Oct 22, 2005, 3:53 PM
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Student Deployment
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On a student's first solo deployment, say during static line progression, does she/he toss out a pilot chute or use a "ripcord"? If a ripcord is used, at what point would one transition to the pilot chute method?
Well, way back when I was learning, there wasn't a throw out pilot chute option.
I suggest contacting the instructors at your DZ and asking what kind of equipment they are using. Some have the pilot chute, some have a rip cord where the pilot chute would be.
I don't think that we'll ever stop using rip cords and spring loaded pilots during training at my dropzone. It's up to the licensed jumper to choose deployment method when they buy their own rig...
This is some thing you will have to ask at your DZ. Deployment method varies from DZ to DZ. I think that most are using a throw out pilot chute these days. When we used ripcords, we did a transition jump with the student a couple of jumps after they graduated. But, like I said, you'll have to ask your instuctor how they do things.
I am going through a tandem progression course. my four tandems where all rip cord released drogues, naturally. Then on level five, my first so called solo, although my instructor was clinging to my side, I was given a dolphin container with a standard BOC pilot chute through out. Like others have said, I am sure this varies from DZ 2 DZ
I don't think that we'll ever stop using rip cords and spring loaded pilots during training at my dropzone. It's up to the licensed jumper to choose deployment method when they buy their own rig...
Think its the same at ours too. It works fine. Excewpt for hesitation now and again. Its going to be a pain to have to readjust whats become natural tho when I eventually move on to own kit
At our DZ, you start out with ripcord rigs after your SL jumps. Then after you've done a few freefall excersises and you've shown you can get stable quickly after being unstable, so you'll probably PULL stable, you can transition to BOC. This is because it's safer to have a ripcord than a BOC when you might NOT be stable (less chance of the bridle to wrap around your body etc).
I went through IAD instead of static line (your JM throws the pilot chuts as soon as you release from the strut). We did 5 of those, then went straight to BOC deployment by the student. I never jumped a static line once. 5 IADs then 5 second freefall, if all went well with your practice pulls.
We have a spring loaded pc on the two tandems but all our student gear is throw out pcs. The burble sometimes gets you on the first couple of jumps though!
The two sigma tandems we have we also use for our training tandems so the students have to be able to reach the handle. It's like a little golf ball on a spring that you pull.
