nigel99

I disagree to some extent. I tend towards the higher stress category and tend to really like the ex-military instructors who will kick your ass, before they pamper you. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

I agree with eyes on the plane. I don't know the type of aircraft but my breakthrough came when the jumpmaster/instructor told me to maintain eye contact with him after exit. For some reason that very specific instruction worked for me. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

+1 Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

They have practice papers available that are worth getting. There are two categories General and Academic. General is normal for visas and Academic is for University entrance but can also be used for visas. The general is much easier but if you haven't written an essay in a number of years practice your handwriting! The spoken test shouldn't be a problem for any native English speaker. The listening and reading tests are fine, but you do need to pay attention. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

I think I understand what you are saying, but it is ambiguous and could be interpreted in a very dangerous manner. Every single person who jumps should anticipate a malfunction on EVERY jump. As far as failing an AFF level, for not handling a malfunction in an appropriate manner, I strongly disagree with you. Frankly if someone proves that they have behaved in an unsafe manner (or has simply shown that they have failed to grasp a concept previously taught) it is in THEIR benefit to be told to do back n levels, or even to sit through the FJC classroom again. Better to be safe than dead. I am not an AFF-I but it is the way that I would want to be treated. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Rebekah Brooks has resigned and been replaced by Tom Mockridge. Nice bring in the Mafia By the Way Mike, I think Murdoch's interview with the Wall Street Journal is very telling. I think he simply doesn't "get" how badly his organisation has behaved. The only possible reaction for a CEO with true integrity would be to state that there had been a failure in management, and that the current processes and procedures that are in place, are inadequate and a complete over-all was in process. His reaction is very telling of someone who still believes in getting the story "at any cost". It is the reaction of a person who is sorry for getting caught but not for what they have done. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Thanks DSE and Top lots of good tips in there. A few other things that I have remembered. ~ Have the balls to say no. Could be trying to squeeze one last jump in before a storm, jumping with people you are uncomfortable with. Stay within your limits. I have only just got recurrent, and a 4 way that I was on, became an 8 way. I should have backed out at that point but I didn't. It took 2 failed jumps before I had the balls to say it was too much for me. ~ Plan your dive and stick to it. I won't be doing RW where the dive is verbally thrown together on the bus or ride to altitude again. ~ Don't rush to get on the next load. A sloppy pack job thrown together to make the next load is simply not worth it. ~ Properly maintain your gear. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

WTF did that come from??? I was misquoting your post about it being in pieces... Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

For some reason your post made me think of Linux people that I know. They brag about how Linux never needs to be rebooted, because they spend 2 days carefully having to restart individual processes HD don't need maintenance, provided you rebuild them every 10k miles... BTW - the type of bikes I ride tend not to survive being dropped, so I have no idea how much maintenance they require in the longer tem Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

You know where the new harleys were designed don't you? Stuttgart, Germany Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Hmm, yes, that's an interesting take on it. Just investigators, so obviously seperate and working independently. Of course, one of the guys who have so far been convicted and jailed in connection with this mess was not a reporter, but an editor. And one of the guys currently under police bail was not a reporter, but the editor. What theme does that fit? That more information has come out from when I made my first post. Still waiting on that email from Rupert telling people to tap phones - you know, something that would actually support the allegations that he was involved? Business culture is set from the top. A number of journalists have stated that NoW had a standing policy of getting the story at any cost. Bribes, employing shady individuals require financial sign-off. One isolated incident is a rogue employee, wholesale business practice is down to management. By the way - it is becoming apparent that illegal practices are quite widespread in the whole of the UK tabloid press. I am open to the fact that it may be an industry wide problem not specific to one organisation. We also have regulators and bodies that are supposed to provide oversight, they are guilty of incompetence for not exposing this some time ago. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

A recent discussion got me thinking and some of Trae and Sparkies posts in incidents have really got me thinking. As a jumper it is possible to disregard all learning and simply clock up jump numbers. What in your opinion should a jumper be actively doing to be as "heads up" and safe as possible? I am asking in the broadest possible sense, so I would not be surprised to see riggers having a different emphasis on what constitutes safety, to a jump pilot for example. From my very limited experience, I have observed the following in no particular order of importance. But all of the following have been "outstanding" levels of contribution as part of my progression, and are habits that I intend to acquire. 1) Instructor actively staying involved in the progression of people with

I don't think that is true. I think polygamy has a lot more history and is still quite popular and legal in quite a few regions (Africa and Islamic countries). Consenting adults should be allowed to do what they like. 1 husband and many wives or 1 wife and many husbands (she might be a collector), or guys or gals it doesn't matter. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

I understand that. I am not scared of landing off (have experience of it, albeit limited). She stated that after her jump she upsized, but that she wouldn't be jumping a balloon again. I am guessing if are "planning" on landing off you could rent a 230 or larger and have a really docile canopy. So I am curious as to why she ruled that out as an option? Edited: Sorry AirAthanas didn't realise and thanks beowulf for correcting. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Do you mind expanding on why you won't jump balloons again? It is very high on my todo list. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

It is from the harness as already stated. I found they went away when I made sure the harness was on firmly. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Is there a chance this was in Germany or a German speaking country at least? "und" is German for and. It doesn't help with the discussion but may help with finding more information. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

To be honest I do have a look on profiles. I am not on FB every 10 minutes, don't have a smart phone etc so when I do log in there are still 200-300 updates so I'll skip quite a bit. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Facebook is alright to stay in touch with people. I don't play the games and have a few people that I hide their updates so that it isn't a constant stream of garbage. It has allowed me to stay in touch with friends who I grew up with, and I am genuinely interested in "major" events that happen in their life. My wife is even less into FB and probably logs in every 2 or 3 months to catch up The key is to not get caught up in the games and crap, and remember the people who have 600 friends probably don't notice that you don't reply to them Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Bingo. I first heard "no more than shoulder level input" in my FJC. I've heard many other instructors give the same instruction. Flaring from this configuration is not difficult, and if the jumper has any worries about how to flare it after doing a control check they can chop it. I always drilled them on it in the harness too. "You're in a slow turn to the right. what do you do?" The correct response is to give some left input until it flies straight; if input is shoulder level or above a control check is next, if input is more than shoulder level a cutaway and reserve deployment are next. I'd drill them on both situations. I appreciate you outlining the logic. I guess with some practice flares, you could get your head around it prior to being committed to landing. I do think you are giving us newbies more credit than we deserve though on our ability to flare correctly - when you say flaring it is not difficult

Very good advice Paul. I am lucky in that where I jump I have access to a number of very good people. I am currently soaking up information and learning like a sponge. I am involved in voluntary industry committees, in my line of work (not skydiving related). I realise how much work and commitment it takes. So the people who contribute within the USPA have my respect. I do think that the USPA is best positioned to assist in the change of culture. I like the fact that accuracy is a requirement for both the B and C license, but it could start to encompass alot more detail. When we had the accuracy competition on the Farm recently, Popsjumper sat down and reviewed canopy flight with all of us. Nothing that he covered was not part of a first jump course, and yet every single one of us went out after the review and practiced the techniques mentioned. There were people with 180 jumps involved. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Attached are the Dutch Rules For Canopy choice. You might want to look though it. Sparky Sparky, after reading through the document it would seem that these are definitely rules and not a certain manufacturer's guidelines. Who is responsible for enforcing the rules and what is the penalty for someone who doesn't adhere to them? Those rules are from the Netherlands and I am guessing it is their equivalent of the USPA. We have a couple of dutch posters here and they have mentioned the more conservative approach to canopy choice a few times. For an interesting read there is also the British Parachute Association Canopy progression manual(s). While I originally mentioned PD's categories, it is not their place to "regulate" the sport. However I do feel that manufacturers could provide more clarity. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Attached are the Dutch Rules For Canopy choice. You might want to look though it. Sparky Interesting thanks. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

I think it should be the USPA it is not the manufacturers job to self regulate. People can't have it both ways. We can't bitch about deaths and injuries under open canopies, and then resist change. Having to meet specific objectives under canopy is the correct method in my mind. There is no point just requiring jump numbers. Guidelines will always be broken, but at least people will KNOW that what they are doing is irresponsible. I slightly disagree that the best person to take care of yourself is yourself. I like to know that someone with 1000+ jumps has my back, is prepared to offer guidance and mentoring. Sure it is my responsibility to behave in a responsible manner. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Actually, the discussion of your choices and viewpoints goes directly to the issue raised by the OP's original question: what does Novice, Intermediate, etc mean with respect to skills, training, and experience, and how do they relate to the choice of an appropriate canopy. Divalent is right. I quite strongly disagree with the vague guidelines as it allows people to find "mentors" who are prepared to tell them what they want to hear. For your interest I suggest you dig out the downsizing checklist here on dz.com and also read the section on advanced canopy flight in the SIM. Work on accuracy by placing a towel in the dz so that you have a "real" target to aim for. Challenge yourself to wring every last ounce out of your current canopy - you can have alot of fun doing it. The USPA has a canopy progression card even if you don't go on a formal course work with an AFF-I or up-jumper at your dz to un-officially run through the exercises. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.