chuckakers

Yep - damn dumb. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Actually it is worse than that. There's no reference in Scott's column even similar to your statement above. He makes a single reference to getting "positive skydiving coverage" when talking about a campaign 2 years ago to notify local media when a hometown jumper earned national or international titles. Every other reference to anything positive is all about giving champions "long-overdue visibility and public recognition". On top of every other controversial aspect of this program, I find it downright goofy that the general promotion of the sport doesn't seem to be in play as a motive for the decision. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Assuming your recollection of the conversation at the board meeting is accurate, this thing is stinking worse as the details come out. Here's the "official" version of the meeting as recorded in the minutes... 10) James Hayhurst made a presentation on a proposed sponsorship development plan that centers on using members of the U.S. Parachute Team to perform demonstration jumps at airshows and other events. His proposal resulted in the following motion: Motion 19: Passed, 20/0/0 (Mr. Smith) “Move to establish a pilot program to form a demonstration team comprised of current and former U.S. Team members and other highly qualified skydivers to raise money for the United States Parachute Team Inc. The team will prepare for and attend the ICAS (International Council of Air Shows) Convention to market the Team’s shows. The U.S. Parachute Team Inc. will reimburse USPA for seed money and expenses supporting the team from the profits earned.” The above minutes seem to match up with what Ed Scott said in his October column, which directly contradicts your version of what was actually said in the meeting. If your version of the events is accurate, it sounds like a case of Hayhurst telling you what you wanted to hear and then doing things the way the head shed wants to after the meeting is over and members aren't in their faces. And just be sure we're all clear on the details, no where in Scott's column or the meeting minutes does it say profits will be put in the US Team Trust Fund. Scott said in the column that profits would be used toward expenses at international competitions. Also there is no mention of a "Demo Team" in either document. All references are to the "US Team" performing demos. Are board meetings recorded with either video or audio? If so it would be pretty easy to find out if there are some shenanigans going on. If the meetings aren't recorded, maybe it's time they are. Another question I have for the board. They say the $10,000 is a loan to the newly formed team. What happens if the team can't turn a profit and repay the loan? That's membership money that the board has a fiduciary obligation to protect. If the team is a financial bust, that will be yet another financial fiasco at the hands of the board. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Everything you need to know... http://www.uspa.org/Portals/0/Downloads/Man_SIM_2011.pdf Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

30 second edit. Never ceases to be funny. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST01bZJPuE0 Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Sounds as though he also forgot to check it before he put on the rig and again before he boarded the aircraft. Apparently whoever gave him a gear check also missed it. He did get a gear check, didn't he? Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

It is a 1000 jump award...I have 1000 jumps, so I earn it. Why does it matter what license I have? Is like requiring a drivers license to get a cooking diploma. Ok, it is their rule, all I'm saying is stupid. Screw them. What license I need to have an opinion? And you don't know me, you piss off and don't call me names. From what I understand it's a requirement to have earned the appropriate license AND made 1000 freefall parachute jumps in order to receive the Gold Wing award. So it's really more like having to have a drivers license in order to get a commercial operator ticket. Gold Wing award is a recognition of achievement in the sport, it shows dedication toward personal advancement which is an all encompassing never ending task...it's really not just badge you get for elevator rides. SIUCC ...and as far as calling names, in what context & just who were you referring to with the 'idiots' comment? Funny, my GW certificate says "for completion of 1,000 freefall skydives in compliance with the requirements of the United States Parachute Association". As far as I know there's no requirement to hold a D license to complete 1,000 freefall skydives. I get your point but the idea of holding a particular license to be recognized for reaching a jump number milestone seems a little silly. Mine say "...in accordance with the Basic Safety Requirements of the USPA." Another example is, when I was approaching my first thousand, I had a considerable number of military jumps and wondered why I couldn't put in for the Gold Wings based on the criteria established (intentional exit...) . Jim Crouch (also former Airborne) explained the BSR's stated the minimum opening altitudes and that was that. Don't have to agree, disagree or even understand... Them were the rules and I went on to get them the USPA "way." Seemed a little silly and the rules have changed since then, but that's good for the now former Airborne guys. So there have been changes in the wording on the document, but the premise is the same. If the OP made all 1,000 jumps in accordance with the BSR's I still don't see the need for him to hold a particular license to get an award that is solely for the purpose of recognizing a jump number milestone. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

It is a 1000 jump award...I have 1000 jumps, so I earn it. Why does it matter what license I have? Is like requiring a drivers license to get a cooking diploma. Ok, it is their rule, all I'm saying is stupid. Screw them. What license I need to have an opinion? And you don't know me, you piss off and don't call me names. From what I understand it's a requirement to have earned the appropriate license AND made 1000 freefall parachute jumps in order to receive the Gold Wing award. So it's really more like having to have a drivers license in order to get a commercial operator ticket. Gold Wing award is a recognition of achievement in the sport, it shows dedication toward personal advancement which is an all encompassing never ending task...it's really not just badge you get for elevator rides. SIUCC ...and as far as calling names, in what context & just who were you referring to with the 'idiots' comment? Funny, my GW certificate says "for completion of 1,000 freefall skydives in compliance with the requirements of the United States Parachute Association". As far as I know there's no requirement to hold a D license to complete 1,000 freefall skydives. I get your point but the idea of holding a particular license to be recognized for reaching a jump number milestone seems a little silly. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

That was the point..... a person could post the state, unless your the only dz in a state, then it could any one dz in that state, yet provide enough info for someone to decide if they want to live in or work in bum fuck Arkansas for a season. That is if your a DZO who is worried about saying where your located by city or dz name... regardless pretty stupid to not provide some basic info to the masses IMHO. So you are asking for the DZ to limit its anonymity by more specifically identifying its location. Kind of contrary to the DZ's effort, don't you think? Strat, it seems you are splitting hairs over an unimportant point. If the DZ wants to remain anonymous, so be it. If you don't like the strategy, don't apply. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Damn, Troll. At least try to blend in before dropping a line in the water. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

You know I don't to a degree, however throw a bone, you know Texas is real BIG, could be any dz, but narrows the map a great deal over "southern dz", I've sent a msg asking where for the very reasons I posted about.... still have no reply. "Southern DZ" means Texas? Unless I'm mistaken, Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, and even Florida could commonly be referred to as "southern". And if you contacted the DZ through dz.com using your screen name, I wouldn't expect them to answer you if they are following this thread. If I'm missing something please enlighten me. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Finally, one GOOD reason to have a GoPro - awesome youtube vids! Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

There any number of reasons a DZO might not want folks to know what DZ is being referenced. House cleaning - might not want those about to get canned to know that the end is near, lest the DZ find itself suddenly under-staffed. Strategic information protection - might not want the competition to know that the DZ is under-staffed or give the competition a chance to take steps to hang on to its staff. Disgruntled backlash - might not want former (or soon to be former) staffers to spread falsehoods to folks they know that are looking for a position that might apply. The list could go on, but that expresses the concept. There are many businesses in every industry that keep recruiting and hiring efforts under wraps. Why would you expect a DZ to be any different? Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Watcha gonna do with that screen name when you aren't new any more? Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Good luck! Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

We were having 2 different conversations. I was referring to the idea of adding an area that would use existing (or beefed up) air flow to add kiting or soaring to an existing tunnel operation. That's what the OP was asking about. I agree with you on you opinion on the turbines. The tunnels are about as tweaked out as they can get with current technology anyway. Metni has spent untold dollars on the engineering to get them where they are, so I'm sure if there was a more efficient way to do it he would be headed that direction. I'm sure we will eventually have better/cheaper ways to push volumes of air, and when we do we will see it in action. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

You're welcome to your opinion but without knowing what the costs and potential revenues would be, I don't think it can be said that it couldn't work. It's more a matter of whether or not enough volume of paying customers could be attracted to use the facilty for a fee - just like skydivers use the vertical tunnel for flying and they make money. Are you saying that a stand-alone facility for kite flting or soaring couldn't make profit either? Pretty sure there were people that told Alan Menti he couldn't make money with faster, more expensive tunnels - and now they are all over the world. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

And while that's true, the additional revenue from the added activity could make up for those additional costs. Much like the tunnel itself, which cost big bucks to operate, yet operate (presumably) at a profit. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Some hook knives have handles that can be taken apart, thus giving the user a razor that could be attached to any variety of handles. That would make it much like a box cutter, which were used in the 9/11 attacks. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Not sure that logic works out the way you think. When moving the insane volume of air needed to push a 12-16 foot diameter column at 120 to 160+ mph, darned near anything that disrupts flow becomes a huge factor at any point in the circulation system. These tunnels rely very heavily on efficiency to be profitable, so even a small impact on airflow can make a big difference in the bottom line. Not saying your idea doesn't have merit. It's just that you have to pay for even small inefficiencies. Alan Metni of Skyventure could probably answer your question. I would think he knows the numbers inside out and backwards. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

So what's the rigger's symbol on it the seal? Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Can't even begin to answer your question, but it's an interesting one. Any additional uses for the flowing air would hinder airflow to some point, so certainly that additional requirement would have to be addressed (less efficiency in moving air costs money), but conceptually it sounds like a creative way to use air that is already moving to aid the revenue side of the business model. Pretty much talking out of my rear-end, but I like it - especially just the kite idea. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Can't really say, but we were jumping something similar to the swivel in the link provided and never experienced a break. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

I will begin this post by making one thing exceedingly clear. I DO NOT KNOW THE FOLLOWING TO BE FACTS. I was provided the information by another jumper who posts regularly on dz.com and whom I consider credible. I will not divulge any names because I cannot verify any of it and do not plan to try. If the names of any of the involved parties or drop zone are revealed in this thread, so be it. However I won’t be the one to name any names, so don’t throw down on me. According to the source, there is a USPA board member that regularly jumps at a drop zone where jumpers don’t wear seat belts for take-off, which is of course in direct violation of Federal Aviation Regulations, and therefore in direct violation of USPA Basic Safety Requirements. The drop zone in question is not a USPA group member, so it could be said that following BSR’s isn’t necessary. Following FAR’s however, is required by all drop zones in the U.S. USPA continues to preach to us that we need to change our ways or the FAA will do it for us – as in crack down on all aspects of skydiving with additional regulations and restrictions. If the drop zone in question were to have an aircraft incident and it was discovered that the failure to wear seat belts contributed to the body count, the sport will come under renewed scrutiny by the feds, something the rest of the rule-abiding skydivers and drop zones don’t need or deserve. Personally, I find it disturbing that there may be a USPA director that jumps at a DZ where FAR violations are the routine, and even more disturbing if the director participates in the violation as well. That's just my opinion. I believe if USPA talks the talk, the officials who run it should walk the walk. The purpose of this post is to solicit opinions on the issue. Tear it up. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Wouldn't last 5 minutes before a mod would pull it. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX