Blind Tandems

[deadwood 0]

Anybody care to give any advice on their experience with doing tandems with blind people, specifically out of a 182?

And I know, pull before the leash goes slack.

He who hesitates shall inherit the earth.

Deadwood
Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

[skydiveoc 0]

Just did one last weekend. We did a video waiver with the student repeating and agreeing with the dictator (lengthy) and proceeded as normal. He was first out and the TM can assist by guiding his legs out the door.

[ast4711 0]

I´d suggest, to tell them what you see, especially under canopy. Let them know the altitude and everything else...

alex

--
www.tandemmaster.net
www.skydivegear.de

[koppel 3]

Dunno about a blind TM but I worked on a DZ where there was a blind (she could distinguish dark and light and had about 5% vision) Static Line Student. She did about a dozen jumps and got into freefall.


They used back ups on everything. Dyters/radio etc. she even landed off by hereself on one jump.

I like my canopy...


...it lets me down.

[vegasjoe 0]

I once took a blind man tandem.
Focus on the sounds and feelings... like the sound of the engine changes at 1000 ft. or it gets wind when the door opens. You can
discuss the sound of speed, the wistle of wind, the flapping of the slider, etc.
Rehearse your exit, like with any student. Use tap commands like, when I put my foot out and tap your leg, you put your foot next to mine When I tap your head in the plane, duck and put you head out in the wind.When I tap your arms in freefall,open them up. When I tap your head in freefall, pull the ripcord.
I also took extra time to let him learn the plane and the gear. I showed him what not to touch, like the gas selector, the door handle, the yoke, etc. He explored and learned my gear in the same fashion.

Good luck and have fun. If you are lucky, you will learn a little about yourself as an Instructor.

[peregrinerose 0]

First find out exactly what the student sees.... 'blind' does not mean sees nothing in a majority of cases. Over 90% of people who are legally blind have functional, usable vision. Don't assume that they can't see things... ask what they can see... some may be able to read the altimeter, some may be able to see well enough to find the handle to pull themselves (or you may want to teach them to find the handle non visually to pull if you are a TM that lets students do that...give them some control).

If you know what eye condition they have, let me know, I can probably help let you know what they can/can't see based on that, at least in general terms.

Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

[labrys 0]

Wow. Just wow. No, not just wow. I'm floored by the empathy, understanding, and kindness your post shows that you have.

Owned by Remi #?

[spud 0]

Help the passenger with legs on exit (climbout) Explain and describe as much as you can before hand and during the jump. Its always a challenge taking a blind or deaf person for a skydive, but very rewarding.

[feuergnom 22]

two weeks ago we had a group of four (3 guys one girl) blind passengers plus one of their trainers. the three guys were completely blind, the girl had something like 5 percent vision (dark-light sensibility only in the near proximity) left. i had the pleasure to jump with the girl.
we took a lot of time for briefing & the gear up. we also "showed" the our systems, let the participate in the packing process and all of the were extremely interested in the details. also extra time was spent with boarding - feel where the door is, where to sit, what was not to touch (well eventually they had to touch it, so they knew where not to put hands/hold on once in flight) etc. on the way to alti i tried to describe what was outside - that was about the hardest part.
exit and freefall were without any hassle - i wish some of the seeing passengers had so much awareness

we also had a tremendous amount of fun. one of the guys complained that his goggles were dirty . the same guy had also jumped last year from a different plane he remarked that ours was a lot newer and more comfy.
so if you have the chance - go for it!

The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle

dudeist skydiver # 666

[Nick 0]

We had some blind (totally) tandem students at our dropzone a couple of years ago, the main thing that the instructors did was to spend a lot of time explaining everthing to the students all the way through the briefing, gear up, plane ride, canopy decent, landing and escorting them off the DZ.

Looked like the guys really enjoyed it. Wish I had the guts to do what they did that day.

Nick

Nick
Gravity- It's not just a good idea, it's the LAW!

[Schoenauer 0]

Take the time and describe what they will feel and their involvement in airplane including the exit. If you have a 182 mockup or the real thing available use it and let them check it out and brief them on exactly what you want them to do. I have found that the blind pay close attention to what you say and do exactly what you want. In all honestly they are by far on the top of the list of students I have ever had the pleasure to take skydiving.

Memento Mori

[feuergnom 22]

just got the pic from the blind girl i jumped with - just had to share it

The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle

dudeist skydiver # 666

[gjhdiver 0]

Quote

Anybody care to give any advice on their experience with doing tandems with blind people, specifically out of a 182?

And I know, pull before the leash goes slack.

I just hang them in front of a fan for a minute and call it done.....

[skydivezimbabwe 0]

Did my first blind tandem... Went to the thread first, there's a lot of good info.

The dude is a cricket commentator, listens to the sound of bat on ball and predicts the strike before it happens!
He also is a member of the local superbike club. Rides pillion - duh.

Quote - " Feels like 180 kph!" The man has it sussed.

Rob-By
Check it out at http://www.skydive.co.zw Clicky!