Forget the student, there seems to be something odd about the instructor's reserve handle. It can be seen most clearly by pausing at 1:15 in the video. Is this some style of handle that I haven't seen before?
What a coincidence, I don't know what I'm looking at either when I see that video.
In reply to:
Forget the student, there seems to be something odd about the instructor's reserve handle. It can be seen most clearly by pausing at 1:15 in the video. Is this some style of handle that I haven't seen before?
The reserve handle is installed backwards. It is interesting to note that I find more people all the time that think the small side gets inserted into the webbing. Inserting the large side is very snug, so they insert the side that is easy.
It's like they don't understand the concept of it being more resistant to being snagged with the small side out.
I had a rather experienced jumper several years ago that always installed his backwards, and told me that the manufacturer (or perhaps a gear dealer) told him that was the correct way.
I did my own contacting of the manufacturer and cleared that up!
Does anyone RTFM? Or look at the pictures in them?
(This post was edited by peek on Jun 8, 2012, 4:19 PM)
Ahh ok. I made this mistake and learned on my first jump course. When we were practicing with cutaway vests, without any foreknowledge I assumed that the handle went little side in.
Ahh ok. I made this mistake and learned on my first jump course. When we were practicing with cutaway vests, without any foreknowledge I assumed that the handle went little side in.
That's OK, you wouldn't know that with so few jumps. I have seen a number of first jump students do that too while practicing in a harness.
Any harshness in that RTFM statement would be directed at a rig owner that didn't know after many jumps.
(This post was edited by peek on Jun 8, 2012, 4:35 PM)
I hadn't considered that anyone would install a handle like that. Fools can be ingenious and all that...
Another thing I noticed is that the student's rig has a grommet visible on a reserve flap, as if the reserve container is overstuffed and/or too long of a loop has been used. I would not think any container would be considered OK when the grommet is exposed - the closing loop is exposed. Perhaps I'm not seeing it correctly, what do y'all think?
About 30% of the pilot rigs I get to pack have the handle in backwards. They're excused, unless I've told them once before. And I've seen plenty of skydiver rigs like that over the years.
I don't think it would ever have occurred to me to insert the handle backwards, even as a newbie. Most handles that have a similar tapered shape - suitcase handles, some drawer handles - are fixed at the wider end and invite you to pull on the narrower end.
Close examination of the student jumpsuit (and a bit of Googling) suggests this is at Skydive Cuautla in Mexico. Not somewhere I'm planning to jump any time soon!
And I've seen plenty of skydiver rigs like that over the years. 
