Nov 11, 2012, 8:16 AM
Post #1 of 16
(2034 views)
Shortcut
Hanging out in the Holding Area.
Can't Post
Hello,
Am in the AFF Program just completed the Cat D1. Learning new things, so this may appear silly, But want to get it right. When one tells you to hang out in the holding area, 3,000 AGL feet to 4,000 feet AGL. What things, turns, applying the brakes, do you do to stay in the holding area?
Nov 11, 2012, 8:43 AM
Post #4 of 16
(1996 views)
Shortcut
Re: [climber71] Hanging out in the Holding Area.
[In reply to]
Can't Post
In reply to:
Hello,
Am in the AFF Program just completed the Cat D1. Learning new things, so this may appear silly, But want to get it right. When one tells you to hang out in the holding area, 3,000 AGL feet to 4,000 feet AGL. What things, turns, applying the brakes, do you do to stay in the holding area?
Thanks
Practice full turns, half turns, half-braked flight and full flares.
Also start training your eyeballs for altitude. Look at your altimeter then look at the ground to see what that altitude looks like.
(This post was edited by popsjumper on Nov 11, 2012, 8:44 AM)
Nov 11, 2012, 9:36 AM
Post #6 of 16
(1941 views)
Shortcut
Re: [Namowal] Hanging out in the Holding Area.
[In reply to]
Can't Post
What Pops said, what Namowal said.
Play with your parachute, but watch where you're going. Check for traffic before you turn, and try to get above or below the other canopies so you're not all landing at the same time.
Nov 11, 2012, 3:55 PM
Post #7 of 16
(1779 views)
Shortcut
Re: [climber71] Hanging out in the Holding Area.
[In reply to]
Can't Post
As pops said use the time to learn your canopy.
Something that I always do is finding which way is into wind and gauging the drive I have. Just remember the wind is usually the.same direction as the ground, but not always.
Nov 11, 2012, 5:12 PM
Post #8 of 16
(1717 views)
Shortcut
Re: [climber71] Hanging out in the Holding Area.
[In reply to]
Can't Post
While in the holding area you are looking to find your place in the "school of fish" that are going to be entering the pattern soon. A mistake that every jumper makes at some point is to "try to get out of the way" of another jumper by spiraling. If you're not loading a top-end canopy (Velo, JVX, etc) loaded well north of 2.0, then you're only causing congestion. Even if you are jumping one of those canopies, you really don't need to spiral to break traffic.
If you think you're in the way of another jumper in the holding area, flat turn up wind and let the jumper pass you.
Before you load the plane, you should have a general idea of what number you'll be in the school of fish for landing. Even if you have never been to that DZ and know not a single person on your load, you can make an informed guess via the rigs the jumpers are wearing.
For instance, the guy with a chest strap extension, swoop shorts and a wet rig is probably jumping something sort of small. The guy with 8 GoPros and a rig that is larger than his back is probably a DZ.com expert with 100 jumps and a 200sq ft canopy.
PhreeZone (D License)
Moderator
Nov 11, 2012, 5:26 PM
Post #9 of 16
(1706 views)
Shortcut
Re: [climber71] Hanging out in the Holding Area.
[In reply to]
Can't Post
Talk to the instructors specifically about this next time at the DZ. I am sure Adam, Bud, Brad or any of the other instructors will describe in great detail what we are wanting you to focus on for that specific skydive.
You can only learn so much online and some of the topics are just better learned in person where we can draw out the diagram of what we expect on each skydive.
Nov 12, 2012, 3:16 AM
Post #10 of 16
(1567 views)
Shortcut
Re: [PhreeZone] Hanging out in the Holding Area.
[In reply to]
Can't Post
Phreezone, Thanks, was going to ask the Instructors, about this next time. Just wanted to get a feel about it from others. Know asking the Instructors face to face is best.
Nov 12, 2012, 1:48 PM
Post #11 of 16
(1381 views)
Shortcut
Re: [climber71] Hanging out in the Holding Area.
[In reply to]
Can't Post
In reply to:
Phreezone, Thanks, was going to ask the Instructors, about this next time. Just wanted to get a feel about it from others. Know asking the Instructors face to face is best.
Nov 12, 2012, 2:20 PM
Post #12 of 16
(1348 views)
Shortcut
Re: [climber71] Hanging out in the Holding Area.
[In reply to]
Can't Post
ok ok ok you guys got me wondering. where can i look what this D1 means? for me that sounds like a D cat what means 500 jumps + ect ect. however this msg is not about that. ´
Nov 12, 2012, 5:09 PM
Post #14 of 16
(1257 views)
Shortcut
Re: [EOCS] Hanging out in the Holding Area.
[In reply to]
Can't Post
In reply to:
ok ok ok you guys got me wondering. where can i look what this D1 means? for me that sounds like a D cat what means 500 jumps + ect ect. however this msg is not about that. ´
Nov 12, 2012, 9:02 PM
Post #15 of 16
(1186 views)
Shortcut
Re: [climber71] Hanging out in the Holding Area.
[In reply to]
Can't Post
Quote:
What things, turns, applying the brakes, do you do to stay in the holding area?
You can do any sorts of manuvers you want (traffic depending) while killing time (altitude) in the holding area. However, remember the winds and their effect on your canopy.
For example, if you chose to just do big circles to stay in the holding area, that's fine, but you won't get that by simply locking into a slow turn and holding it. Half of the turn will be with the wind, and the other half will be against the wind. The end result will be a ground track that looks like a long 'curly Q' line extending in the direction of the wind, and carrying you out of the holding area in short order.
What you would need to do is speed up the with-the-wind half of the turn and slow down the into-the-wind half of the turn to make a circular ground track that remains in the holding area.
The overall lesson is just to watch your drfit while manuvering. You can't stop the drift, but you can fly your canopy with it in mind so you stay where you want to be over the ground. If you can stay in the holding area, and not create any traffic conflicts, what you want to do with your canopy is up to you.
Nov 18, 2012, 4:58 AM
Post #16 of 16
(798 views)
Shortcut
Re: [davelepka] Hanging out in the Holding Area.
[In reply to]
Can't Post
Had a great Cat D2 Skydive yesterday in the AFF program, passed going onto Cat E1. The turns in freefall went smooth. Getting comfortable starting and ending them. Spoke with my Instructor Adam about hanging out in the Holding Area. Did that, the Cat D2 called for working the rear risers. Did that, the turns went great. The DZ is closing for the winter, so may hay to go the Florida DZ to keep current. Thanks for the input. Blue Skies
