When do you take off the seat belt?

[kflying 0]

I have my answers, but I'd like to hear what others think as:

A jumper
An AFF instructor - what does she tell her students?
A tandem instructor with the same thought.
A Static Line Instructor - again the same.

And let's get a few pilot's perspectives.

A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.

[Zenister 0]

just a jumper (for a while at least) usually about 1.5k

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[NeedToJump 0]

I am a jumper and usually take mine off in between 700 and 1000 feet - the altitude that I would feel comfortable leaving the plane on my reserve in an emergeny.

Wind Tunnel and Skydiving Coach http://www.ariperelman.com

[quade 3]

Seatbelts must be fastened for taxi, take-off and landing.

Beyond that, it's up to the dropzone policy or any time the door is open and you can make a successful exit.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[AggieDave 6]

When I'm TMing, I have my student leave his/her seatbelt on until they turn around for me to hook them up (C-182). I take mine off a bit over 2000ft. Why? Well, below 2000ft, we're riding the plane down unless a wing falls off or something like that. Above that, if we have to do a rapid exit, I can get the student's belt undone and a hook attatched VERY quickly. I'd rather have their belt on then off...you never know if the door might pop open for some unknown reason, etc.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[phoenixlpr 0]

In C-206 we dont use seatbelt and static line students are hooked up on boarding.
In C-208 Caravan we opened seatbelts before we got the drop altitude.

phoenix

[vonSanta 0]

300 meters here IIRC. That's the alt from which yer allowed to leave the plane in case of an emergency.

Only had seatbelts/restrainers in a Nomad though. Nothing on the C-182s/C-205 or Caravanm I've jumped from.

Santa Von GrossenArsch
I only come in one flavour
ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst

[falxori 0]

about 1000 ft.
dropzone policy

O

"Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero."

[SkydivinMedic 0]

Always go by dropzone policy. 1000' in the otter and the caravan, 2000' in the skyvan

[Chrisky 0]

Safe emergency exit altitude, determined usually by the PILOT, who tells the DZ Operator.
Safe emergency exit altitude is usually about 1000 ft / 350 meters, below that you stay in the plane and hope you don't get wasted on impact (which the belt is there to prevent).

That's for me solo jumper i guess.

The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open.
From the edge you just see more.
... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

[Squeak 17]

1000' when my dytter goes thorugh it's test

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?

[slotperfect 7]

It is common practice at Raeford for all jumpers on the aircraft to take their seatbelts off at 1000 Feet.


I tell both my AFF and Tandem students to do the same. I have been using that altitude for years.

If I go to another DZ that uses 1500 Feet I will happily comply to the local way of doing things.

Arrive Safely

John

[Amazon 7]

I remove mine at 1000' when the Pro Track goes off in my ear... I also remove my helmet at that time.

Most of the people at our DZ remove them at that time. We normally jump a C-182.. but have a Grand Caravan for the summer. REmoving it allows you to scoot down to give more room for the TM and students in the front of the aircraft.
If I am in an Otter on one of the benches.. I will leave it on.. it keeps me from sliding towards the back of the airplane when its climbing at a steep rate to altitiude. If I am near the door I will remove the seatbelt.

Amazon

[BlueEyedMonster 0]

DZ policy. Seatbelt on and Helmet fastened on your head or chest strap below 1000 ft.

[usskydiver 0]

For AFF and fun jumps, 1000' and for tandems 2,500' as per TK Donle at the RWS and the tandem manual.

Tim
Maggot

[testpilot 0]

We don't have seat belts in any of our aircraft.

Dave
D830
http://www.skydiving.co.za

[ladyskydiver 0]

DZ policy 1,000 feet.

Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile.

[SkydiverRick 0]

My home dz requires seatbelts until 1500'. On a side note, Does anyone else get nervous wearing a seatbelt with the door open? I worry about being extracted due to a premature opening while being belted in.

never pull low......unless you are

[CrazyIvan 0]

1,500 ft

__________________________________________
Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.

[andy2 0]

about 1k, if im sitting up near the door it will be around 700-750 which is the lowest altitude I would consider bailing (if I wasnt near the door i'd keep it on til everyone else was comfortable with the bailout altitude - 1k).

---------------------------------------------
let my inspiration flow,
in token rhyme suggesting rhythm...

[Brokeneagle 0]

not before 1000 feet. If for wx reasons (or any other) we have to ride the plane down, after we land and are done taxiing back to the loading area.Faye, aka Brokeneagle.

I'm really very gentle, no matter what my kung-fu teacher says... he is giving me a reputation I do not deserve!

[skymick 0]

What people actually wear seatbelts?

[stylinmike1 0]

DZ Policy
Below 1000' = belts on & helmets secured
Above 1000' = safe altitude for exit, all belts off & door can be opened (ewwww - somebody farted!)

stylinmike

(>O]-<

[petetheladd 0]

Quote

My home dz requires seatbelts until 1500'. On a side note, Does anyone else get nervous wearing a seatbelt with the door open? I worry about being extracted due to a premature opening while being belted in.

If you are sitting beside the door, undo your seatbelt before you open the door. that way if you fell out - for whatever reason - you can deploy your chute and not take the plane down with you.

We unfasten the seatbelt around 1000ft, lower if you are at the door, its a hot day, and the rest of the plane is screaming blue murder for the door to open.

No, Not without incident

[billvon 2,380]

As someone else mentioned, be SURE that your seatbelt is off if you're anywhere near the door and the door is open. The scary scenario:

You're in the back of the Skyvan and since it's hot they decide to leave the small plexi door open at the bottom of the tailgate. You put your seatbelt on and leave it on since you're near the door, and it's a scary gap. Your reserve PC fires, hits the floor, and rolls out the gap. Your reserve is now going to deploy unless you're incredibly fast at grabbing the PC. If you have your seatbelt off, your best course of action is to dive on top of your PC/bridle. If you get it, then other people can drag you (and the PC) back in the plane. If you don't, roll out the gap and at least you're clear of the plane. You can't do either one if your seatbelt is on.