stratostar

The most common method used these days. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

Where is the choice for both? Seems to me, I'm a skydiver when in freefall and parachutist when my open my canopy. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

Happy B Day! Your even more of an old fart then before...... What da ya mean it's midnight? That's way past lights out at the retirement home, what are you still doing up? Oh that's right...... What you used to do all night long now takes all night to do....... PS. Don't don't forget to take your meds. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

Yes & no, everyone is different. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

Garth Taggert, last I knew (5yrs ago) still owned the orginal red jumpsuit and black bat wings used in the film. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

I fail to see a violation of an FAR for landing a Mr. Bill. 1. They both had single harness dual use tsoed rigs and both left the AC intending to use them. The fact that one would have on a rig shows intent to use it, other wise it would be a tandem jump. 2. They were not using tandem gear. 3. It could be said they endangered people and property on the surface, however it might be hard to win that with all those other parachutes in the air at the same time, after all you could cut away and still bounce in tent city and take out someone, the same as the Mr. bill rider could fall off @ 100 ft over tent city. Now BSR's and stupidy, that's a whole other story. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

Black. I've seen a few of them around in the last few years though. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

Maybe the lady is right, maybe you only pay the 289 for the first Cat. A jump. But before you do that, maybe you could slide up to the windtunnel in Orlando for a few flights in the tunnel and learn a good body position & some control. After that then go to the FJC and learn stuff and don't bring up the tunnel time in class. Hell I bet you could even find some half starved DZ ghetto rat to give you tunnel traning for the flight time and some McDee's. The funny thing about old farts learning to jump, Ya know, is, they really are test engineers for depends under wear, and in Florida, the drive to the DZ really is the most dangerous part. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

I've worked for a number of DZ's who's owners are such tight asses that they won't / can't seem to afford to stock the rigging loft with the needed "basic repairs" items such as velcro and E thread. let alone pay a rigger for the service to maintain the rigs. So what happens is the packers get tired of the old worn out velcro not holding the bag shut time & time again, as well as not being able to get the repair done by a rigger or get paid to do such work if a rigger, that the bags get sewn shut and forgot about. I've packed a lot with both kinds, I like the new bags with fresh velcro, I can also deal with the sewn shut ones, however I think changing out the velcro and keep up on your gear is a better answer to the problem. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

Classic! I love how these city hall types think they can skirt federal law or trump it with some local city/county code. One of my fav's heard not long ago was : I'm guess'n these clowns have never heard of the FAA approved "recreational pilots license"? And if I'm not mistaken..... Most private pilots would be considered "recreational or Sport" pilots, there for making their use of the airport in fact a "recreational facility" . I mean would it not under such logic as they use. I wonder what all those pilot are going to do with their birds now that their not allowed to do "recreational flights". At least there will be some open hangers for the new commercial operators. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

Well yes the tax and fee issue: I'm nooooo expert here but I've been working real hard for a few years to know and play ball under the "guild lines" set by the FAA. Point numer one to make sure everyone understands here about my first post. I'm talking 100% here, "so you want to open a dz at your local F.F.A. - Non towered General Aviation Airport in class E airspace" While TK makes a good point and it's valid, we need to understand that Z-hills has been there for almost 55 years (or longer) in some form or another, you might say well established. However lets turn to page 11 & 12 in this power point: http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/airports/regional_guidance/great_lakes/airports_news_events/2008_conference/Media/B-6_Understanding_Your_Obligations_When_You_Accept_AIP_Grants.pdf And read what is says. Also we need to take a look Airport Assurances:(note the date) (FYI- The use of the word commercial, dose NOT mean TWA airlines, it means a commercial operator, unless your DZ is a club as defined by the FAR's, it is a commercial operation) I'm going to go out on a limb here in regards to TK's tax & fees: Z-hills like a lot of other airport business is a S.A.S.O. What is a S.A.S.O.? See AC 150/5190-7 At a dropzone, we provide a specialized single service operation, you don't come to a DZ to learn cropdusting or IFR, you come to learn skydiving! We are required know and understand the FAR's that apply to us parts- 61, 65, 91 & 105, we also are required to abide by AC 90-66A operating at an uncontrolled GA and cloud clearances for each type of airspace we operate in, the same as any other pilot of an aircraft. I will contend that this defines "flight training", we are teaching people the FAR's that apply and how to fly their body through the sky and also how to fly a parachute through the sky while following the FAR's that apply to our aeronautical activity as well as other airspace users, we can be fined the same as any other pilot for those who violate the FAR's. There for IMHO I would think TK and the legal team for Z-hills could and should look into these fees & taxes as maybe being "Economic discrimination" if TK feels his is being unjustly economically discriminated against. Dose the flight school & glider club/school pay the same fees & tax? Why? Well if we look at AC 150/5190-6 & 150/5190-7 and take a look at the dates of those AC's we will see those were amended in the last few years. So what may have been legal,fair and just fees & taxes 5 or 10 years ago when Z-hills contracted with the city, may or may not be fair and just today. And might be worth the review with his lawyers and ADO office after a consulting call with the USPA Government Relations office. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

