fcajump

While I've seen good springs launch the PC to the full extent of the bridle, in my mind the spring is not primarily for that purpose... The strength of the PC spring is to ensure it clears the burble and gets into clean air to enable the PC material to do its job. Unfortunately, even with strong springs, this is not ensured and in that case we are then subject to the dynamic behavior of the material involved and the unpredictable currents and eddies of the burble and actions of the jumper. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

I do, but I'm weird... I also ride the plane down when the ground winds come up too high and go home to pack my reserve when its out of date... If anyone questions the notion, look at the video recently sent of someone going out with a single side still attached. Watch how far they end up from the actual attach point by the time its under full tension. Now, how far forward would they go in the plane cabin during a nose-low impact?? You think that will save anyone from the types of pile-on crush injuries we saw in the '92-'93 accidents (and others)? When I started in '90, seatbelts were shunned (as were AAD's and other 'normal' items). We fixed that, we can fix this too. But it takes both national promotion and grass roots attitude. Do it yourself, and share the 'why' when asked... a good place to start. Just my $.02 JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Can't speak for anyone but myself... but when I started rigging I decided that this is a slippery slope that I didn't want to go down... My reputation is not only what I do for/to other's rigs, and what they see (or don't see) me let slide by... but its how I approach EVERY decision on rigging... even on my own stuff. Maybe I'm the only rigger that's ever done it, but I've left the DZ on a beautiful morning and driven the 1.5hr back home to repack my own reserve because it was a few days out. My oversight, my integrity, my problem. Was there a simple (unethical) fix, sure. Was there likely to be any issue with the rig? Nope. Would anyone else be affected by my using the rig a few days out? Unlikely. But it would mean that my ethics are flexible. What about my buddy's rig that's just a few days out... I know he babies his rig. I know its fine, and this'll be his only day for months... Where do you stop bending the rules? What do people know about you when you start bending? Do they trust that you only bend some rules? Or are you willing to bend others that are inconvenient? At what point do they stop trusting you 100%? The answer for me was simple... do it right every time. Start with your own gear. Be known for it. If you're known for it, they won't ask you to bend for them... so no temptation. Besides, if they see that you're OK with bending rules, why shouldn't they help you by bending it with your name attached? Might I loose a customer that way, well... haven't yet. And frankly, that kind of customer is unwelcome in my shop. Just my $.02. JW PS - yes, I like this idea (window to see the PDC from within) but I am skeptical that it will come to pass unless the mfg's decide its in their financial or liability interest to do it. Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

But its the rigger's reputation and liability when you go in on a rig that's got a problem because it was not ACTUALLY inspected/packed by that person when the PDC says. If you're going to pencil whip it, leave my name, number, seal out of it. J Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

My vote for combination is simply because I (like others) prefer: Digital back-end / Analog display (Alti-Track) JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

In Virginia it is a required part of the manditory annual inspection that the airbag (if originally installed) be present and operational. If not, it it illegal to operate that vehicle. Got that straight from the officer in charge of the state inspection program when I was trying to get a car passed that originally had one. Despite the fact that the car's airbag had been an option that year and the manufacturer had discontinued the parts needed to fix it. (a waiver can be obtained IFF I could get a letter from GM guarenteeing that the removal would not decrease the safety of the vehicle... yea... right...) JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

I have had discussions with one individual who works at a para mfg who leaves out the reinforcing tape on his own risers due to this 'perfect storm'. If the canopy doesn't give, and the lines don't stretch and the links don't give, then you've got two things that take the load for a hard openning... the harness (something we don't want failing) or the jumper (which can be seriously injured if it takes all the load). He figured that a riser acting as a last line of defense 'weak-link' might just save his neck (literally). Not that a riser fail would be a good thing, but when you have an overload of stresses, where do you want the load to go? J Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Not quite the same, but... During the rigger's class I attended, it is emphasised tot he students that they need to maintain control of the rig under service, minimize distractions and repeat steps if distracted. To teach this, some of the instructors would attempt to present real-world type customer distractions and then mess with the rig you were working on to see if you noticed or went back to find what they had changed. One candidate managed to have slipped into rigs he was packing (without his notice or correction) a wrench, packing weights, various other tools, his own rigging log book... to this day I am hoping that he doesn't allow ANYONE in the room while he's working on rigs. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

I've been doing some reading up on this type of earplugs, was curious if anyone has used them for jumping... http://www.westone.com/defendear/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=10:musicians-style-49&Itemid=115 http://www.westone.com/defendear/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=9:motorcyclists-style-4rt&Itemid=114 Looking for something better than the normal foam rubber squishies... Want to cut the plane noise without blocking voices/dirt-alerts... JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

OLD sponsorship 7up panel off a PC... Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Hmmm.... You wouldn't have a copy of that magazine around would you Jerry?? I've got an old PC I bought used... the center panel was weak so I pulled it off and replaced it. Kept the panel though and put it in a frame cause I liked the 7-UP logo painted on it... JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

As my ownly instructor position was as a TI, naturally most of those that I took were on their first jump. For (most) of them, it was a one shot deal and they did fine. Some were interested in continuing and this was a good intro to the whole picture at once before settling down to be a student. BUT, for myself... there was NO F-ING WAY I was going to do Freefall. This whole thing was nuts anyway and I'm only gonna make one jump. Climbing out of a F-ing plane, IN FLIGHT, and LETTING GO!!!?! Then having to remember how to fly a parachute by myself (with radio... but it may not work you know...). The very thought of adding in freefall was just too much for me. Now, for my ex-wife... She had already flown a plane (until she quit) and done other things. She went AFF and did so well that they wanted to skip her a level. Most natural jumper through her solo dive you ever saw. (then she quit) While I have not been to a tunnel (yet) I suspect that it would also be a great first/intro for someone coming into the sport... My point - whether your plan is one jump or to take up the sport*, each of the methods are "best" for different people. If I were King and HAD to say everyone starts off with this one type, I guess I would say Tandem. While it would have scared the SH!T out of me to do FF on the first jump, having an instructor that was aleart/thinking/functioning for those first 5 seconds after the canopy opens would have been nice... BUT, I would also suggest telling the manifest and TI that you are interested in being a STUDENT not just a PASSENGER. (some TI's will even know the difference ) Even that first jump should be a teaching moment if you're serious. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

I purchased a rig a few years ago from a manufacturer who makes both container and reserves. I sent my measurements and weights and ask them to specify the reserve container size. I specifically talked to them about the significant difference between what I am accustomed to packing and their rig. (Figured I'd learn/get comfortable on my own rig before someone brought me one.) The rig looks great and is very comfortable to wear. Factory pack job (#1) pulled at a reserve handle force (inline with the housing) at >35-lbs (and a bit of a bend in one pin). Factory pack job #2 was upper 20's. My own pack jobs have been much higher than I am comfortable. (BUT I am new to this rig... I'll accept that it's just my learning their system) Currently it is off with a colleague (MPR/DPRE) who is much more familiar with that design than I to see if it is just me and the factor rigger that can't pack it right, or if the factory spec'ed a bad size match. Ironically... once the RC is pulled, freebag extraction is well within John Sherman's test protocol he published when he discussed the matter on here a couple years ago... I don't pretend to know the majic of canopy/container matching as well as the factories, but clearly even they don't always make for an easy pack even when that's what was requested. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Ralph is in it to make money, so he prices everything per market tollerance... 'course in a former life he sold used cars... Have you tried DJ and Assoc? http://www.dj-associates.com/products.html I'd call, not just look online. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Would depend greatly on the plane. generally speaking I would want a cut and whatever the normal jump run configuration is. IF I am the only jumper getting out on the way up in a Twin Otter, and the pilot knows me, I'll take a green light without any other changes and dive out/down exit just fine. Beyond that, no... not really. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

~1996ish (don't remember exactly when) Hartwood, VA (very old recollection of the details, wasn't there, so some may be off) Premature deployment on the step of a 206 (normal door/step, not cargo door). Canopy went over the tail, the jumper went under. The entire empanage looked liked it was removed by a sawsall. With the jump run at 10,500', the pilot was only able to get out of the tumbling mess by ~3k. Got himself under a PEP round and landed in a tree. Injured from the interior of the aircraft (all headliner material had been previously removed) and from the tree landing. Was able to fly jumpers the next month. Asside from the question: Jumper with the premature lived as did the jumper on the step, but the jumper still in the aircraft was unable to exit due to the tumbling. Assumed that the impact (landing) was the cause of his fatal injuries. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Good try for correction and good decision to chop. Don't let the blowhards get ya, a mal is a mal and yours could have been deadly if you had not taken correct action in a timely manner. Been through a couple and each one is scary. It is true that a higher performance 'chute can make this look tame. (and frankly, so can a lightly loaded canopy) There are much scarier conditions. But, given a bad situation, you done good. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Yep, PITA. But if it's not my work, it gets untacked and checked. And the only way I know it was my work is if I was the last to AIR the rig. Otherwise it gets checked. This is the type of thing that lead me to give a discount for rigs that return with my seal still intact. GREAT catch. Better than a problem with YOUR seal on it, even if you didn't do it. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Agreed. Years ago, having studied the Ancient Egyptian Secrets of Parachute Rigging on my personal quest to become a faithful disciple of DeWolf, I noted that different manuals (some having been published prior to the popularity of the PRO pack), I started contacting canopy and container manufacturers. Many approved use of the DeWolf methods, some approved the use of his PRO pack techniques but requested (required) steps in their manuals be followed exactly. Usually this was due to specific variations in their container construction/design. I don’t think that I currently service any gear where the manufacturer does not permit the PRO pack method, but you may work with items that I don’t… Bottom line – Make sure you’ve got the most recent manual for the gear. Then talk with the manufacturers. If they tell you anything different from their manual, ask for it in writing… at minimum document when and who you talked to and exactly what they approved/disapproved. (CYA) JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

As if there weren't enough/different methods: 1. Back both the screws out ~1/2 way. 2. Place one end of the 'L' link into the grove of a knee board (don't capture any lines/material between the metal). 3. Place that end of the 'L' link on a hard surface, screw down. 4. push the knee board toward the hard surface (read "stand on knee board") Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

First - good thread. Second - bad title... I read it as the other form of "bail" and figured "what have them skydivers been up to THIS time..." JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

As a buyer, I would be MUCH more comfortable having the I&R done my a rigger (or factory) of MY choice (even at my expense)... I've seen to many pencil packs and "inspections" done by friends of the seller to aid the sale. I've also walked away from sellers not willing to have the sale contingent upon the inspection report. Just my $.02, JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

................................................................................... Take your ass/money/friends to another DZ. Do small Cessna's really have seat-belts in the States? Not when I started (1990), but in the last 23 years the FAA and several incidents have driven up compliance. I don't know any DZ that doesn't have belts for every jumper on every plane. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

All the above (escrow, get S/N's etc) and... DOM of the Cypres 2? Is there a reserve here? Or am I looking at parts that may or may not make a rig? Definately get a pre-purchase eval by a rigger YOU choose/trust. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Great Attitude. You're one that's much more likely to become a F.O.G. I look at it this way... How many people ever fly (more than in a shinny tube)? How many fliers will ever make even one jump? How many first jumpers will ever become an experienced skydiver? You're a F'ing SKYDIVER!!! How much MORE do you need to impress? And let me give the reader a small piece of advice... Impressing the ground is a tough job. Blue Ones Big Mike!