Hooknswoop

After they go to a DPRE and get their seat rating, yes. Derek

Yes it does. The rule is 8 hours and no residue effects. Derek

I hear jumper all the time say so and so is the best pilot ever, a good pilot, etc. What do jumpers base how good a pilot is on? What makes a good pilot or a bad pilot to skydivers? Derek

Since it isn't load bearing, it probably doesn't matter. Derek

"So, yes, based on my experience, I think sometimes women are treated differently, and sometimes that can be dangerous, and sometimes very helpful. Definately sometimes. I've never seen 4 people packing one pilot chute for a guy. I have seen 4 guys packing a girls pilot chute for her though. Derek

Tandem Instructors must check, double check, triple check, and then check a few more times to make sure everything is correct. Mistakes such as this are easily avoided an unacceptable. Could have been worse though, I've seen video of a TMI exiting w/o the uppers connected. The video guy pointed it out and the TI got one connected before deploying. There is another case where the same TI exited w/o the uppers connected twice and landed that way both times. Derek

Check your line trim. There is an article on my rigging page how to do that. Derek

Right, 0.020", 0.032", and 0.40" safety wire. The heat shrink does make the tool look nicer, but it is really there to cover the ends of the wire and help hold it together. Derek

There are numerous, well-paying jobs available for someone with that experience and those skills in the civilian world. Derek

Oops, missed it Derek

So far, nothing from PA. Derek

PD/RWS tandem reserve SB. http://www.relativeworkshop.com/techpsb_index.html Derek

That is the way to go. DZO's tend to treat their part-time staff better than thier full-time staff because if they aren't nice to them, they don't have to work because they don't need the money. Full-timers need the money and have to work. Derek

Then full-time skydiving is not for you. Break your leg? No income until you can jump again. Oh ya, no health insurance unless you pay for it yourself. Raining? No income. DZ overstaffed? Little income. DZO doesn't like you? No income. Plane broken? No income. DZO says to take the tandems in the rain? Either jump or look for a new DZ. Being an independant contractor means you can be fired at any time for anything because you are not an employee. Being an independant contractor means you get a 1099 (in the U.S.) and have to pay all your taxes at the end of the year. You have to compete with Instructors that just want to make enough money to eat and live on the DZ in a trailer. You are easily replaceable with a new Instructor that doesn;t yet know the ropes. Forget about raises for being a more experienced/better Instructor. You make the same as a newly minted Instructor. Don't do it. Derek

No, if I seal a reserve, I have to completely inspect and pack it. Derek

PD's Reserve Slinks are TSO'd and an assembling rigger can assemble compatable TSO'd components. It is up to the rigger to determine compatability. You live here in CO, I'll pack your Tempo with Slinks. Derek

LOL! OK, now it is cheaper Derek

Or go to an A & P mechanic and get 2 feet of 0.032 safety wire for free. Get a 1/2" x 5" (+/-) wooden dowel or aluminum pipe and drill 2 small holes in the center. Put the wires through the holes, then cross them over back through the opposite holes. Twist the wire, including the 4 wires near the handle, leaving a gap in the end large enough to put the line through. Put a piece of heat shrink over the 4 wires covering where the wires end. A very clean and strong tool. There is a pic of them on my web page in the article on making closing loops. Derek

In the short term, yes, but long term, i.e. having to get a new car everytime instead of being able to re-use them, a tracking device is a lot cheaper. Derek

No, we didn't. You beat the wrong horse. The PD-113R produces an average peak force of 3639 pounds during TSO drop tests and is marked on the reserve label as required by AS8015B. The Mirage is certified under TSO C23B, low speed catagory, limited to a 3,000 pound load force. According to AC-105-2C, the reserve cannot produce more load than the harness is rated to, which in the case of a Mirage and PD-113R, it does. Therefore the two are not compatable. This is not about the reserve being certified to a higher weight than the container and just de-rate it down to the container. You missed the point. The Mirage is limited to 3,000 pounds force, the others, 5,000 pounds force. The PD-113R produces more than 3,000 pounds force, as I'm sure other PDR's and other reserves do. The reserve cannot produce more force on opening than the harness is rated to. Derek

With the manufacturer out of business, it is unlikely that any SB's will be issued for the Reflex. Derek

The FAA has a lot to say about ultralights compared to skydiving main canopies: FAR Part 103 Ultralight Vehicles SOURCE: Docket No. 21631, 47 FR 38776, Sept. 2, 1982, unless otherwise noted. Subpart A - General §103.1 Applicability. This part prescribes rules governing the operation of ultralight vehicles in the United States. For the purposes of this part, an ultralight vehicle is a vehicle that: (a) is used or intended to be used for manned operation in the air by a single occupant; (b) Is used or intended to be used for recreation or sport purposes only; (c) Does not have any U.S. or foreign airworthiness certificate; and (d) If unpowered, weighs less than 155 pounds; or (e) If powered: 1. 1. Weighs less than 254 pounds empty weight, excluding floats and safety devices which are intended for deployment in a potentially catastrophic situation; 2. 2. Has a fuel capacity not exceeding 5 U5. gallons; 3. 3. Is not capable of more than 55 knots calibrated airspeed at full power in level flight; and 4. 4. Has a power-off stall speed which does not exceed 24 knots calibrated airspeed. §103.3 Inspection requirements. (a) Any person operating an ultralight vehicle under this part shall upon request, allow the Administrator or his designee, to inspect the vehicle to determine the applicability of this part. (b) The pilot or operator of an ultralight must, upon request of the Administrator, furnish satisfactory evidence that the vehicle is subject only to the provisions of this part. §103.5 Waivers. No person may conduct operations that require a deviation from this part except under a written waiver issued by the Administrator. §103.7 Certification and registration. (a) Notwithstanding any other section pertaining to certification of aircraft or their parts or equipment, ultralight vehicles and their component parts and equipment are not required to meet the airworthiness certification standards specified for aircraft or to have certificates of airworthiness. (b) Notwithstanding any other section pertaining to airman certification operators of ultralight vehicles are not required to meet any aeronautical knowledge, age, or experience requirements to operate those vehicles or to have airman or medical certificates. (c) Notwithstanding any other section pertaining to registration and marking of aircraft, ultralight vehicles are not required to be registered or to bear markings of any type. Subpart B - Operating Rules §103.9 Hazardous operations. (a) No person may operate any ultralight vehicle in a manner that creates a hazard to other persons or property. (b) No person may allow an object to be dropped from an ultralight vehicle if such action creates a hazard to other persons or property. §103.11 Daylight operations. (a) No person may operate an ultralight vehicle except between the hours of sunrise and sunset. (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this section, ultralight vehicles may be operated during the twilight periods 30 minutes before official sunrise and 30 minutes after official sunset or, in Alaska, during the period of civil twilight as defined in the Air Almanac, if: (1) The vehicle is equipped with an operating anticollision light visible for at least 3 statute miles; and (2) All operations are conducted in uncontrolled airspace. §103.13 Operation near aircraft right-of-way rules. (a) Each person operating an ultralight vehicle shall maintain vigilance so as to see and avoid aircraft and shall yield the right-of-way to all aircraft. (b) No person may operate an ultralight vehicle in a manner that creates a collision hazard with respect to any aircraft. (c) Powered ultralights shall yield the right-of-way to unpowered ultralights. §103.15 Operations over congested areas. No person may operate an ultralight vehicle over any congested area of a city, town or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons. §103.17 Operations in certain airspace. No person may operate an ultralight vehicle within an airport traffic area, control zone, airport radar service area, terminal control area, or positive control area unless that person has prior authorization from the air traffic control facility having jurisdiction over that airspace. [Doc. No. 23708, 50 FR 9259, Mar. 6, 1985] EFFECTIVE DATE NOTE: By Amdt. 103-4, 56 FR 65662, Dec. 17 1991 §103.17 was revised, effective September 16, 1993. For the convenience of the user, the revised text follows. §103.17 Operations in certain airspace. No person may operate an ultralight vehicle within Class A, Class B, Class C, or Class D airspace or within the lateral boundaries of the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport unless that person has prior authorization from the ATC facility having jurisdiction over that airspace. [Doc. No 24456, 56 FR 65662, Dec. 17 1991] §103.19 Operations in prohibited/restricted areas. No person may operate an ultralight vehicle in prohibited or restricted areas unless that person has permission from the using or controlling agency, as appropriate. §103.20 Flight restrictions in the proximity of certain areas designated by notice to airmen. No person may operate an ultralight vehicle in areas designated in a Notice to Airmen under §91.143 or §91.141 of this chapter unless authorized by ATC. [Doc. No. 24454, 50 FR 4969, Feb. 5 1985, as amended by Amdt. 103-3, 54 FR 343311, Aug. 18, 1989] §103.21 Visual reference with the surface. No person may operate an ultralight except by visual reference with the surface. §103.23 Flight visibility and cloud clearance requirements. No person may operate an ultralight vehicle when the flight visibility or distance from clouds is less than that in the table found below. All operations in Class A, Class B, Class C, and Class D airspace or Class E airspace designated for an airport must receive prior ATC authorization as required in §103.17 of this part. Airspace Flight Visibility Distance from clouds Class A (18,000' MSL & up) Not Applicable Not Applicable Class B (former TCA) 3 statute miles Clear of Clouds. Class C (former ARSN) 3 statute miles 500 feet below. 1,000 feet above. 2,000 feet horizontal. Class D (radio controlled tower) 3 statute miles 500 feet below. 1,000 feet above. 2,000 feet horizontal. Class E: (open airspace) 3 statute miles 500 feet below. Less than 10,000 feet MSL 1,000 feet above. 2,000 feet horizontal At or above 10,000 feet MSL 5 statute miles 1,000 feet below. 1,000 feet above. 1 statute mile horizontal Class G: (open airspace) 1 statute mile Clear of clouds. 1,200 feet or less above the surface (regardless of MSL altitude) More than 1,200 feet above the surface but less than 10,000 feet MSL. 1 statute mile 500 feet below. 1,000 feet above. 2,000 feet horizontal. More than 1,200 feet above the surface and at or above 10,000 feet MSL 5 statute miles 1,000 feet below. 1,000 feet above. 1 statute mile horizontal Derek

The toggles may be set higher than on the old line set so that for the same toggle position, you are pulling down more of the tail. BTW-PD doesn't make a 150 sq ft reserve. Edit: "Canopy acting strange" Tell it to straighten up and fly right Derek

I think it is silly that somone with zero rigging experience is allowed to do anything they wish to a main canopy. There should be some sort of requirement to rigging on a main canopy. I think it is just as silly that someone with zero training can go jump a Velocity 97 without an AAD or RSL and no Instructor for their first skydive. I recently read an article that described skydiving as "Highly regulated" by the FAA. I had to laugh. I don't think it should be, but whoever sold that to the reporter should have gone for broke and tried to sell the skydivers breathing through your skin thing too. Hopefully HQ, FAA will be faster to respond than the Denver FSDO. Derek

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1651849;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread Derek