councilman24

Make money? Considering my rigging business has decreased over the last couple years I figure I spend about $1500 from my "day" job, in addition to all my rigging income, just to go to meetings. And volunteer to do more work! I'm one of the very few people involved in PIA and it's committees who actually doesn't make their living from the industry. But such POWER!!! I appreciate your comments. Thanks I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

New schedule is online at www.pia.com Some additions and schedule changes so look at the updated one. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

A newly revised speaker schedule is online. New additions include presentations on the Vigil, forging hardware, inspection of powered parachutes and paragliding canopies, and the status of BASE. In addition Dan Poynter will be entertaining those so inclined with his presentation on Lawn Chair Larry. Some other minor schedule changes have been made. So please refer to the new schedule available at www.pia.com Be there or be behind, or be a behind. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Thanks to Tom Aiello for volunteering to speak at the PIA International Parachute Symposium in Jacksonville in January. While PIA has some members involved in BASE equipment, and more are welcome, we didn't have any BASE speakers volunteer. In communicating with Tom I found out that I may be more behind on the current status of BASE than I thought. (Preferring NO direct contact with the earth when I exit.) So, Tom is going to give us all a status report on BASE jumping today. Thanks Tom. A new schedule with Tom and some other new speakers will be posted today or tomorrow. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

From another internet forum, first hand account by CCW holder. "http://www.ofcc.net/news.html From: Roger Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2004 8:38 AM Subject: columbus shooting helpless victims My name is Roger [last name redacted]. My wife and I were at the Al Rosa Villa Dec. 8th for the concert that had several fatal shootings. We were standing right in front of the band member that was fatally shot when it all happened. All I can say is that I felt SOOO helpless in there. We have been there 5-6 times in 3 years for various events, all of which without personal protection. We are both licenced to carry concealed. I leave my firearm at home for these types of events because of the law. The 'Villa serves alcohol, so no guns. I leave it at home instead of in the car because of the crime (I'd hate to lose my 1911 to a criminal). Well, last night it all became clear to me. WOW! I stood not 5 feet from a man that was discharging his weapon into the band members head, shoulder and abdomen, then waving and shooting into the audience. I watched as he swapped clips, then I watched as he ran behind the stage where I heard several more rounds fired. I WATCHED!!! Wow. I could not get far with the panic. I tried to drop to the floor, but my wife would not let me drop because of fear of being trampled. I also have a prosthetic leg. While I have [good] mobility I know when I need to wait for the crowd. So, as I stated a bit ago, I WATCHED!!! I can not even begin to express the fear I have of crowds now. I felt so helpless to just have to ride it out and to have been lucky enough not to have been shot. I will think very hard before I go into the next victim zone! Feeling this way sucks! Before last night I would only carry on few dates if I knew I could carry the whole time. Now I am installing my Fingerprint lock safe in our main vehicle so I can feel as safe as possible. A police officer may have arrived quick and shot the suspect dead, but it was too late for many people! Roger Commentary: This Ohio CHL-holder was standing less than 5 feet away from Nathan Gale when he drew his pistol. But because Roger is a law-abiding citizen, and was obeying Ohio law which bans firearms in any location that serves liquor by the drink, he could do nothing - nothing but watch people die. This incident reinforces the fact that disarmament zones only disarm honest, law-abiding citizens; not the criminals who prey upon them. This mass killer broke scores of firearms, liquor and criminal laws in committing this rampage. These same laws did nothing to protect the law-abiding citizens at this event. Under current Ohio law, bearing handguns for self-defense in establishments which serve drinks under a Class D liquor license is illegal, even for employees. In fact, Ohio's law would prevent SECURITY at this nightclub from carrying a handgun, even if the club owner had wanted them to do so. When the Ohio House of Representatives passed Sub. House Bill 12 in 2003, specific exemptions were contained to allow bar owners to protect themselves and their patrons. This provision was stripped from the final bill by the state Senate. Many other states allow concealed handgun license-holders to enter into liquor establishments, and even to consume alcohol, so long as they do not drink to the point of impairment. Ohio's complete ban on self-defense in liquor establishments has proven time and again to be a complete failure. It is time for Ohio to join the other state's who have recognized there is nothing to fear from law-abiding citizens who choose to defend themselves." Explained is why he didn't have a firearm, on his person or in his car. Explained is why he wasn't allowed to carry. And I can't think of a much cleaner field of fire than up onto a stage and up into the back stage area/ceiling. In MI originally we couldn't carry into anyplace that served alcohol. And we couldn't carry with BL above 0.02. That included every chain and local restraunt that sold alcohol. So, if I wanted to go to Olive Garden instead of McDonald's I had to leave it in the car. I actually could have a beer or two staying below 0.08 driving limit. But, then I had to unload and lock in case in the trunk. A lot of firearm handling in public. This was changed with a rewrite to only prohibit carry in businesses getting 50% of revenue from alcohol, basically bars versus restraunts. So now I can join my friends and have iced tea. The basic flaw in having illegal carry zones are that the bad guys DON'T CARE. They by definition are already breaking the law. Where as the good guys who follow the law are, by definition, unarmed because they are good guys. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I don't think that someone at your level should need to do a butt slide or should. When I see low timers do butt slides its flat on their butt with their legs out straight. If your flare is wrong and you don't have ZERO vertical velocity this is asking for that broken tail bone or worse. Even if you do get the flare right sliding on your tailbone (part of your spine) isn't a good idea. Even on a non student canopy your first canopy should allow you to eithe stand up or PLF. That being said I use a sliding landing when my leg is feeling bad or I'm coming in harder or faster than I want to. I shattered the end of my tibia and broke by fibula in 1987 with about 700 jumps. It has a lot of metal in it and I can't run very well. I CAN run out landings now but when I first came back I couldn't take a running step. So if I had any forward speed at all I had to slide. I learned WELL how to slide like a baseball player sliding into second. One knee bent, up on one cheek and standing up right away at the end. My tailbone never gets to the ground. I stil use this sometimes. I slammed down on my bad ankle earlier this year and didn't want to land hard on it again. So I slide the next one in on purpose. But, again, its a skill I learned after having a lot of jumps. I also do some pretty spectacular rolling landings when my leg can't keep up. But again, I've gotten good at it by necessity. I also used to routinely do PLF's after breaking my ankle and when I was still jumping larger canopies. I didn't necessarily have a lot of forward speed but would (and still do) sometimes lose lift. Being good at routinely droping into a PLF is a lifetime skill. Especially jumping a round for the first time since I broke my ankle this summer. So, don't slide on your butt. You shouldn't need to slide at all. But if anything slide on one thigh and cheek. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Not your bad. I knew what I was thinking, just didn't write it. I have had some pretty good crashes. My Sabre's loaded pretty good and isn't flaring so go any more. But I've also gotten good and tuck and roll landings. Along with the butt slides. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

