diablopilot

+1 ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

By what criteria are you defining safe? If it's a total number of jumps to fatalities ratio then I'd say the current era. If it's a measure of skill vs the hazards I'd say sometime in the late 70's through the late 80's by all accounts. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

The post is ENTIRELY about assigning responsibility. Edit: Could it be true that the data is not impartial as it might be from a third party? Yes. Do I think it's a problem? No. The manufacturer should have no responsibility to hand their proprietary product to a third party. The information from the manufacturer should also be considered as just that, information from an interested source. The end user has the responsibility to consider, interpret, and discount if needed, that information. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

Your entire post speaks to a mindset that you think it's acceptable to hold the AAD and it's manufacturer responsible for your/a life. It's not. It's a tool. It's no more responsible than a screwdriver. If you (or anyone) can't wrap their head around that, please stop using one or stop jumping completely. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

While I agree with your statement on the value of a trademark, this action only serves to cheapen the sentiment around it, and shows a lack of sportsmanship by A&M. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

The Dropzone dot Com School of Skydiving Experience. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

Since you've said nothing about the cause of your accident any input will be based on speculation. 13 years experience as a full time skydiver tells me that it's likely you may have either had an incomplete flare or flared high and let the canopy surge into the ground with out the benefit of a complete flare. It is also likely that you picked you feet up and struck tailbone first, something especially common if you had done a tandem(s) before AFF. To prevent this sort of thing, a) ensure a complete flare prior to landing no matter what. b) keep your eyes out on the horizon to improve your chances of getting the timing right. you really don't need to see when and where your feet are going to touch the ground. We've failed to leave anyone up there yet, so judge your flare by your relative position to the horizon. c) Prior to touch down keep your legs below you and slightly bent. You will benefit from the protection of a PLF. You much rather hurt your legs than your spine. Additionally get comfortable with the concept a parachute landing should not be you "catching" yourself with your legs, but rather lowering yourself to the ground using the canopy and your arms. This way when you're prepared for the PLF, but find your flare timing has worked our properly you simply step down the 12 inches you find remaining. Good luck. Relax and don't let previous history rule your actions. If it would make you feel more comfortable ask for one size up in parachute size for your first couple jumps back. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

No, it's not really. It's ok to call a douchebag like him a racist, but it really has nothing to do with him being a Republican. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

There is no point to climbing with the gear down, you might as well reduce the drag since you'll be carrying the extra weight. You'll want to fly jump run with the gear up so no one tries to use it as a step since it won't take any weight at all... ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

I saw the man himself talking on TV this morning about the fact the family did this. I do find it pretty odd. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

http://www.raredynamic.com/ Having used the systems and seen many use them you need to remember that it's almost useless to have a conversation while you're trying to fly. For maximum effectiveness a complete briefing of the lesson before hand is critical to it's success. The air to air communication system is a benefit only when used for simple one or two work reminder or commands. More than that the student stops flying while they listen and that's a major waste of time. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

As I'm sure you're aware it's both hard to teach and hard to find that fine line between what we teach students and when an experienced skydiver changes things for themselves. Chuck I'm sure you feel comfortable initiating a breakaway at 1000 feet, but then you have years of experience both theoretical and practical that tells you you can get away with it because of your actions and an understanding of the limitations. Most skydivers are not you nor will they ever attain that level of experience. Would you recommend the same procedure for a 100 jump wonder who took 12 months to get that experience? ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

Industry best practices my butt. If I'm at 1000 feet with a SPINNING main, I sure as hell wouldn't dump a reserve into it. The chance of a clean deployment is dramatically reduced and the reserve might even choke the main and create a ball of shit the size a basket of laundry - not something you will land more than once. Yes there is a time to simply "add fabric to the mess" but at 1000 feet - plenty of time for a reserve to inflate and LOADS of time with an RSL or Skyhook - my choice would be to chop and dump. Ask me the same question at 500 or 600 feet and I would answer differently, but at a grand I assure you I would NOT dump my square reserve into a spinning mal. You're also not answering as the chief instructor of a skydiving program.

Industry best practices would train no breakaway below 1000 AGL, save for a down plane. So the correct response for that situation assuming that the jumper failed in handling the breakaway earlier, would be to deploy the reserve, and land the two out, unless it develops into a down plane. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

Guy, is that you? ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

That's very big of you.... happy to have you in this big dysfunctional family of ours.... ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

Doubt it. More like the lovable asshole that we all know him to be. I have been at work starting on my second shift, Had a friend see BSBD in Parachutist and ask me what it meant, I told him, and then he ask where something like that would come from. I did the Google search and still could not find where it came from. I then tell my friend that i'll go to DZ.com and find out in a few minutes. I tell my friend that jumpers are"good people" .... well may be not so much It just seems I ask a respectful question on a rather serious subject. and this guy wants to treat me like a punk, in front of one of my . friends. For a few reasons, jumping is getting less and less fun. Weather it's dealing with the couple of assholes at the DZ or the ones here, I find less and less compelling reasons to continue jumping. blue skies and don't worry, I wont be back to defile their sacred little cyber street corner. Sean, I have always had great respect for you, you have always treated me with respect, even though we have never met. Your panties are entirely too knotted. If someone pulling your leg a little is enough to make you want to quit skydiving then pack it up. BSBD is a summation of the bond between us all. It's a defining of the internal ying and yang of what we do. It's a communication of the spirituality of this crazy thing we are a part of.... It's something you "grok" more than something explained..... Unwind a bit and make a friend....

It's just a thought but I think something fun to do if I were in your shoes would to be book an inbound flight into LAX, and a return flight out of MCO, rent a small car, or even buy a cheap vehicle on craigslist and spend that time Traveling the I-10 corridor. There are a large number of great DZ'z with cheap accommodations along that route. Some that come to mind.... Elsinore, (CA) Perris, (CA) San Diego, (CA) Eloy, (AZ) Spaceland, (TX) Gold Coast, (MS) ZHills, (FL) Sebastian, (FL) ect..... Note I've only listed places I've visited and enjoyed. There are several others on that route as well.... I think THAT would be an excellent use of the time frame you listed. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

It entirely depends who's doing it. Most of the muppets dying are the copycats, so they are not redefining the envelope. They might be pushing their OWN skills envelope but are not redefining the boundaries at all. Jay, Nick, JC, Clint, they are all the types that were redefining the edge. Jeb on the other hand IS one of the handful redefining the envelope in his chosen discipline. The muppets in the wingsuit forum that have continual cock measuring contests are not. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

What's the age, and number of jumps on the main? ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

Other from what I've heard.... ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

And all avoided by http://www.riflegear.com/p-58-ar15-bullet-button.aspx ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

Hmmm, I've found the opposite. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

I make it a point not to talk to him. However I spent 2 years as a tunnel instructor and I found the same thing. I continue to find it in students that use tunnel time in their programs, however few DZ's have the luxury of one nearby. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

It shouldn't be. That's what has screwed up the quality of instructors, and IEs. A person should be a know quantity, vetted and proven before they receive an appointment to the position of S&TA. Now if you're worried about proving it to a DZO, I'll tell you I received my first S&TA appointment without the approval of a DZO, as an S&TA "at large". Talk to your RD. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.