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No. But pretending it's not happening will only make it worse.

NOBODY said that the "wiped out" "destroyed" "flooded" etc was going to happen in 2000, 2008, 2010 or whatever combination you want to pick. They said that if we don't reach the goal of X by that date then Y will happen at some point further down the road. We are currently on an irreversible path for several of those things the next question is what other irreversible things will occur, the final question is whether we will hit a tipping point that causes a global warming feedback loop of which we are incapable of reversing. On example of a current irreversible even is rising sea levels that will make many coastal communities uninhabitable or unusable. The US Navy is taking this into account in their construction of bases as they're inherently on the water and in zones where there is nothing we can do to reverse our effect on the climate.

Wear comfortable clothes. Your shoes should be athletic shoes, such as running or tennis shoes, not heavy boots. Depending on the weather, bring an extra layer, such as a sweatshirt without a hood. It's usually colder at altitude. Gloves, googles, helmets, etc. will be furnished by the jump center. Smile when you jump out.

No it doesn't. It means that I'd be willing to bend the rules a LITTLE in that particular situation. That's all it says. I know that because, well, that's what I said. You're free to criticize me for what I wrote and hold a different opinion. I expect it when I put something like that out there. But don't you fucking DARE extrapolate 'volumes' from it. Like I said, I see very a lot of grey in those areas. I wouldn't directly answer a question on a test for my son, but if he was struggling I'd certainly point him in the right direction. You're saying you wouldn't. I'd help my kid prepare for an admissions interview, helping him predict questions and prepare good answers. You're saying you wouldn't. Fair enough - There are a lot of folk out there who would think that you're being a lousy dad if you did that... Straight. By the book. But a shit dad. Like I said - 'grey'.

At the time, it was 120 days for "chair-type" parachutes, 60 days for all other types including the Pioneer back. 60 days seems like it would be quite inconvenient for sport jumpers, except that sport jumpers were using chest types that (a) didn't take long to inspect and pack, and (b) could be shared by several jumpers as long as they weren't on the same load.

Fired for giving zeros... Man... I wouldn't want my kids going to that school. The ones they go to, are pretty fair. But yes, they WILL give you a zero if you don't turn in a homework assignment, or any other reason that warrants that grade. My older one learned her lesson the hard way. Her school principal is a former US Marine. Oooorah!

Has the whole world gone crazy? Am I the only one around here who gives a shit about the rules? Mark it zero!!! (Sorry. I couldn't resist.)

Ok I agree, he is an idiot, coward, carnival barker and conman. Even as a heavily armed conservative libertarian, I am in full agreement that Trump is a threat. Especially to conservative leaning libertarians. Thank you for your reply, however I would like to hear from someone with a different point of view.

No I don't think so. But you should really get one in your hands and compare it to others on the market. You will quickly see what I am talking about. I was not impressed by it's price at first too, but when I saw it up close and put it on the head I was amazed and understood the price gap between this and other helmets. That said won't be switching mine out soon, but when I will it will be this one.

A few thoughts: How many other students are there? Lots? A couple? Are they having the same experiences? How many newer jumpers (students who got licensed last year)? Did they go through anything similar? Don't forget that tandems are a big source of income. Without them, a lot of DZs simply close. So, for early in the season, bumping students to bring in a bunch of cash that is probably short right now is somewhat understandable. But I agree that the 'next load' thing is really frustrating and, IMO, wrong. If, as I noted above, they were putting out all the tandems they could to generate cash flow to get the season going, they should have told you so. If they knew (or even could make a reasonable guess) that it was going to be that sort of day, I would think they should have told you so when you called before you came out. Something like: "It's going to be really busy today. We have a bunch of tandems scheduled, and we are likely to get some walk ons. We want to take those first, so you may get bumped a few times before you can get up. You may not even get up at all." Sure, that's going to be 'un-fun' news, both to give and to receive. But that would have let you know the situation before you got the sitter, drove out, sat there, ect. Some people don't like to do that. Some DZOs don't want to tell people not to come out. Some people simply don't like telling bad news. Personally, I would rather both hear or tell 'less than great' truths than 'comfortable lies' (both before you headed out and while you were sitting). I would suggest talking to the 'chief instructor' (if there is such a person) or the DZO. It sounds like this is really your only choice nearby, so try not to 'burn bridges' when you do so. Maybe approach it along the lines of: "It was really frustrating to see all the loads going up without me on them. Did you expect that many tandems? I understand that they are important, but it would have been nice if you had let me know it was going to be that busy. If I had known it was going to be that long of a wait, and had known in advance, I might have picked a less busy day to come out." Don't throw blame around, ask how to keep it from happening again in the future. Don't express it in terms of what they did, go with what you were seeing.

