chuckakers

I did not assume he was a USPA member (see reply http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_threaded;post=4053527;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;) BTW, there's a big difference between arrogance and competence. A competent person can tell the difference. ...and an arrogant one doesn't care. ok, now dats some funny sh*t. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

I did not assume he was a USPA member (see reply http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_threaded;post=4053527;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;) BTW, there's a big difference between arrogance and competence. A competent person can tell the difference. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Why would I need an USPA form in Finland? I was just sending an accident report form and USPA's was the first one I found online. Pretty sure the Finland club will accept it in a pinch, though. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Might want to keep this handy. http://www.uspa.org/Portals/0/Downloads/Form_Accident_Report_2007_05.pdf Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

I've tried for years to get people to understand the risks associated with high and/or gusty winds, but it's hard to get people to listen when the most experienced jumpers on the DZ gear up anyway. Some argue that higher loaded canopies can handle more wind, and as far as actual mph that's true. However the same turbulence that will collapse a canopy suspended at 1:1 will collapse a canopy at 2:1, often with more devastating results. But as with everything else in skydiving, it's a top-down issue. No one but students wore hard helmets until the big boys and girls decided the top FS teams looked cool in fullface versions. No one jumped an AAD until Tom Piras' friends buried him and placed their orders for one. When I owned a DZ, I shut the plane down when winds got too high or too gusty. I didn't wait for a TI to tell me they were hesitant or a pilot to say they were uncomfortable. I saved them the trouble. Everyone talks about solving the canopy fatality problem yet your post is the first I've seen pointing out that more than 25% of all 2010 canopy fatalities were wind related. The only way to not die from a wind/gust problem is to stay on the ground when conditions aren't right. What's most interesting, and disappointing, is that the very people who know best and are most trusted - DZO's, instructors, and high-time jumpers - are the ones setting the example of what is acceptable. After all, your Instructor wouldn't jump if it was too windy, would he? And certainly if the winds are sketchy the DZO would never put his staff in danger, would he? Well guess what? They do. And last year 4 people died when they did. Not much "money where the mouth is" left in this sport. Maybe there's too much money in the sport to fit it all in there. BTW, I load a Velo 2:1 and stay on the ground when the winds peak north of 20mph and even lower if the gusts get weird. I've never been injured because of winds, but I sure have laughed as I sip my beer watching Madskillz Marty sitting southbound in the landing area with a northbound femur. Want to stop the canopy fatalities? Start with refusing to jump when you know the winds are marginal - and be vocal about it. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Bring a case for the day you owe it and another for the weekend jumpers. That's what a real skydiver would do. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

OK, let me get this right. I am an individualistic, selfish person killing the sport because I pointed out - correctly - how the vast majority of used aviation equipment deals are done in this country? Where the hell did you EVER jump that people commonly paid to have a reserve inspected by the manufacturer before selling it? Skydive Utopia? On a more personal note, I have spent more time than most giving back to the sport and I take exception to your comments that make me sound otherwise. Might I suggest you perform some due dilligance in the future before spewing your brand of old school wisdom. Otherwise you risk gettin' out old-schooled. Now somebody hand me my cane - we're on a call. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Where the hell did you come up with that? This is aviation, and short of outright fraud there's something call "buyer beware" that nearly all used aviation items - including aircraft - traditionally fall under. If you want to buy something, YOU are responsible for your own due dilligance at YOUR expense, not the sellers. If the buyer can talk the seller into providing a factory inspection, good for that buyer. However, let's not lead people to believe that it is common for the seller to be responsible for providing proof of anything about the equipment - including airworthiness - because it's not. A "conditional" sale is a more reasonable way to do things. If the purchase amount is large - like when buying a complete rig - include a trusted person to provide escrow services. Many DZO's and riggers will do this for you. As for the reserve in question, if the packjobs or rides aren't maxed out, just have it inspected by a rigger - which he/she has to do before packing it anyway. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Unless something has changed, Mike's KA is certified to 30,000 feet. That's how the 4 guys that set the Texas high altitude record at Skydive USA in 1997 were allowed to claim 30,700 feet. Altitude variance, ya know. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Use your eyes - and don't f*ck up. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Send it back to the manufacturer. I don't know about other brands, but as a former dealer I can say for sure that PD WANTS customers to send back problem canopies so they can examine it to determine what's wrong. Just one more reason I have nothing but PD's in my rig. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Got my bicep ribbed off during a funneled 6-way exit. Still a pretty good skydive until I got back on the ground and realized what had happened. Ouch. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

I never had the pleasure in my tandem days - but I'd sure like to grab some TV cash if I ever catch some high-speed spew on video. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Gutted Dacron 550 worked just fine for mains in the day, but I'm sure there will be a dozen modern-day experts that will tell me how lucky I am that I didn't die using it. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

He wouldn't be the first, just the first to walk away from it...maybe. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

If you don't have a good cutaway system when you need one, you may never need one again. Same goes for a hook knife. Stack the odds in your favor. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

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Squint, silly. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Without respect to putting a passenger in a wingsuit, I wonder what the tandem manufacturers would say about the TI wearing one on a jump with a non-jumping passenger. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

That stat tells me we don't have a problem teaching students to fly and land their canopies and perform textbook pattern work, but rather we have a problem teaching our young "experienced" jumpers to deal with the combination of larger groups, lower break-offs, faster canopies, and increased traffic they confront as their freefall skills offer them new opportunities. We will not solve the "fully functioning canopy" fatalities issue until we get serious about collecting highly detailed information about each incident, including near-misses. There are simply too many variables in these accidents to make effective changes to our training procedures without that data. [edited for grammar] Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

only? Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Calibrated eyeballs? Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Just a few weeks ago a fairly new jumper with a brand new Skyhook equipped Icon had the same issue. Several people at the DZ tried to tell her she must have been mistaken when she said the riser got hung up and didn't release from the cover. Sounds like she got it right. So she incorrectly packed the main risers under the reserve risers tab. Don't really know. The only thing for sure is that one of her risers hung up (she was forced to land it that way) and the rig is equipped with a Skyhook. I wasn't there when it happened and do not know the details of a post-jump inspection if there was one. Could be the same problem or a different one, but a problem all the same. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Easily entertained, I guess. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Just a few weeks ago a fairly new jumper with a brand new Skyhook equipped Icon had the same issue. Several people at the DZ tried to tell her she must have been mistaken when she said the riser got hung up and didn't release from the cover. Sounds like she got it right. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX