tombuch

Interesting point(s). When I made my first jump in 1979 there were 53 fatalities. Let me repeat that. Fifty-frekin-three fatalities. Last year there were just 18. We’ve come a long way. The equipment is far better, and the new fangled electronic AAD’s probably save more than 53 lives every single year. Plus the level of instruction is way better than what I remember from my six hour static line first jump course. And, I’ll wager that our airplanes are much safer than what we had for lift support in the 70’s. Plus, these days the entertainment on the ride to altitude rarely includes sharing a fat line of cocaine, or a garbage bag filled with laughing gas. So things are safer, and I guess more sterile. And a lot more legal. That’s not a bad thing. Sadly, though,, the spirit that brought us together seems to have been lost from many DZ’s, and especially from many of the large turbine DZ’s. I don’t think jumpers curl up for the night in a pile of old student parachutes anymore, and I doubt the neighboring farmers corn field is used for collective alternative agriculture like back in the day. There probably aren’t a whole lot of big DZ jumpers playing the human chain-game with electric fences, or going on late night cow tipping expeditions at two o’clock in the morning. Oh I know all that stuff still happens, but not to the degree that it once did, and by and large the cliques that now engage in that kind of behavior are not the norm. The evening barbeque isn’t usually hosted by the guy with the old truck who just went out and picked up some burgers and dogs, but is instead a creation of the for-profit snack bar that pays a fee to the big DZ operator. Too often we have become customers and clients, and not friends. It doesn’t have to be that way, and we don’t need to break apart into clusters of a dozen or two renegades to have fun. I’ve stopped jumping at the mega-Otter DZ that runs as a tandem factory, and now jump at a small Cessna DZ owned by real people, and run by real people. For the most part jumps are manifested first, then folks figure out what to do based on the experience on the load. That means no sky-gods strutting their ego’s and keeping the beginners at arms length, and everybody actually talks to everybody else. When students show up folks help out and do what it takes to get them in the air with a genuine hope that they will stick around and become our playmates, rather than a wish that they would leave a credit card impression and go away. Folks go out to the local store to buy their own lunch and pick stuff up for the rest of the crew, and sometimes actually host a bbq in the evening. It’s still like it was, but a bit safer now. You just need to know what you are missing, and then go find it. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

That's always a good suggestion. In this case the questioning jumper had a curious question that is buried in the SIM, but really tough to find unless you know where to look. At 38 jumps (as listed on the profile), he probably doesn't even know where to begin looking. Buying a SIM and reading it front to back certainly helps, and I would never discourage that, but a beginner is just being exposed to so much material, it sometimes helps more to ask the question out loud, be told what the answer is, where it is, and why it matters. This site is an awesome resource for seeking that kind of foundational knowledge. And with some luck, this jumper may turn out to be one of the top instructors in the country some day, and when little God-Frog wannabes are asking questions, hopefully he will be able to offer solid answers and context, and then point to the SIM as the source of all the world's knowledge. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

120 days as per FAR 105.43(a) The main parachute must have been packed within 120 days before the date of its use by a certificated parachute rigger, the person making the next jump with that parachute, or a non-certificated person under the direct supervision of a certificated parachute rigger. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Interesting idea. As others have pointed out there are some legal reasons why this wouldn't be an ideal solution, plus the standard basic first aid course is very long and detailed, and would be too much of a burden for most instructional rating candidates. As better solution is for the DZ to have a first aid policy, and make it well known to all the jumpers. Those who are trained in first aid should get together so they can develop and share a common approach. If DZ management wants to have well trained responders on site they can offer to pay for jumpers to attend a local first aid certification course. I earned my EMT certification when I was the S&TA at The Ranch specifically so I would be able to oversee the response by our jumpers and local rescue squad. It was helpful, but once the rescue squad arrived it became their ballgame. We did develop a response plan that you can read at: http://theblueskyranch.com/STA.php. It's called "Article 10 In An Emergency." Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I couldn't find the change in the InFo database so I did some additional checking. Here it is in the Federal Register: http://frwebgate2.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=931519431912+2+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

When I made my first jump back in '79 one of the experienced jumpers was telling us about a friend that had gone in, and said that if we stuck with the sport long enough we would know somebody who died jumping too. I didn't really believe him, but was weirded out by the fact that I knew somebody, who knew somebody, who went in, and yet I was jumping anyway. So now, a bit more than 25 years later, I'm nodding my head in recognition with so many of the old timers, and sadly I can't even remember all the names of the people that bounced. I can still recall many of the accidents, but the names and many of the faces have long since slipped into forgotten history. Sad. Skydiving is a really fun sport, but it is deadly consequential. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

See if you can find a used copy of my book "JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy." It was written with you in mind, and includes a series of question you should ask when investigating a DZ. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