Power point #1 from the FAA website. http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/airports/regional_guidance/great_lakes/airports_news_events/2008_conference/Media/B-6_Understanding_Your_Obligations_When_You_Accept_AIP_Grants.pdf Power point #2 also from the FAA website. http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/airports/regional_guidance/northwest_mountain/airports_news_events/annual_conference/2003/media/grant_assurances.ppt#291,18,22. Economic Nondiscrimination Both these power points were written and produced by different FAA offices, these right in line with the AC's and 5190.6A as posted above. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

That your problem, you jump in SOCAL, quit doing that and stop that truck more in states where you can do SL. While it's getting harder to find those types of dz's there are a few still around or those who do IAD, still the same progression over all. Also with the USPA ISP you can more over to the other programs and lower your cost, that is if your current and with 2yrs and only 6 jump I didn't think your very current and I would guess that is due to your work and the VERY high cost of jumping in SOCAL. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

Well now an interesting read in this months mag. However way to many DZO's, skydivers and pilots alike are really misinformed and don't have a clue as to the rules and regualtions regarding Federal Funded Airports. It's up to you the airspace user to know and understand your rights and fight for them! But first in order to start your fight one has to know the rules and understand them CLEARLY, So let's take a look. 1. You need to know and understand the Airport Sponsors "airport obligations" to the federal gov. this a binding contract that is signed with the Fed's agreeing to a whole host of items in exchange for OUR tax dollars. http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/airports/airport_obligations/ 2.http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/airports/airport_obligations/overview/ The Airport Sponors have a fiduciary duty to you the tax payer to up hold these obligations under the contract for our money. If they do not they risk losing the funding in the future and may be required to repay the grants with interest. 3. In order to really understand this you need to read the rules found here.http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/airports/resources/publications/orders/media/Obligations_5190_6a.pdf This is the meat of it all. 4. But hold on there.... we have more to read. It seems that a lot of Airport Sponsors like to interpret these rules any ol way they see fit and then try to use that to run off would be users. So the FAA issued a number of Advisory Circulars to make 100% clear to everyone what the rules say, two such AC's are very important to an access fight, AC 150/5190-6, Exclusive Rights at Federally Obligated Airports http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/airports/resources/advisory_circulars/media/150-5190-6/150_5190_6.pdf and AC 150/5190-7, Minimum Standards for Commercial Aeronautical Activities http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/airports/resources/advisory_circulars/media/150-5190-7/150_5190_7.pdf Now we need to understand one very important thing here, and that is we "skydivers & Parachutist" are an "aeronautical activity" (everone still reading gose, well duh!) But lets look at what the FAA defines as an "aeronautical activity". Lets turn to AC 150/5190-7 subsection F "skydiving" it states clearly: Now most people and Airport Sponsors read that part about "the airport sponsor may prohibit or limit aeronautical use for the safe operation of the airport." and they think that because the Airport Sponsors claims it is "unsafe" that is the end of the story. However let's not be fooled here and read on: Question #1 in subsection F says: Here we see the Airport Sponsor has a fiduciary duty to the tax payers to contact the named branches of the FAA and ask for quidance, they can't not just say it's so (unsafe), because they think it's unsafe and say it is unsafe and ban or restrict sydiving. They MUST contact the ADO! Many times the Airport Sponsors like to claim and try to halt on airport landings of skydivers and parachutes by saying it's not safe for other air traffic, again subsection F #2 address this: www.FAA.gov AC 150/5190-6, Exclusive Rights at Federally-Obligated Airports ...APPENDIX 1. DEFINITIONS It's important that you as a user of the national airspace system know and understand your rights and obligations as a user and also those of the Airport Sponsors and fellow users as well, this not only makes you a well informed user it can help to educate others and put to rest the misinformation that is out there. the more you know and understand this info the better off the sport will be. It is not uncommon to have the other local DZO's and their "pee on's" try to feed the Airport Sponsors a bunch of false and misleading bullshit in order to help keep you from opening or operating on the Federal Funded Airport of your choice. Again the more you know and understand your rights and the process of working with in the Federal Regulations the more you make those DZO's and those loyal to them & Airport Sponsors, who seek to keep you out look like morons to the FAA. Don't be pushed around take a stand and KNOW YOUR RIGHTS~! you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

