obelixtim

Yeah...well..an AAD fire could realistically be regarded as a bounce that didn't happen.... I would hope that the individuals who had them fire as a result of their incompetence then had their ratings removed......permanently.... No room for dickheads doing tandems.....(or any other skydives for that matter....) My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

So...no news lately on this machine.....thought I'd ask how everyones found it to date.....just to move the thread back up to the front as well...... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

The BPA thing will be to form a committee to look into it for 6 months, then make 100 recommendations about what should be done by someone..... Probably come up with a rule that inconvieniences the maximum number of people for the minimum amount of safety for the most amount of time..... Then find that nobody takes any notice of the rule apart from some poor sap of a student who complies, then gets bollocked for nothing.... True to form..... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

My JM was kind enough to point out the local cemetery on my first jump.....I told him I'd see him there first....... JM's were a bit ruff'n'tuff back then.....but you listened to them carefully........ My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Yeah, the young pups of today are a bit soft I reckon, they need to harden up a bit...... I really don't like the way they look at you when you tell them how it used to be in the good ol' days...... When we used to get out the door of a 172 at 500 feet, get a 10 way speed star together in 3.5 seconds, then get a stand up landing on the concrete under half a round parachute....... They have the cheek to suggest we're lying!!!!.......Sheesh...... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

...."not having a go at riggers".... Then you procede to do so...... The notion that riggers are "above reproach" is a figment of your fertile imagination....as is the notion that they object to scrutiny........ I've never seen a rigger insist on privacy while working, unless you are a total pain in the butt distracting them from an important stage of a packjob where you disturb/break their concentration.... We all learn from others mistakes.....which is why very few mistakes are made compared to the amount of work done around the world...... If it wasn't for riggers there wouldn't be any skydiving done anywhere......the fact that skydiving is so popular, widespread and SAFE is testament to their dedication and professionalism.... Your generalisations are offensive, insulting and total rubbish....... I suggest you watch a rigger at work......you might even learn something.....but remove your blinkers first!!!...... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

I've trained quite a lot of people for their first jumps who have subsequently overtaken me in terms of jump numbers....(some have doubled my score). Do they have my depth of knowledge??...in their specialist field.....probably yes.... All round??....probably not...... You learn a hell of a lot just being around for a long time....meeting people and seeing things develop over time......witnessing and discussing events/ incidents/rules and regs/training/experimenting/testing/competing/etc etc etc.......it takes time, and the learning NEVER stops..... Its a maturity that develops over time..... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Personally, coming from outside the US, I've always thought the liability laws in the US are crazy, way outside the boundaries of common sense, and are an unnecessary burden for everyone who tries to make things happen.....which is sad.... At what age can citizens of the US don uniform and expose themselves to the possibility of being shot full of holes in Iraq or other hotspots around the globe???.......16????.....and who is liable in this case....... Not sure of the answers here....just wondering about consistency if Government is involved.... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Well, look at it this way then...... Who would you rather let your wife, mother, daughter, son, girlfriend/boyfriend go tandem with....... Bulletproof hotshot one year boy wonder........or.... Grizzled "been there, done that" 20 year veteran........ Not really a fair contest......or is it ??....... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Well, I don't call mine a Molar strap....I call it a Death Strap....and I have only one of them.....my SOP is to remove it and have another jumper visually and verbally confirm it......usually its the owner of the rig.......it lives at the top of my toolbox....... One idiot hid it for a "joke" one time....but he soon thought twice about it when I closed the DZ till it was produced......I knew instantly it had been removed from my toolbox because I had my witness on hand to confirm I'd removed it from my last packjob.......... The idiot soon had a fairly sharp idea what I thought of his sense of humour.... I think riggers are pretty aware of the need for rigid SOP's, but I'm sure none would have a problem if you asked them what their SOP's for tools are........useful reminder for them....and shows that you're on your toes.......... I remember a pin left in a rig by a packer.......would have resulted in a total on the reserve.....found on a thorough gear check by another rigger......... Humans can make mistakes....which is why we have SOP's.......and the percentage of mistakes is very small as a result.......... Ask your rigger what his are.....you might be surprised at what he does if you don't know already.... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Missing tools????....not if your rigger counts his tools out, and counts them back into his toolbox before and after each packjob......standard procedure....... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

I think adults are well able to make their own decisions as long as they are aware of all the ramifications of what they are getting into.... Most quacks have as much idea of skydiving as I do about nuclear physics.......i.e. none.... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

A rig is an inanimate object......it doesn't know what day it is......and can't tell the time..... 180 days is about right.......generally..... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Thats because Mickey Mouth is a Kiwi..... he's used to a 6 month cycle.......... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

The Poms are quite likely to make you do it anyway.......... Watch out for Brit DZ's.........most are run by total dickheads............go to Texel in Holland......... much better attitudes......... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Sorry...looked at your profile after asking your DZ.......I'd already guessed Auckalofa........Mercer huh............... Where are you in Pomgolia?? (if thats where you're still are)...... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

I think I pointed out a few reasons why repack cycles can vary.......but one big reason is because NZ has always been extremely progressive in its approach and attitude.....and has led the way in many areas of skydiving over the years......always a "can do" attitude with forward thinkers to make things happen............NZ went to a 6 month cycle years ago...........in the early 80's if I recall..... The Poms are 25 years behind.....always have to have a committee to look into something then never make a decision........NZ by comparison is small and its easier to get consensus and monitor change.....most of the ex military dinosaurs were replaced in the mid 70's......unlike many places where they still control a lot of the DZ's........military bases........they have no time for civvies or their ideas............ Your way of presenting your thoughts seemed very convoluted to me thats all....... My "Sparky" comment was aimed at another poster who will know what I mean....... Yes I'm always known for speaking my mind.....it gets things happening........too many PC people pussyfoot around issues for my liking.......makes for good friends........but deadly enemies....... What DZ you from???..... What about those All Blacks then............ My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

As a rigger they could double the price of reserve repacks and I will still hate packing reserves.......I never ever packed a reserve to get rich......just to keep the DZ running.........I don't know a rigger who has a love of packing....its a necessity for skydiving and someone has to do it..... Reserve repack cycles have no relevance to fatality rates..............Jimbo is quite correct......... Taupo Tandem Skydiving is a tandem factory, and do a hell of a lot of tandems.....so what....they cater and service a market....I'm sure all the T/M's check their rigs before each jump...as any one who enjoys living will do......... A lot of different factors can influence repack cycles...jump numbers are but one of them....climate/environment is another......there are always reasons for different cycles/rules, some logical, some not................ What exactly is your point Bigway???.....Are you trying to big note about NZ's bounce rate for some reason......if so please desist......as anyone who has been around skydiving for a while will tell you......it can turn to shit in the next 5 minutes!!!!!.... A reserve is supposed to save your life....but I'd prefer you to pack and deploy your main properly in the first place......... Is that OK with you Sparky???.... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

... Target fixation is a problem, especially for low timers...... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

I said words to the effect that a freebag (or any bag) makes the opening comfortable..... But tell me.....how would a square open if you had no bag at all???.............the word "explosive" comes to mind...... Its something we tried as an experiment once with CRW.........lines freestowed in a pocket on the tail......subterminal openings were quick but messy.......... Not out of answers.....just don't see the point of answering the same questions twice......... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

No way Jose..... Too complex, too confusing, too many variables, not a huge problem that needs addressing..........A huge can of worms........don't go there..... The simpler the training...the safer it is..................always approach student training with that in mind, and you won't go too far wrong............... My training is all based on the assumption that my student doesn't have English as a first language, so I've cut out every unnecessary bit of information possible....to keep it easily understandable.... in order that they get thru that first jump safely..... For example, I've seen training where the instructor went into a long winded spiel about the workings of the AAD that left ME confused, and a bunch of bewildered students anxious that they'd missed a vital lifesaving bit of information.......total waste of time and totally unnecessary........ I tell mine that they have a back up system to help them in the unlikely event everything goes totally wrong and they forget everything I've taught them..........very basic, "what it does"....end of story... They believe me, because I'm the instructor, and what I say is true........ and thats all I want at this stage........ Then I focus on more relevant stuff that they MUST know........... If they continue jumping, you can then add more complex bits where necessary....because they then have some experience of jumping and have salted that basic knowledge away...........and are now more receptive to more complex information... I train a lot of tourists...students from all over.....Japan, Sweden, Germany, etc, sometimes all in the same class at the same time.....and some have little or no English at all, so simplicity is vital........... A lot of experienced jumpers would stuff up a canopy transfer....... Confusion kills...............KISS...... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Actually, thinking about it further, it could be a problem for him at pull time as well....depending on the position of the ripcord/pilotchute, is it possible he might go a bit head down or roll a bit when he comes in to pull when solo???...... Perhaps his handle needs to be positioned quite high on the harness so he can use his left elbow to keep a bit head high.............just a thought, but maybe you've got it sussed already....... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Try reading the first 2 lines of my last post..... I was talking about round RESERVES at terminal velocity..... Sheesh!!!!!..... End of discussion from me about it............... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

I think the F/f probs are solveable as you say....AFF is the way.. you can teach him to fly stable I would think..... Canopy ride, particularly landing, seems to be the major problem for you....My guy was so strong, one handed controlled flare was easy for him.....I tried it and couldn't do it, and I'm quite strong...... Maybe the best bet for him would be to use both toggles in one hand, but only pull on half brakes for landing and PLF (ex military shouldn't be a problem).......doesn't require so much power to pull them on evenly.....maybe only let him jump in 10 to 15 knots of wind for easier landings....if its possible.........plus a big canopy.....but don't forget the possibility of a reserve ride...allow for the differences........ Or you could shorten the brake lines a bit....will decrease performance a little, but make for a shorter pull to flare.....but tell him to watch the stall point...... Turning only one way under canopy is not really a big deal once he gets used to it...careful spotting would help him as well..... My guy had obviously put a lot of time into beefing up and increasing the strength of his good arm.....tell your guy to get to work on that, it'll help a lot....... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

I'm talking solely about round reserve openings of course.....no sleeves, bags, sliders or reefing system....... I have about 800 jumps on round mains....P.C's, 28 ft cheapo's, 35 footers, Papillons... Plus 2 round reserve openings...... One a 26 ft lopo,(subterminal, quite soft), one 24 ft ripstop, (terminal, nutcracker).....that hurt, ( but it was a GOOD sort of hurt, you know)...... Packed about 400 round reserves.....all flavours....and about 600 squares.....done quite a few test jumps as well... I do know a little of what I talk about.... I wasn't talking about packed lineovers......read my post again....... A square does not have an inherent "lineover on deployment" problem......this lack of inherent problems is the one major factor why squares became popular and took over the market after they sorted out the openings (trim, reefing lines etc......). The old strato star with slider was the first really reliable square...the days of the round main were numbered right then.....mals became rare.... With round mains you would see a mal most weekends, sometimes several.... Inherent problems......NOT packing problems....humans will always find a way to stuff something up once they get involved...... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....