gemini

There are many things a big way organizer has to consider before accepting anyone on a big way jump. Although I am by no means an expert in this area, I would think it would be hard in most states to meet the criteria that require a safe big way with a reasonable chance of completion. 1. Safety-Can the individual flat track and pull only at the designated altitude? 2. Safety-Does the individual have any Big Way (100+) experience or has he/she been recommended by a big way captain who has jumped with the individual? 3. Safety-Can the individual consistently dock without momentum 18th or later? 4. Safety-Has the individual been to a big way camp or jumped with a competition RW team? 5. Safety-can the individual fly a no grip slot? 6. Safety-can the individual get to his sector safely and traverse the red zone directly to his slot? 7. Safety-Does the individual have the discipline to fly to his slot in his exit order? 8. Safety-Can the individual personally stop a wave rippling through the formation? Note: Although this is not possible, each jumper must have the attitude that he CAN stop the wave. 9. Monetary-Can the jumper afford the cost of the big way event and the travel expenses to get there? 10. Admin-Can the jumper follow directions to the letter and keep quiet during briefings and dirt dives? 11. Trust-Does the organizer know that he can depend on the jumper? I know there are many more things to consider. In Texas we have 13 USPA dropzones. In the last two record attempts there was a large contingent of local jumpers who were approved to participate. However the record probably would not have been set if we solely relied on local talent because there is not enough qualified local talent at this time. There were also a large number of jumpers who were not qualified to participate who applied to jump on the record. This included jumpers with less than 500 jumps, jumpers who were not current, jumpers with a reputation of not being safe on big ways, jumpers who frequently went low on RW jumps or could not dock in their slots with the correct grips, and unfortunately jumpers who were not known to any of the organizers or team captains. Think about your dz. When you do 20-ways do you have a 20-way with all low time jumpers, or do you try to mix the old timers with the newbies? Remember that the cost of the jumps is huge (e.g. 125 jumpers x $25 x 15 jumps) and no one wants the attempt to fail. We all know what it feels like when we go low on a formation...how would it feel to be the one low man on a 125 way? The organizers want the jump to complete and they do their best to pick the best people from those that are available who they know have the best chance of making the formation. Personally, it is not the state record that excites me into attempting big ways. It is the chance to prove I can make the formation and be a part of something that took months to plan, but is only whole for 3 to 7 seconds. My 2 cents. Thanks. Blue skies, Jim

If the jumper is not a student, I always ask if they want a check. There are several very good jumpers who will check whoever happens to be standing near them prior to boarding the plane. I've learned to live with them. I do get nervous if someone I don't know or don't know very well touches the container and I will recheck it myself if they bump me or pull the flap open. I usually will not make a big deal out of it, just let them know to ask the next time. They mean well and are trying to learn the ropes around the dz. Then there are the few others! I don't trust them to give me a check and do not want them ever to touch anything I am jumping with. This includes several instructors. Last Saturday I was asked by an instructor if he could pull the RSL tab out from under the riser on the DZ rig I was jumping. I told him no and walked away. I just don't trust the guy. Blue skies, Jim

Vectors have great riser and pin protection. Anomaly uses Wings which have been great in freeflying. Don't know about Mirage. Some of the first Javelin Odessey's constantly had the riser covers flapping and sometimes the main pin cover flapping as well. Tabs on the covers did not extend far enough into the tuck to stay after some usage. Blue skies, Jim

Anybody got any stats of medals by DZ? I know Spaceland teams won: Silver-Freefly Open Bronze-16 Way Open Gold-4 Way Advanced Bronze-8 Way Intermediate Blue skies, Jim

Trent and Stevie are on their way home tonight. They will be at the Beaumont Otter/Halloween boogie next weekend. Everyone come to Beaumont and jump with them! Blue skies, Jim

I overheard her say she was hurt. Blue skies, Jim

Derrick is right on point, but understated. Bad things can happen when the canopy gets out of trim. The slider angle can change in relation to the relative wind and come down a lot faster resulting in much harder openings. In addition elliptical canopies will turn a lot more on deployment causing more line twists if you're not ready for them. I can handle the line twists, but the last hard opening cost me $7,500 in medical bills. When I sent the Sabre2 (with around 700 jumps on it) back to PD they called and said the lines were way out of trim and there were 4-5 holes that I had never noticed. Save yourself and keep those lines in trim! Blue skies, Jim

My first reaction was "Ask your boss for the copy of the federal law that prohibits an employee from eating at their desk." But after thinking about it and since you will be in the same hospital system, that's probably not a good idea. How about this: Alternative 1: "I can put up with the boss a few more years till finished with school. So I will continue to take advantage of the free gym at lunch, and then (while carrying a pack of cigarettes as I walked out) eat my lunch on my "smoke break". Alternative 2: Take the job at the smaller hospital realizing that it is only a temporary job until graduation. After all, life is to short to work where you are stressed and unhappy.

Finally got back in the air. Doc Robin gave the green light to jump just in time for the Spaceland 20-way challenge. Made three jumps with the team and no one complained about my flying. Many thanks to everyone for their kind words during my downtime and letting me fly with them again. Congratulations also to Mike and Ginger who were married Saturday evening. Hope you have a long and happy life together. Found out today I even get to stop by nationals during a trip to FL. Hope to be able to see Dequello, Anomaly and the other Spaceland teams compete. If you're gona' be at Lake Wales, look me up. Blues to all, Blue skies, Jim

thanks Voodew. Steve and I had a great time meeting everyone and renewing old friendships. Hope to be able to jump when I get up there the next time. I've got 20-way team practice on the 4th, so you'll get a new Otter crewman. Don't let him get you into any trouble you can't handle! Blues, Blue skies, Jim

Wounded US Soldiers Charged For Food During Hospitalization Thu Sep 25 2003 10:05:59 ET Imagine this. You're one of the many brave Americans who puts your life on the line to fight the war on terror. You're wounded in action. Your medical care is free. But much to your surprise, when you get your hospital discharge, you also get a bill for your hospital meals! NBC's NIGHTLY NEWS reports: Daily dangers in Iraq, GI's being sniped at, wounded and killed, persisting, the casualties mounting. Marine Reserve Staff Sergeant Bill Murwin, a victim, knows as well as anyone the suddenness and pain of earning a purple heart." Murwin: "We were getting stoned, and a young man threw a hand grenade into my vehicle." "Murwin foot had to be amputated at an Army hospital in Germany. Then came weeks of therapy at a Navy hospital in Washington. Here he was shocked he would lose his food allowance. And once home in Nevada, stunned again by a notice to pay the Army for the meals in Germany. That's right. Sergeant Murwin, about to be released from the Bethesda Navy Hospital, like many of the 1,300 wounded in Iraq, received a food bill, $8.10 a day." All GIs "sent to war get a meal allowance of $8.10 a day, even though they're being fed free, if not well, in a war zone. But once hospitalized, the GI has to eat institutional food and reimburse the $8.10. That's the law." "I've given my life to the marines corps for the last 13 years. And you guys are going to ask me to pay for a month's worth of food? There's something wrong with that." Francis: "Florida's Bill Young, who learned of Murwin's $210 food bill and paid it, moved in Congress today to change the law." Rep. Young: "I paid his bill because I wanted to make a statement. I wanted the leadership of the military hospitals to know that I am serious about this." Blue skies, Jim

Only 7 weeks which makes me a rookie compared to you guys. Hope to jump after 10/4 and shake the rust off for the 20 ways on the 11th. I told the PT she was hurting me this morning and she said "Good!" I think she likes her work to much. Blue skies, Jim

Nope. They don't want to compete with AOT Blue skies, Jim

The right engine has been replaced and will be tested 9/16. Looks like BA will be back in the air by this Wednesday! Great job by Kevin, Hoop, Jeff and Steve to switch engines so fast. Thanks guys!!!!

Due to an engine problem the Otter will have to be rescheduled for Skydive Austin. Apologies to all who showed up today. Low torque and overheating is not problems to ignore on a turbine. Sorry guys, Jim Blue skies, Jim

Just talked to the DZO Cindy Gibson: There is no registration fee for the weekend. Jumps are $19 (They don't normally buy Jet A and have to pay a little extra for it.) The nearest hotel is in Giddings which is 15 miles from the DZ. It's a Ramada and the number is 979-542-9666. You may also camp at the DZ or squeeze into a spot in the packing trailer. The DZ number is 979-773-9100. They would love to hear that you are coming. Blues, Jim Blue skies, Jim

Still 0:0:0 GRRRRR!!! Blue skies, Jim

sorry wrong dz! Blue skies, Jim

Come on out an jump the Spaceland Otter on September 13th and 14th. You've wanted an Otter in Central Texas so here's your chance to jump one. Should be a lot of fun and will also be a chance to celebrate an unnamed DZO's birthday too! Blues, Blue skies, Jim

That's good, but there are a lot of nearly 40's out there without a lick of sense in this sport. If I don't know you, how do I know you are not one of the rapid downsizers who is "better than everyone else"? After all, we all want you to get to your 40th. I apologize to all who may have felt that I did not respect them through something I said. Please understant though that sometimes people don't listen or hear the cautions. We all get tired of our friends being hurt or worse and it is frustrating when inexperienced jumpers want to run before they can walk. Again if I don't know you, I am not going to hand you a loaded gun and walk away to let you figure it out alone. And that is very good, but you must understand that maybe I am not the one you should be asking at your experience level. Am I a coach or instructor? Do you know me? How do you know what I say is correct? Famous last words! Many of us have seen people at dz's who with less than 100 jumps who started rapid downsizing, high speed landings, and wearing cameras who said they were a more advanced, better skydiver than their jump numbers indicated. Granted there are a few, but unfortunately there are a lot of the others who paid a heavy price for their rapid progression, or barely escaped and hopefully learned from their mistake. Again if I don't know you, I have no idea what you will do with the information. I agree with you that all skydivers should be treated with respect and that answers to questions should be answered to the best of my ability (or referred to someone with more expertise). The last thing I want to do is give you something that you later use to hurt yourself or someone else. However if I can give you information that will make you a safer, better skydiver, I will. Blues! Blue skies, Jim

he he...I still like the previous administration's liars more. They were more imaginative! Blues Blue skies, Jim

Some years ago I was VP Finance for an engineering company that was dealing with hazardous waste. Our insurance went up 12-25% every year because of claims in the industry. After the third or fourth year of increases, I began exploring the alternatives. What I came up with was a partial "self-insured" plan that worked as follows: Individual deductibles were $250 with 80% of next $4000 in claims. This meant that each employee could have a maximum of $1050 out-of-pocket with everything else being covered up to the individual maximum. In addition and where all the savings came from was that the plan had a maximum deductible of $44,000 per year with a limit of $10,000 per employee. The insurance company calculated the maximum and we contirubuted to a funded account to back the deductible. The insurance company then wrote the policy basically with a $44,000 deductible using a Llyod's company to insure major losses. Administration of claims and the fund was handled by the insurance company. Although this was health insurance and each state's laws vary on how flexible a plan can be, I thought it might give someone an idea. Blues, Blue skies, Jim

0:0:1 Between the back and the rain a long boring weekend! Did manage to ride the Super O to alti and back down with Micah & Rabbitt flying. Felt good to feel the cold air again and have a rig on my back. Grounded for at least another month... Blue skies, Jim