Hooknswoop

I don't have the course material before/after (it's not available to just anyone), but have spoken at length with an AFFCCD and observed the new course. The AFFCCD admitted that he has to pass some candidates now that would have failed the old course and that he feels aren't ready to be an AFFI. You can become an AFFI w/o being able to catch a student falling back to earth. Also, because of the course change, a candidate may fail more dives and still get their rating now. At the 2001 PIA, there was a seminar about the shortage of AFFI's and shortly thereafter USPA lowered the standards to create more Instructors. Derek

Cypres batteries have the month and year they were manufactured on them. New batteries may take a few start-up cycles to show full voltage. Derek

How many students have you trained using air-to-air radios? Derek

Again, it hasn't changed much from what was sent to USPA. The letter can be found here on DZ.com. Derek

It hasn't really changed from what was sent top USPA a long time ago. Derek

If he landed on a slope equal to his glide ratio, wouldn't the impact be zero? All he would have to worry about then is sliding to a stop, which is done by motorcycle racers all the time. ???? Derek

It has velcro, but it also has a neat little flap to protect the lines from the velcro, preventing the need for line protectors. Derek

I don't, the FAA does, check their web page. I'm faily certain that when they say, "all or part of that descent", they mean either the entire descent or the last part. Derek

Yes, they do: FAA definitions: ”Parachute means a device used or intended to be used to retard the fall of a body or object through the air.” “Parachute jump means a parachute operation that involves the descent of one or more persons to the surface from an aircraft in flight when a aircraft is used or intended to be used during all or part of that descent.” Derek

All DZ's are the same. You are just begining to see the 'other side' of DZ's that's all. Either accept it and jump or move on. Derek

It is a fact that USPA lowered the standards to become an AFFI and there are AFFI's out there that would not have passed the old course. I know of an AFFI that failed the old course twice, then passed the new course. He was't even in the video of an AFF level 1 I saw. That being said, there are AFFI's passing the course today that would have smoked the old course. The lowering of the standards isn't the AFFI's fault, it's USPA's and the member's for letting USPA (DZO's) do it. But yes, because of the lower standards, new minted AFFI's are suspect in my eyes until they prove different. Not their fault, theypassed the course they were given, but it is still an easier course. Derek

A Wings reserve fre-bag is no more different than any other reserve free-bag. Derek

Motorcycle racers go down at high speeds and walk away unijured all the time. Derek

I would agree, up until the USPA lowered the standards to become an AFFI. My first live AFF jump was a repeat, problem student, old school AFF level 4. It was almost a carbon copy of my evaulation level 4 dive at the course. Derek

A TSO'd rig would still be required. Doing something that brings negative FAA attention (such as jumping BASE rigs from aircraft) could cause the price of jump tickets to increase. Following the rules is unlikely to cause the price of jump tickets to increase. Derek

Here are the old and the new FAR’s Part 65.111: Effective 8/10/1962: Sec. 65.111 Certificate required. (a) No person may pack, maintain, or alter any personnel-carrying parachute intended for emergency use in connection with civil aircraft of the United States (including the auxiliary parachute of a dual parachute pack to be used for intentional jumping) unless he holds an appropriate current certificate and type rating issued under this subpart and complies with §§65.127 through 65.133. (b) No person may pack, maintain, or alter any main parachute of a dual parachute pack to be used for intentional jumping in connection with civil aircraft of the United States unless he has an appropriate current certificate issued under this subpart. However, a person who does not hold such a certificate may pack the main parachute of a dual parachute pack that is to be used by him for intentional jumping. (c) Each person who holds a parachute rigger certificate shall present it for inspection upon the request of the Administrator or an authorized representative of the National Transportation Safety Board, or of any Federal, State, or local law enforcement officer. (d) The following parachute rigger certificates are issued under this part: (1) Senior parachute rigger. (2) Master parachute rigger. (e) Sections 65.127 through 65.133 do not apply to parachutes packed, maintained, or altered for the use of the armed forces. Effective 07/09/2001: Sec. 65.111 Certificate required. (a) No person may pack, maintain, or alter any personnel-carrying parachute intended for emergency use in connection with civil aircraft of the United States (including the [reserve parachute of a dual parachute system to be used for intentional parachute jumping) unless that person holds an appropriate current certificate and type rating issued under this subpart and complies with §§65.127 through 65.133. (b) No person may pack, maintain, or alter any main parachute of a dual parachute system to be used for intentional parachute jumping in connection with civil aircraft of the United States unless that person -- (1) Has an appropriate current certificate issued under this subpart.; (2) Is under the supervision of a current certificated parachute rigger; (3) Is the person making the next parachute jump with that parachute in accordance with Sec. 105.43(a) of this chapter; or (4) Is the parachutist in command making the next parachute jump with that parachute in a tandem parachute operation conducted under Sec. 105.45(b)(1) of this chapter.] (c) Each person who holds a parachute rigger certificate shall present it for inspection upon the request of the Administrator or an authorized representative of the National Transportation Safety Board, or of any Federal, State, or local law enforcement officer. (d) The following parachute rigger certificates are issued under this part: (1) Senior parachute rigger. (2) Master parachute rigger. (e) Sections 65.127 through 65.133 do not apply to parachutes packed, maintained, or altered for the use of the armed forces. The change to FAR Part 65.111 (b) clarifies who may pack, maintain or alter main parachutes. The local Denver FSDO Inspector (a Master Rigger) said that anyone listed in (b) 1 through 4 may “may pack, maintain, or alter any main parachute of a dual parachute system”, which is how the FAR reads. Another Inspector at another FSDO, said “No.”, a Senior Rigger cannot alter a main canopy. I have requested a legal interpretation from the FAA on the matter, several months ago. So far, no word back yet. PD will send a new line set to a owner or Senior Rigger. The FAA considers a change to how a canopy is packed an alteration. Since the next person jumping the canopy may alter it, it is legal for the next person jumping to change how it is packed. Derek

Did you work at "the" factory? Which one? Derek

I agree that brakes will speed up re-inflation, but disagree that you should go to 1/4-1/2 brakes before it collaspes. I think full flight in turbulence will help prevent it from collapsing, but if it does, then quickly go to 1/4-1/2 brakes. Flying in brakes increases the possibility of the canopy collapsing. Derek

If the PC was in this condition BEFORE the deployment, that could explain why it didn't launch properly. Derek

Now that you mention it, that makes two manufacturers that are adding the labels to the bridle. I don't remember the other one that I saw. Derek

I don't think so. You aren't changing anything or changing/altering how the system works. People sew patches, etc onto reserve flaps, and other ornamental gizmos to containers. Call it a ‘placard’ if the FAA asks. By using Tyvex (same material reserve data cards are made of), instead of a marker that is permanent and could bleed onto the reserve system, allows it to be removed with out damaging anything. I had the idea 5 years ago and recently I noticed a manufacturer putting the label on reserve bridles. I don’t remember which container it was now though. Derek

Have your rigger sew a piece of Tyvex (water-proof paper) onto the bridle and write everything on that. Derek

Held at 10,500 ft over Titusville, FL for a rocket coming out of Patrick AFB. Cool view. Derek

Yes, a rigger can pack a container lock. So no, they are not all true statements, if your rigger packs it, it may still not open. Just because something has been around along time doesn't make it better. If that was true, everyone would be jumping round mains and reserves with belly mounts. Derek

Newer or older doesn't always mean better. Not necessarily. That is 100% true. Square reserves are much better for most skydiving applications. Derek