Handbook. It is published by ParaPublishing and is targeted at a more experienced jumper, but has a pile of great information for those who have yet to make their first jump. I strongly recommend The Skydivers Handbook if you think you will be sticking with the sport, and especially recommend it for those new skydivers with a few jumps who are lurking this thread. Both books are available at many local bookstores, and can be ordered on line at a discount at places like Amazon.com. Good luck, and I hope to see you in the sky next summer. Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) S&TA Coach Course Director Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Your "poll" is missing a selection for "It doesn't matter if the guy is a moderator, and the issue should have been discussed on the ground anyway so it's silly to build a mountain out of it in an international forum." Tom Buchanan Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Interesting point worth thinking about. Let's also remember that many of those tandem instructors have been in the sport for 10-20 years and have tons of experience that is relevant. Also remember that at least some of those tandem instructors also teach or coach AFF and have billions of hours of experience working with flat flyers. Likewise, many have current freefly experience. Actually, many successful tandem instructors are also making "fun" jumps in their spare time. Your point is a good one, but please don't count an instructor out simply because all you see him/her do is tandems. Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) Coach Course Director Safety and Training Advisor Commercial Pilot (IAMSEL,G) Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Completely Ignorant Of Freefly Technique Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I'll offer some quick stats from a large turbine DZ in the northeast with a very busy tandem program. We make roughly 50,000 jumps each year. Of those, about 5,000 are tandems, by an estimated 4,500 individuals (some make 2 or 3 tandems jumps). The other 45,000 jumps are made by about 2,000 individual experienced jumpers. So, more of the participants are students, but most of the actual jumps are made by experienced skydivers. Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) S&TA Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

It might be better for you to buy that first rig from a recognized dealer, rather than some guy on the web. A dealer (Sunshine Factory, Square One, etc.) will be able to offer more options and better guidance,as well as better after sale service. Once you have a bit more experience you will be better able to evaluate gear or sellers of gear, and will be in a better position to search for bargains on the web. If you absolutely must buy from the web, please talk with your home DZ instructors and riggers and make sure they check out any gear before you make the purchase. Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I've addressed this issue with regard to parachutes specifically for guests and members at The Ranch, where I'm Safety and Training Advisor. The topic is covered at: http://ranchskydive.com/safety/tb_article12.htm The first part of the web feature deals with establishing a landing direction, then there are some rules (sort of, it's The Ranch, so they aren't really rules) about how to interact in the traffic pattern. Check it out and discuss the topic with the jumpers at your home DZ. Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF,SL,Tandem,IAD) S&TA Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Many students don't know what is expected of them, or what is required to get a license. Often they don't see the ISP, or any part of the SIM. Frequently, drop zones use their own program and then fill in the card later. The advantage of the formal ISP program and four page card is that it clearly lays out each and every requirement. If an instructor is rushed, or misses something, the student has the knowledge of the program to prompt more complete instruction. A school using the 2 page card may be doing a good job, or may not...there is no way for the student to know. It is much easier for a student to follow along and demand a complete program if the 4 page card is used, and if a comprehensive outline (such as the ISP) is available. Likewise, it is easier for an instructor or DZO at another DZ to determine the depth of a jumpers training with the detailed 4 page card. The 2 page card is adequate (given a solid program), but the 4 page card is much better. Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) S&TA Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

The entire card must be filled out, including the license exam part that confirms the skydiver passed the "check dive" and an oral exam (NOTE: USPA recently allowed the substitution of a written exam for the oral). The "A" license card is the license once it has been completely filled out, signed by an instructor, and stamped in the box on the last page. It only needs to be sent to USPA if you want to register the license (a good idea). Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy