nigel99

standard practice - nothing wrong there! http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3246379#3246379 This incident/discussion is what made me question what he does. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

I am not sure who has read the article "Confessions of a canopy coach" in the latest issue of Parachutist. The following things struck me. 1) The article opens with describing how Stu Schoenfeld loosens his chest strap, pulls his leg straps down his thighs and then releases his brakes. I don't remember the name but there was a fatality some time ago where an experienced jumper couldn't find their reserve handle and the speculation/comment was how he had already loosened his chest strap. So question - is this canopy coach wrong? Is there a reason you can't release the brakes and do a full control check first? 2) Canopy fatalities are on the rise. The entire article is focused on Canopy coaches/pilots where the LARGEST canopy is a 101 square foot and that is into a "tight" demo area. My view is the USPA missed an opportunity here with this article. Why not get some input that is more useful to sub 1000 jump people? Yes it was an interesting article and it was the author who chose the subject. The footnote could have provided more details on what canopy coaching can do for people, other than leaving the impression that canopy coaching is for swoopers or swooper wannabe's. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

I would support such a change applied to owner-jumped mains. I figure an owner is smart enough to appreciate the risks involved in having a stranger pack his rig. I'm not so sure about student or tandem equipment, though. Should equipment "for hire" require a higher standard of care? Mark That sums up my view of the most workable system. Personal equipment is down to the owner, equipment for hire should be packed by a "trained professional". I don't think that it is necessary that the person is a rigger though, so I see an advantage in a separate packing certificate/rating. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Shah are you sure you like girls? See Shrop and my posts up thread about this type of transport Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

So who packs your student, rental and tandem rigs? What are the Swiss regulations about packing? Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Don't you think that the current system is more open to legal abuse? Here's a hypothetical situation as an example. Lets say that I have just bought my new gear and have just got my A license. The local friendly up jumper who is not on staff but has been jumping for 20 or 30 years helps me out by packing my slippery new ZP main that I am struggling with. For some reason I am have a hard opening that breaks a couple of lines and puts my neck out. I can see that someone "might" have legal recourse and if they are an arse could make life difficult for the friendly up-jumper. I don't know what the legal sanction for breaking an FAR is, but the nice person is technically in the wrong. I realise that a UK style packing certificate doesn't necessarily fix this example. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

I haven't jumped in the UK. I think it makes perfect sense to have a certificate/license to pack without direct supervision. How many UK jumpers get the certificate out of interest, do most up-jumpers have a packing certificate or very few? Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

The definition listed in Part 105 pretty much gets rid of any rogue interpretation with the "observes" verbage. See below:(from 105) Direct Supervision means that a certificated rigger personally observes a non-certificated person packing a main parachute to the extent necessary to ensure that it is being done properly, and takes responsibility for that packing. MEL In that case my feelings that the current system in the US doesn't work in practise are even stronger. I am not sure that I can say with any confidence that the majority of paid pack jobs have had a rigger observing the process in full compliance with that definition. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

It just seems that you are able to open yourself up to problems under the current US system. As I said I've had a friend pack for me (breach of the rules). I have also seen other people pack for others because the load was on a short call and they were quicker/more experienced. Those people who did the "favour" could potentially be in trouble if something went wrong. I can't comment on paid packers and their level of supervision by riggers as I haven't worked at a dz and I have no idea on what structures are in place to monitor the supervision. How would having a certificate change that? It would mean that 'legally' if you hold a packers certificate you could pack for anyone without a riggers supervision, without having to get a riggers rating. Of course you could simply change the rules to state that having an A license allows you to pack a main for anyone. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

http://www.skydivemauritius.com/gallery This has got to be close to being one of the best. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

It just seems that you are able to open yourself up to problems under the current US system. As I said I've had a friend pack for me (breach of the rules). I have also seen other people pack for others because the load was on a short call and they were quicker/more experienced. Those people who did the "favour" could potentially be in trouble if something went wrong. I can't comment on paid packers and their level of supervision by riggers as I haven't worked at a dz and I have no idea on what structures are in place to monitor the supervision. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

I don't generally use a packer. What is the issue with paid packers in the US? It appears to be working just fine at Skydive Dallas. I have never had an issue the few times that I have made use of a packer. What do you mean about the issue of paid packers? I think that "direct supervision" is open to interpretation. It can be anything from the rigger being on site and letting the packer know that they can ask if they have a problem, through to them checking and verifying the work, at defined stages through the packing process. But I also know that I have had a friend pack for me and I know for certain that there was no rigger supervision, so technically we broke that rule. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

No in the US you could jump your own pack job for your first jump. But for your A license you must know how to pack. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

In the US, the FAA dictates who can/should pack a parachute. In the UK I believe that there is a packers certificate and an advanced packers certificate. I have no idea how other countries regulate packing. Looking at the overall model I think there are two categories of main parachute 1) Rental gear (includes tandems and student parachutes) 2) Personal gear I don't really see why licensed skydivers with their own equipment shouldn't be able to use whoever they like to pack their main. They should be knowledgeable enough to know the consequences of poor packing. When it comes to 'commercial' gear then I think that it is reasonable to expect some sort of quality control on pack jobs. Student and rental gear gets abuse and may require more thorough inspections at pack time for a start. I am interested in hearing how various countries operate and peoples opinions on how their local system works. Is it practical, should it be tweaked etc? Personally I think that the US system should be tweaked to have a class of packer below that of a rigger. The A license is your ticket to pack for yourself. I don't think the direct supervision system works in practise and I think an "advanced packer" or "commercial packer" certificate could fill the gap. *Note this line of thought was triggered by comments in an incidents thread. But I would rather we don't pull that incident into the discussion as from past experience that quickly turns into either a witch hunt or defence game. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

[pink]I am loath to suggest them as I think they are pretty gay but the larger scooters are probably most practical. [/pink] I see you aren't arguing about them being most practical though Not that I am going to ever give in and ride one - only step down in manliness from there is the new fangled bikes with two front wheels Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

In that case a Super-Moto style bike (essentially a trail bike with road tyres) would be great for the city .... KTM do some great bikes as do Husky (Husqvarna) Things to look for in a commuter bike are maneuverability, comfort, decent low reving performance and panniers/hardbox for storage. Storage is probably the biggest problem with commuting by bike and a hard box allows you to put your leathers and helmet on the bike without having to worry about them. Heated grips are very good for commuting where the temperatures drop. BMW do some good bikes, the SV650 is good. I had a Yamaha Fazer which was ok for commuting. Yamaha Diversion is brilliant for commuting and very comfortable (I think it replaces the Fazer). I am loath to suggest them as I think they are pretty gay but the larger scooters are probably most practical. Are you allowed to filter in traffic in New York? If you are then smaller is way better, possibly even down to a 125 super-moto style bike. As already mentioned stay away from supersports. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Can anyone confirm if Australia has banned the Argus? Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

At this stage the most important thing you can do about gear is learn about it. Learn to pack, learn what everything does or is supposed to do. Read user manuals etc. It is pretty shocking how little most jumpers know about equipment. As you build your knowledge it will help you make informed decisions. If reading up on gear here on dz.com then be aware that there is a fair amount of noise and it can be difficult to separate the good from the bad. The people who are known riggers are your best bet and it doesn't take too long to figure out who they are. Other than that keep saving for gear. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Properly stated, China does not take jobs. Positions in the US are moved there by the leadership of companies looking to maintain/increase profits. In their short-term glee over low prices for cheap crappy goods; consumers then fuel the death spiral of US manufacturing. Welcome to the dark side of globalization of labor. US workers are still the most productive workers in the world What screws them here is the cost of gov regulation and oversite. We could complete if the gov would get off the backs of business http://www.factcheck.org/2010/11/obama-on-60-minutes/ I never thought I would see you quoting Obama. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-15190563 This is an interesting case. Firstly I think that the guy doing his training is in the right, BUT I also think whoever called him in to the police was right to do so. Where is the balance on reporting suspicious activity and peoples freedom. What would your response be if you saw the same thing? I would have called it in. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Tommy Piras is the most vivid example I have of why AAD's are good. He was one of the most experienced and best skydivers in the world and if his AAD had been turned on he would have probably lived. Secondly AAD's don't necessarily save you. They are setup to trigger at the last possible moment (750ft aproximately). It does not take much of a pilot chute hesitation or any other aspect that slows down the opening for you to impact at unsurvivable speeds. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

FIFY Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

HU? What did I do now? Hum would I get married again? I mean I am a young guy....though now I have some very serious trust issues......I don't see why not. Sure! Maybe one day. I'm sure I'll meet a nice girl and things will go where they go. I figure from your posts you are training to be an old single dude Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

A while ago you said you were too broke to jump. That $25 is a jump a month Get a few tattoos and skydiving t-shirts and the chicks will dig you just the same as if you drove a Boxter. Or man up and drive your bike daily - hell if I can ride daily in the UK I am sure you can in the US. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

I'll tell you what...If you can get, like...lets say, um...practically the whole freaking world as witnesses of kleptomaniac elves, you might have a point. So when there are more muslims than christians you'll convert? Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.