Gravitymaster

Thanks for your help. The PIA letter is only a press release so I doubt it will be any good to convince TSA and/or Delta they are wrong in their evaluation of the cypres being "compressed gas". In the NG posting Cliff made, he insinuates the problem will be resolved shortly. How much longer are we supposed to wait for this to happen? Why can't we as skydivers have something like a letter from FAA/DOT stating the cypres isn't dangerous? It would also be helpful if we even had something stating it isn't "compressed gas". Why are we left at the boarding gate without any back-up material to convince TSA or the Airline what we say is true? Cypres's have been in production for over 10 years. How come I'm still having this problem?

Has anyone actually *seen* the letter Airtec claims to have from the FAA stating Cypres is approved for air travel. I asked USPA for a copy last spring when I was almost denied boarding on Delta and they said I would have to get it from Airtec because they didn't have it. I'm starting to wonder if it really exists.

The problem was she kept insisting the Cypres was compressed gas and didn't want to hear my explaination. One of the TSA people even tried to tell me you couldn't skydive from 23,000' because you would get sucked out of an airplane if you opened the door up at that altitude. I told him I had done high altitude jumps and it didn't happen, but he continued to insist I was wrong. What are ya going to do? (beating head on keyboard)

This particular incident was a "Delta" problem. TSA contacted the Delta supervisor who in turn contacted her supervisor. I was told by the Delta supervisor that "Delta" would not allow me on their plane. Of course in the intrest of "Customer Relations" she tried to backpedal and blame TSA as I was being escorted out of the boarding area. I'm trying to book another flight for tomorrow on United and I think I'm going to check the rig. Not so worried about getting on as I am returning. Sure would suck to be stuck in Florida with no way home.

Please let me know what they say. I will be getting in touch with USPA and Airtech on Monday. If this can't be resolved immediately, I will remove my cypres from my rig whenever I fly. I have had nothing but headaches and lies from Delta since I started trying to book this trip. I am done with Delta for good. Bob

If anyone is thinking about booking your next skydiving vacation on Delta Airlines and you have a Cypres, better think again. I just returned from Dulles Airport outside Washington D.C. after being refused boarding for a trip to Florida. I attempted to carry my rig on inside my gear bag and was stopped by TSA and questioned about my Cypres. I showed them my Cypres card and USPA card. TSA said the final decision was up to Delta. A Delta supervisor showed up and after consulting by telephone with her boss, said I could not board the plane even if I checked my rig. Just though everyone should know so you can make a better decision on what airline you will book in the future. My vacation has been ruined. Bob

To be perfectly honest with you, I think you have a lot of nerve asking for free video so you can use it in what sounds like a commercial film.

The main reason the WFFC uses a hotel consolidator is that it's a big headache to do it yourself. I've already been told that we won't be using this same organization again. _________________________________________________________ Why would it be a big headache to book a hotel room in Rantoul as opposed to booking a hotel room any place else???

I did a search through the threads. Gotta decide if I'm going to keep them or go back to metal connectors with slider bumpers.

I just installed slinks on a new canopy. The problem is when the slider comes down it covers my toggles. I have to push it back up to release the brakes and then it slips back down again and blocks my vision. Any advice?

Well, it isn't up to the family. The Federal Aviation Regulations and NTSB 830 say that all aviation accidents must be reported. The details of those reports are made public. _________________________________________________________________ Can you give me the URL of the FAA site that publishes details of ALL skydiving fatalities?

I know of no skydiver who would object to the details of their death while skydiving being revealed if it would help someone else avoid the same error. If an error was in fact the cause of their death. With this said, does the family have the moral "right" to withold the details if that is agaist the wishes of the deceased?

This one got air sick.

1600 with no cypres, I'm going for my main. I'd rather have 2 opportunities to get a good canopy over my head than just one shot. 1600' with a cypres, I'm going for silver. I'd rather risk my reserve not opening than 2 canopies out.

If I had a snively main, I would go out on my reserve. If I had a fast-opening main I'd exit on my main. That's pretty independent of whether I had a cypres or not. __________________________________________________ So you are of the mind a cypres makes no difference in your emergency procedures at all?

You should go for your reserve; you will go for your main. ------------------------------------------------------------ Possibly, however that isn't my point. My ppoint was that you can't just turn your cypres on and forget it's there. Perhaps a change of scenario will help: Suppose you are in an aircraft tha develops engine trouble at 1600'. The pilot scream "Get the F*** out NOW". If you had a cypres, would you go for your main, knowing a snivel could cause your cypres to fire or would you just go for your reserve. How about if you didn't have a cypres? Would you change your emergency procedures? If so why? If not, why not?

Go for the reserve because at that height you don't know if your main will be fully open or slow you down enough to avoid triggering the cypress and you don't even want to mess with the dangers of a two out situation. ------------------------------------------------------------ I agree 100% with your answer. Would your answer change if you didn't have a cypres?

I have a Cypress and simply forget about it after I turn it on each day. Not a dependent type thing, more like an air bag in the car. You forget both are there until they work. Just my minor opinion. Stay safe. __________________________________________________ Possibly true in most situations. However you need to remember you have a cypres. If you find yourself at 1600' would you go for the main or reserve? Why?

In addition, the Rebel series come with a plug for a wired remote. So hooking up a bite, tongue, thumb, or blow switch is simple.

These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services: 1. Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight at Calvary Methodist Church. Come hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa. 2. Announcement in a church bulletin for a national PRAYER & FASTING Conference: "The cost for attending the Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals." 3. The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water." The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus." 4. Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King. 5. Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget your husbands. 6. The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been cancelled due to a conflict. 7. Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. 8. Smile at someone who is hard to love. 9. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you. 10. Don't let worry kill you off -- let the Church help. 11. Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation. 12. For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs. 13. Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get. 14. Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Jack's sermons. 15. The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing: "Break Forth Into Joy." 16. Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24th in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days. 17. A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow. 18. At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice. 19. Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones. 20. Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children. 21. Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered. 22. Attend and you will hear an excellent speaker and heave a healthy lunch. 23. The church will host an evening of fine dining, superb entertainment and gracious hostility. 24. Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow. 25. The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon. 26. This evening at 7 PM there will be a Hymn Sing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin. 27. Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done. 28. The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday. 29. Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door. 30. The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy. 31. Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance. 32. The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new campaign slogan last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours." 33. Our next song is: "Angels We Have Heard Get High."

Has anyone been able to determine the real identity of the seller? Is he a skydiver? If he is I'd sure like to know where he jumps.

Just curious about how many of you think a family member would come to DZ.Com to read condolences if you bounced. Do many of your family members know you post on this site and do you think it would occur to them to come here?

You will find this is a preventable malfunction if you set your brakes as soon as you land. Good job on the cut-away.

From the ground it looked like she was under canopy at least by 1600 feet or so, kinda low to chop. ******************************************* 1600' isn't too low to chop. It is in fact the minimum altitude USPA recommends you initiate a chop. Most experienced skydiver would initiate a chop as low as 1000'.

Why do you want to turn the statistics around? I have found most who say they would like to try are just trying to be affable. My reply ot people who say they want to jump is "let me know when you are going to do it and I may see you there".