tombuch

Back in the day...everybody jumped rounds. If a student opened high, he (it was almost always a he, women hardly ever jumped) could drift far, far away. Thus, the idea was to keep the opening high enough to allow for emergency procedures, but low enough to keep the students close to the DZ. I think that's the reason, but those are just my thoughts based on 25 years of history in the sport. Oh, and there were a few drop zones that pushed static line students out at 1,800 or less because it gave them even less time to wander. Crazy but true. Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF s/l iad, tandem) Author, JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

There really isn't a good source of information. In order to really mean something all the data must be baselined and filtered for type and level of participation. That kind of data doesn't exist. You can find some interesting numbers in a book called "Injury Facts" published annually by the National Safety Council. They take all the emergency room and OSHA data and compile it into one national report with state breakouts. It's fascinating reading, but doesn't really provide the level of data you are looking for. You can also pick up a copy of my new book, JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy, published by McGraw-Hill. This book includes a chapter about risk that presents current and 10 year national skydiving statistics, and includes some stats from other sports and activities. CAUTION: You still can't compare apples to oranges. Tom Buchanan Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Great research! Thnks for making the effort. One of the big things missing in your numbers is injuries. I'm betting the same picture would emerge if we had good numbers on wing loading and injuries. A less loaded parachute allows more recovery and a greater margin for error, and that should equal not only fewer dead people, but fewer and less serious injuries. Tom Buchanan Author, JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Only tip if you really like the video. Don't let yourself be pressured into a tip...a few people provide tips for the video guys (and instructors), but most don't. A common tip is generally 10.00 - 20.00 USD. That question is actually one of many addressed in my new book JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy, published by McGraw-Hill, and available in many bookstores as well as Amazon.com. JUMP! is written for beginners who are interested in the exciting sport of skydiving. It is designed to answer many questions similar to the one you presented above. Blue Skies, Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) Commercial Pilot (IAMSEL,G) Senior Parachute Rigger Safety and Training Advisor Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Two things: First, the .04 only applies to pilots and flight crewmembers. The standard for skydivers is "under the influence," (see 105.7) and that is not defined by any specific number. This issue was addressed as a part of the comments to the new part 105, but FAA took no action to clarify "under the influence." We can also look at 91.17, and if we consider parachutists to be passengers for the time they spend in the airplane, then 91.17(b) applies...that's "appears to be intoxicated or who demonstrates by manner or physical indications that the individual is under the influence of drugs..." Second: Under the new part 105 the language of responsibility has changed significantly. The two key terms are "person" and "parachute operation." Person can mean any person, or organization, or legal entity (see FAR 1.1). Parachute Operation specifically includes (but is not limited to) the drop zone, or owner, or operator (see 105.3). The objective of this change was to spread the responsibility around. So, in this case the FAA could attach legal fault to people and organizations beyond just the pilot and jumper. See my article about this issue on The Ranch web site at http://ranchskydive.com/safety/tb_article13.htm Tom Buchanan Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

IAD is very similar to static line. The instructor responsibilities are a bit different, as outlined in other replies to your post, but the training aspect is essentially the same. IAD and Static Line (as opposed to AFF) appeal to students who have limited funds. Each jump is usually a bit less expensive, and although there are more required IAD/SL jumps in most programs, the individual jump costs are more manageable. IAD and Static Line can also be done from lower altitudes and with less staff, so the programs appeal to dropzones in crappy weather climates, and those with limited AFF staff. Some students compare static line with tandem programs...In that case, the cost for each jump is usually close to the same, and static line appeals to independent minded students who really want to do it themselves, rather than by being strapped to an instructor. For more information about these programs in the United States, see the chapter called "Training Programs" in my book JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy. This book is available from many skydiving retailers, at Amazon.com and other online dealers, and in many local bookstores. Tom Buchanan Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Contact the company directly. Check this thread: http://dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=463690;search_string=california%20;#463690 Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Contact the Uninsured Relative Workshop in Deland Florida (rws@vector.net-mail.com) for a copy of their publication called "Tandem Guidelines for Skydiving with Wheelchair Dependant Persons." The report is designed for tandem instructors and mostly addresses tandem issues, but it does offer a great deal of background about special concerns you should be considering. Check with your local skydiving school...they may already have a copy. We have had a jumper at The Ranch who has done some AFF style jumps without use of his legs. He was a very experienced skydiver who was injured a while back, and is making a return to the sport. He started his comeback with a great deal of knowledge and experience, and then spent mega-time in the SkyVenture tunnel. He did extra ground training, made a few tandems, and then moved into a series of two jumpmaster harness hold AFF style skydives. Eventually (actually very quickly) he was able to move on to full release dives. Your situation is different because you don't have the existing experience, so you may find it difficult to locate a school willing to take you on the journey. It's worth considering, but I'd strongly suggest a few more tandems and some tunnel time before you get too focused. I can get you the name of the AFF instructor who was handling the program for us, and she may be able to put you in touch with student. PM me if you like. Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) USPA 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

Umm, actually the stats don't support your position very well. Consider the following based on USPA statistics: **The 2000 fatality rate was 1/70,130 skydives **The annual domestic fatality rate averaged over ten years is roughly 1/903 members of USPA **Death rate for motor vehicles reported by NSC in 2000 is 0.0156 per 1,000 participants. **Fatality rate for skydivers based on USPA numbers over a ten year period is 1.1 per 1,000 member skydivers. Statistics can be used to tell a wide variety of stories. I actually covered the topic specifically for whuffos in my new book JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy. The book includes tons of statistics and a comparison between driving and skydiving. The chapter on Risk ends with the following paragraph: "Fatal skydiving accidents are relatively rare, but they do occur. You should understand that if you are participating in any high-risk sport, an accident can happen, and you should be prepared for the expense and hardship that may result. Skydiving is an exciting sport, and many of the risks can be controlled with appropriate training, equipment, experience, and well defined procedures, but the risk can never be eliminated." It is wrong to tell whuffos that skydiving isn't dangerous, or to create meaningless stats to tell them that story. Skydiving IS a high risk sport, and we should all understand that. The risk can be reduced, but never eliminated. Two more quick numbers: There are roughly 34,000 member of USPA, and there will be about 34 fatalities this year. Students will be only a tiny percent of those fatalities. Do you still think skydiving is no more dangerous than driving a car? Check out the book and the chapter called "Understanding Risk." JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy is available from many skydiving retailers, Amazon.com, and at many local bookstores. It was published by McGraw-Hill in January 2003. Tom Buchanan AuthorJUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Back In The Day...it was a badge of honor to be able to say you never had to ride a plane down. We always worked hard to convince a scared student that jumping was the only option. That has changed. These days, I'll offer some quick discussion if it seems appropriate and appreciated, but if the student is clear that he/she doesn't want to jump, then we ride the plane down. It isn't an embarrassing issue, and the instructor really needs to reassure the student that saying no isn't a problem. Should an instructor ride down with the student? Hell ya. If there are two instructors one can make a skydive, but a student who refuses shouldn't be left alone, or handed over to a pilot. It's an emotional event and the student deserves the instructors support. Tom Buchanan Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Sure. It used to happen frequently on some of the older square parachutes. Back in the day squares opened really, really, really fast, so manufacturers and jumpers looked for ways to slow them down. We learned about sliders, trim, and a few packing tricks. Unfortunately sometimes we slowed the opening so much that the parachute would snivel for a long time before filling with air. As the parachute sniveled the lines would be flopping around with very limited control. Older parachutes tended to have big fat cascades where lines split, usually created with knots. I had several tension knot malfunctions when the cascades of the steering lines snagged on the "A" lines, and wouldn't pull free or allow the slider to descend. The smaller cascades on modern parachutes have reduced the problem, but not eliminated it. That's actually one of the big problems with the contemporary parachutes that are designed or packed to open slowly. As the parachute is sniveling, the lines remain uncontrolled, and they can snag or wrap on just about anything. When I hear jumpers laughing about their 1,000 foot snivels I kinda cringe and know that at some point they will probably have tension knots. So, imagine you are smiling and sniveling under your cool and groovy parachute that always takes 1,000 feet to open. As you get to the lower end a couple of lines thrash around and knot on each other below the slider. It's no big deal because your parachute always opens slow, so you give it just a bit more time, then you start pulling on steering lines or doing whatever magic-making you can think of. Of course you are already low and moving fast, so time is running out. Finally, you realize it's not a correctable problem and you cutaway. Unfortunately you are just a bit unstable so you struggle to arch and then reach for the silver handle, but you run out of time and slam into the ground, wishing you had a faster opening parachute, wishing you hadn't waited so long for the stupid tension knots to clear, wishing you hadn't tried to get stable, wishing you were more altitude aware, and wishing you had left the RSL on your rig. Tension knots are real. Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) Senior Parachute Rigger Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

My local rigger supervised me as I did pack jobs, and that was free. He was SUPER helpful. After I had about a dozen pack jobs I took the DeWolf course and thought it was outstanding. Costs included course fee, rigging tools, both copies of the Poynter manual, the computer study guide for the written test, test fees, travel to the course, hotel acccommodations, and a few late night drinks for the staff of the course. I think that was it. Total cost was probably about 1,500 dollars and well worth it. Tom Buchanan Author, JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

My suggestion is a tandem to start. I'd also recommend you buy a copy of a book I wrote this year called JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy published by McGraw-Hill. JUMP!explains everything you need to know about the sport, including how to find and compare drop zones, and how to determine if the drop zone you select is heads up as far as safety goes. It also has great chapters about risk (with statistics) and psychology. JUMP! is available at many local bookstores, and also online at places like Amazon.com. Have fun on your first skydive! 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

It's your reserve tray! Touch it! Pull your handles to open the rig, then watch your rigger as he installs the Cypres, inspects your rig, and then repacks the reserve. Heck, if you have a good rigger he will probably even let you install the Cypres under his supervision, if you like. Be part of the process and learn about your gear. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

OK, then I'll take the question away from the context of the Colorado event, and ask it again...Why do some people jump parachutes that snivel for 1,000 feet? I know some people like slow openings, so I suppose that's a reason, but consistent 1,000 foot openings do seem a bit excessive to me. Yet, I see people who feel compelled to open at 4,000 feet because they say their parachutes always snivel for 1,000 feet, and sometimes more. I think most of us who jump at big drop zones know of at least a person or two in this category. So the original poster, who doesn't have a lot of jumps, asked a logical question that was probably developed after the Colorado event, but relates to skydiving in general (hence, a new thread in General Skydiving Discussions). Why do some people jump parachutes that take 1,000 feet to open? Can we get a few people who do have a lot of jumps to answer the question...perhaps you like slow opening parachutes? Perhaps you plan to dump your main at higher than normal speed? Perhaps you bought the parachute without knowing it had slow openings? Whatever. It's a reasonable question worth discussing. Why do some people jump parachutes that take 1,000 feet to open? Tom Buchanan 4,500 Jumps etc. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Others have said it, and I will too...relax. You did fine, and your jumpmasters thought enough of the dive to move you along to level 2. It sounds like you think it was a marginal jump, at least from your own perspective, and that's important for you to understand. While your instructors think you are ready for a level 2, it sounds like you are not sure. If you are really uncomfortable with moving onto the next level you can choose to repeat level 1 yourself, or perhaps even leave that decision for the actual jump. In most programs level 2 involves stability, more practice PRCP's, and some turns while your instructors hold on. Use the initial part of that dive to get comfortable and do a few nice PRCP's. If you are feeling ready, do the maneuvers. If you feel like you just want to use the extra time to relax and not do turns, then do that...it's your skydive, and ultimately, you are the person who needs to be comfortable. The AFF program is pretty accelerated and many people think they MUST complete the requirements in just seven jumps. Seven is just the minimum. If it takes longer, that's fine. Build a foundation of skill and experience, then move forward one step at a time. Talk with your instructors about your apprehension. Let them know that on the next jump you may do the extra tasks, but that you may just enjoy the freefall. As long as they know what your plan is they should be fine with it. Three people hanging out and enjoying the bottom end of a skydive is more fun than an overloaded student and two struggling instructors being pushed where they don't want to go. So, whatever you do, focus on fun. It sounds like you are heads up, and it sounds like your instructors know that too. Congrats on a successful skydive! Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I covered the legal issues in a Parachutist feature last year...it's reprinted on The Ranch web site under the S&TA area. It's article 11 at http://ranchskydive.com/safety/index.htm. The article lays out the legal requirements under FAA regulation, but most DZ's are pretty slack in term of enforcement. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Because we shouldn't encourage that kind of decision making. The rule is very clear...do not chase a student below 2,000 feet. Doing so puts both the student and instructor at greater risk. Every instructor should know and understand that chasing a student below opening altitude is NOT heroic, and it should not be honored as such. It should not be encouraged, and should not be approved after the fact. I know and understand that the instructor in this case was doing his best to save the student, but he was wrong. I wish I could say that I will NEVER chase a student below 2,000 feet, but I know that in the heat of the moment I might...if it happens it will be foolish, not heroic. Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

You are correct. A pin SHOULD bend when it is side loaded. The problem with the recalled Mirage pins is that they may be too brittle, and will break if improperly loaded. A broken pin might make it impossible to deploy a reserve, and that would be a very bad thing. So, a bent pin is a kinda bad thing and should be replaced. A broken pin is a very bad thing, and should be avoided at all costs. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

OK, I'll quote some more... 105.3, Definitions: "Parachute Operation means the performance of all activity for the purpose of, or in support of, a parachute jump or a parachute drop. This parachute operation can involve, but is not limited to, the following persons: parachutist, parachutist in command and passenger parachutist in tandem parachute operations, drop zone owner or owner or operator, jump master, certified parachute rigger, or pilot." 1.1 Definitions "Person means an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, joint stock association, or government entity. It includes a trustee, receiver, assignee, or similar representative of any of them." Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Unfortunately, that's not true. Please reread FAR part 105.43 again and note that responsibility is shared by both pilot and jumper. Also note the use of terms "Parachute Operation" and "Person" in many of the part 105 regulations. Then, cross reference part 105.3 (Definitions, "Parachute Operation" and part 1.1 (Definitions, "Person"). "...No person may conduct a parachute operation...and no pilot in command of an aircraft may allow any person to conduct a parachute operation..." Responsibility for violating the reserve repack, and most other regulations, is shared by the pilot, jumper, rigger, DZ owner/operator, jump master, and just about anybody else that is involved in the violation at any level. An inadvertent violation isn't likely to be identified, but willful violations that are identified can cause action to be brought against the parachute center or any of the people involved. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

The Pro-Trac measures speed, so it identifies opening when your speed is reduced to a specific point, or by a specific amount. If you have a chance, connect your Pro-Trac to a computer (use the Jump-Trac software) and look at the graph of speed. You will actually see your speed begin to decrease, then the program defines the opening. You can use the graph to see what altitude your speed actually began to decrease, and how much time/distance you burned through before the opening was defined. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

It sounds like you had a great first jump. Congrats. Lineover malfunctions should be rare, and are almost always caused by packing. As you learn to pack, ask your rigger what you can do to prevent that kind of problem...it's a pretty easy issue to eliminate with just a bit of care. Can a lineover be fixed once it's above your head? Ummm, sometimes, but you should almost never try. It's a high speed and disorienting malfunction that you should cutaway. The exceptions are a BASE jump, or if it's on your reserve. From the BASE world we know the problem is usually caused by a steering line that moves over the nose. Ask your instructor or rigger to talk with you about that specific issue, or check in with a super experienced BASE jumper. That level of knowledge is probably not something that you need at this point, but as you gain experience you will find stuff like that helps you to really understand your gear, and it puts the importance of packing into context. But, to repeat...do NOT try and fix a standard lineover on a regular skydive. Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) Senior Parachute Rigger S&TA BASE-128 Author JUMP! Skydiveing Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Good point. I find that a lot of people that come to me for USPA licenses don't have any accuracy listed in their log books, and some don't have the required maneuvers listed. When I question them about it, they usually say they didn't know about those requirements. Damn, it's in the SIM under license requirements, and they should be able to at least look that up. If they don't know how or where to look up license requirements, or they don't care, then how can I be expected to sign them off? That's nuts. I haven't looked at the CSPA requirements, but the USPA license requirements are very clearly defined and easy to identify. So, the lesson I'd like folks in the US to learn is: know what the requirements are by reading the USPA SIM. When putting those jumps into your logbook simply add 'distance to target' and maneuvers. As an aside, whenever I refuse to sign a license application because there is no accuracy listed, the person simply finds another instructor willing to listen to his sob story and sign it off. That bugs me. Many of our fatalities and injuries are the result of poor canopy control. By allowing our junior jumpers to slack off on that skill we are hurting them in the long term. I may be old fashioned, but I still believe accuracy and canopy control should matter. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Check the 2003 SIM, Section 3 (Classification of Skydivers), pages 12-13. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy