chuckbrown

CReW Seminar 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 18, 2011 at the Maytown Sport Parachute Club. If you have any interest in learning about CReW, or just want to be more aware under canopy, you're welcome to attend. I'm running this seminar specifically for a new CReW team, but any others are welcome. Just let me know before hand. Cost: bring pizza and/or beer for the group.

"Prudent and reasonable" would be the standard of care in a negligence lawsuit. The waiver prevents an injured party from bring a negligence lawsuit (assuming that the injured signed a waiver). Any lawsuit for injuries would have to be brought under a theory of gross negligence (courts will not recognize a waiver of gross negligence). The standard of care in gross negligence is a wanton or reckless disregard for life or limb (basically not giving a s**t). Impairment on the job is most likely going to meet the gross negligence standard of care, and expose the DZ to liability.

Pretty much worthless. Don't use for a set period of time before the test, pass the test & go back to using. Doesn't solve or accomplish anything other than maybe convincing the applicant that they don't need to use in order to enjoy life. It also doesn't address the issue of alcohol abuse.

I would hate to be the DZO on the witness stand trying to defend that statement. If the DZO knew or should have known about the Safety meetings and did nothing to prevent them, he is screwed. Period. Is a defendant required to testify? In a civil lawsuit a defendant can be compelled to testify unless his testimony would expose him to criminal prosecution. The defendant would need to explain that evidence to a judge in order to avoid testifying. As for the earlier statement, the existence of Safety meetings doesn't necessarily "screw" a DZ in a lawsuit. The law requires there be 1) gross negligence; and 2) harm; 3) caused by the gross negligence. If your sole evidence of gross negligence is that a packer or TM/JM smoked a joint the night before the incident (or even smoked every night after jumping), the plaintiff is going to have a hard time convincing a jury that the person was impaired and that impairment caused the injury. Now if the evidence is that the guy/gal smoked a joint right before they got on the plane or packed the rig, that's another issue.

That's a completely different issue than your first post. Your first post was about safety. The legal status of a substance is irrelevant to safety; it's only relevant to whether your employee is willing to break the law. You're more than entitled to fire them for their willingness to break the law; however, I don't think the issue should be framed as one of safety when legal substances are just as dangerous.

I have no problem taking a drug test under any circumstances; however, I'm not sure they provide much value other than to say you haven't committed an illegal act (possession), which in and of itself is a good thing. I'm not sold that they have value from a safety standpoint. I don't think that a positive test result for marijuana that was consumed at an unknown point in the past (30 days?) has more value than some way of determining whether someone has a chronic alcohol abuse problem (which I feel is a far greater danger). I have a huge problem with anyone jumping under the influence of anything (legal or illegal), but a drug test isn't going to show impairment, and you're not testing for legal substances that can cause impairment. I just don't see much value from a safety standpoint. As far as a marketing scheme, I think it carries an implied message to the general public that skydivers are a bunch of stoners. If you're saying "we're drug free" you're implying others aren't. Personally, I'd rather differentiate my dropzone through other avenues, but, I can't say that this type of marketing is out of bounds. You asked for opinions

Time contraction/expansion is definitely real. I've been through a number of "high stress" events, with some on video. I've always been amazed at the disconnect between the amount of time I thought had passed during the event, and how little time actually passed in reviewing the event. I think it's nature & nurture. Training is vitally important, but if you don't have the will to survive, all the training is worthless. I like the comment about being angry at your equipment when stuff goes wrong. Getting mad certainly puts the focus on surviving.

We've got a couple of master riggers in Maytown that can make you anything you want.

Well, I was moreless asking this question from Andy since he has a law degree. As a lawyer Andy most likely understands my question. There are many actions in everyday life the general public doesnt see as contracts, but anyone who understands the basics in contract law will know better. Buying milk from a shop is a contract. It is a sales contract. Contract law states that minors are incapable of contracting below a certain age. That doesn't mean they can't engage in transactions, such as buying a candy bar, but it does mean that they can repudiate an executory contract when they reach the age of majority. In other words, a waiver signed by a minor places the drop zone at unacceptable risk should the minor be injured. When the minor turns 18 (or whatever the age of consent is in the particular state), the injured party is now able to repudiate the contract and sue for damages. The analogy to a sales transaction is not appropriate. Once the milk is purchased & consumed, the contract is complete & the minor can't repudiate it. With respect to skydiving, once the minor is injured, he's legally able to repudiate it and seek redress for his injury.

Its not fun and I have enough jumps that I don't want to be miserable just to add a number to a logbook. +1

I'm not sure that the fraud gets the DZ off the hook. Fraud in the inducement of a contract voids the contract, which means no waiver. You can bet if the kid got killed the parents are going to be suing for wrongful death & I doubt the kid's fraudulent acts will insulate the DZ from any claim from the parents.

Go jump down to Madison and ask for Jim Rasmussen. He'll point you in the right direction.

Sounds like you were born for CRW. For a second there, I thought nobody was gonna get to this guy. The Dark Side awaits another victim. Heh, heh.

The 2nd Annual Maytown Sport Parachute Club CReW Camp was a smash! We had 10 students, including some who traveled from as far away as Michigan & North Carolina, and 6 instructors. Friday night included lessons in free packing Lightnings and a Safety Seminar (and, of course, pizza & beer). Saturday we started with 1 on 1 coaching, and ended the day with multiple 4 stack awards. Congratulations William Wallace, Sol Loethe, Tony Gwin and J.P. Walsh on getting your 4 stack awards. Sunday started with a planned 10 way for 10/10/10 which built to a 9 way diamond before we hit our hard deck (Jen was 20 feet away from her slot when we broke:(). Congratulations Scott Regina & Gregor Weeks on your CCS awards! Sunday progressed with more 4 stacks and Frank Matrone piloting Scott, Sol & Gregor for their first 4 way diamond formation. The day ended with a planned 8 way that built to 6 and Gregor hanging a row 3 wing. Maytown has lots of new cases of beer! Thanks to everyone who made this a success, especially Terry Ross for making it happen.

I'd like to find out more about them. I had a leg strap loosen on a Sigma last month. Never even thought that could happen. Glad it wasn't both.

One on each mudflap connected to the pouch by a length of tacky thread. Why there? Easy access. Why the thread? In case I drop it.

The 2nd Annual Maytown CReW Course is full. We have 13 Pups & 7 Instructors. We'll have 3 182s flying, and if all goes well, a 10 way is planned for 10/10/10. If you're not on the list, you're welcome to come to the seminar Friday night. 6:30 at the DZ.

Cool video.

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Alexander's on the list for this year. He should have heard from TR.

If the lost soul can't find CRW at Maytown, they didn't look very hard. In all fairness, this has been a training year.

Yup, what she said. Pull the knot out if you have time. Mine, likewise, was on a CRW jump where I had 10,000 feet to work on the problem. I think I cleared mine by 8,000 (it took a few tugs). Obviously, 2,000 feet during a normal FF jump is too long to work on the problem.

I don't know if this hasn't already been said, but if USPA's regular liability insurance wouldn't cover the jump, it probably should be considered a demo (and have a separate demo insurance policy). If it's a skydive at an established DZ, I don't think it qualifies for the demo insurance program, and, therefore, should not be considered a demo jump.

That's how we run our IAD program.

It's real easy to have a student dock on the instructor for their first jump: 1. Student out first setting a heading. 2. Instructor flies back and sets up next to student. I find slightly high and forward of the student works best. 3. On command student turns canopy towards instructor. 4. Instructor gives input as necessary to help student dock. 5. After dock, instructor puts formation on heading. 6. Repeat. This gives a student a practical demonstration of piloting skills before they start piloting, and after a few revolutions they start to feel comfortable docking their canopy and the instructor doesn't need to give as much input. Sorry if my statement was a bit strong. I've had plenty of experience having CRWbies fly me to where I don't want to be (and not respond to instructions), so it's just my personal preference not to put my canopy in their hands until they're a little more aware of what's going on. Another good first jump is to have the same as above, but also have another instructor dock on the 2 stack. Then, break it down and rebuild.