nigel99

I knew it was out of warranty and wasn't looking for a freebie. I would have been quite happy to pay for a repair. My concern was about them not being willing to repair it at all after a year. So if the one I bought to replace it dies in 13 months, I'm supposed to throw it in the garbage and buy a third one? I almost didn't buy the replacement because of that. If it happens again, I'll replace it with someone else's product. Ok, I see your point of view. The sad fact with modern electronics is that it costs more to repair than replace. I guess that as they have historically set a benchmark of free replacements they have a bit of a PR management issue. Maybe they should have stopped the freebies, but adopted a policy of reduced cost replacement? I don't know I'm not a marketing person. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

That wasn't my experience. I recently contacted them about my ProTrack which had stopped working and was told I was out of luck because it was over a year old. I was surprised given how often I hear about their legendary customer support. I ended up buying a new one. I almost bought something from a different manufacturer out of fear of getting stuck with another paperweight if it died again in 13 months, but in the end decided I liked the ProTrack better than the competition's products. I hope I didn't make the wrong choice. I don't know what to tell you -- mine was TEN years old .... They provide a 1 year warranty and so anything they do over the top of that is over and above their 'duty'. It is nice that some people get freebies, but that isn't really customer service (it's marketing). My limited experience is that they are very good and I'm happy with their products and service. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

It's my biggest concern regarding digital altimeters. In freefall to me all that matters is the red-line. I don't really care if I'm at 6 or 8k generally. That said, I like my Viso 2 and it is nice under canopy. I have the normal hand mount and was initially putting the rubber loop around my middle finger, but since moved it to my index finger. That improved my ability to read the display tremendously. Have you played around with the mounting? Other jumpers use the elastic mount on their wrist, don't know if that would help as well. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

True enough I'm not sure you really mean that like it sounds. Of course we want to prevent tragedy. And of course we can't prevent all possibilities of it and still practice the sport. I like to think that we should at least try. Maybe in the attempt to try, we come across something that goes a long way towards minimizing. IMO, rules ain't a-gonna do it anyway. We've got lots of rules here in Aus, but the problem is human nature. Many people put the minimum effort into learning and purely focus on having fun. We've got our starcrest which is a requirement for certain dive types and sizes, and it requires you to dock 5th or later on a successful 8 way. I've already joined some of the more experienced jumpers in declining to take part in starcrest jumps where people have not done any RW after the mandatory B license requirements. I honestly think 4 way should be much more active on your average dz. The problem is that it is sneered at as some sort of second rate jump. I've had RW people at the dz make condescending remarks about 4 way (most of the seasoned RW people at the dz are into bigger ways), and there's the long standing freeflier/flatty feud, that isn't always in jest. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

My take is that during your first 100-200 jumps you are constantly learning. You're doing your first 4 ways, 8 ways etc, initially your track won't be great and you may have suddenly find yourself close to other opening canopies. Same thing with the landing pattern, when you find yourself off for the first time, or a really deep spot, or lots of other canopies landing at the same time. With the above in mind I think it makes a canopy that you are more comfortable flying and where things happen that little bit slower. The 190 fits that better. When you botch things up because of you or someone else the larger canopy is much more likely to give you a bruised ego and minor bumps and bruises. A 170 loaded over 1:1 is going to do more damage. Finally a 190 will have good resale value, if you get something used and popular and put 100 jumps on it, you'll probably sell it for exactly what you bought it for. Having your own rig, will also allow you to demo 170 mains when the conditions suit you. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

I thought my post was fairly clear, but just to expand. In the USA EMC (emissions) is regulated by the FCC, but the 'quality' metrics like EMI and ESD are left to discretion of the vendor. Anyway, I'm probably pissing people off, nitpicking of details that aren't really relevant, so I'm going to drop the subject

Thanks. It is pretty common for small(er) companies to not fully comply with the entire requirements of the standards. Primarily because the standards are a convoluted maze. I couldn't find any reference to a CE mark on either AAD and it is normal practice to include the declaration of conformity in the user manual (neither manufacturer does this). It could be that the DOC is supplied separately to the manual as a loose sheet, but as I've never bought an AAD new, I can't say. The DOC must state the EU directives which the product complies with - not the harmonised standards. That dbi corporation link doesn't actually say much. The EU has a funny system where standards and quality are mixed up. You can argue that a product susceptible to ESD/EMI is a nuisance to the user and not an 'interferer', therefore it should not be regulated, but rather left to the market to self regulate. This was the driving argument when I was involved in radio standards in the EU and significant effort was being made to remove the 'quality metrics'. The US tends towards market regulation, and I don't believe EMI or ESD testing is a regulated requirement. I've certainly never experienced a requirement in the few US projects I've been involved in. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

ESD testing is required for CE/FCC approval. Airtec even published the test protocols from their testing. The fact that you have been unable to read and understand those is (imho) beyond me. FYI, the required levels of ESD resistance required by CE/FCC approval is way lower than the levels to which Airtec is testing. If you are looking for any luck in a consumer rights case, you need to prove that the ESD susceptibility is breaking the CE/FCC approval. Good luck doing that! Ok, I'll bite. 1) Can anyone show me a Declaration of Conformity and CE Mark for either Vigil or Cypres? 2) Can anyone provide evidence of an FCC product ID, for either Vigil or Cypres? If so what part are they being tested to? 3) Can you point out the FCC immunity requirements that a product is required to be tested against? I'm looking for EMI/ESD immunity, rather than proof that either manufacturer has done the testing? Not looking for the EU standards as I am aware of those. 4) Out of interest are avionics products exempt from CE/FCC testing in the same way that automotive products are? Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

I love the challenge and being able to fly my body. I don't like the fear and certainly don't do it for the rush or buzz. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

"You go talk, to your friends talk, to my friends talk to me. But we are never ever ever ever getting back together" Qatar whines to Betty...Betty whines to Eddie...Eddie whines to the world. Screw me but there's a hole in the process that didn't get filled. They all got what they earned. You couldn't resist. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

My memory is that is what Airtek said. Static discharge/zapped whatever the tech term is. # They did say that, and with industry standard equipment it is easy to verify. Why they didn't perform standard electrostatic testing (ESD) in the first place is beyond me. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Ooops. Guilty. Hey Andy, I know everyone means well. You may not remember the drama of you teaching turns to Dana one way, and another freshly minted instructor (finished their rating that weekend) telling her you were wrong and to do it another way... Australia has the most restrictive rules I've experienced in jumping, but along with those restrictions come some excellent resources. For example in order to get you B license you must complete an RW training table. The table includes learning to fly centrepoint turns. The B manual has good descriptions and pictures and you get consistent teaching as a result. Internet is brilliant and it is great that we all have access to good instructors andriggers. After an A license people should know enough to know their local rules and filter advice accordingly. Some interesting quirks of Australian jumping, get an A license at less than 20 jumps if you're good enough, camera at 100 jumps, main opening at 1800 ft, coach at 200 jumps but still not allowed to jumps with non A jumpers, 4 levels of instructor rating and the lowest level (D) are not allowed to teach EP or first jump courses. Oh and clouds are ok, with the appropriate procedures in place... Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Aidan, have a look on the APF website, they have 2 documents that you will probably enjoy. The manuals for the A and B license candidates. The bulk of posters here who have instructor ratings (or opinions worth listening to) are in the USA and UK. Often they miss the fact you're in a different system and you'll get different advice to here in Auz. I don't know of any active Auzzie instructors who post, squeak is pretty good but not an active instructor. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

One chick has already been to the dz in Florida, shes got duck tape on her nipples

Why not be proud of the fact that the USA is still the place to go to get world class coaching? Many elite athletes are social knobs, get used to it, become a skygod and join the ranks... Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

This is the wrong place for advice. I'm guessing you are doing a first jump course and possibly haven't jumped yet? Your dz will have a progression and you will get to practice at the appropriate time. Hang around the dz after jumping stops and you should find a helpful instructor for this kind of advice, if not consider another dz... Another thing, student parachutes are designed to be much more tolerant than other canopies. I've seen people walk away from landings as students that would have been far worse on sports canopies. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

He was NOT asked to leave...he said so himself, the dropzone said so. THAT didn't happen. It's not as an emotionally fueled story..but it's factual. Besides he's such a tough mutherfucker he can't skydive in trousers or jump suit in 80 degree weather cause its too hot. I always knew bellyfliers were hard core and freefliers were wimps. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Skyvans eat helmets, ask popsjumper Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

The point is, this guy did something that was about to hit the wallet of the DZO. Try doing that at your home DZ and see what happens. The Qatari teams are spending big money at the moment. Tough choice - tell them to suck it up cupcake and they'll just go down the road and spend big money with your competitor instead. Or, pander to them, get them all the freaking blue M&M's they want and keep your business afloat. I posted in the general skydiving thread in similar terms - we see it all the time in different ways. It's the little guy (solo visiting jumper with a couple of hundred jumps) who is most vulnerable out. They're always the least important as they spend the least, least likely to come back anyway, least likely to still be in the sport in 5 years time, least likely to have friends put off by your behaviour etc etc etc. This is not really a story about freedom of speech, Qatar, Muslims, tattoos or anything else. This is the age old story of a newish licensed jumpers experiencing shoddy customer service. No wonder we loose so many before they hit 500 jumps. Either that or they get used to the behaviour, get on with it and make it past 500 despite their treatment. By that point they start to be important enough to matter anyway so the behaviour diminishes. Spot on. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Here is an excellent post on the 'why'. I've copied it from the other thread - the author is Robin Heid. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Wombat, learning also involves taking on board advice that you don't want to hear. From your initial post, the rig doesn't sound safe to jump. You said in that post 'it is only a matter of time, before you have to pull the reserve'. Maybe you were new to the rig, and have since discovered you over-reacted initially, but the guys advice was pretty good, going on what they know of your situation. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

For a jumper that states I have no idea why my hard deck is 2000 ft I think I gave pretty solid advice. I didn't really give solid advice so much as passed on solid advice I was given. Congratulations on finding a semantic argument where the hard decks differ by 10% and the general theme was completely ignored. If you keep typing you will finally be able to split the atom with your replies. You misunderstand. I personally DO NOT know the UK opening heights for various licenses. I think it is unwise to refer people to the SIM when they are in a different country. The SIM is an excellent resource, but it is critical that local regulations are understood. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

A good reason for him to deviate from the SIM is that he jumps in the UK! Unless you're sure the BPA policy is the same as the USPA. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

As an exercise find out what the BPA opening height requirements are, it might explain where your hard deck originates. The USPA has a few different heights depending on license (I cant remember what they are). Here in Oz, main opening is by 1800ft, unless it is a demo, then under certain conditions it can be lower. If I don't have a good main by 2000 ft I will be doing EP and if I am below 1000ft and something goes wrong I am ONLY dumping my reserve and not chopping. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

Strobes were pointing down. Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.