davelepka

Hey! Look behind you! There's her point, you just missed it. She was being sarcastic, as you were the one who suggested that skydiving was one dimensional. What's odd is reading your above quote, and comparing it to what you said a couple posts upthread, such as - And then there's And who could forget Quite a stark contrast to what your quote above, eh?

Really? What sort of press do you think you can generate with this issue? The St Marys Gazette? The local news? DZ.com? I'm not sure if you've met the FAA yet, let me introduce you - 800 lb gorilla, meet TJP, TJP meet the 800lb gorilla. Here's a hint TJP, the FAA isn't going to swayed in any direction by anyone for any reason. Ever. What TJP might have had on it's side was the rule of law if the AAB had indeed overstepped it's bounds. However, like almost all of these cases, there's a great deal of 'grey' area when it comes to exactly what bounds those are. So what it comes down to is the opinion of the FAA, and what they think of those bounds, and what TJP has done is burned up a good hunk of it good will in this situation. Ever go to court for anything? Even when you're in the right, there's merit to behaving yourself in the courtroom and maintaining the decorum the judge wants. In this case, you have kicked in the courtroom door, and walked in shouting and pointing fingers. Good luck with the 800 lb gorilla.

Shit is light these days...cameras, rigs, common sense, IQs.........

I added the bold to highlight the operative word. I know it's technically possible to preserve the qulaity throughout the process, but if I'm not mistaken, that relies on specific media and equipment used by both the DZ and the consumer. A failure in any of those areas will result in lost quality, and make the notion of jumping a DSLR for video a lost cause. Not to discount the other reasons you gave, but even if the OP was willing to do 'anything' required to get the highest quality video, if the DZ and consumer are also not on board with plan, nothing the camera flyer does is going to get that image quality onto the screen in the customer's home.

I get that, but think about how the video is delivered and watched by your customers. Does it get stepped on in the edit process? When it's burned to a DVD? When that disc is played on a DVD player? What is the customer really ending up with? I think it's highly unlikely that you're going to end up getting video as good as your stills that your customers will be able to view in their homes. It's not about what you see dumping footage to a hard drive or reviewing your work straight from your camera/card on a laptop, it's about what the customer will see when they watch the video. Your answer is to use the right tool for the job, and for this type of for-pay, repetitive video, look for the lightest and cheapest route that your DZO will allow. The end product the customer will get will not be all that different, and your physical workload/investment will reflect the job at hand. If you have a way to take advantage of the better quality footage for your personal projects, where you can control the edit, media, and where it's shown, then by all means use your DSLR. Short of that, it's just extra gear for the sake of extra gear, and that seems like a waste.

What kind of video? What are you shooting, how are you editing the footage? What's your overall goal?

Why? All it does is drive down the value of everyone's work. Again, I'm not a slave to the 'almighty dollar', I could see donating pics or services to all sorts of causes. Some of them might be charity-based or for people less fortunate than I am, and others might be for people I feel are worthy of my goods or services based on the quality of their character. In this case, the guy is a stranger, a non-jumper who is looking to improve the quality of his product, which he is producing for his own personal profit, with the addition of someone elses work, but he is not willing to pay. Again, he gets paid for his work, but you don't get paid for yours. I would suggest that my viewpoint of not giving away images you worked to produce is far more reasonable than your willingness to accomodate some random guy who randomly posted on the internet looking for a handout to make his for-profit article more appealing to his publisher. He's not a jumper looking for help with a college project, or a DZO looking for an image to make a poster for a charity drive he's hosting, it's some dude who admits that he was unable to get suitable images, but he still wants his piece published (and his paycheck signed), so he wants a handout.

Have you made any jumps? Try one, and if you feel like it's something you want to do again, do it again. Keep doing this until you don't want to jump any more. It's different for everyone. Some people don't want to jump at all, and some people don't want to do anything but jump.

Again, the limit of your understanding is time. DSLRs capable of shooting video haven't been available that long. Talk to any camera flyer who has been in the game for more than 10 years, and they'll confirm that 'light(weight) makes right'. You can get away with all sorts for stuff for a while, but sooner or later it will catch up with you. I'd say that 75% of my jumps have been with one or more cameras, and that one of the reasons that's possible is that I've made it a priority to keep it lightweight and low profile. It's not about what you can do 5 times, it's what you can do 5000 times.

No. Paying it forward is helping someone who cannot help themselves. Giving of yourself for the benefit of those less fortunate. The OP here is looking for a handout. He is being paid for his work, but does not want to pay for a photographer. He freely admits that he could not capture suitable images himself, but does not want to pay someone else to do that job. Flip the situation, imagine yourself going to a writers forum and stating, 'I have some stunning images I want to have published in a national magazine, but the publisher is asking for 5000 words to go along with them, can anyone here put that together for me for free?'. What sort of response would you expect. Nobody here is looking for $1000/image, but to offer $0 for your time, expense, and effort is bullshit, and I urge you not to indulge him.

What's really funny is that even though the video is generic in what industry it pretains to, the bulk of the comments are about photography. Hit's the nail right on the head.

A pound heavier than what? A CX-type video camera? You mean to tell me that a DSLR that shoots video, plus the lens, is less than a pound heavier than a CX? What kind of lens are you using in that case? Every 'nice' SLR lens I have seen is heavy, and why would you shoot a DSLR for video because of the quality and not use a 'nice' lens? Oh yee of little camera jumps with any real weight on your head. I recall the days when there was no 'light' set-up you could jump, even just for video. Adding in stills was a significant increase in weight. What is your final product? Are you shooting a feature film? TV show? Independant movie? In any of those cases, I might understand a purpose built DSLR set-up for the shoot, but then again, it would only be one. Why would you need video and stills for a TV show? If you're shooting any of the above, or for a personal video project, just use the one DSLR for your video, problem solved. If you're doing tandem/student videos for $40/jump, and doing multiple jumps per day, weekend after weekend, save yourself the trouble, money, and eventual problems with your neck, and stick with the lightest equipment that your DZO will alllow you to jump.

Are you being paid? My guess is yes, and seeing as this is a for-profit publishing venture, so should the photographer. Just for reference, the United States Parachute Association publishes a monthly skydiving magazine called Parachutist. A subscription to the magazine in included in the price of a yearly membership to the USPA, and in fact, this is the only way to get Parachutist. Paid subscriptions are not available, and you cannot buy it in stores. Despite all this, Parachutist pays photographers when they use their photo. Professional or amateur, if they print your photo, you get a copy of the magazine and a check. Don't show up looking for a handout, it's unbecoming.

You're making several assumptions and errors in your thought process. Nobody is suggesting that anyone learn to swoop from beginning to end on a 'huge' canopy. The suggestion that has been made is that people take their time in downsizing, and that you don't need to be at 'x' WL to start learing to swoop. The operative word there is 'start' learning to swoop. The suggestion about WL is made with the caveat that the jumper will also follow the proper route to swooping, which involves time spent on pattern work, then straight in landings with some double-front risers, followed by 90 degree turns. All of the above should take several hundred jumps before you have really given it it's due consideration, and all of the above can be done on any size canopy. There will come a point in your swooping progression where the degree of turn will go up, and a higher WL will become an asset. Lightly loaded canopies don't like to dive or react to riser input as well as a more loaded canopy, and that can present problems with trying to do bigger turns, like 180 or 270+. The catch is that by the time you get to that point, you should have a couple hundred non-swooping jumps, and a couple hundred jumps split between double-fronts and 90s, and that you would be ready for a canopy better suited toward more advanced swooping. Not going to happen for any reason more than just a joke. The reason being that even pro level swoopers know that it takes time to dial in any canopy, and that you cannot expect to be able to just pick up and do a big turn on a new-to-you canopy, especially one that's so far out of the WL range you're used to. The whole point of this thread appears to be a misunderstanding on your part. While it might be technically possible to swoop a big canopy, the circumstances surroudning it make it unlikely at best. In terms of training, and learning to swoop, a big canopy has it's place for new jumpers who really should be on a big canopy. Provided you have enough experience to begin learning to swoop, and that you follow a sensible progression, your skills and experience will build along the way so your canopy and WL can match your place along the road to high-level swooping.

Are you asking about using two Cannon DSLRs, one for stills and the other for video? If so, it sounds heavy and expensive, and neither one is good for skydiving.

That's nonsesne, you can't make a blanket statement like that. Maybe for your coach, 5 is their limit, but that's a personal thing and there are a ton of considerations. What the weather like? Hotter days will take more out of your per jump, so fewer jumps is the way to go. Are you packing yourself, or using a packer? How hard is your rig to pack? Again, look at the physical output of packing, and factor that into how many jumps you can make. What about your physical conditioning? How much sleep did you get the night before? Are you staying hydrated and fed? The list goes on, but I have to say that 5 jumps is a very light day of jumping for most. As others have mentioned, pay attention to yourself and be sure to say 'when' before you reach your limit, not after. If you want to make more jumps, consider the above factors and account for them. Get to bed early the night before, be sure to bring drinks and healthy snacks to the DZ, and make sure you're in good shape.

Nah, no gym required. Just do some push-ups every morning and you'll be there in no time. Mabye start with 10, but work your way up to 20 or 30 and that's all you need. It's not that men are 'stronger' (sometimes we are) it's that men are usually bigger. For me to get up and brush my teeth takes more strength than for you to do the same. You spend your day moving around and operating a smaller body, so you have smaller mucsles. I have more bulk to haul around, so I have bigger muscles. All of that makes perfect sense until we get to the DZ, and both jump essentailly the same rig (yours with a smaller harness). End reuslt, I can clear a hard pull, and you might not be able to. Just some push-ups, even if you go every other day will be more than enough (along with packing your PC better). It will also help with your flare as well, another area the ladies sometimes have trouble.

Pack your PC differently, I'm pretty sure the link in the other reply is to a video showing you how to do that. If you use a packer, make sure you leave time to repack your PC when you grab your rig, so you can be sure you did it the 'right' way. No offence ladies, but it's not that uncommon for females to have a hard pull. It's not 'common', but 9 times out of 10 when a hard pull leads to a reserve ride, it's a female jumper. It's just due to less upper body strenght. For this reason, you need to use extra care in how your PC is packed and that your BOC isn't too tight (the recent incident in Elsinore was due to a tight BOC pouch). Finally, one tip that might work next time you have a hard pull, try bracing your elbow against the side of your container, to give you more leverage on the PC. When you pull without your arm touching anything, you're more or less using only your shoulder muscle, and with your arm extended and behind you, leverage is not your friend. If you jam your elbow into the side of your rig, you can use your bicep and forearm to do a 'curl' and maybe get the PC moving. Once it starts to release from the jam, you need to go back to using your whole arm so you can still get a good toss on the PC. The above, of course, is all dependant on time and altitude. Practice the manuver on the ground, with your rig on and all straps tight. Actually pull and toss the PC several times this way so you know the move. If you do have a hard pull on your first try, then jam your elbow into your rig and give it another shot. Some people say '2 tries, 2 seconds', some people give it 3 tries, whatever you choose, decide ahead of time what your number is and stick to it. Adding 'just one more try' is what kills people when they get too low for a reserve inflation.

The point has already been made that it's the rig, and not the TI that you need to be concerned about. Even with a foot on the step, does the rig break the plane (no pun intended) of the door? It's a pretty big rig. I think the more important factor is what you think you can do safely. If you feel confident in your ability to back yourself back into the plane, I can't see a reason not to do so. Do you have the hand/foot holds to safely guide the passneger back into the plane without hitting the doorframe? Can you do it without disturbing the pilot (too much)? The thing is, you never know why the person is saying 'no'. They might just be scared, but they might also have another reason such as medical, physical discomfort, or a concern about the harness. Without knowing their reason, to dismiss it as simple whuffo 'fear' might not be the right choice. I know I said the refund policy should have nothing to do with it, but that's for the student. As the TI, you should remember that you collect your pay as soon as the plane takes off, so there's no motivation for you to do anything besides ensure that the customer has a safe and enjoyable experience. If that means an airplane ride without skydive, it's their money and their choice.

This is where an escrow service like Chuting Star comes in handy. You don't need to 'know' anyone to get them to escrow your deal, you just have to pay for them to inspect the equipment. Of course, a jumper with a rig and without a rigger is a problem. You could just find a rigger whenever you visit a DZ, but if you buy gear without a riggers inspection, you're taking a chance that when you do present it to a rigger to be packed, that you'll be denied your request. There are a variety of things to look for in an inspection, and riggers will be familiar with the in's and out's of each type of rig. They'll also have a list (or they should be able to research) any Service Bulletins or Airworthyness Directives on the rig, and if they have been complied with. You could find a greta deal on a rig with 10 jumps on it, but if there's an outsatnding AD on the container, you're not going to get it packed until the AD has been complied with.

Not left out, just brought up at a time when they can actually do something about it. Typically, their money has been spent once the aircraft leaves the loading area, so you might mention it before boarding. While doing a final harness check before boarding, you can quietly mention that this is the 'point of no refunds'. Once the aircarft pulls away, they are paying for the airplane ride and your time, jump or no jump. Now they know, and if they have doubts, they can stand down and collect a refund. In the case of a student who doesn't jump, why mention the refund at all? It's the job of the manifest/office people to handle money, so let them deal with it. In the past when students didn't jump, I let them know that skydiving isn't for everyone, and if they didn't feel like they were going to have fun on their jump, then not jumping was the right choice.

You might have limited options going through your local DZ. Buying new is rarely a good idea for a first rig, as you don't really know what you want, and if you buy and sell new gear, you lose a ton of coin. Buynig and selling used gear, on the other hand, can often be done with no money beyond your initial investment. Check with the Chuting Star gear store, they have an escrow program for private parties trying to buy/sell gear. The seller can ship the items to this well-established, trusted retailer, and they will inspect the gear. Provided it passes, the buyer will remit payment to Chuting Star. Once the payment clears, they will pay the seller and ship the goods to the buyer. There is no charge for the escrow, but you do have to pay for the inspections (which you would have to pay a local rigger to do anyway on a used gear purchase). Any seller not willing to ship the goods to Chuting Star is either a scammer, trying to hide a condition issue, or just not worth the risk to deal with.

I would avoid the refund talk at that point. The truth is, their money was spent as soon as the plane left the loading area. At that point, they are going for the airplane ride they paid for, with the TI and rig they paid for, and jump or not, their money has been spent. That's something to explain to them on the way to the airplane, so they know where the point of no (financial) return happens to be.

What is your point with that one? Truth be told, you did state that you only do hop n pops, so I would think the opinion of a guy with 1000's of freefall jumps who might not jump anymore would be far more valuable and relevant than the opinion of a jumper with a couple hundred jumps who only does hop n pops. If you don't jump with anyone, or even track at all, who cares what you think about break-off protocols after bigger group skydives?

Just to be clear, this thread was started in reference to serial number 523. Your post is about 704, so your post is about a different Porter that was also stolen?