fcajump

I'm spec'ing out a new rig to be ordered this fall. Expect I'll put one on after reading/listening to Booth all these years... JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

For those facing the specific issue I had... Turns out I had an A/C Joint impinging on the soft tissue (as we thought). There was NO soft tissue damage found (rotator cuff or otherwise) during the arthroscopic surgery to shave down the bone growth. Doctor cleared me to PT immediately. Cleared me to jump "when I felt that I had the range and strength" Jumped again 4 weeks after with less pain than before, and its been getting better since then. He did comment that IF there had been any soft tissue damage, there would have been a 6 week recovery before PT or anything else. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

and http://www.skydivewings.com/index.php?page=rigging Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

My old DZ had two planes (that I know of) with similar events... C-206 that had its tail ripped off by a canopy that got loose (lost one jumper who was unable to exit) and a twin-bo that landed (safely) after a jumper removed the entire right horizontal stab... I have also known of a jumper being extracted from a Stearman biplane... Turned out OK, but lots of potential for bad outcomes. (And he is one of the most careful/conservative/consistant jumpers I have ever known.) JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Naw, with that you need it to go into "balloon mode" (The ascent rate should be fine... you'll know around 500' when it "clicks in". If you're not comfortable the first time, borrow an analog chest mount as well.) Like the Altitrack!

Several of the discussions concerning weight / balance / PEPs / single engine performance in twin / etc... would be enhanced if the user profile included the option for pilot credentials. Just a thought. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Agreed. Just having trouble getting my pilots to see it that way. (I'm more worried about that situation than they are... are we're in open-cockpit aircraft...) JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Actually not even then, unless there is an observer... 91.307 (c) Unless each occupant of the aircraft is wearing an approved parachute, no pilot of a civil aircraft carrying any person (other than a crew member) may execute any intentional maneuver.... (d) Paragraph (c) of this section does not apply to (1) Flight tests for pilot certification... (2) Spins... (or other maneuver for instruction) As the pilot is a crew member, if there are no non-crew members, I don't see that he is required to have one. (mind you, I personally think common sense should require one...) So IF there is an observer (who is not a CFI giving aerobatic instruction on the way back) AND the pilot is planning to do aerobatic maneuver after the jumpers leave, then he (and the observer) must wear one... But normally?? JW Is the pilot not an "occupant"? I believe he is not, since he is a crew member... the distinction being called out in the statement clarifier "(other than a crew member)". JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Actually not even then, unless there is an observer... 91.307 (c) Unless each occupant of the aircraft is wearing an approved parachute, no pilot of a civil aircraft carrying any person (other than a crew member) may execute any intentional maneuver.... (d) Paragraph (c) of this section does not apply to (1) Flight tests for pilot certification... (2) Spins... (or other maneuver for instruction) As the pilot is a crew member, if there are no non-crew members, I don't see that he is required to have one. (mind you, I personally think common sense should require one...) So IF there is an observer (who is not a CFI giving aerobatic instruction on the way back) AND the pilot is planning to do aerobatic maneuver after the jumpers leave, then he (and the observer) must wear one... But normally?? JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

I have seen this discussion before, and still don't have a specific answer (yes I've searched ). Question: Is there an FAR that requires jump pilots to wear a parachute? (Not STC, not BSR, not DZ rule, not common sense... a US Govt issued FAR?) Where? Thanks, JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

http://www.parachuterigger.us/html/prices.html Everything not specifically mentioned is material+"shop time" JW PS (edited to add the following links): http://www.unitedparachutetechnologies.com/PDF/Support/Rigging/05257%28RiggingPL%29.pdf http://www.silverparachutes.com/rigging.html http://www.parachuteshop.com/parachute_rigging_services.htm http://www.varigging.com/services/prices.shtml Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

FWIW - Despite being a bit of a loner, over 20 years of jumping, I have met some of the best people, made very close friends and been welcomed warmly even at DZs that did not know me at all. I figure its like most things, I move a bit slower that the average person, travel at my own speed to see what iterests me... but then again... its my trip through life now isn't it... and I'm enjoying the ride.

Not knowing why you are a "loner", but I am one too... This sport is strange in that in someways its the most social I've been involved in, and yet at times you are the only one involved (like pull time). For me, I just like jumping. Freefall or canopy, like them both. In general, I don't like high pressure jumps*, mostly because I want to have a good time without feeling like a blown point is going to ruin someone else's good time. Early on, that meant a lot of solo jumps. More recently it has meant finding the right people to jump with... Basically, if the other jumper is a safe jumper, my only other rule (and I tell the this up front) is that if you can't laugh your ass off in freefall when we're not getting it right (and keep it safe) then you likely don't want to jump with me... In the last weeks I've enjoyed jumping with a newly minted A and a pair of gents taking time off from training for Nationals, jumping an airshow and solo dives. They're all good. I'm here to have fun. A solo can be just as fun as a small RW, or hang out a flag under canopy, or chase a WDI, or anything else. Just learn to do them safely. *The one high pressure I like is Demos. Its my thing. But again learn to do them safely within the skills you've developed. Jim Wine (see me at: www.flyingcircusairshow.com ) Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Having previously posted on Dizzy for a while, if anyone finds (after my fact) that something I said caused or contributed to my own accident, I would hope that someone knowledgeable would tag it to keep someone else from making the same stupid mistake. The problem I see is that the legacy (without the epitaphs) of our past postings might be used to convince someone that our old thoughts were right, even after we ourselves have moved on to new truths through our experiences and mistakes. We learn (sometimes), but our past postings stay just as good or bad as the day we made them. Unfortunately we don't always have the ability to come back here and edit/change/retract our earlier misconceptions. Tom taught us about AADs. Ted taught us another lesson about high perf turns at low altitudes. Dale taught the racing world about HANS devices (after publicly criticizing them) Others have taught us about seat belts and helmets after chucking them aside saying "not me/not now/don't need it" in front of younger impressionable individuals. They paid a hell of a price for the lesson. Their recorded/remembered comments before hand with regard to their fateful choice must be seen in the full context of the outcome for us to help avoid others repeating lessons after using the same "justification" without knowing the outcome. Thanks Tom/Ted/Dale for helping me out. Sorry about the price... JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Recollection is that some aircraft have (through AD's) been life limited based on the experiences of age and inspections... If memory serves the Sky Van has been flight hour limited. True, not due to calendar hours, but experience in the field leading to imposed age limits. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Talk with the experienced that have jumped with you and/or the newbie, but you should be OK (you're both licensed). Keep it small, keep it safe. Recommend hard helmets. These can be great fun and stretch your skills as well. Enjoy it (but trust me about the helmets) JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

While I don't think a list is necessary, I do think this epitaph can be appropriate for those that come and read such discussions. If I were to discuss at length that AAD's are a waste of money and that real skydivers don't need them, it would be correct IMHO for someone to post to the thread if I were to go in having been knocked out during a dive. ("An AAD might have...") I don't see it as "I told ya so" as much as "for those that come and read this years later, this poster may have changed his mind, based on his own experience... if he had lived" JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Good f-ing... question. Did he reply back with any usable info? JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

(~5 year old info) The Strong Set 400 seemed to be OK eitherway (FLOP pack / PRO). However, while most folks that PRO packed them liked the D-bag sides sewn up, I liked the velcro option when I Flop packed... seemed easier that way. Just Me... JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

I recall that around the time AirTek was reporting 50,000 Cypres' sold, there was another stat going around stating that Cypres AAD's had saved 1,000 lives. hmmm... to me, that means that on an average day at my DZ, there is at least one jumper who would (theoretically) be dead but for his AAD... because (at the time) on average 1 in 50 Cypress' had needed to fire. While I am glad to have my 50th friend still with us, I am very concerned that the need for them is that high. For what its worth, I did have a Sentinel AAD fire on me as a student and after I had already pulled the reserve (set for 1500'...+/-1500' ). Precipitating event - hard pull on the main PC. Tried thrice and went silver. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

...On most rigs, it is not necessary. Check the operation on YOUR rig to make sure. With some rigs (Racer), in some configurations (reserve in front ?) MUST have their RSL disconnected. (I haven't jumped/packed a Racer in over 10 years and then only one... I am sure someone will politely correct me if I misrepresent... ) I had a double once, and did choose to cutaway. (sp-230 main in front of a Fury-240 reserve w/ no RSL, drifting over high tension power ) While it did clear cleanly, also saw the potential for snag. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

First, the recommendations by others are all correct. Second, even if you don't get your ticket, the more you know the better. Talk with your rigger, most of us are more than willing to teach you anything you want to learn. IF you decide to get your ticket, that too is great. Only a few cautions: - Having a ticket does not say you know it all, only that you've been given the basics on how to learn the rest (over the rest of your life). - EVEN if you get your ticket "just to work on my own gear"... well, that's what most of us said... but word will get out. - Your seal and signature is only ever good as your own integrity. Make it mean everything every time. Blue ones, JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Maybe, maybe not. Bottom line - If you're not comfortable with any rigger, get a second opinion. But I'd also ask the rigger (not accuse) about the rig and his experience, etc... as I go (not only when there's a problem). As a rigger, the first time I got a Vector III in the shop, it took an embarrassingly long time for me to find where they moved the tag... BUT, my own inspection check list has "Pack Data Card" as item #3 (behind "Manual on hand" and "Service Bulletin Check") meaning that I check it for ALL of the following before proceeding: Owner information Harness Info Canopy Info TSO limits for system ALL above information is cross checked in my records AND on the physical gear. Eliminates that issue from coming up later. And the check list items... that evolved from experience. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Be careful what (hypothetical) questions you ask... many NIBY pilots have been arguing this should be the case for years... In the time I've been jumping, it seems that there have been about equal losses when plane meets jumper. It would be best to be a friendly ambassador for our sport in assisting the pilots understand where we might be... This is even more the case as we add wing suits, as the rule of thumb "upwind line of the airport and all should be down a couple minutes after 'jumpers away'" is not as true anymore. JW jumper/pilot Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...

Much more drag on the left then lift. Not sure on this, but you would likely find that the wing is technically in a skidding turn (uncoordinated) to a small degree. JW Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...