For what it's worth... I had a customer's 1989 Laser (same company as Rascal) fail tensile strength testing this year. Tail felt different near label, probably from coating transfer from bag. This isn't unusual but I always pull test them. This one failed at 3 or 4 pounds in a couple of places. But, buy the new and give the old one to the kids to play with. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

I wasn't refering to a down wind landing. I was refering to "normal" upwind landings. I also was refering to sliding on your feet. You need a very well maintained and smooth landing area for this. I should have been more clear. I imagine this student see experienced jumpers do feet slides and thinking that is normal. Sliding on you butt, if you've got your vertical speed to zero is a good option. But you have to have some skill at that to flare for your butt. I learned that when I started jumping after breaking my ankle. I couldn't take a running step so I learned to flare for my butt and slide like into second base. It took a long time to learn to flare for my feet again. I do still use butt sliding landing for things I do think I can run out. But one key is to slide on one cheek and not on your tail bone. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Sliding landings, while you may see them all the time, are an advanced technique. Wait a few hundred jumps before exploring this. Stick to running or plf for now. At your level you need to concentrate on landing where you want while watching out for traffic. And just trying to stand up. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Get the vista, non color. More memory, no color cost, same unit. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Bobbi, See this thread. http://dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1387192;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread So who has the PAC? Skydive Jacksonville or Skydive St. Marys? Nobody seems to want to explain this. Or do you have it Thurs through Sun and Jacksonville Monday and Tuesday? I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Not enough information to offer an opinion. The plastic stiffeners may be broke/wore out, the reserve may be incompatable with the rig, the reserve pack job may be contributing to the issue, or it may be one with flaps that just don't work. So, without seeing it I can't offer an opinion. And neither can Sunpath, although there guess would be better than mine. Lisa, yeah now that I think of it I've seen 1989, but I don't think any earlier. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Amanda, They shouldn't be moving much at all. Make sure you aren't picking the rig up by the reserve risers. If you not sure have the rigger show you what's what. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Derek, Derek, Derek (head slowly shaking) PIA tried supporting a life limit and, as I've said before, the burns are still healing. We talk about it at EVERY PIA meeting. For everyone's information while the symposium is every two years, PIA meets twice a year. These meetings are where the real "work" of PIA gets done. The symposium is something we put on both as a fund raiser and a service. BTW, ALL are welcome to attend 98% of PIA's semiannual meetings. Only one small part while we're voting on new members is a closed session. The PIA business meeting starts at 9:00 am Tuesday Jan 11th and runs through Thursday noon, BEFORE THE SYMPOSIUM STARTS. The agenda should be on the website now or shortly. It would make all our lives easier if there were life limits on everything, but there aren't. Many manufacturers DO quote a life limit when bidding/filling military contracts because they're required in the bid. Many riggers impose their own age limits. But they differ and the practice is controversial. Did they make Javelins in 1985? Hmmm, the oldest ones I've serviced are 91 I think. I'll have to check my history reference, my old ParaGear catalogs. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