I never said it was right, but a fool and their money soon part ways. In fact it only took one phone call for me to get the low down on said crook, and yes he is known as an asshat in some circles, so with it SO friken easy as it was to do a simple back ground check I have no reason to feel sorry for the OP for not doing his duty to check out the person who he sent his money to and for not using a broker. Yes it sucks ass to have so many lowlife scum sucking fuck nuts in our sport these days, but that is how it is now, deal with it or get ripped off, pretty fucking simple! you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

Yea right, more like if your so stupid to send someone money you never met in person only on the net and you didn't use a gear broker, your a moron, pay yours money and take your chances, works for all you skydivers when it comes to jumping shit hole dz's rust buckets, seems the same should apply here! you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

Ya know it's hard to feel sorry for you, because in dealing with people overthe internet, dropzone.com or not, you need to cover your ass, in other words.... Did you use a known gear broker such as your rigger or the dzo? Sounds like you didn't to me. I have done a number of deals with people on here I have never met, I checked my facts or people I knew who knew them or I called their dzo to make sure the gear I was selling in fact something the person could and should be using, or asked if this person was in fact a trusted person and even if they said yes I asked them to be a broker or I had a rigger or other party we both trusted act as a broker. The last deal I personally brokered was for 6 complete tandem rig shipped across the country and that was a hell of a lot a $$$ worth of gear. It sucks to you, comes to mind, I don't say to be mean, it's the way the sport is now days, may he works for skyride or ASC? It used to be you could go off at the end of the day get drunk as all get out, forget all your gear, wallet, weed, jump tickets,women,beer & bottle and assortied crap laying around right in plain view in the packing area or club house and it would all still be there the next day or even days later (all but the women, weed, beer & bottle those are fair game after 24hrs). Hell sometimes you wouldn't believe the pile of shit laying around, no one took your stuff...... Try that now days and see how long it takes to walk off your HOME dz let alone a deal with someone you don't know, met over the internet. Best to just buy your shit and move on & go jump, no need to piss into the wind over it. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

Seeing how you the new club founder, I hear by proclaim you Grimmie, A.S.S.W.I.P.E.S. #1. In the interest of some fast cash flow for needed club funding the following "low numbers" would be best sold on Ebay. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

And now you got to go bring those left coast commie fags into this.... you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

VVVVVVVVVVVVVViiiiiiiiiiiiibbbbbbbbbbbbeeeeeeeesssssssssssssssssss! Doug, in the film industry the term "break a leg" (hint) is a figure of speech. Heal Vasst o spotted one. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

I'm not, was just wondering why it seem the noobies always want to change everything that has been part of the sport for years and is known the world over. While yes the logo dose have a look of the airborne wings, it's not the same, but most of the guys who started this "New Sport" came from that world, but not all. Some change is good, some stuff need to stay the same, it's where we came from and it's our mark. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

Why is it all you new kids show up on the scene and go trying to reinvent the wheel and dismantle all the time honored traditions in order to make things as you see it? Now days we have people trying to dodge the art of pie'n, the beer rules and bottles for their riggers, instead of joining in the long held traditions. What is wrong with the "wings" clearly you have not earned your pair of sliver or gold wings because if you did then you might have some pride in them. I don't think we need a new logo of yet another swooping canopy or silhouette of a head down body or some other image "more reflective of the sport" I think a parachute albeit a round one with wings pretty well sums it up! Oh & FYI, the current wings have had a face lift a few years (5) ago, before you arrived. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

When one is passing through 1500 ft. with nothing out, no one really cares how pretty their gear is. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

Just drop off, don't jump up. You can rear float like any other plane, not a big deal unless you jump up. you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

This has been talked about in the history fourm, I don't remember the thread title, but this was a jumpship from what I remember in the thread, one of the old timers from out west/NV would know, BOZO, Sparky, Zing. If you really search you'll find it, scary stories from the old days? you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo