Hooknswoop

Since the main lift web is subjected to the opening forces regardless if it is the main or reserve. Since the problem is the adjustable harness combined with the ability of suares to load one side a lot more than the other compared to rounds, yes only round mains or reserves can be used. Beats grounding the rigs. The pully system is a very nice solution to the problem. Derek

Ever try to tell a DZO that he is doing something wrong as a lowly Instructor? I have been kicked off DZ's for less, seriously. The problem I ran into again and again was the DZO was afraid of losing the student to the DZ down the road that offered a 7 jump program over a 25 jump program. Because of the student's ignorance and not realizing that it is money well spent, they'll go to the 7 jump program. Not always, if you explain the programs, they usually pick the better one. But again, try telling a DZO anything. This is one of the reason I quit jumping, I did not want to do old school AFF and turn the student loose. In CO, all they do is old school AFF. Some DZ's offer "Level 8" jumps, but they are optional and most students don't bother. I sent you an e-mail. Derek

This wouldbe one for Bill, But I would think you could jump a tandem rig as much as you wanted solo without a rating. Derek

Exactly. Or they don't explain anything about licensing to them, making it harder for them to go to another DZ. Derek

Sure! Derek

Right. But try a Sigma instead Derek

105.3 Definitions. For the purposes of this part -- "Tandem parachute system: means the combination of a main parachute, approved reserve parachute, and approved harness and dual parachute container, and a separate approved forward harness for a passenger parachutist. This parachute system must have an operational automatic activation device installed." "Passenger parachutist means a person who boards an aircraft, acting as other than the parachutist in command of a tandem parachute operation, with the intent of existing the aircraft while in-flight using the forward harness of a dual harness tandem parachute system to descend to the surface." Well, you don't have to be in back, but the passenger has to be in front. So, ya, you have to be in back. Derek

That is a cool chick. Derek

LOL, except it would only be 19 (that's all the rounds the Glock 17 will hold). Of course, I could re-load.........or get the +2 extenders, that would give me 21 rounds....... Derek

I tended to rarely wear an altimeter. Only w/ students would I wear one. It is easy to judge altitude down low, 4000 ft on down. My pro track went on my ankle because it was too annoying. Derek

That’s my fault, I didn’t answer your question fully. Teaching a student to skydive in 7 jumps doesn’t teach them anything besides how to jump out of an airplane by yourself and survive in ideal conditions. 7 jumps isn’t enough for a student to learn to spot, fly a canopy, fly a canopy in traffic, fly relative to others in free fall, track, change/match fall rates, etc. After traditional AFF, the student knows just enough o be dangerous. 90%+ can’t dive out after someone and dock on them, fly a canopy in traffic, or land anywhere near the target. Some schools still use main ripcords, which sets up the student for failure the first time they jump a throw out PC. Even worse is SOS. If they have a malfunction on their shiny new rig with only 8-30 or so skydives (since they don’t pack very well or at all), they may revert back to their initial training and fire their reserve into a malfunctioning main. I see AFFI’s still teaching arching from the chest, in the ‘box man’ position, with the arms way up as high as they can get them. It’s no wonder they are unstable and can’t turn. I would teach students to lower their arms so that their elbows are below their shoulders. This relaxes the chest which takes away the tension in their upper body and allows them to arch from the pelvis. Tension in the upper body gives the student the false impression that they are arching, even if they aren’t and makes it difficult for them to relax since they are working to hold that tension. I see AFFI’s sign off jumpers that can’t track very well or straight or at all. Tracking is a survival skill, the better you track, the safer you are. Turning 30 points is great, but if you can’t track, you could die. They don’t explain to the student that tracking isn’t about speed, it is about angle, getting the most horizontal distance for every foot you fall. The vast majority of skydivers I see do not track as well as they could. I can (well I guess could) out track almost anyone. Not because I am a great tracker, but because most everyone doesn’t track to their full potential. This stems from their initial training. Spending several skydives working on nothing but tracking, heading control first, then adding better and better angle to it after first explaining tracking theory will truly train someone how to track. I actually had an AFP student out track me one. She got the jump me, and all I could do was stay even. I started catching up when she stopped her 6-9 second track (starting at 10,000 feet) to check altitude and see what direction I was indicating for the next track. Spending probably a total of 25-30 seconds learning to track on a couple of AFF dives after just being told to look at the horizon and sweep your arms and legs back is not enough. I would also teach to fully extend their legs (getting a good side shot w/ a digital camera in a Sidewinder helmet) to show them that their legs aren’t fully extended and/or they are still arched at the waist, then slowly sweep their arms back to maintain heading control. I would explain as part of the theory, that tracking in a circle means you went no where and then demonstrate how with larger and larger formations, how much more critical heading control becomes to ensure separation. Kind of disorganized, but that is two examples, tracking and body position, of old/new training methods. I could get into canopy control, but I’m tired of typing. The point is, training methods have changed and been updated while some Instructors haven’t changed from ‘old school’ AFF. There is a better way, but they figure why change (change is work) and since their methods work, why bother? I would and did put up (almost) any of my AFP students against (almost) any AFF student when they both have 25 skydives. Derek

