stratostar

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Everything posted by stratostar

  1. Didn't learn shit, that was Mr. Assholes third public rant, the first two was about my rigging of static line rigs... Mr. non rigging ticket fuckhead..... likes to yell and cuss in front of people and make a drama play, instead of address any concerns in a professional manner in private. So on the third one, talking the students down I left, but it's a club and I don't believe they learned shit other then that style seems to get results they like there for there is no reason to change. I can tell you had this been a real business and owned by a DZO, I would had talked to the dzo and then left. If it was anyone working for me they would be fired on the spot and banned. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo
  2. Well Mr. Touchatt, I have been around this sport my entire life, 46 yrs. By the time I was four, I was being in the way and pain in the ass doing what ever they would let me do and having fun, we always had lots of cool shit to do on a working airport/farm. By the time I was seven, I was packing a lot of student gear, T-10's and doing a lot of other flunky jobs. The point is, in all that time I have seen countless people leave the sport, now when I was a kid, it was not always out in the open or as a kid you don't know about politics or you don't see the forest for the trees, we're kids. But now, after starting to play in the reindeer games @ age 16 till now, it's easier to look back over my life time and see the history in a new way, because as a young man and now a middle aged man, I have seen so many people, good people who only wanted to come skydive on the weekends to forget about that asshole boss or bitchy ex wife who took all your shit & kids from you... Everyone came here for the same reasons, mostly. We all want the same thing overall and in most people, it's that it is a great escape from the daily grind of life, a place where your free to laugh and smile and have fun with no worries about the bullshit of life and at the end of the day enjoy a beer with friends..... I know when I'm freefall I'm always stressed out about the rent or my boss wanting the report by next Friday. When you have the same repeated people being assholes and treating people the way the OP was or as others have stated.... there is no excuse for that from staff, it's still a business. And when you shit on peoples "happy get away from life place" it no longer becomes the fun place to hang out, it becomes the place where you hope so & so are not there this weekend, again. Not everyone lives in a place where they have a lot of choices of other places to go jump, so they are forced to quit. I have seen it time & time again, this is not matter of having the guts to say it or not, it's a matter of telling the truth about the conduct of skydivers and the stupid politics people play, what is funny for one group of a "skygods", is just a bunch of assholes who are shitting the fun to others. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo
  3. We use WDI paper made into a slightly larger then PVC sized ball with a tail coming off of it. I don't have any here to take a photo of for you. But the system works really well and I think you'll like if you've done direct bag or PCA with spring loaded pc's before. This set up really is the way to go because your not limited to one method of progression. I'm AFF, SL, IAD & TDM I rated. So with a rig set up like this I can do all all three solo progressions without additional training of someone walking in from another dz who trained via one type and to set up the rig for that type of progression jump only take seconds to do and is rigger friendly. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo
  4. Yes it works very well. See here: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4393586;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo
  5. And old and cranky too... you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo
  6. Well most the time the skydivers win http://www.uspa.org/AboutUSPA/USPAinAction/USPAAirportAccessWins/tabid/547/Default.aspx, but it's case by case and complex at that.... now we have pending new changes, so how the future plays out is another story. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo
  7. IDK maybe you should ask the former regional director why he did that..... Oh and BTW.... USPA don't regulate shit, the FAA is who regulates skydiving. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo
  8. Waving off is only to tell those in my landing area to clear out... you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo
  9. No not the mag.... but the BOD members will take your reports and hand them over the to the lawyers who are suing a GM dz over a death. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo
  10. http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081003/NEWS/810030319/-1/rss02 LOL OOPS..... thanks for pointing that out, I had not done a search for that business name. Had you not pointed that out, we would not have known or connected the dots. Yes they have not had the best luck in getting started and or bringing negative press around, no wonder the chatter is up so much on the local level. http://www.necn.com/07/25/12/Woman-airlifted-to-Boston-hospital-after/landing_newengland.html?blockID=746281 Then the crash in the lake too... All that said, I highly doubt this location is unsafe for parachute operations to be conducted. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo
  11. Not all smoke jumpers use rounds... if you want to train on rounds the best school and the largest would be glad to train you up.... http://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/199th/airborne/ you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo
  12. And That is just point. Too many times I have seen this type of shit go down. And a lot of times it is blown off as "Carl being Carl". The bottom line is that is not professional of any staff. For example: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4386406#4386406 And time & time again we see people wondering why we have so much turn over in the sport or why students don't return.... not all that hard to figure the reasons. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo
  13. The only reason I said Laconia being raised is a red flag is simple.... Like other times, the FAA issued a safety study that was wrong. Just like in Eugene Ore. Where they (FAA) first say "not safe", but based on a field inspector overstepping his place and making ATC policy in the safety study.... NOT HIS PLACE TO SAY on matters of ATC or airports div..... Then the flawed study is corrected, just like in Eugene Ore. to say the correct info that it is safe! Then some asshat who has no clue on how the FAA works or what the rules say..... runs with the first flawed report to everyone "see the FAA said it's not safe" and won't budge.... (see half of city counsel in Creswell Ore.) Then you get morons in other towns like in Cape Cod, who hear about the other cases and without fully know shit about anything aviation, starts in with that same kind of BS trying to shut down the dz. Yes it's just like that stupid bitch Kimberly Gibbs, Gunbarrel Co. rocking the boat in Longmont. It's a waste of tax payer money for one thing for the FAA and Cities to deal with stupid people. To take it a step further, right now this operator might fully comply and be 100% in compliance and it's a case of NIMBY's. But in a few weeks or a month, IF the PLA shit is issued as it was published for comments. Due to the new standards the location is now forced to shut down or move locations. The future nimbys see the news stories and see this placed moved or was shut down.... they always believe it's because it was unsafe or some other FAA violations caused it to close and then try to use that same tactic to make problems, just looked at that mis informed bunch of fucknuts in CO and their ongoing twisting or FAA regulations, such as demanding the FAA or City require a "hush kit" be installed on the twin otter.... no such thing..... That is how these minor issues become major issues to people... go have a talk with Urban Moore in Creswell Ore. and hear about all the morons out there in the city hall along with the local pilots hater club. There are a number of airport access cases that are on hold and have been on hold awaiting this new PLA standards to be issued. Once that is issued and everyone now knows the new rules, we get to start all over from square one and reapply under the new standards, those of us currently seeking access with open part 13 cases. We will get an ok or a no go from the FAA for the PLA. Current dz's who can't meet the new rules will be forced to move or close up shop. Some dz's will lose landing areas and or be required to move the LZ's. All depends on what is published and a lot of people have been waiting, like two years worth of waiting for this shit to get done. Anytime a safety study is requested by the ADO of flight standards district office, field inspector, all of us need to take notice and all other past studies are in play.... and that is why what took place in Laconia and a few other cases it good to know all about. Almost all airport cases read like a broken record, you can almost plan the next move by knowing how other cities & airport sponsors acted in the other cases. No really, you can plan like 4 moves ahead of them because they all do the same stupid shit and it's all based some airport board or manger asshats mis understanding of the regulations or twisting them to suit their agenda. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo
  14. The fact that they said something about Tom Noonans fight down the road... was not a good sign. One would have to know how F'd up that case is, and you would understand my seeing red flags. You are right it always helps to have friendly's on the power seats..... the trick is having enough to get a winning vote. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo
  15. Future access case brewing??? http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121024/NEWS/210240324 you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo
  16. I've been using this method for a couple years now, only using a normal sized PC for a student rig. Saves a lot of time for switching between Sl & FF students/renters. Just use a Velcro pig tail on the PC attachment point of the bridal for the SL hook up. You pack the PC in the container just like a pull out. You should always make sure the pvc handle is in towards the center and not facing out towards the sidewalls, that way it can't get worked out of the corner of the flaps and get pulled on a DRCP. If the PC is packed correctly, when you go to switch to FF, you remove SL, open flaps, pull out PC, re-close and route bridal and place PC in boc. Reverse order for SL hook up. This method has a few advantages over a spring loaded PCA or the direct bag method to beat the shit out of your paint job. You don't need any special equipment to do it, or extra large PC's, standard stuff will work fine. Advantages: Loop stays the same no fighting the spring pc & flaps easier on hands closing faster switching methods simple rigging for smart people Disadvantages: Won't be able to sit around and watch the noobs cuss and wrestle to close a spring loaded PC. Won't get to watch noobs break worn loops and get popped in the face with the spring loaded pc. simple rigging for smart people Easier for chicks to close = less time in the packing area. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo
  17. I worded the thread from the headline in the news. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo
  18. (t-dog) My comments were not directed at any posters directly, but I can think of a very long list of people that come to mind..... Oh I see you guys want your cake and eat it too..... LOL It's called getting what you asked for. The industry made a choice to go "mainstream" yet try to be self regulating. That only works so far and at some point the FAA steps in. We get turbine planes and resorts to visit with a bar and pool and wind tunnel.... everyone gets to pay their fair share to play in the sand box per government say so. Those were the most recent changes to the rules and were helped to be crafted by the industry. And that bring me to my next point. (pchapman) Well, I hate to be the barer of bad news here... but there are a lot of stupid mofo's running around with their heads up their backsides and they are so worried about minor little petty bullshit, they can't see the pending pile of poo about to be dropped on them. You all think this packing thing is stupid, just wait. 105.2E DRAFT is online, there are only minor changes, but most notable is it's reference to AC 150/5300-13 on establishing an on airport PLA. What does that mean? Can't tell you, the FAA published 150/5300-13 without the updated PLA info, because they are still drafting that, the fact that a new AC 105.2E is now out, would seem to say they are very close to publishing. Now we all get to sit back see what it says, could be a game changer for a lot of dz's, or not. (IMHO) If you want to be operating at a professional level you need to have the ratings to do the jobs and meet the FAA requirements. It's not all that hard to find a person to supervise the packers. It's finding one that has a rating and will hang their ass on the line for little to no pay. And that is problem right there, the fact it swept under the rug is too many people see it as a PITA and they also don't want to pay for it. When in the long run it saves the gear by better maintenance. And all this talk about teams.... PLEASE, it's skydiving, your not that special, fucking pack or hire a rigger, most teams I know do, hell can't swing a dead cat in the nationals without hitting a rigger, I know a shit load of them there. Besides that, 90% of the industry is packing of tandem and student rigs, some of the larger dz's are now requiring that if you want to pack on the dz for bread, you gots to have your papers! Pretty minor crap to be worried about, really, you all need to start worrying about another dropped PAX and the other really stupid shit people have been and are doing with TDM's and other skydiving, then posting that shit on the internet and youtube for everyone to see.... what you don't think that FAA reads shit here and watches those videos.... deet de dee! If I can tell what dz it is from the AC or the airport (when you can see it) the FAA can too. FAA issues a fine to a TI, first time that's happened. Wait till you bounce a student some how with unsupervised packers who can barely pack teaching packing... you all know who you are.... See if the FAA don't throw around some more fines. And I'll remind you that, the FAA don't fucking care if your on a team jump or not, if your names is tied to the operation in anyway, you can be held accountable. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo
  19. The FAA has already made clear what "under supervision" means. And direct means just that, direct supervision, standing in the loft and available for consultations and able to observe to work being done, not in the AC putting out SL's or chucking drogues. From FAA Advisory Circular 105.2d Sport parachuting May 18 2011. You can't find 105.2d right now, it's being revised to add the new PLA crap. However it says the same thing as quoted. Quit your bitchen already and go get a riggers ticket, fucking lazy ass packers, hell 75% of them out there I would not take responsibility for under my ticket. And a good deal of those teaching packing to students do a shitty job of it and that is why you see so many shitty pack jobs on student gear, that and the fact so many places will let slide, meeting the requirement of "under supervision", as long as that shit opens who cares right.... The people who bitch about this are most likely the ones who would not be working for me on the packing area. Oh and yes there is a test. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo
  20. That is good to hear. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo
  21. Honestly, I don't think management really gives a rats ass what you or I or anyone else thinks about that operation. Too bring it up would only provide a good chuckle. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo
  22. This what you want? you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo
  23. Yes & he made it..... for real Ryan, have you ever made anything before? I've known you for a long time now and you always ask some basic and silly questions in regards to setting up a camera helmet and or other camera gear that have been covered to death. Nothing wrong with asking, again but.... This the first camera helmet you've built? A little common sense goes a long way..... A quick search in the search window yields a thread with many pics posted by a great deal of camera flyers on here. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2163900;search_string=Flash%20set%20up;#2163900 For real cuz..... you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo
  24. Hey you can't prove any of that.... you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo