Smeger 0 #1 March 9, 2005 I'm hoping to start my AFF as soon as the weather turns. Is it worth my while learning the hand signals now or waiting until I start training? Are the hand signals universal or do they differ from DZ to DZ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #2 March 9, 2005 Generally speaking they're fairly universial...HOWEVER, each DZ tends to have their own take on a few of them and what they mean. Let it go and don't learn something that you're going to have to unlearn later. That will cause more problems then it fixes.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #4 March 9, 2005 There aren't that many hand signals, I think once the JM/I show them to you, you'll remember them.May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #5 March 9, 2005 They are mostly the same for every AFF Instructor. As a matter of fact.... The picture of you is a good one for your Instructor to use also when you are doing good in the air! Or, another application is to simply open your fingers so they are all straight. This is the signal you get when you have succesfully completed your AFF jumps and it called "Case of Beer". Good Luck! Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
heidihagen 0 #6 March 9, 2005 i would wait. i've jumped around to more than a few schools (not ideal or recommended usually... but i was in another state)... anyway, some of the same hand signals from dz1 were used only several meant something entirely different at dz2. for example: pinky & thumb meaning "check your arms" now means "relax" ..... or shaking harness which meant "pull now!" at one meant "arch" at another. i ran into this with other signals 4 fingers pointed inward, pointed finger, and another one (i forget which-- fist maybe?) i'd wait until you find out how your dz does things to avoid confusion in the air. the signals are really easy to learn ... but relearning can mess with your head a little bit! just my 2 cents... for freehave fun, heidii didn't lose my mind, i sold it on ebay. .:need a container to fit 5'4", 110 lb. cypres ready & able to fit a 170 main (or slightly smaller):.[/ce Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #7 March 9, 2005 Quote for example: pinky & thumb meaning "check your arms" now means "relax" ..... or shaking harness which meant "pull now!" at one meant "arch" at another. i ran into this with other signals 4 fingers pointed inward, pointed finger, and another one (i forget which-- fist maybe?) I hope your just confusing some of the signals from others that you were given, because if not someone using the signals as you distribed is seriously F**ked Up and giving the wrong ones from the AFFI sylibus. Quote the signals are really easy to learn ... Very true Keepin' it safe! Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 0 #8 March 9, 2005 There's the story told at my DZ of an AFF instructor who'd lost a thumb in an industrial accident. He was giving a student a thumbs up for performing something particularly well, when the student pulled. Whoops . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skylord 1 #9 March 9, 2005 QuoteThere's the story told at my DZ of an AFF instructor who'd lost a thumb in an industrial accident. He was giving a student a thumbs up for performing something particularly well, when the student pulled. Whoops . More correctly this would be a "thumb" up, right??? BobBob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frenchy68 0 #10 March 9, 2005 Quoteshaking harness which meant "pull now!" Wow! I thought the common sign for Pull Now was index pointing. How do you shake harness on a release dive? "For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #11 March 9, 2005 Quote How do you shake harness on a release dive? The harness shake is used upon exit usually. Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Feeblemind 1 #12 March 9, 2005 QuoteQuote for example: pinky & thumb meaning "check your arms" now means "relax" ..... or shaking harness which meant "pull now!" at one meant "arch" at another. i ran into this with other signals 4 fingers pointed inward, pointed finger, and another one (i forget which-- fist maybe?) I hope your just confusing some of the signals from others that you were given, because if not someone using the signals as you distribed is seriously F**ked Up and giving the wrong ones from the AFFI sylibus. Quote the signals are really easy to learn ... Very true Keepin' it safe! Ed WTF Eddie were you trying to kill me during AFF?? Jesus Christ you didnt tell me everyone makes this shit up as they go along?! Oh yea you used the ones approved by U.S.P.A. http://www.uspa.org/publications/SIM/2004SIM/AppendixA.htm Sorry I can't make a clicky, I am clicky deficient. Phil Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frenchy68 0 #13 March 9, 2005 hand signal clicky "For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Feeblemind 1 #14 March 9, 2005 QuoteThe harness shake is used upon exit usually. Ed I know mine was, but from my side of the harness Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
heidihagen 0 #15 March 9, 2005 QuoteQuoteshaking harness which meant "pull now!" Wow! I thought the common sign for Pull Now was index pointing. How do you shake harness on a release dive?see! thats why i told him to hold off. but he's in the uk anyway... i'm not sure how different their system works (i haven't gotten the chance to sample an aff jump over there yet-haha) good question though. at that dz (spaceland) harness shake or if you saw your instructor deploy, both meant pull. i didn't learn the index finger signal until i jumped at perris, but they also use it at skydive houston. QuoteQuote for example: pinky & thumb meaning "check your arms" now means "relax" ..... or shaking harness which meant "pull now!" at one meant "arch" at another. i ran into this with other signals 4 fingers pointed inward, pointed finger, and another one (i forget which-- fist maybe?) I hope your just confusing some of the signals from others that you were given, because if not someone using the signals as you distribed is seriously F**ked Up and giving the wrong ones from the AFFI sylibus. Quote the signals are really easy to learn ... Very true Keepin' it safe! Ed nope, not confused. just different over here that's all. pinky & thumb means to check/fix your arms at sdh and a loose hand shake means to relax at both skydive spaceland and skydive houston. sorry for the confusion hey smeger, maybe check to see if your dz has their signals posted on their webpage. cheerios! heidii didn't lose my mind, i sold it on ebay. .:need a container to fit 5'4", 110 lb. cypres ready & able to fit a 170 main (or slightly smaller):.[/ce Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frenchy68 0 #16 March 9, 2005 I'd love for instructors from different DZs/Countries/Continents to confirm. I am a little concerned the hand signage is not universal... "For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #17 March 9, 2005 Quotenope, not confused. just different over here that's all. pinky & thumb means to check/fix your arms at sdh and a loose hand shake means to relax at both skydive spaceland and skydive houston. sorry for the confusion. Nope. I'd say confused. Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BRYANGOESBOOM 0 #18 March 9, 2005 instructor told me that three fingers ment three practice touches not "you signed the waver in three places" Not only will you look better, feel better, and fuck better; you'll have significantly increased your life expectancy. --Douva Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
heidihagen 0 #19 March 9, 2005 nah, it's easy to remember. but at least you see what i mean. they aren't always the same at every drop zone. plussssss he lives in the uk... they drive on the wrong side of the road!!! who knows how different uspa/bpa sigs differ. .::runs and hides::.i didn't lose my mind, i sold it on ebay. .:need a container to fit 5'4", 110 lb. cypres ready & able to fit a 170 main (or slightly smaller):.[/ce Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tombuch 0 #20 March 9, 2005 QuoteI'd love for instructors from different DZs/Countries/Continents to confirm. I am a little concerned the hand signage is not universal... As others have pointed out, they are universal, but there are also some variations. The pointed finger meaning "PULL" is so standard that it is sometimes used by experienced skydivers dealing with a freefall emergency, such as an open container. The other signals sometimes vary a bit, but not much. The thumb and little finger extended seems to vary the most, sometimes meaning relax (as in chill out dude), or it can mean check your arms. I think in Texas it also has some silly sports connotation, like go Longhorns, or whatever. Texas is weird. It's always a good idea for an instructor to go over every hand signal that might be used with a student the first time they work together. It's great review for the student, helps assure the instructor that the student remembers the material, and helps to prevent confusion in the air. If there is confusion, the instructor should be able to easily confirm the student version of the signal, then the instructor should be the one to adapt. Students shouldn't be expected to relearn hand signals. I review hand signals and general procedures with another instructor the first time we work together too. It takes almost no time and gets us on the same page super fast.Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Smeger 0 #21 March 9, 2005 Thanks alot for the info guys. I guess I'll just be patient and wait till I start the training. In the mean time I'll keep watchin as many mal vids as possible, just to help get a rough idea of the sort of things I could expect in an emergency. Thanx again! (DZ.com RULES ) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedassSkychic 0 #22 March 9, 2005 [reply I think in Texas it also has some silly sports connotation, like go Longhorns, or whatever. Texas is weird. The longhorn signal is extended index finger and pinky. And t.u. is weird. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #23 March 9, 2005 Quote[reply I think in Texas it also has some silly sports connotation, like go Longhorns, or whatever. Texas is weird. The longhorn signal is extended index finger and pinky. And t.u. is weird. I think I'll be wearing my UT shirt when I come up to meet y'all.... Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The longhorn signal is extended index finger and pinky. And t.u. is weird.
I think I'll be wearing my UT shirt when I come up to meet y'all....
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706