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Calvin19

Tandem BASE jumping!

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What do tandem base jumps have to do with ultralights?



Because... parachutes are ultralights bra-
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an ultralight vehicle
is a vehicle that:
(a) Is used or intended to be used for manned operation in the air by a
single occupant;
(b) Is used or intended to be used for recreation or sport purposes only;
(c) Does not have any U.S. or foreign airworthiness certificate; and
(d) If unpowered, weighs less than 155 pounds; or
(e) If powered:
(1) Weighs less than 254 pounds empty weight, excluding floats and safety
devices which are intended for deployment in a potentially catastrophic
situation;
(2) Has a fuel capacity not exceeding 5 U.S. gallons;
(3) Is not capable of more than 55 knots calibrated airspeed at full
power in level flight; and
(4) Has a power-off stall speed which does not exceed 24 knots calibrated
airspeed.



of course, it is a "two occupant" vehicle. but that makes it an illegally operated light sport aircraft. (Tandem skydives and tandem PG flying both have FAA waivers/special certifications)

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What do tandem base jumps have to do with ultralights?



Because... parachutes are ultralights bra-
Quote


an ultralight vehicle
is a vehicle that:
(a) Is used or intended to be used for manned operation in the air by a
single occupant;
(b) Is used or intended to be used for recreation or sport purposes only;
(c) Does not have any U.S. or foreign airworthiness certificate; and
(d) If unpowered, weighs less than 155 pounds; or
(e) If powered:
(1) Weighs less than 254 pounds empty weight, excluding floats and safety
devices which are intended for deployment in a potentially catastrophic
situation;
(2) Has a fuel capacity not exceeding 5 U.S. gallons;
(3) Is not capable of more than 55 knots calibrated airspeed at full
power in level flight; and
(4) Has a power-off stall speed which does not exceed 24 knots calibrated
airspeed.



of course, it is a "two occupant" vehicle. but that makes it an illegally operated light sport aircraft. (Tandem skydives and tandem PG flying both have FAA waivers/special certifications)



Ummm, no. Base jumpers are not ultralights. If they were, all night base jumps in the US would violate the FARs. The FAA has no authority over base jumpers.

But then again, why wouldn't skydivers also be considered ultralights? Night jumps would be illegal per FAR 103 and legal per FAR 105. The simple answer is that skydivers are not ultralights, they are skydivers. And base jumpers aren't covered by the FARs.

Dave

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I'm waiting for Tandem Swooping.


Then maybe someone can teach me how to swoop with a hands on approach.



Seen it, bloody good toe drag too :)
You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

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Ummm, no. BASE jumpers are not ultralights. If they were, all night BASE jumps in the US would violate the FARs.



To be honest, it appears that they do fall under the FAR's, the FAA has just declined to pursue enforcement.
----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

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What do tandem base jumps have to do with ultralights?



Because... parachutes are ultralights bra-
Quote


an ultralight vehicle
is a vehicle that:
(a) Is used or intended to be used for manned operation in the air by a
single occupant;
(b) Is used or intended to be used for recreation or sport purposes only;
(c) Does not have any U.S. or foreign airworthiness certificate; and
(d) If unpowered, weighs less than 155 pounds; or
(e) If powered:
(1) Weighs less than 254 pounds empty weight, excluding floats and safety
devices which are intended for deployment in a potentially catastrophic
situation;
(2) Has a fuel capacity not exceeding 5 U.S. gallons;
(3) Is not capable of more than 55 knots calibrated airspeed at full
power in level flight; and
(4) Has a power-off stall speed which does not exceed 24 knots calibrated
airspeed.



of course, it is a "two occupant" vehicle. but that makes it an illegally operated light sport aircraft. (Tandem skydives and tandem PG flying both have FAA waivers/special certifications)



Ummm, no. Base jumpers are not ultralights. If they were, all night base jumps in the US would violate the FARs. The FAA has no authority over base jumpers.

But then again, why wouldn't skydivers also be considered ultralights? Night jumps would be illegal per FAR 103 and legal per FAR 105. The simple answer is that skydivers are not ultralights, they are skydivers. And base jumpers aren't covered by the FARs.

Dave



As I said- there are special rules for parachutes from aircraft. (and part 105 is for skydiving [from an aircraft])

and as DP pointed out, they simply do not pursue BASE jumping. (Or really paragliding for that matter, because it really is not an issue to them, the FAA is a media whore, if there is not a large potential for media coverage to scare the public, they don't really care much)

Trust me, a foot launched aircraft IS an ultralight. a BASE parachute is a foot launched aircraft. BASE jumping at night IS "illegal" per the written FARs in the United States. They don't care much because there really is not way for a BASE jump to interfere with legal aircraft operations.

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Further, there are special rules for PG tandem flying. (equipment, pilot training). Mostly because there is a large potential for the pilot to kill the passenger, ( thus HUGE media frenzy, instead of just a PG pilot killing himself). much like there are special rules for tandem skydiving. a tandem fatality is a HUGE issue compared to regular bouncing swoop muppets.

Paragliders are part 103 Ultralights and the USHPA "requires" operation in those boundaries. (cloud clearances, etc) No difference with a BASE rig.

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Paragliders are part 103 Ultralights and the USHPA "requires" operation in those boundaries. (cloud clearances, etc) No difference with a BASE rig.



Are speed wings under 103?
Are skydiving canopys groundlaunched under 103?
Are kite surfing wings under 103?

You need to intern at fisdo office for a few. No airplane, no airport no FAA. Bra

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Paragliders are part 103 Ultralights and the USHPA "requires" operation in those boundaries. (cloud clearances, etc) No difference with a BASE rig.



Are speed wings under 103?
Are skydiving canopys groundlaunched under 103?
Are kite surfing wings under 103?

You need to intern at fisdo office for a few. No airplane, no airport no FAA. Bra



Again, yes, they could be if the FAA felt they were worth pursuing legally as a vehicle operating within the "Navigable Airspace" of the united states and its territories.

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http://www.TandemBASE.com/index.php


So... now all the muppets who said "i went skydiving" can also say "I went BASE jumping".

I would fly video any day.

Certain FAA pt103 issues exist, of course. But whatever.



This is so fucking crazy. This morning I actually thought to myself after watching a BASE video "wouldn't it be funny if someone tried to do a tandem BASE jump?"

I didn't expect to actually see that it's for real.
Don't forget to pull!

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