USPA

Not being a AFF instructor, but I am an instructor. The answer has been given multiple times. The answer is two fold: 1) They have to show ability to regain from unstability. A backloop is per definition unstabel. Note: A student backloop looks ALOT different from a "style" backloop 2) being out of the belly-to-earth position is very frighting for some students, they need to experience this while they are under direct supervision of an instructor. Even the student has a problem with it, the instructor can deal with it. Reasons for faling a backloop exercise: -Not going completly unstable -Not finising a backloop (180 degree's and doing barrel roll) (they have to had the sence of going "through" it. -Not regaining stability (by themselves/ quick enough) The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

Sorry to blow you bubble (or something like that). But my reply is also simply WHAT? Pretty lame reaction on your side for just someone who doesn't understand you. (let alone the language barrier) I'm curious how you function as an instructor, but now I getting personal. I think you'd best go for Fly like a pro, pack like a pro etc. from pier media. They now have a DVD out which combines all the video's from their instruction series.http://www.pierltd.com/new/main/propage.cfm?part=597 The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

Are you designing a harnas for this, or so drunk that you couldn't find talkback? The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

Hi Bill, This would be the first time ever in my life I disagree (and probably the only time.. :) )with you, but here goes: I haven't read the entire website (Sorry), for from the frontpage I don't feel the need to. It;s full of BS/ incorrect assumptions. I'm busy getting my masters degree in Immunity and Infection and although that means shit, i can tell you it is VERY likely HIV is the cause of AIDS (which isn't a disease, but as the name says a syndrome) and it is VERY likely sexually transmitted. As a fellow scientist you know you can never prove anything that is true, only that which is untrue, that's why I say very likely instead of certain. The page has very much similarities with the anti-evolution/creatonism websites. Which also perfom pseudo science. The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

Maybe you're talking off-topic but to make things clear. Hep. (B) is in no way comparable to HIV. I stated earlier that in The Netherlands I wouldn't mind him jumping tandems. If he would have been infected with Hep (B) this would another story, I would advise him to stop. Hep B is extremly contagious and also deadly (although mostly not direct, but through Liver cancer) The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

To relativate your post... Hep C is not very contageous, only known to spread through shared needle use (it's mostly a "junkie disease") and blood transfusion. (Not mentioned by you, but still) Hep B can be vaccinated for (I'm it's mandatory in The Netherlands, if you are exposed to patient body fluids). And we DON'T HAVE MEDS THAT WORK ON HIV, we can only slow the disease down, not cure it. If you have an HIV infection you are gonna die most probably by it's effects, make no mistake. And although I wish otherwise, it's doesn't look we're gonna cure HIV at all or at least in the next 15 years. (Which means that IF we find a cure (Which I'm very uncertain we will) if won't be on the markter for another 25 years (If it can through a speedy clinical trial (which is as good a certain)) The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

Ok, partly agree with you. There IS virus in saliva. Only it's concentration is so low. that this isn't a realistic infection route. The risk of infection after exposure is indeed small. When an infected patiant is bleeding and a non infected person is also bleeding (crash landing) the possibility of infection is almost non existant, simpy because the bleeding causes the virus to be washed out of the non infected persons wound. I would tell it to your manager/chief instructor (don't know how it is arranged in the US exaclty). I've been stupid enough to perform first aid on bleeding persons without gloves and when I know someone is infected I'm probably more carefull, which I think, is my right. I most agree that you shouldn't yell it around, since alot of people are ignorant and even scared to be talking to you. Now jumping tandems. I've been thinking about this and my opinion (mine alone): In the Netherlands, as long as you don't have AIDS (simply because of bone degeneration and risk of your body failing in some way), you could jump tandems, as long as you are experienced and have a good landing reputation. In the US of A however I'm not sure (but I am not a US resident, so what do I know?) Thinking of the absurd liability system in the US and a jury system I would be a little more scared and might say you'd better not. But then again, I'm not US, so my opinion isn't based on any knowledge. The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

You must be kidding right? I know you shouldn't be allowed to do that in The Netherlands, but I would allow you to jump here. I could defend that in court anytime especially when it's your gf. The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

And above all, these were experimental units...(french fs4) The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

On a windy day, we tried this at our dropzone.. A student ripcord would deploy in strong wind. Though I must add, there is a reason why we weren't jumping, but fooling around in this wind... The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

Uhm, isn't that a 5 handle system? 1) drogue 2) Prim drogue release 3) Sec. drogue release 4) Cutaway 5) Reserve ripcord The same number as the new Sigma rig? The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

Been there, done that. Packing is HARD work, but at the end of the day you ussually go home with $100. That's $2000 dollar a month. Makes a good income. Like I said it's hard work, but that's why it's called WORK.... The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

But this was said but an totaly idiot who wanted to deploy his reserve with his board still attached. His thoughtproces was: Cutaway, if the main hangs on the board cutaway board else pull reserve. (after cutaway board of course also pull reserve). One of those guys IMHO who just doesn't get what he was talking about.... The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

You might always wanna keep track of your altitude more. After the first flip/rol you should have checked you altitude. Guessing from your story (and the comment about the hard opening) I presume you openend just below/at 1500 feet. This might be an altitude at which you want to go directly for your silver, expecially when it is your first jump with this rig. (not knowing handles, most of the time also a smaller reserve than what you're used to fly (not always)). Also you shouldn't only do practice pulls on your new opening system, also on your handles, have you done this on your student gear? If not, you might be in for a surprise... (in freefall) pratice both in freefall and under canopy. You're very lucky, you could scare your AAD with this kind of shit (having 2 canopies out) and losing track of altitude well we all know what that could mean.... In the Netherlands, had your cypres fired and knowing you didn't do any pratice pulls you'd probably have your license suspended.... Well lesson learned... now start to enjoy your knew rig and be carefull out there! The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

If you mean cutaway, I have it on DVD, so there is a DVD version out there... The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

No, the expert doesn't. It has 1, 750 ft belly to earth, aprox 1000ft uncompensated. The student has 2. (does leave my curiousity, what the real uncompensated altitude is on the second activation altitude. The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

Hi Sas, I had this, and have it on video somewhere... My pud twisted around right steering line, causing a slight but continious right turn. Compensated and did a straight in landing... (not my best landing though... ) The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

I wonder where you get this information from.. This is NOT what the manual states, neither is it what Airtec tolded us, when we changed the freefall student rigs from FXC to student Cypres.... The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

I've never seen one, but as I understood it, a SOS system handle is always on the left? The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

The 2 year guideline is necessary, we had a fatality at our DZ back in '95 when in The Netherlands the 2 year rule, was advisory, not mandatory. The jumper in question died because she didn't pulled any handles. The cypres was barely used and therefore it wasn't deemed necessary to replace the batteries at 2 years. The cypres was turned on correctly without errors, but did not fire, due to low batteries. A remark I have to make thought, I started jumping in '97 and became part of the staff in '98, so I wasn't there when the incident happend. The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

landing the main without brakes/steerling lines isn't what I talked about, I talked about CUTTING my steering lines.... The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

I'm not gonna cut In my expansive lines, when I have a perfect reserve canopy with me. It's there for this kind of situations, don't be afraid to use it. On the reserve I would off course cut it and land on the risers. I would probably first fly the main to a place where I can easily find the main and freebag.... I have a fairly high performance wingload 1.7 on both main (eliptical) and reserve. The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

I had the the crew-mod on my old vector, but these mod are of "soft" material. Most probably this wouldn't have prevented it. The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

the flap itself hang-up most probably, so this wouldn't have prevented it. The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

Hi all, We had a small incident at our DZ this weekend, concerning a bent reserve pin. Jumper in question did a proper pin-check and boarded the plane, when she seated herself, she losed her balance and her rig skimed the backplate (of the airplane). Immediatly she asked for a pincheck, the jumper who performed the pincheck spotted a bent reservepin (it had "hang up" on the backplate for a second). She left the plane before taxi-out and had her pin replaced. Head's up for the good safety awareness. See attached pictures for the reserve pin. The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...