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I never would have thought. What a shock. I was always impressed with Lowell, his quite demeanor, and how nice he was. My thoughts to his family.

Yes, in many cases we have found this to be an issue. What is everyone's feelings on why this has happened?

Yes I do, and I am also seeing this decline increase. In 2007 USPA membership increased a bit (back to where it was before the drop in 2006) but I don't think membership in organizations is an accurate reflection of skydiving "activity".

Yep, sounds like you have gotten the timing right. I load mine at about 1.9 to one, and at the end of a swoop when it has slowed down and the rate of descent is increasing it will stall if I give it that extra pull down into "deep brakes". My steering lines are not lengthened to accommodate front riser manipulation, but are "taught" in full flight.

Eastern Missouri here, severe clear, 8:30 local, looks pretty good so far.

Now why is that?

Certain incumbents.

Now, John, I didn't find the word "bigot" in that article. Let me rephrase that in another way and see what kind of comments we get: Opinion polls do not accurately reflect how many people will say they are going to vote for the "minority" candidate (because they think it will make them seem open-minded or progressive), but reconsider when actually voting. I think a lot of "bigots" would have been glad to vote for both a woman and a minority if the right person had been interested in the position.

Well, that's interesting, I would think the rapide link is easier, but then, I have a dedicated adjustable wrench in my gear bag just for that. You can get a cheap one from Wally World or someplace, and it will make quick work of a rapide link. And just think, once everyone knows you have one, people will start borrowing it and you will be considered a really cool guy for having one, (at least until someone doesn't return it, and it disappears).

I too have no AV or AS software on my computer. It's very puzzling to me, so I guess this is my opportunity to ask (everyone in this thread.) What is it that you are doing that the AV or AS needs to protect you from? Why don't you learn how to stop doing those things?

Well, the term "load organizer" has such a wide range of meanings, anywhere from a big-way organizer who gets paid and who is in great demand, to a person who was helped by other kind people when they were new, and want to pass on their skill and knowledge now that they are experienced. (Todd, don't think your post went unnoticed.) It would be best if drop zones were more specific when they advertised the types of "load organizing" they have available, and what to expect. A lot of people say, "Oh yes, we have load organizers," and leave it at that. Perhaps some people are now thinking that "load organizers available" means "right now", (drop everything and jump with me). Maybe some are just impatient and don't realize that there are some great people available to skydive with them, but that they might need to wait until they get through with a student or something like that. I'm just suggesting this because I see a lot of impatience in people sometimes, and they take literally a lot of the things we are used to adjusting for the situation. Combine that with a number of people wanting to go to the DZ, make a few jumps real quick, and then get home, and it leaves a lot of room for misinterpretation. (Not implying that the woman mentioned by the original poster is like that.) [edit to add more pontification]

Well what kind of logbook did that give you when you did those Tandem jumps? Did it have a place for more than one jump?

Boy, I blew that one didn't I? I had "stain" fixed in my head somehow.

I'm pretty sure he meant "abstainments".

?????? I think he just forgot the word "opening". The opening characteristics may well change, and to me that is a good enough reason not to lubricate lines.

Yes, but at this point, that document is considered part of the GM program, in other words, part of the advantages of being a Group Member.

Blatent hijack! OK, you asked for it, so here it is, attached to this message.

Part of the Group Membership Manual, "Self Inspection Form". As to whether USPA headquarters will supply one to a non GM, I have no idea.

Mine tend to be both. I try to teach someone one of those items, and then tell them to go to another instructor and show them that they know it. But the wording of the "pilot briefing" item implies a lecture, so some of the other items turn into a lecture too. At least I teach the subject until they understand it.

I jumped one years ago loaded at slightly more than 1 to one and if I flared it well I actually got a slight bit of "swoop". But when used during a reserve ride by a less experienced jumper, the flare might not be so ideal, and the landing might be harder. Plus, people's expectations are different than when the Raven was designed. They seem to be expecting their reserve to land like their main, but that only happens if they practice a landing in their reserve. But jumping their reserve as a main is too much trouble, even when the manufacturers make this easy. And PLF? Well, no one seems to even consider doing one now.

www.aerialtransport.com

My dear, nothing can replace the Convention. If you think this then you must have only been there for a small number of things it provided. Not that this is a bad thing. If so then yes, any number of events would be able to replace it for you.

Then again, what about the non-current AFFI with loads of instructional jumps that hears a newly rated C or I doing a very poor job right before loading the aircraft? There is the "company answer" and there is good instruction, and sometimes these do not coincide. Continuing with comments on Popsjumper's original question: Being on the "same page" is good in a way because it confuses the students less, but different opinions from different instructors can be good. An instructor needs to know if a particular student is more comfortable with rigid "rules" or if they are capable of using judgment, (and how much). Eventually we must insure that they have learned judgment. Teaching skydiving to an individual places us in an enviable position (compared to teaching a classroom of students). We are usually working one-on-one with a student. This allows us to modify our techniques (and even the information itself) to benefit the learning style of the student. To teach all students using the same techniques is a waste of that opportunity. Note: Now the real challenge is to make the student understand that what you are teaching them might be different for another student, and that they should not pass along this information without explanation.

I don't know for sure. All of this has been going on for so long that there have been more changes than I can keep track of. Fatigue is the word.

The USPA GM program took all it's members! Then PIA dissolved the committee for lack of interest. Reviving the PIA drop zone committee is one of the most important pieces of work to be done to help eliminate the conflict of interest in USPA's GM program. Well they could of course! Imagine, USPA collecting donations from members for the AAD fund like it does now, and then donating it to PIA to help PIA drop zone members with airport access issues. Just imagine that kind of cooperation.