PhreeZone 15 #1 June 30, 2011 From this months email to instructors: Put a Stop to Tandem Close Calls USPA has recently received reports of several tandem incidents that could have easily ended in fatalities for both students and instructors. Luckily, the tandem pairs narrowly averted disaster: An 85-year-old woman nearly slipped out of her poorly adjusted tandem harness after the instructor deployed the main canopy. It was originally reported that she had been saved in part due to a Y-mod on the tandem student harness. However, it was later discovered that this tandem harness did not have a Y-mod and that she nearly slipped through the back of the harness past the lateral back strap. A tandem instructor exited a King Air with the student attached by only the lower harness connectors. Once in freefall, the tandem instructor was able to connect one of the shoulder attachments but not the other. The student and instructor landed uneventfully with the harness attached at three points. Several tandem instructors and students suffered injuries ranging from minor to severe after a group of six tandems exited an aircraft just as a storm approached the airport. Most of the tandem pairs landed off the airport in strong and gusty winds, reported to be 35 mph with higher gusts. Hard landings occurred when the tandem canopies surged and collapsed while the tandem pairs attempted to land in the violent winds. In 2006, USPA and the Parachute Industry Association (PIA) released a joint statement in response to the second incident in a seven-month period in which a student came out of a tandem harness. The statement urges all tandem instructors and safety personnel to review the manufacturer’s harness instructions. It also urges manufacturers to examine their respective systems to ensure that unusual opening attitudes, varying body sizes and shapes, and recommended instructor procedures all maintain student security within the harness, particularly during the opening sequence. Since that time, at least two tandem manufacturers have developed a Y-mod for their tandem harnesses. Strong Enterprises requires the modification, and United Parachute Technologies offers it as an option. The Y-mod connects the back of each leg strap to the center of the harness inside the back pad. This forms an upside-down Y shape (see photo). After the student harness is adjusted to factory requirements, the Y-mod should not have any tension. Tandem instructors must adhere to standard operating procedures for all phases of the tandem jump, including correctly harnessing each tandem student or declining to take a student who cannot be fitted safely into a tandem harness. The Y-mod is a crucial back-up that can help to save a student should the instructor fail to adjust the harness correctly. Because it is such a valuable back-up, it should be considered for every tandem student harness in use today. There have been thousands of uneventful tandem jumps performed since 2006 with the Y-mod harness. Correctly adjusted, the Y-mod has no effect on the tandem harness or any tandem procedures. Since 2006, FAA concerns with the potential for tandem student ejection remain. It is entirely conceivable that another student ejection could result in an immediate cessation of all tandem jumps for a period of time, restarting only with new FAA-mandated requirements. Instructors, fit and adjust the harness correctly every time; DZOs and rig owners, seriously consider adopting the Y-modification. Tandem instructors need to follow procedures and take precautions for all phases of a tandem skydive, from gearing up to landing. And drop zones should postpone jumping when threatening weather conditions appear. We must all work together to ensure the safety of our tandem students.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Liemberg 0 #2 June 30, 2011 QuoteWe must all work together to ensure the safety of our tandem students. Amen. Getting them safely to the ground is the name of the game. If that means leaving them on the ground for the time being, so be it. "Whoever in discussion adduces authority uses not intellect but memory." - Leonardo da Vinci A thousand words... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matthewcline 0 #3 July 2, 2011 QuoteQuoteWe must all work together to ensure the safety of our tandem students. Amen. Getting them safely to the ground is the name of the game. If that means leaving them on the ground for the time being, so be it. Just to make sure the point was read! MattAn Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RIGGER 0 #4 July 5, 2011 *** We must all work together to ensure the safety of our tandem students *** That starts from Harnessing till Landing & out of the landing area including the WHOLE tandem jump process, including the camera flyer/s & any skydiver/s jumping with the tandem ! Be Safe !!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RIGGER 0 #5 July 8, 2011 The "Y" mod. / Butts Strap Retrofit Modifcation DOES NOT replace good harness fitting !!! The "Y" mod. migth assist in some cases or if you have a hardware / webbing slippage issue & that happened. All goes to training, education & the willing to do the work as it should be done. A tandem jump is not an extreame activity even it might looks like that, it might be that way for the first time jumper for being different from daily life BUT for the TI it MUST be the way he/she was trained = No Games, NO Free Fly & No Head Down - it is a Pure Commercial Aviation Activity with "Public Safety" first & that's the way it should be handled. The only persons that can keep the tandem market moving on & not be history are the T I/E's, TI's, DZO's & Riggers. (Tandem systems care & Tandem Mfg. Approved canopies) The Tandem Mfg. / National Org. must be more active by pulling ratings & keep the Non/Low Pro on the ground. Tandem jumps are NOT FUN jumps for skydivers acting as TI's on duty or for the camera flyer - TI's have the passenger life in their hands - do not "play" with that even you think your are doing a favor & giving a great time to the passenger - he/she just want to be back SAFE & HAPPY !!! Please give the passengers great time by being PRO = SAFE, CARE & KIND. Think about it !!! Any Comments ??? Be Safe !!! Shlomo Pearl UPT/USPA T I/E Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matthewcline 0 #6 July 8, 2011 Quote The "Y" mod. / Butts Strap Retrofit Modifcation DOES NOT replace good harness fitting !!! The "Y" mod. migth assist in some cases or if you have a hardware / webbing slippage issue & that happened. All goes to training, education & the willing to do the work as it should be done. A tandem jump is not an extreame activity even it might looks like that, it might be that way for the first time jumper for being different from daily life BUT for the TI it MUST be the way he/she was trained = No Games, NO Free Fly & No Head Down - it is a Pure Commercial Aviation Activity with "Public Safety" first & that's the way it should be handled. The only persons that can keep the tandem market moving on & not be history are the T I/E's, TI's, DZO's & Riggers. (Tandem systems care & Tandem Mfg. Approved canopies) The Tandem Mfg. / National Org. must be more active by pulling ratings & keep the Non/Low Pro on the ground. Tandem jumps are NOT FUN jumps for skydivers acting as TI's on duty or for the camera flyer - TI's have the passenger life in their hands - do not "play" with that even you think your are doing a favor & giving a great time to the passenger - he/she just want to be back SAFE & HAPPY !!! Please give the passengers great time by being PRO = SAFE, CARE & KIND. Think about it !!! Any Comments ??? Be Safe !!! Shlomo Pearl UPT/USPA T I/E An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #7 July 8, 2011 QuoteFrom this months email to instructors: Put a Stop to Tandem Close Calls USPA has recently received reports of several tandem incidents that could have easily ended in fatalities for both students and instructors. Luckily, the tandem pairs narrowly averted disaster: An 85-year-old woman nearly slipped out of her poorly adjusted tandem harness after the instructor deployed the main canopy. It was originally reported that she had been saved in part due to a Y-mod on the tandem student harness. However, it was later discovered that this tandem harness did not have a Y-mod and that she nearly slipped through the back of the harness past the lateral back strap. . . . In 2006, USPA and the Parachute Industry Association (PIA) released a joint statement in response to the second incident in a seven-month period in which a student came out of a tandem harness. The statement urges all tandem instructors and safety personnel to review the manufacturer’s harness instructions. It also urges manufacturers to examine their respective systems to ensure that unusual opening attitudes, varying body sizes and shapes, and recommended instructor procedures all maintain student security within the harness, particularly during the opening sequence. Since that time, at least two tandem manufacturers have developed a Y-mod for their tandem harnesses. Strong Enterprises requires the modification, and United Parachute Technologies offers it as an option. The Y-mod connects the back of each leg strap to the center of the harness inside the back pad. This forms an upside-down Y shape (see photo). After the student harness is adjusted to factory requirements, the Y-mod should not have any tension. Tandem instructors must adhere to standard operating procedures for all phases of the tandem jump, including correctly harnessing each tandem student or declining to take a student who cannot be fitted safely into a tandem harness. The Y-mod is a crucial back-up that can help to save a student should the instructor fail to adjust the harness correctly. Because it is such a valuable back-up, it should be considered for every tandem student harness in use today. There have been thousands of uneventful tandem jumps performed since 2006 with the Y-mod harness. Correctly adjusted, the Y-mod has no effect on the tandem harness or any tandem procedures. Since 2006, FAA concerns with the potential for tandem student ejection remain. It is entirely conceivable that another student ejection could result in an immediate cessation of all tandem jumps for a period of time, restarting only with new FAA-mandated requirements. Instructors, fit and adjust the harness correctly every time; DZOs and rig owners, seriously consider adopting the Y-modification. Tandem instructors need to follow procedures and take precautions for all phases of a tandem skydive, from gearing up to landing. And drop zones should postpone jumping when threatening weather conditions appear. We must all work together to ensure the safety of our tandem students. I seem to notice a theme, and the Y-mod is ancillary to it. Fit your harnesses correctly folks, and the presence or lack of a Y-mod won't matter. There may have been thousands of Y-mod jumps without issue since 2006, but there have also been millions of jumps without the mod since then, also without issue. It may be an advisable backup, but the real key is to not need it. Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
feuergnom 22 #8 July 11, 2011 QuoteSince 2006, FAA concerns with the potential for tandem student ejection remain. It is entirely conceivable that another student ejection could result in an immediate cessation of all tandem jumps for a period of time, restarting only with new FAA-mandated requirements. Instructors, fit and adjust the harness correctly every time before bording the aircraft; DZOs and rig owners, seriously consider adopting the Y-modification. FIFYThe 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
