diablopilot

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Everything posted by diablopilot

  1. diablopilot
    Actually in the last few years we've had at least two skydiver aircraft collisions NOT related to a botched exit. One was Gus Wing a camera flyer, and the jumpship he had exited from earlier. He was under parachute and the A/C clipped and killed him. The other I can think of was a pilot doing a sunset load flyby, and managed to put an Otter wing through a guys parachute at about 60 feet. He lived. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
  2. diablopilot
    Now the paranoid part of me would wonder if they are deciding if wing suits fall under FAR Part 103. Good thing I'm not paranoid. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
  3. diablopilot
    You mean like the Unit? ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
  4. diablopilot
    If one want's those answers one only has to ask our own USPA FAA liason, Mr. Randy Ottinger. Randy has been forthcoming about his dealings with the FAA on our behalf as the Director of Government Relations. As one point, Randy has mentioned to the BOD and those in attendance of the meetings how the FAA has access to online media sources line YouTube, and they watch. When they see a violation of the FAR's or even the BSR's (yeah they know our rules), they tend to say something. They may not come right out an smack someone down with a violation, but you'd better believe then next time rule making happens (a new AC, or rewrite of the FAR's) it has an effect, that is worse than simply creating a one time violation. Wingsuiters flying through clouds, jumpers exiting helos with non TSO'd single parachute systems, aircraft exceeding maneuvering limitations, they see it all. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
  5. diablopilot
    Guess who doesn't jump an AAD as well?
  6. diablopilot
    I would. I think there are some on the market, and I jump them. I just think that the economics of a certification don't work. No one is going to pay $500 + for a skydiving helmet. Examples of helmets that do what you like include: ProTec SkySystem's Benny Cookie's 3DO Liners. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
  7. diablopilot
    Yep. You summed it up pretty well. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
  8. diablopilot
    You done whining? It's the minimum you can do for your students. I agree with you, a class 2 would be better, but can you see that happening without the egos of skydiving instructors everywhere exploding? Hell they lost their minds when we said it'll cost $10 more a year to have a rating. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
  9. diablopilot
    Why? Last I checked the DOT (of the USA) and SNELL have no testing standards relating to skydiving. Two of the three I use do have that feature. One is a camera helmet purpose built for a task other than protection. 75% of my jumps lately are without a helmet. You'll probably wrongly assume thats foolish. Have you any idea what the testing costs are to receive a SNELL rating even if their were standards for our sport? Have you any idea how many skydiving helmets are sold annually? And what helmets specifically have you looked at in order to come to the assumptions you have? ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
  10. diablopilot
    It's not the ISP that needs to be evaluated. That doesn't mean shit if the instructors meant to implement it can't tell their ass from a hole in the wall. I'll go on sounding like a broken record. The the standards instructional rating holders has slid right into the gutter, and 70% of the BOD not only doesn't have the guts to slam their feet down and say STOP, but many don't have the motivation to as they a) don't see the problem because they are way too far from the "trenches", and b)have a financial conflict where by they would cut off their own supply of cheap instructors. The USPA staff knows about the problems and keeps pointing them out to the BOD, but it falls mostly on deaf ears. Poor Jim Crouch. He's been telling them what's wrong for years. I don't know how the man has the patience....... ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
  11. diablopilot
    Well said. Shape up people, and shape up the people around you. Make sure your DZO's see this. If we don't, then it will be done for us. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
  12. diablopilot
    Are you making an assumption that they offer nor "real" protection simply because they don't have "certification sticker" on them? Show me one helmet that is "certified" for what we do. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
  13. diablopilot
    Why? I have everyone help me fly and land the canopy, and I do 90%+ stand ups. It's all in taking the time and effort to train someone and it's well worth the effort when they feel good about the "success". ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
  14. diablopilot
    Are you making an assumption that they offer nor "real" protection simply because they don't have "certification sticker" on them? Show me one helmet that is "certified" for what we do. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
  15. diablopilot
    I can't remember Van's last name, but if you give the Ranch a call they might be able to help. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
  16. diablopilot
    One way to get better at tracking. Skydive. You should be tracking at the end of all your jumps with other people. Keep at it. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
  17. diablopilot
    Get the manufacturer of the gear to agree to thenactivity and you MIGHT have a leg to stand on. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
  18. diablopilot
    From the other side of the industry I'll tell you there IS very little margin to be giving away free gear, or paying for jumps. In addition look at how little many "sponsored" athletes give back to the sponsors. How does giving a container to a competitor benefit a company? Better to offer that to an instructor who will be working closely with students soon to buy gear? How about a set of jumpsuits for a team, who will then keep to themselves while training because they have to "focus", and when time comes to send in photos of the suits in action they complain that they have to pay a photographer. I think anyone who gets a sponsorship in this business should feel lucky, and should be always trying to "earn" it. The gear may not have a monetary cost, but it still must be "paid" for. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
  19. diablopilot
    Because he hates Ray Ferrell. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
  20. diablopilot
    Besides being moronic, it's damaging to the gear, sets a poor example, and increases the risk of a student jump. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
  21. diablopilot
    No, but that one is pretty good too. The one I'm thinking of was a 3 stack of Reapers from the front looking down at the viewer grinning. Very detailed. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
  22. diablopilot
    I'd like to take the other side of that bet. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
  23. diablopilot
    It ain't so common anymore. Have you not met any of the multitude of jumpers with more than 100 jumps who don't know anything about their gear beyond where the hackey is and what colors it is so they know which one is theirs? ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
  24. diablopilot
    Anyone who remembers the Ghostriders (Perris) t-shirts, remember who the artist was? ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
  25. diablopilot
    One that flies similar to the others on the load. ---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.