What if you find out that a tandem instructor who takes people up every weekend multiple times actually does not have a tandem rating? What action should be taken in that instance? Is this something for the USPA, FAA, or the rig manufacturer, or all three?
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Start by applying low-key pressure to the individuals involved. Start by telling the TI that you are aware of his missing paperwork and that you will not bring anymore tandem students to his DZ until he does a few jumps with a Tandem Examiner. That low-key, verbal approach worked recently with a small Canadian DZ. Last summer they invited a Tandem Examiner to spend a week training their staff. If that does not change his behaviour, then tell the DZO that you will not bring him anymore tandem students. Remind him every time you take a tandem student to a neighboring DZ. Sooner or later he will clue in that he is losing money by employing non-rated staff. If a season's worth of teasing does not change his business practices, then share your concerns with your USPA Conference Director. He will gently lean on the DZO. If verbal warnings do not produce results, start putting your concerns in writing. Letters carry far more weight. If your Conference Director ignores your warnings, then start sending registered letters to USPA's Board of Directors. While you are writing letters, send copies to the un-rated instructor and his DZO. The last thing the DZO wants is for his dirty laundry to be aired at a USPA Board meeting. Finally, the last thing you want to do is involve the FAA. The FAA does not want to be involved with regulating parachuting. They prefer to ignore parachuting as long as it does not interfer with airliners or endanger whuffos. Their only response will be to shut down the DZ. Skydivers live in a tiny community, The last thing you want to do is involve the press or the FAA.
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Start by applying low-key pressure to the individuals involved.
Start by telling the TI that you are aware of his missing paperwork and that you will not bring anymore tandem students to his DZ until he does a few jumps with a Tandem Examiner.
That low-key, verbal approach worked recently with a small Canadian DZ. Last summer they invited a Tandem Examiner to spend a week training their staff.
If that does not change his behaviour, then tell the DZO that you will not bring him anymore tandem students. Remind him every time you take a tandem student to a neighboring DZ. Sooner or later he will clue in that he is losing money by employing non-rated staff.
If a season's worth of teasing does not change his business practices, then share your concerns with your USPA Conference Director. He will gently lean on the DZO.
If verbal warnings do not produce results, start putting your concerns in writing. Letters carry far more weight. If your Conference Director ignores your warnings, then start sending registered letters to USPA's Board of Directors.
While you are writing letters, send copies to the un-rated instructor and his DZO. The last thing the DZO wants is for his dirty laundry to be aired at a USPA Board meeting.
Finally, the last thing you want to do is involve the FAA. The FAA does not want to be involved with regulating parachuting. They prefer to ignore parachuting as long as it does not interfer with airliners or endanger whuffos. Their only response will be to shut down the DZ.
Skydivers live in a tiny community, The last thing you want to do is involve the press or the FAA.
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