Skyhook on student gear - what should the student know?

[MartinOlsson 0]

My local club recently bought a couple of skyhook equipped student Javelins. My question is directed to those who have been using the skyhook on student gear: What, if anything, do you change in your instruction when teaching about the RSL?

/Martin

[GLIDEANGLE 1]

Regarding jumping, I can't think of anything students need to know. Regarding three ring maintence, they need to be sure to route the cutaway cable through the Collins lanyard.

I would think that not mentioning it all until gear maintence topic comes up would have the advantage of not having student place undue faith in the skyhook and therefore do something extra-stupid…like cutaway low.

The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

[riggerrob 633]

I don't mention RSLs or AADs to first-time skydivers.
I prefer to wait until they are learning the finer points of gear checks during PFF.

Talking too much about safety gadgets will give students a false sense of security and an excuse not to pull enough handles.

[billvon 2,921]

>I don't mention RSLs or AADs to first-time skydivers.

I always do, because they're going to have to know how to check them and make sure they're working. I usually use language like:

"That's an AAD. It senses your altitude and descent rate and fires the reserve if you get too low and are still in freefall. We don't rely on them because they're electronic devices that use batteries, and they can and do fail. They can fail one of two ways - they can not operate when they're supposed to, and not open your reserve. They can also operate when they are NOT supposed to, and that can cause you to have two canopies out at the same time - we'll cover that later.

But we do use them because they've saved peoples lives."

[Rstanley0312 1]

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>I don't mention RSLs or AADs to first-time skydivers.

I always do, because they're going to have to know how to check them and make sure they're working. I usually use language like:

"That's an AAD. It senses your altitude and descent rate and fires the reserve if you get too low and are still in freefall. We don't rely on them because they're electronic devices that use batteries, and they can and do fail. They can fail one of two ways - they can not operate when they're supposed to, and not open your reserve. They can also operate when they are NOT supposed to, and that can cause you to have two canopies out at the same time - we'll cover that later.

But we do use them because they've saved peoples lives."

When I started teaching I got a slap on the hand for saying "fires the reserve" instead of "activates the reserve container by cutting the reserve loop".

Life is all about ass....either you're kicking it, kissing it, working it off, or trying to get a piece of it.
Muff Brother #4382 Dudeist Skydiver #000
www.fundraiseadventure.com

[popsjumper 2]

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My local club recently bought a couple of skyhook equipped student Javelins. My question is directed to those who have been using the skyhook on student gear: What, if anything, do you change in your instruction when teaching about the RSL?

/Martin

At first glance, I don't see that I would be changing anything for FJC. For later gear knowledge, yes, I would explain it with respect to skyhook operation. I would also explain the difference between common-RSL and skyhook-RSL operation.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[mjosparky 4]

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My local club recently bought a couple of skyhook equipped student Javelins. My question is directed to those who have been using the skyhook on student gear: What, if anything, do you change in your instruction when teaching about the RSL?

/Martin

At first glance, I don't see that I would be changing anything for FJC. For later gear knowledge, yes, I would explain it with respect to skyhook operation. I would also explain the difference between common-RSL and skyhook-RSL operation.

That means they would have more information and knowledge then some jumpers with over 1,000 jumps.

Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[MartinOlsson 0]

Maybe I should give some more background. Our FJC is rather thorough. It consists of 30-40 hours of class and includes packing and gear knowledge. The RSL is thought in depth and you need to understand its function to be allowed to do your level 1. Somehow the SH probably needs to be mentioned, but I'm not sure that you need to say more than "it's an updated RSL but with roughly the same functionality". What about gearcheck? our students are taught to do their own check apart from the instructor check. Should something be added there?

Thanks for all the input.

/Martin

[NovaTTT 2]

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What about gearcheck? our students are taught to do their own check apart from the instructor check. Should something be added there?

They should be taught and check for proper configuration of the reserve ripcord/SH lanyard and the Collins lanyard & cutaway cable routing.

In terms of functionality and use, I think RSL instruction is sufficient. I think a student doesn't need to know the cutaway main is converted to reserve pilot chute and how that is accomplished. As with RSL instruction, let them know its intended function (open the reserve container upon cutaway) and drill them to follow-through with EPs regardless.

.02

Nova

"Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73

[riggerrob 633]

Wow!
Most North American DZs gave up on that long a first jump course decades ago.
North American students have very short attention spans and you are doing well if you can hold their attention for more than three hours, even with lots of physical practice.
Even the Canadian Army (static-line) jump school is only two weeks of ground school followed by two days of jumping.

[pchapman 279]

Re: 30-40 hr course

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Wow!
Most North American DZs gave up on that long a first jump course decades ago.

"Alright class, I'll show you how to hold your knitting needles, but first please pick up a handful of silkworms from the bucket up front."