With tandems it generally happens when the student and passenger are off-set by a bit, with loose laterals, and often with a small student. It's always before the drogue is thrown. In my experience it generally begins when the student de-arches and the TI arches. Then you get this crazy propeller-like off-set and away it goes. It's stupid-dangerous which is why tandem instructors are trained to recognize and react to the onset. For experienced solo jumpers spins are not a big deal, as long as the jumper is capable of stopping a spin. For a level four, that is beyond the available skill, but for an experienced jumper spins are really no more than really, really, really fast turns, and they can be a blast! Try tucking an arm, twisting your torso, kicking out a leg and dropping the other knee to see how fast you can spin. Damn is it fun. I think the original poster had something like 35 jumps, and probably shouldn't go all out, but heck, if you can stop a turn, then you should be able to stop a fast turn. And if you can stop a fast turn... Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

It is a stretch, but since it does mention skydiving, and this is the summer reading season, I've added a link and synopsis for you. http://www.amazon.com/Freefall-Wendy-Lewis/dp/1554700132/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215112548&sr=1-1 From the Amazon listing: Sixteen-year-old Airin Marks is funny, bright, and has big dreams: to become a writer and learn to fly. But she also has a secret — a secret that comes with guilt, bad memories, and more than a few nightmares. Twenty-year-old Ry Truman is unorthodox, headstrong, and passionate about one thing above all others: skydiving. Like Airin, he’s got some baggage — in the form of an ex-girlfriend who’s left him with a particularly nasty parting gift. When the pair meets at the drop zone Ry has opened near Airin’s home, sparks fly... but this won’t be a simple summer romance. For one thing, neither is ready to dive headfirst into a relationship. For another, Airin’s overprotective stepfather has a thing or two to say about her new obsession. And then there’s Diego Montgomery, the strange writer who’s taken to hanging around the zone to research his next novel. Diego’s attention seems more focused on Airin than on anything else, and before long, both Ry and Airin start to wonder if Diego really is who he says he is. Told in the alternating voices of Airin and Ry, this perfect summer read builds to a devastating climax. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

As others have said, they are called "crossports" and they help pressurize the canopy by allowing air to move laterally. And as others have said, more gear knowledge is a good thing. I'm going to diverge from some of the other posters here and say that your interest in the question is good and reflects a desire to understand your gear. It is to be commended. Heck, there are plenty of people with your experience who don't even know how to pack, and that level of ignorance is a real shame. That you are packing and looking and questioning is super-sweet! Most of us start our skydiving career with tons of questions, and as they are answered we slip into a bit of complacency. Then, as we gain experience our curiosity is poked, and we ask questions again. That's all normal. I'm glad to hear you stumbled upon those crazy looking holes deep inside your parachute. Discovering the crossports may well be the catalyst that gets you thinking about all the other small things that make a parachute perform. Heck, that little discovery might start you on the road to becoming a Master Rigger. For others who are reading this and wonder what the heck we are talking about, try checking out the inside of your parachute. When it's unpacked go ahead and climb inside the cells. You can do that. Honestly, as long as the parachute isn't super tiny you can open a cell and stick your head and arms all the way inside. Take a look around. Do it near a window or other light source and see the way the material shows construction technique or wear. Then lay it out flat as if it is flying and look at the entire top surface, then flip it over and check the entire bottom surface. See the way the lines are attached. It's pretty cool. This kinda stuff isn't just for experienced skydivers. If you are student sitting on the ground on a nasty weather day grab and instructor and check out the parachute together. Now, once you have done all of that, it's reasonable to assume the lines may have become tangled. DO A COMPLETE LINE CONTINUITY CHECK. Seriously and for real, do a line check. If you need help, ask a rigger. I'll say it again, after messing around with the canopy do a line continuity check. So there you have it. I tend to check the inside of my main parachutes at least once a year, usually when I'm doing my pre-season reserve repack, or if I have a super slammer of an opening or the parachute seems to be flying weird. And of course I always check the inside of my reserves on every repack. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Congratulations! Your efforts to build this site (and BASE Jumper/Rock Climbing) have been greatly appreciated, and have certainly had a powerful impact on the development of the sport. Skydivers have a stronger and broader community today because of your commitment. I’d like you to do one extra thing for me before you move on. Take your right hand and touch your left shoulder blade. Now, go ahead and pat yourself on the back. You have helped to improve a small part of the world, and should be proud. Thanks. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Back in 2006 when I was S&TA at The Ranch I prepared an inspection document for a local jumper who was traveling on the airlines. It was designed as a hand-out to TSA, and seemed to work pretty well. I offered a copy on this site as an attachment, and somebody else placed it onto an official looking letterhead. All I have is the original, which I have attached again. Feel free to use this document in whole or part to assist in passing through security. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