This an industry wide problem that has been mostly unreported because people did not have it happen on the next jumps. When the slider makers went to the premium quality stainless grommets, they elected to install the ones with an inside diameter of 15/16 in. Real bright. The old style #8's have an ID of 1 1/6 in. The riser and toggle material is mostly 1 in width. Then, slam a size #0 grommet in the toggle handle and it becomes more than 1in wide and rock hard. Try putting that through a 15/16 in hole. Guess what, you will have a jamb up or worse a toggle fire. A jamb up will cost you critical time upon opening when you are getting control of the canopy. A toggle fire will swing you around and maybe twist lines leading to a cutaway, even if you are not jumping a hot rod. I installed real #8's on my slider and built quick draw slim toggles. Either will drastically help the problem. After 2 toggle fires and multiple jamb ups, it is now just a memory. Then you will get the folks that say "just install bumpers" and live with your slider flapping, slowing you down, and obstructing your vision. Remember, It doesn't take much to work, and it doesn't take much to not work." Good Luck

I wonder if he'll get his watch and tie from Martin Baker?

There are not a lot of DZs here, only two that are possible for me really. I did my tandem at the 'other' one (two or three twin otters) and knew immediately i did NOT want to do my student jumps there, it was a total tandem factory and the office management was absolutely horrendous. I own a small business and i would NEVER talk like they did in front of or treat my customers the way the 'other' place treated me. So i chose this current DZ to do my student jumps after visiting and asking all the questions. I even spent 3-4 hours there with my family to see how they were organizing jumps and how smooth the operation was. It was all great until today ... today seemed out of character for them, and i wanted opinions (read: validation for my feelings) before i spoke with them about it.

You need to sit down and discuss this with the DZO. Some operators will understand your point. Especially since you prepaid in good faith. A good operator should listen to your story, apologize and offer you something to make it up. DZs and instructors make their living mostly from tandems, and experienced jumpers know which DZs to avoid or what times to avoid. I know there are operators who will think nothing of doing this to you. They are out there and I have met them. If this has happened to you and you have no other options because you prepaid you are probably in for a world of frustration. Is it normal? Unfortunately it is in some places. If a frank discussion does not result in a reasonable answer I would ask for my money back. But if they are the kind of place that will not give you a firm commitment they will probably strong resist refunding you. Let us know how it turns out. And if it turns out badly don't be shy about telling us where it happened.

It just blew? The hatch just blew?

My best vertical speed run up high is 105mph at 9k on a Petra 68 at 3.3ish. I haven't had a chance to take my Petra 62 for a high pull loaded up to see what I can get it to. My best ground runs on the 62 have been peaking in the mid to low 90's vertical on the roll out. That's at a 3.4-3.65 WL doing a 630. For a work wing I just moved from a JVX 72 to a VK67(non-hybrid / not full rds) loaded at 2.7. I have been doing 630's and getting in the low 80's on the 10 or so turns I have done with it. The DZ's I have been jumping at are all about 300ft MSL. 17-15-14 Petra 68 3.3.CSV 17-58-58 VK 67 2.7.CSV 19-32-27 Petra 62 3.65.CSV

>Any suggestions how I overcome the fear? Any suggestion on how I minimize the risk? >How I prepare myself mentally? Suggestion for all three - practice the exit, the skydive and the opening over and over and over again. You are going to be scared (everyone is) but the more you practice the more the reactions will be automatic and you won't "freeze." Note that you will get plenty of opportunity to do this with your instructors before you go up - they will run you through the entire skydive several times. Once you have it down, go over it yourself some more (if possible) so when the time comes you will react almost automatically. >But at the same time, internet has a lot of malfunctions, which scare me. Especially >the high speed ones. Even if you do things right, it's possible that you don't make it. That's possible - there's no way to eliminate the risk - but it's unlikely. Keep in mind that you'll be pulling at 5000 feet. So even if you have a high speed mal you have 20 seconds to deal with it. And at most you will have to pull two handles. Try counting that out - get a clock and watch how long 20 seconds are.