OK, I understand now, thanks. Maybe the wrong thread for this, but when the Sun Path SB came out, I wondered about adjustable harnesses on tandems and how they would be affected. What do you think about appling this same design to tandems and passsenger harnesses? Again, I didn't mean anything by my original post. Derek

The Poynters study guide is several tests old. Before the 118 questions, it was 305. All you have to study now is the 118 questions. Derek

Yes, it was and that was my fault. I didn't leave it out because I was trying to make a point, just lazy, didn't feel like typing out the entire thing and didn't realize how important that information was. All I wanted to do was 1) Get the information that there is a notice out there and 2) get a discussion about it going so that I would understand the Notice. That is all. No other dark motives. I hope that explains my error. I think I understand the Notice now. The difference bewteen the older main lift webs and the newer main lift webs is the newer ones have the double webbing sewn together, making it thicker. Is this correct? Derek

Do you have anything to add to the Notice? Any information that would help? Would you please explain the Notice so I, and others will understand it? Derek

The DPRE doesn't give the written test, the FAA or a computer testing facility does. They won't administer an outdated test. Derek

Wow. The first reply to my post corrected my error, so no, I didn't ask a Moderator to remove my post. I made a mistake. I admitted that. I didn't mean to trash Racers at all. In fact, I asked for someone to explain the notice since I didn't understand it. I didn't intentional "go after" Racers. Since the Notice is in PDF format, I wasn't going to type the entire thing up. I was going to just post the link, then thought it might be a good idea to add a line or two. It wasn't my intention to be misleading. I would have had to understand the Notice to be misleading. I just didn't, and still don't, understand the Notice. I don't dislike Racers, I have 'well documented' valid reasons for not packing them. You work for Jump Shack, right? Do you have anything to add to the Notice? Any information that would help? Derek

That helps, but you still lose the 50% decrease in forces from the locking loop doing a 180 through the small ring. There is no reason to skydive w/ reverse or integrity risers. Derek

I didn't read the notice all that carefully (because I don't work on Racers, so I don't really care about it) and obviously didn't post enogh information the first time around. When I noticed that, someone had already corrected me so I left it alone. Relax. Can you explain the notice? Is it for adjustable main lift webs? Do they not make them anymore? Did they change the main lift web design or the design for adjusting it? Derek

http://www.jumpshack.com/Download/Re-Designation_safetynotice.pdf All SST/Racer, Racer Elites, and Racer Trainers can now only be used with round parachutes only. I don't work on Racers, so could someone that does explain this? What is different with the newer Racers main lift web? **Moderator's note: readers of this thread should first read the service bulletin in its entirety via the link provided, then read the entire thread to put the original poster's comments in proper context. Later posts include clarifications by those who have direct access to the manufacturer. Ultimately, users or Riggers with questions should contact the manufacturer directly - slotperfect Derek

It has been brought to my attention that: 1) The DZ that was inspected by the VIP program didn't 'fail', it was set up intentionally to identify things that could be improved and as education for the DZO. 2) The VIP program is still available if a DZ wishes to use it (none have). Thanks. Derek

We picked up a couple bottles of Robert Sinskey Pinot Blanc Los Carneros 2003. Very nice Pinot Blanc, highly recommended. Derek

Send me an e-mail and I'll send you the AFP Syllabus. lots of great information in there. Derek

I re-read your post: "I'm thinking about doing a 3 week Mount Everest trip. I was checking out a book on some long hiking trips and this one seemed like the one I'd want to do the most. Have any of you ever done it? Climbed it? Hiked it? Visited? Whatever? I'd like to hear your stories and how you went about it like if you went with a legit company and traveled with a group of people you didn't know of if you threw a bunch of friends together. Any info would be appreciated. This is all very raw thought so I don't have dates set or even an idea of what I'm doing here.... Thanks!" And didn't see anything in there about just climbing to Base Camp. So if you are angry about the replys you recieved, maybe you should have been clear in your post. Derek

AFFI's that got their ratings a long time ago and still teach the same way they did back then. Teaching methods, techniques, and what is taught has changed. Not all Instructors have kept up with those changes. There are still a lot of DZ's that teach 'old school' AFF and the students lose out. Derek