If you are a member of AOPA you can also check their on-line database of medications, and can even complete a pre-FAA-medical application that will flag any unusual conditions or medications long before you get to the AME. It makes the process painless. And if, by chance, there is a problem, their telephone support people will help guide you to resolution. Not a bad deal for $39.00. And oh yeah, most of my FAA experiences have been pretty positive. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

That dates back to 2003, and a problem with ripcord pins breaking, which was not good. When a pin is placed under stress it can either bend or break. Pins should have sufficient elasticity to bend so they don’t break. Too much bend, however, is also not good. I have attached the Capewell Product Service Bulletin that explains the problem and the means of testing a pin. Since the Capewell problem was breaking pins, I don’t think this ripcord is part of that issue. However, the jumper should discuss the issue and the cause with his rigger, and if the rigger thinks the ripcord is too soft, he should get in touch with the manufacturer. In all likelihood the pin bent under expected field conditions and just needs to be replaced, but doesn’t reflect a manufacturing defect. I’ll caution that I can’t assure that without having seen the ripcord, so it should still be shared with a rigger. The rest of the advice on this thread is also good. Pins do get bent in the field, and we should always be on the lookout for any safety critical component that shows unusual wear. That’s the kind of stuff we should be looking at in our pre-first jump of the day pin check. Likewise, we should be aware of how our gear is being handled, and should be extra vigilant when we are trying new things. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Send my regards. I haven't seen him since 'back in the day at The Ranch. It's good to know he's still around. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I caught my own freebag once. I had about 3,000 jumps and figured it was just a free bag. What could possibly go wrong? As I made my approach the inflated pilot cute took a turn away from my foot, and the bridle wrapped around the lines of my reserve. The reserve started to turn and it took plenty of opposite toggle to keep myself moving straight. The canopy was bucking and I was plenty scared. As I wrestled with the mess from about 1,000 feet on down I kept thinking about what a stupid idiot I was, and how I didn't want to die for doing something so insanely foolish. That's a crappy set of "final thoughts" to have. Somehow I managed to muscle the mess to an open field and survived a plf. I'll never do that again. And it was only a freebag! Imagine the force of a canopy! Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

This discussion is very disappointing. I’ve been jumping for more than 25 years and have recovered dozens of parachutes, freebags, and handles. I just can’t imagine anybody thinking they should be paid. All I’ve ever expected is a simple “thank you,” and that expectation has almost always been met. Heck, in a few cases I have been given a jump ticket, and that’s certainly appreciated, but so far beyond expectation that it warrants a humongous thank you from me. When I started jumping in the 1980’s we were all friends, and we were all part of a unique fraternity. No matter our station in life, we helped each other out, and shared when we could. We jumped with each other, we packed together, and we passed around cases of beer to celebrate meaningful milestones at the end of a jump day. In the evenings we could often be found at the local bar or around the firepit, and by nightfall many of the bodies would be splayed out on a pile of old T-10’s. It wasn’t all glory. We sure did have a bunch of problems and I wouldn’t want to go back to that time, but at least we cared for each other and saw the other ‘star warriors’ as friends, and not just as customers. Sadly, that sense of fraternity has disappeared from many drop zones. These days everybody expects to be paid for everything. Eight to ten dollars for a friggin pack job, and ya want a damn tip on top of that? WTF! And now there is a sense of financial entitlement when you pick up a friends canopy? Geez-oh- friggin-Pete! Seriously, can’t you guys find another planet? Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

The same way you know the nuclear plant down the street is being operated safely. The same way you know there isn't lead paint in your children's toys. The same way you know there isn't a bacteria problem with the tomatoes in your salad. The government is supposed to be providing solid oversight and inspections. That process drives the vendors to operate legally as a means of avoiding violations. If the oversight is so lax that pilots know they can fly illegally for more than 14 years, and know that if they do get caught they'll just get a slap on the wrist, then compliance fails. When I go to a DZ I want to know that the operator is doing business safely and legally. That's not always the case. I believe the FAA needs to be more assertive in demanding compliance, and penalties need to be much stiffer than a 45 day suspension for an obvious and willful violation. I'd like to know the FAA actually visits the DZ's on a regular basis and inspects the operation. I understand inspectors are not always the friendliest people on the planet, and they sometimes make a big deal out of meaningless regulations, but I'd like to know the operation has undergone a recent ramp check. That's the only way I, as a jumper, can be comfortable that the pilot is properly certified and that the aircraft meets maintenance standards. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

When he was caught in 1994 the penalty was a 90 day suspension, that was appealed and reduced to 45 days. See the decision at http://www.ntsb.gov/alj/O_n_O/docs/AVIATION/4583.pdf Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Talk with your local S&TA about what kind of experience you should have to do this kind of jump. And talk with your drop zone pilots about how to file paperwork. If the airport is large enough and uncontrolled, then getting authorization to land there might not be such a big deal. It's always better to consider a legal jump before you plan a bandit style attempt...ya know, when a jump isn't legal, there are sometimes good reasons. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I'm getting ready to run for the legislature in Vermont and am pretty well versed in our state level paperwork requirements. If you are running for office in Vermont you must file a set of petition signatures and a registration form to allow your name to appear on the ballot. If there are any problems with the signature petition or the registration form, the clerk is required to notify the candidate promptly so the problems can be corrected. That makes sense. It is not reasonable for the clerk (or USPA) to contact an incumbent to advise that paperwork hasn't been delivered because it isn't possible to identify non-incumbents who have the intent to file but haven't done so. However, once any paperwork has been filed it is appropriate for the clerk (or USPA) to identify mistakes early enough in the process for the candidate to correct them. These notifications should be equal for all candidates (incumbents and others), and designed/implemented to encourage the maximum level of participation. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Umm, no. All it takes is to say something like "It's my job to make sure you don't fall out." That's it. Simple and direct. And honest. To say it can't happen is a lie. We are supposed to be professionals, and understanding how to represent our business and industry is part of professionalism. You are correct that nobody is perfect, and we can't all nail every interview every time, but we can sure try, and we can take note when we hear ourselves say something that grates. The original post didn't seem to me to be an attack on the instructor so much as a point out of things we might be saying without realizing they could pose a problem. The question...can I fall out of my harness...is a common one, and every instructor should have an accurate and honest answer ready. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

It does come off pretty good, but Nick makes a great point about being honest with our students on every jump. Imagine a student being injured several weeks later on a completely unrelated jump, and then claiming the DZ said she couldn't be injured. The student then files a suit against the DZ. The drop zone will claim they are a responsible operation and never offered the false assurance, but then the student presents this video of an instructor offering a bold faced lie on national TV. Add to that a handfull of video tapes of other students busting clouds in direct violation of FAR's, and perhaps a few other documented violations and video quotes on the $100.00 take home DVD's. How much credibility do you think the operation has left? See, it's important that we always act responsibly, follow the regulations, and be honest with our students. That's where our reputation cames from. And when everything goes bad, the documented reputation of the DZ and the instructor may be all that is hanging between you and a jury. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

It may not a problem. The decision to avoid membership in the USPA Group Program is probably a financial one. In order to be a group member drop zone they would need to pay a small fee and sign a pledge to abide by USPA policies. From their web page it sounds like they are following the old USPA AFF program, but they do not list any instructors or instructional qualifications. My hunch is that they are following USPA guidelines, but you should definitely ask. Also ask about their instructors qualifications, and feel free to request proof of any ratings they claim to have. While it shouldn't be a problem to jump at a non-USPA drop zone, you should not receive any training from an unrated instructor. There is just no excuse for teaching without a rating, even at an isolated DZ in Alaska. Each instructor or coach you work with should be rated by USPA. If you have any questions about what a rating holder can do, ask them to show you where in the Skydiver Information Manual (SIM) and the Instructor Rating Manual the qualifications and supervision requirements are listed. As long as your instructors are USPA rated and they follow the USPA program your "A" license will be granted. There are two options available for you to officially secure the license. First, you can have the USPA instructor sign your proficiency card and apply a USPA stamp to the card. That's a legal license within the USPA system. Or, you can take it a step further and mail or fax a copy of the signed license to USPA with a $20.00 fee to have it officially registered at USPA. If you have further questions, check the SIM. You should be reading the material in the SIM as part of your training anyway, so hopefully it is available to you at the DZ. If not, it is on-line as a free download from USPA at: http://www.uspa.org/publications/manuals.htm. And, if you are still worried about the quality of instruction you can call USPA directly and ask to speak with Jim Crouch, the Director of Safety and Training. The phone number for USPA is 540-604-9740. Skydiving is a pretty small community and the folks at USPA are always happy to talk with students and members. It's good to know that some students do look for the USPA 'seal of approval,' and are interested in knowing their instructors are following a national standard. Blue skies, Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I'm interested in this argument, because it would also apply to adults signing away their rights to sue. In my experience with skydiving, I agree that it is impossible for a novice to determine if the provider is operating safely. Absent a known standard an untrained person can not evaluate the risk, and thus can not offer informed consent. In the case of parents, one parent may be perfectly OK with a child doing something risky, but the other may oppose the activity, as seem to be the case here. One parent should not have the right to make that decision on behalf of the minor and the other parent. In this case, however, it appears that one parent did have legal custody, and that may provide a different level of rights over the minor than two parents who share joint custody. It's an interesting case. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy