peek

I like that. I think it is completely appropriate to tell a student that I expect them to help assure their safety.

I will check into that with this particular unit.

Note: This discussion does not refer to the Cypres 2. Much has been said about the inability to turn off the original Cypres. Many people have experienced this. The characteristic I have seen is that when the switch is activated, the LED does not even come on the first time. In other words, it is not "seeing" the switch. I have been unable to turn off a Student Cypres during descent, and until now thought that this was a problem only with the Student Cypres or when the unit is busy during altitude calculations during descent. I finally caught a unit doing it on the ground. (I have heard that other people have had problems with them on the ground.) This unit is in an experienced jumper's rig, which was being borrowed by a jumper with 30 or so jumps, and this jumper asked me what was going on when he was unable to turn it off. I verified (multiple times) that the LED would not come on in response to a switch operation. I then remembered people talking about getting a response from the unit by rapidly pushing the switch numerous times. I tried this and it worked. For the many of you claiming over the years that it is a "user" issue, e. g., not knowing how to operate the switch, well, sorry, it ain't true.

The best thing would be to find out why your toggles are becoming unstowed on opening and solve that problem.

Flight Concepts Man O' War, 320 Square feet. I have been jumping one for a long time and know it's flight characteristics. I don't really do "tight" demos.

I hope you are joking, but fear you are not.

Of course, the deed would need to be proven. Perhaps that is why we have not (have we?) heard of any rigger doing that. How would it be proven beyond doubt?

Folks, just when I thought I'd heard everything.... I'd give it a few more jumps before coming to any conclusion.

That would be me: Outrageous Pack Jobs and Canopy Control http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i16HryVyRaI Try to ignore the comments people leave.

I was packing them way back before AAD's were required on tandem rigs, so I experienced the transition to the slippery AAD style loops. I too was not happy with the lack of tension. The AAD type loop material may not stretch, but the knots move a very small amount, so you need to start very short, expecting it to move. Make them so short that you don't think they will work. Using the "hollow end temporary pin" will allow it to work if it is really short. For example, Para Gear number S7935. It is difficult work but worth it to get the pin tight.

"greengrocers' apostrophes"

Good catch, Jan! And it could get cut even without you using your hook knife. It could get friction burned in two with a suspension line in a wrap. Even without the handle becoming dislodged, because there is a small amount of cable (line) exposed.

Short answer, yes.

That is a good question. In the case of an engine failure at 5000 feet there should be time to do something to insure the student is deployed shortly after exit, but if it was somehow an emergency that required that the jumpers leave the aircraft as quickly as possible so that the pilot could get the aircraft back in control, I think the pilot's opinion should take precedent. And a pilot in that situation would not care who is the instructor and who is the student.

My guess is that those instructors have become complacent. Or, that one of the instructors has become complacent or doesn't care, and other instructors are copying him/her. Happens all the time.

Even far less than that if you are willing to accept an older technology, i.e., LED display with shorter battery life, versus LCD display.

Bill, I'm thinking the article in that post needs a permanent home. By all means point us to the post you first made after your research, or post them again.

N/A

No, I was talking about tandem students only. The other types of instruction require training on emergency procedures, which ought to make anyone think they have to remember a lot! I don't disagree with that at all. My point was that some people think tandem students should not be trained much, thinking that they will not enjoy the jump if they are. I was just saying that I (as well as others) have not found that to be the case.

That's a really nice situation you are in. Very interesting to hear about it.

If you train your student you can expect them to be nervous, but they will respect and trust you, and will try to perform well for you. If you tell them what to expect, they will not be so scared when "things happen". The day that you "come of age" as a tandem instructor is when you ask yourself right before exit, "I wonder what this person will do.", yet not be nervous about it because you know you can handle anything a well trained student will do. Have fun!

At that point a DZO could say, "You are not doing that at my drop zone". There is not too much else anyone could do.

Another interesting post, Nick, one that gives us a lot to think about. I'm not convinced AFF is a "failure", but as Wendy indicated with her "tool" metaphor, skydivers tend to see the latest and newest technique as a panacea. All of the instructional methods are good if applied properly, but if all you have is staff interested in doing the instruction that makes them the most money, it will be misapplied.

First of all, the more experienced skydivers need to adjust their attitude about how to deal with someone who is not ready to participate in an "advanced" activity. If an experienced jumper/DZO/instructor/Skygod creates a lot of drama and more or less says, "You aren't ready, Boy, you're gonna kill yourself", it is a complete turn off, and learning will stop. Someone who is not ready for an activity needs to be educated on the dangers, not ridiculed. And to answer your question, if someone is educated on how to perform the "advanced" activity properly, they _should_ pick up on the fact that there is a lot they didn't think about, and in all likelihood, reconsider. Then if they don't further action can be taken.

Personally I think it is somewhat tacky for a drop zone to mention tipping in their documentation or on their web site. I think most instructors would rather you buy some beer and hang out with them at the end of the day, drink some with them, and ask questions about skydiving. That shows your appreciation much more than mere money.