dudeman17

You should post a link to that.

SST Struggle Struggle Thump Some people used to say that as Struggle Scream Thump, but most SST jumpers were not the screaming type.

I'm not sure what your problem is, nwt. You seem to like being argumentative, and belligerent about it. Do you have that 'god complex' that they ascribe to some MD's? I read your above post with an open mind. I am not a pilot, and, our previous discussion notwithstanding, I try not to pay much attention to FAA bureaucracy. (I have been a TI since '91, so I did hold a medical from whenever it was that they started requiring them until covid hit and I stopped doing them.) My question was very specific and legitimate. You asserted that... All I had heard was that they had it hooked up to a cypres, so that intrigued me. Your statement... Would have sufficed as an answer. But... Really? I don't think that I've fallen into any 'trap'. I know how a cypres works. I've been an AFF-I since '90. While I have spent a lot of time with a radio in hand helping guide students down, I have never held a device that could fire their cypres if I thought they were about to go in. So for the totality if your posts here, perhaps you should consider... ...yourself.

So what is the original problem? Why do they have it in for this TI? What's with 'terroristic threats' on the students? Can you shed some light on any of that?

I agree with all of that. I didn't mean to imply that they could just pull a rating for no good reason, I was just saying that they don't need the FAA's permission. But again, I agree with what you're saying here. Although it seems that... might be exactly what they're doing. I'd like to know why, and it bothers me too.

Yes, I read the original posts. The part that caught my attention was... So, like I said, it seems that they just had it in for this TI and were determined to suspend their rating, regardless. I'd be curious to know why, but unless swoopfly knows and cares to share it with us, I doubt that we will know. But everybody seemed to be fixated on the idea that USPA has no authority over the medical. My response was not aimed at the original situation, which I suspect really has nothing to do with the medical. My response was based on an objective hypothetical under a hopefully fair system. And with that in mind, I stand by my assertion that USPA's lack of authority over the medical is superseded by their absolute authority over the rating. But perhaps my hypothetical was optimistic. Because, unfortunately,... ... would seem to be true.

As far as the original post and the TI involved, I have stated that I wish we knew more about it. Like was said, apparently USPA came up with one reason, then changed to another in order to suspend his rating. It sounds like someone had it in for the TI, and they just came up with a reason to suspend him. Whether or not that is valid, we don't know. And I keep using the word 'suspend' about the rating, because I would hope that there would be a review process, and that if the reason for the suspension was in fact invalid, then the rating would be reinstated. It sounds like the FAA did review the matter, but USPA has not reinstated the rating. So who knows? My arguments in this matter have been aimed at a more general circumstance, and not at the original situation. So in that respect, my point has been that... ...DOES NOT MATTER. What matters is that USPA has sole authority over, and responsibility for, the ratings it issues. If it has reason to believe that a TI no longer qualifies for the rating, for whatever reason, including that they think the TI has violated the terms of a medical that USPA does not issue and can not revoke, they have to respond. Consider the following... The FAA is a huge organization that oversees all of aviation. I think they'd rather not be bothered with petty skydiver stuff any more than they have to. If a TI, especially a non-pilot TI, were to do something that would invalidate their medical, how long do you think it would take for the FAA to find out about it, if ever, and respond. But skydiving is a smaller, more connected community. It is far more likely that someone would report such a TI to USPA. So what are they supposed to do? Bother the FAA about it, and wait for them to investigate, before taking action on the rating? In the meantime, what if there is an incident with said TI? What do you think a liability lawyer is going to do with that? So I would think that USPA would have to suspend the rating, at least temporarily, until the matter could be investigated and resolved.

Is there any evidence to suggest that? All I've heard about it is that the BRS was set up to be deployed by a cypres, which is not remote-controllable.

No, you're right. My point was correct the first time.

If you read the words before and after the one you took offense to, you might see that I was not calling you stupid. In fact, I was trying to give you credit for NOT being stupid. I was pointing out that your argument was, and is, willfully myopic. And that right there is the myopia. What I am trying to point out is that whether or not the FAA officially revokes the medical is irrelevant. USPA knows what the medical requires, and they know the circumstances that would likely invalidate it. They don't need to defer to the FAA, or even bother them with procedural details in order to exercise control over the ratings they issue. What was that about being purposefully myopic in order to be argumentative? I believe my comment was an accurate, if simplistic, representation of the argument you seem to be making. ------- I don't know what else to tell you. If you want to continue to argue that USPA does not have the sole authority over the ratings it issues, have at it. Although... ...you seem to be coming around.

You can not possibly be an MD and be this stupid. No, you are being purposefully myopic in order to be argumentative. Oh well, such is the nature of the internet. The FAA has nothing whatsoever to do with skydiving instructor ratings. The only reason they ever addressed TI ratings is because for years tandems operated under a waiver from the FAA reg that said each jumper had to have their own single harness dual parachute system. And all they said about it was that they wanted the TI to meet USPA and manufacturer requirements. It was USPA and the manufacturers that made the requirement for the TI to hold an FAA medical. So while, as an isolated issue, USPA has no jurisdiction over the FAA medical, they DO have jurisdiction over ensuring that the TI maintains qualification and eligibility to hold the TI rating, including maintaining a valid medical. If they receive information that a TI is NOT maintaining eligibility to hold the rating, including maintaining a valid medical, then it IS their jurisdiction to respond. And while it is solely the FAA's jurisdiction to officially revoke a medical, the circumstances that would invalidate it are not classified secrets. So whether or not the FAA actually revokes the medical is irrelevant. USPA can suspend the TI rating if they have reason to believe the qualifications for it are not being met. So by your logic, on Saturday night a TI can blow bong smoke in the S&TA's face. Then on Sunday morning, if the S&TA has a problem with the TI gearing up a tandem student, all the TI has to do is show the S&TA his medical, say 'piss off', and go on his merry way. Sure.

What's not to understand? USPA says a TI has to have a valid medical. There are behaviors/conditions that would invalidate the medical. If USPA becomes aware of such, they are obligated to look into it. While they do not have the authority to revoke the medical, they do have the authority to suspend the rating.

I too will defer to you as far as the handling of medical information goes. But like pc said, USPA has to be able to do something about information they get. You yourself said... So if USPA becomes aware of something like that, they have to be able to act on it. And I'm not here to defend USPA. They certainly have their problems. Mullins and Aikins come to mind. I've spent most of my jumping career trying to ignore them as much as I can. But I'd like to know more about the original situation that was mentioned. At first they said 'he's threatening the students', then they say he's violating his medical. Sounds like someone has it in for this TI. I also wish you well with your health issue.

Well, I can see your point, but it may not be accurate because... As I understand it, the FAA does not independently require a TI to have a medical. It's USPA and the manufacturers who made that requirement. The FAA just wants the TI to meet the USPA/manufacturer requirements. So if USPA is who made the requirement, then they do have an interest in seeing that it is met.

Interesting. Hopefully you'll post links when your articles come out. I'd look forward to reading them.

Curious what percentage of PEP's these days use squares, and if there is any suggestion/requirement that the pilot has jump experience?

I love that word, that concept. I wish more people paid greater attention to it. But in no way does it lessen the need to... Good job making use of your 'down' time.

That raises an interesting question. NOTAM's are filed through the FAA. So if the FAA had denied his waiver request, and he tried to file a NOTAM for it anyway, what would the FAA have done?

Some video about this I saw on youtube had comments from a number of pilots, including a flight school, who regularly fly / were flying that day in the area and knew nothing about it. So apparently Luke didn't clear his airspace very well.

It worked for John Wayne! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17z9A6Np2nA There are some related, more serious videos linked from that one.

Sometimes on the close up video the lens can distort things a bit, so your instructors can work with you on the specifics of your body position. (Do you know about 'heel clicks' or 'toe taps' to get your legs even?) One thing I would suggest is a bit less arms, that is, your hands might want to be more even with your head as opposed to out in front of you. But I'll give you something more general to think about. The release dive is kind of a crux point in your progression. Freefall stability and control is kind of like a kid learning to ride a bicycle in that there is a subtle balance point to it. At first the kid has training wheels, then someone is holding the back of the seat and letting go, the kid is wobbly, then something 'clicks' and the kid's got it. Next thing you know, he's jumping curbs, doing wheelies and what not. Freefall control is similar. On the release dives, the student often tries to get the ideal body position, hold it rigid, and hope for the best. But then any asymmetricity will cause a turn, and the more rigid you hold it the worse it gets. So you want to be more relaxed, more fluid. Freefall is a fluid environment. It's more a boat on the water than a car on the street. And holding a heading can be less a matter of getting the body position perfect, and more of exerting subtle turn control in order to stay put. On your last dive, you can see that you have a pretty significant left turn happening. Every time your instructor lets go, you start to go left, and he re-docks or blocks you to stop it. That's kind of a tight spot for him, because the hope is that you notice it and correct, but he stops you pretty quickly, because if he doesn't you're going to spin and that certainly would not help you to relax. So on your release, you want to notice if you're starting to go anywhere, then take corrective action by doing a counter turn. But it's subtle. Looking at your level 2 dive, it looks like you got robbed a bit. When it's time for your turns, you can see the instructor shake you to prompt you, but then he kind of takes over. You can see him pushing down and pulling up on your arm to effect the turns. I'm willing to bet that he also put some legs into it to effect the turns himself. You can see the other instructor putting some leg control into the second turn. That's also kind of a tight spot for the instructors, because you trying to do your first turns, it takes more effort with the instructors hanging on than it would by yourself. So while they don't want to impede you, they shouldn't feed you either. So it doesn't look like you really got a positive feel for your own turns on that dive. I can't tell your instructors what to do, but if I had you on your next jump, what I would do is - It looks like you're otherwise comfortable and relaxed, and efficient with your exit and PRCT. I would have you do your exit, a quick touch, then a turn each way (starting with right) to feel the control, then go for the release. Again, they're going to do what they will, and they should, but that would be my take. Another thing that helps with heading control is to make sure you're looking at it. If you're 'in your head' thinking about things, it's easy to meander around. But if you pick a spot on the horizon and look at your heading, it can help you hold it. So that's about a nickel's worth, adjusted for inflation. Take it or leave it, or douse it with salt. In any event, good luck with your next jump, be relaxed and have fun!

According to a post elsewhere, USPA just gave Trevor Jacob a tandem rating.

Disclaimer: Anything I (or anyone else) have to say on here is just the ramblings of someone on the internet. Your primary source for instruction and training is your live, in person instructors when you go to your dz. That being said, I can offer some feedback from watching your videos. I'll leave it up to you whether you care to hear it.

So what was their verdict on that level 3?

Ten bucks says Andy gets in the seat first.