If you'd been around longer you would know that Bill Booth has never supported RSL's, until the Collins lanyard. Of course the main argument was that you should decide every cutaway whether to release the shackle and fall free first or not. That argument hasn't went away but Bill has apparently decided the skyhook and collins lanyard make that arguement moot. I'm not sure it does, even thought I don't agree with it. I have always disagreed with him and supported RSL's, as have many others. But, in the old days when they were more controversial I'd give Bill's position paper along with a pro position paper to newbies and let them decide. I jump a RSL on both my freefall rigs, but not on my CRW rig. A Skyhook and Collins lanyard aren't features that would figure into my current choice of rig. They are for some. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Bobbi, Can you explaine this post? http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1387192;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread Jeff doesn't seem to want to. So who's got the PAC 750XL? Or are the two in the U.S. now? I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

A little clarification please. Are there TWO PAC 750XL's that are going to be in the area? One up north, see http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1384775;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread, and one at Herlong? Or is this the same PAC 750XL in two places at once? Considering I thought there was only one in the U.S. I'm really confused. Or are there more now? I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Years ago we had lots of students (okay several) cutaway from good canopies. We spent so much time on emergency procedure they automatically counted to 5 (SL) checked, looked grabbed and pulled (SOS). Just like we had them practice on the ground We started making sure the last few pactice run throughs were good canopies. And remided them that they probably would have a GOOD chute. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

You can make one of these for about $40 in parts. It took a little screwing around to get the webbing lengths right. I worked just from photos. The release is just a racing seat belt latch. Better than $375. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

That's why we moved it to over the weekend. So the folks in the industry that had to work Monday through Friday had a chance to get to part of it. See you there. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

If you don't care what it looks like go ahead and try. Since I doubt you'll be landing a 60 inch round. But, don't expect to get the color you think. Dirty white is likely. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

It won't work. It takes significant chemistry to get synthetics dyed. Your not going to be able to do it and have any kind of good results. A newbie brought me a rig he bought over the winter. It took me a couple of minutes to realize that something was wrong. A little closer look... the front of the webbing was black and the back blue! He had colored the whole rig, but only the parts that showed, with laundry markers! He did a very good job. No lines but it kind of rubbed off. But, he also had a worthless rig. No way was I going to pack it. And I wouldn't have wanted to set next to it in the airplane. If you want something a different color, call the manufacturer and see how much it will cost to replace the panel. Then decide how much the new color is worth. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

Didn't mean anything personal. But you did touch a nerve. See you in January. Terry I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE

PIA does have a measurement standard. But manufacturers choose not to use it. Yes, it may be outdated and PIA technical committee is working on a new one. The way to get what you want is to participate! YOU are PIA as much as anybody. Wishing for PIA to do something is wishing for YOURSELF (in the form of your companies representatives) to do something. Only work done by the volunteers gets acomplished and only the volunteers that participate get input. The PIA business meeting schedule will be posted shortly. I look forward to seeing Aerodyne's representative at the technical committee meeting. You really should stop beating up on yourself like that. I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE