steveorino 7 #1 July 2, 2006 Okay, I just passed my tandem certification course. I work at a mid size Cessna DZ. Any advice for the newbie from you old pros? steveOrino Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
outlawphx 1 #2 July 2, 2006 Here's a good thread on that http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=881982 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freefalle 0 #3 July 2, 2006 Have, fun. Enjoy waht you do, when you stop enjoying it quit. A tandem is NOT just another skydive. REVIEW malfunctions frequently and how to respond to them. Always assume your passenger is going to try to kill you. Dont let people lurk who you aren't 100% sure of. Know and trust your camera flyer. Don't take a student that you dont think you should. don't fly in weather or winds that you are not 100% comfortable with. Just because another tandem instructor will do something, or take a student doesn't mean you are any less of and instructor. Don't use the drogue to get stable. But dont forget to throw it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FlyinseivLP2 0 #4 July 2, 2006 I agree with every thing freefalle said. Set your limits and stick with them. Whether it winds, students, or who can lurk or shoot video with you. I know you have shoot a bunch of tandem video as did I before I got my rating. I learned alot from watching others. Some taught me what to do and others taught me what not to do. Use what you have seen to help you be the best TM you can. Remember to fly YOUR body, if you fly yourself it won't matter what your student is doing. Have fun. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deuce 1 #5 July 3, 2006 Ugh. You shoulda never have done that. Now you 'll have to go and fly camera at other dropzones. Honestly, I love camera flying and sometimes like doing tandems. I have a serious 4 way team I fly camera for, but they are off my home DZ. Same for the Holiday Boogie when I was doing that. Do your best to stay in the camera rotation. JP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steveorino 7 #6 July 3, 2006 QuoteDo your best to stay in the camera rotation. JP Seeing how I'm the main videographer and 3rd TM, that shouyldn't be a problem. steveOrino Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhys 0 #7 July 3, 2006 I think it is really important to remember the safety concerns you have learned while getting you ratings. when I first got my rating I was working with an older guy who had 10000+ jumps and had his tandem rating since the 80's. complacency had slipped right in to his programme and he would constantly hassle me for continuing with what I had been taught. it was a real battle sometimes,for example he would allow customers to take large SLR's and Video cameras etc whe i most definately would not. i restrict them to small digital cameras with a long string hoop attached, the camera goes under the jumpsuit and under the chast strap! my work buddy however insisted that the camera goes above the chest strap. we were jumping a C185 and alot of the time the customers were friends. Some were annoyed with me because thier friends were allowed to do things they were not. he was the one that had the problems with cameras coming out in freefall! busted zips on the jumnpsuits etc. there are many other examples but the moral of the story is that don't let complacency be a part of your jump, even if the experienced guys are doing things you think is unsafe! it can be a real fight sometimes but there is no compremise for safety!"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steveorino 7 #8 July 3, 2006 I'm very fortunate that my Evaluator, Terry Goode, places no compromises on tandem safety. I have been videoing him for 8 months prior to me taking the Tandem Cert course. It was like having 8 months of ground school. "This is NOT just another skydive!" Terry Goode steveOrino Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
packerkevin 0 #9 July 3, 2006 I would add just 1 more thing...DO YOUR HANDLES CHECK.. I might have missed my primary yesterdayGrowing old is mandatory, Growing up is optional Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
feuergnom 22 #10 July 3, 2006 QuoteAlways assume your passenger is going to try to kill you. that's one of the lines that alway strikes me as BS. Maybe and most definitely some pax' is going to give you a freaking hard time. but if they were really into killing you... they'd find a better way than jumping out of an aeroplane strapped tightly to their target as for the rest: agreed. plus check your handles. everytime.The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle dudeist skydiver # 666 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darnknit 0 #11 July 6, 2006 here's what works for me: from the boarding area until we have left the landing area NOTHING is more important in my life than my students safety. second most important is that i do my best to make this day as special as it can be for my student. if you ever notice yourself thinking about anything except those two things you have not done your best for your student. rule 1 is mandatory, but i have had days where i forgot rule 2. i can tell you for a fact, the job doesn't feel like a job when you are helping the student get the most out of the experience. pulling is cool. keep it in the skin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyer299 0 #12 July 6, 2006 My advice is to set your limits early, and let your DZ know your limits. I have a 220lbs student limit. That puts me about 10-15 lbs under the max weight. I orginally made the mistake of not clearly letting the DZ know my limit and they had issues with me turning away 240lbs people. (Do the math... Over the max weight of the tandem system). Like others have said... Remember you, and only you are responsible for bringing your student back safe. It is a huge task that you have to take seriously, but IMHO, the pay off is well worth it! Enjoy! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 558 #13 July 8, 2006 Good point! Early on, tell the DZO your weight, wind, number of jumps per day, etc. limits and stick with them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steveorino 7 #14 July 9, 2006 I took up my first "paying" students this weekend. I think I'll like throwing the drogue! Here is my second tandem. He passed out about 20 feet above the ground. I saw his feet drop and his head slump. I kicked his feet foward and prepared to slide, but I pulled out a stand up landing. steveOrino Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhys 0 #15 July 9, 2006 are you allowed a camera flyer on your first few tandems? in new zealand we have to do 20 without first to save the distraction!"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 558 #16 July 9, 2006 Well handled Steve! Did your student skip breakfast? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kevino 0 #17 July 9, 2006 I am not the most experienced TM out there - just over 150 tandems now. I agree with all that has been posted and add 1 more comment - a relaxed instructor makes for a relaxed student. Make the pax feel at ease and it makes the TM's job a lot easier. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites riggerrob 558 #18 July 9, 2006 Odd! That is the exact opposite of Perris Valley Skydiving School's old policy. PVSS routinely assigned videographers to new, problem, difficult, struggling, etc. TIs as a means of quality control. This gave the chief instructor quick feedback on how they were performing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites steveorino 7 #19 July 9, 2006 QuoteWell handled Steve! Did your student skip breakfast? I'm not sure, but he told me he gets car sick. I gave his dad a non-drowsy dramamine to give him if he wanted. I guess it wasn't enough. steveOrino Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites skydog 2 #20 July 9, 2006 Quoteare you allowed a camera flyer on your first few tandems? in new zealand we have to do 20 without first to save the distraction! When I did mine they said for the first few DONT take a small girl, out of a small plane with video......guess what my first tandem was?????? Yep tiny lady, 182 with video and stills...... My only advice would be able to interact with anyone who is to be your student. Gauging attitudes,states of mind etc, through indirect questionning, helps me a lot to ensure a good experience for my student. BrynJourney not destination..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites douwanto 22 #21 July 10, 2006 Your only purpose from the time you decide you will take that person on a skydive untill they walk away safe is their safety. I love to tell them that they will be ok because if it happens to them it happens to me and that gives tham something tangable to think. We know that isnt true. Never take someone you think you can get down safe. You better fucking know. I am prepared to do everything uncluding give my life to protect them. You will understand when they shove their feet at the ground on landing or go fetal out the door. There should be nothing that they can do to cause you problems. Learn from every jump and be ready for anything. I still experiance new stuff all the time. Yes the money can be great but tandem is about the passenger not a paycheck. If you are too tired to be 100% sit your ass on the ground and never let a DZO intimadate you into doing one if you are not 100%. IT WILL HAPPEN AND YOU AND ONLY YOU WILL BE RESPONCIBLE WHEN YOU HURT SOMEONE. All that said remember if you are tense they will know it. You can get almost anyone out of the plane if you take the time to interact and impart confidance into them. Share something about you or your family with them and dont be afraid to shut the up jumpers down if they are fucking with someone who is already scared and waivering. Chris. Please feel free to contact me with any questions any time at [email protected] Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites steveorino 7 #22 July 10, 2006 Yep, good advice. The kid dropped his legs 15 feet off the ground. I saw his head drop too, and I knew he passed out. Obviously, I had never experienced that before. Instinctively, I kicked his legs forward as we landed. Preparing to slide, I even surprised myself when we stood up. In training, my evaulator, Terry Goode, kept reminding me, "This is NOT just another skydive!" He was right in so many ways! steveOrino Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites flyer299 0 #23 July 10, 2006 Quoteare you allowed a camera flyer on your first few tandems? in new zealand we have to do 20 without first to save the distraction! The recomendation is to NEVER have a new Tandem Instructor and a New Video Flyer together. When I first started flying video (before I got my TI), there was a new TI. We had to keep working with Manifest to make sure we were never paired up until we both got a lot more experience. I guess the bottom line is, a new TI can benifit a lot from an experinced video flying with him. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites GreenMachine 0 #24 July 10, 2006 Steve, that shot of your guy passed out is hilarious!! Of course only cause no one got hurt. I have not had any passengers pass out yet but I have video'd it happening to another TI. Good work man!Rigger, Skydiver, BASE Jumper, Retired TM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DALAILAMA 0 #25 July 10, 2006 Congrats on your rating and the ability to recognize that there is good recommendations out there. Just from looking at the photos, I would like to put in some constructive criticism in if you would like it? I would say that the one thing most instructors don't realize until later in their career is that arching is not overrated. The vast majority of tandem instructors that have just gotten their liscences try to fight the wind and to struggle with the student. I tell my TI candidates that if you are buffeting around alot 90% of the time it is your fault. TI"S fly with knees down and try to constantly grab the wind with their hands and push down. Try this if you ever find yourself severly potato chipping with a student..... 1. Stop what are doing, 2. Take your arms and rest them on the students shoulders. 3. Exaggerate the arch (Knees up) Try and fix the problem but first make sure the problem isn't you! Good luck and be safe and always care!"Dropzone.com, where uneducated people measuring penises, has become an art form" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 Next Page 1 of 2 Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
riggerrob 558 #18 July 9, 2006 Odd! That is the exact opposite of Perris Valley Skydiving School's old policy. PVSS routinely assigned videographers to new, problem, difficult, struggling, etc. TIs as a means of quality control. This gave the chief instructor quick feedback on how they were performing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steveorino 7 #19 July 9, 2006 QuoteWell handled Steve! Did your student skip breakfast? I'm not sure, but he told me he gets car sick. I gave his dad a non-drowsy dramamine to give him if he wanted. I guess it wasn't enough. steveOrino Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydog 2 #20 July 9, 2006 Quoteare you allowed a camera flyer on your first few tandems? in new zealand we have to do 20 without first to save the distraction! When I did mine they said for the first few DONT take a small girl, out of a small plane with video......guess what my first tandem was?????? Yep tiny lady, 182 with video and stills...... My only advice would be able to interact with anyone who is to be your student. Gauging attitudes,states of mind etc, through indirect questionning, helps me a lot to ensure a good experience for my student. BrynJourney not destination..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
douwanto 22 #21 July 10, 2006 Your only purpose from the time you decide you will take that person on a skydive untill they walk away safe is their safety. I love to tell them that they will be ok because if it happens to them it happens to me and that gives tham something tangable to think. We know that isnt true. Never take someone you think you can get down safe. You better fucking know. I am prepared to do everything uncluding give my life to protect them. You will understand when they shove their feet at the ground on landing or go fetal out the door. There should be nothing that they can do to cause you problems. Learn from every jump and be ready for anything. I still experiance new stuff all the time. Yes the money can be great but tandem is about the passenger not a paycheck. If you are too tired to be 100% sit your ass on the ground and never let a DZO intimadate you into doing one if you are not 100%. IT WILL HAPPEN AND YOU AND ONLY YOU WILL BE RESPONCIBLE WHEN YOU HURT SOMEONE. All that said remember if you are tense they will know it. You can get almost anyone out of the plane if you take the time to interact and impart confidance into them. Share something about you or your family with them and dont be afraid to shut the up jumpers down if they are fucking with someone who is already scared and waivering. Chris. Please feel free to contact me with any questions any time at [email protected] Uncle/GrandPapa Whit Unico Rodriguez # 245 Muff Brother # 2421 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steveorino 7 #22 July 10, 2006 Yep, good advice. The kid dropped his legs 15 feet off the ground. I saw his head drop too, and I knew he passed out. Obviously, I had never experienced that before. Instinctively, I kicked his legs forward as we landed. Preparing to slide, I even surprised myself when we stood up. In training, my evaulator, Terry Goode, kept reminding me, "This is NOT just another skydive!" He was right in so many ways! steveOrino Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyer299 0 #23 July 10, 2006 Quoteare you allowed a camera flyer on your first few tandems? in new zealand we have to do 20 without first to save the distraction! The recomendation is to NEVER have a new Tandem Instructor and a New Video Flyer together. When I first started flying video (before I got my TI), there was a new TI. We had to keep working with Manifest to make sure we were never paired up until we both got a lot more experience. I guess the bottom line is, a new TI can benifit a lot from an experinced video flying with him. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GreenMachine 0 #24 July 10, 2006 Steve, that shot of your guy passed out is hilarious!! Of course only cause no one got hurt. I have not had any passengers pass out yet but I have video'd it happening to another TI. Good work man!Rigger, Skydiver, BASE Jumper, Retired TM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DALAILAMA 0 #25 July 10, 2006 Congrats on your rating and the ability to recognize that there is good recommendations out there. Just from looking at the photos, I would like to put in some constructive criticism in if you would like it? I would say that the one thing most instructors don't realize until later in their career is that arching is not overrated. The vast majority of tandem instructors that have just gotten their liscences try to fight the wind and to struggle with the student. I tell my TI candidates that if you are buffeting around alot 90% of the time it is your fault. TI"S fly with knees down and try to constantly grab the wind with their hands and push down. Try this if you ever find yourself severly potato chipping with a student..... 1. Stop what are doing, 2. Take your arms and rest them on the students shoulders. 3. Exaggerate the arch (Knees up) Try and fix the problem but first make sure the problem isn't you! Good luck and be safe and always care!"Dropzone.com, where uneducated people measuring penises, has become an art form" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
