ChrisD

The issue of contractor V employee is another issue frought with abuse and peril, can anyone say union? The thing with 1099s' is that your "employer" has spoken and they want every tax deduction without the cost's of having "employee's." Tax and skydiving are two words that if you haul in let's say 45,000.00 in gross your real comparison salarey is about 32,000.00 - 28,000.00 per year. Not a lot to worry about considering the spread from poverty. In other words as a rule the IRS has many other bigger fish to worry about than going off after gypsys who are basically broke! Can anyone say groupon (perhaps) but skyride is puttin a hurt on skydiving? The many I have spoken with indicate groupon has been a blessing to their DZ's but the latter has certianly had a negative impact on skydiving! I would worry more about ICE for those of you who get caught for some minor traffic issue. Sucks I know, going broke skydiving, no benifits, no health insurance, etc. and the ice folks want to make an example of the two individuals from russia who's visa's have expired 5 years ago... Speaking with so many of you out there your "customer" has shown you that they are going after every tax penny by issuing a 1099 as required by law, again the point is so many who do file; frequently, omit many expenses and the cost of buisness, that's if you can figure out your cost of buisness. this is where a tax pro working for you can show you what you have been failing to consider. On the other hand when your under 28,000.00 or so and no taxes have been withheld you really shouldn't be taxed in the first place because you are bareily survivin and generally have only a camper to show for years of work that because of depreciation and age arn't worth shit anyways! But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

If you are receving 1099s' then don't worry about the hobby suggestions. You keep written records of every expense, and mile traveled, except commuting, lic cost, subscription, specalized clothing and any and all personal jumps required for certification. In some instances you should go after the fuel credit. For the kero or your portion thereof,...it sounds like you already have a handel on this but my suggestion is most likely to be a little more agressive with individual items, many people get freaked out by this but if you read the fine print in any tax book It always points out you are entitled to take all deductions and bis costs, it's the "all" word that many just don't get...Sometimes finding a tax attouney is worth the 400 - 500 fee just to talk with one of these guy's, that's a deduction as well... But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

They have a new visor, I think it's about 60 bucks, but they say it's 3 times as thick and anti fog! On back order will be here soon,... And ya that glue on the skirt takes some effort to remove, and I can't find an equally strong glue to glue it back. I found replacment buckle at a sports store no problem... C I hand tacked the buckle fold with 5 or 6 tacks, I want the thing to be able to pull off my head with little to no effort in case of a snag! Too answere your question, the thing is holding up well, critters love it too,... I Love my dog,... C [inline DogvZ1.jpg] But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

I got fat fingers Dude! Cant type woth shit on this glorified cell phone! you know what kind of a hassel it is turning my AAd on and off with out fingernails??? I'm just envious of all of yo kids with cameras, I can't turn on the small buttons nor can I see these small screens in daylight anyways, so If i'm gonna be miserable so is everyone else...

Just maken a point dude, Your the "expert" seeking advice from strangers on the internet, all I'm saying is after 11 years I'm expressing my view regarding safety and long layoffs??? C Am I not entitled to my opinion? Please stop by DeLand perhaps you can try the larger sized PD Peregrine? "And please tell me WHY you are making the recommendation." : Why am I making this reccomondation, well because of your extensive experience you might as well start with the best swooping canopy out there, why stop with someting half way when you can get the best. But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

Since it's bash ChrisD day? I'll point out the difference between devoting your time learning skydiving and drinking margs in mehecio,... Do you want to learn skydiving or do you want to take a trip to Mexico? Because as I wrote in this posters other posts,..."The best skydiving instruction in the world in in the USA and near a wind tunnel!" Make up your mind between learning to skydive and takeing a trip. This to me begs the question of priorities and your commitment to learning. It is my opinion that you should not combine the two and this question is an indication of your, anyone's attitude twords learning. Just my childlike opinion,... But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

With all due respect I want to raise the issue? What is your priority, takeing a trip or learning to skydive? Because the learning capital of the world is here in the USA and in close proximity to a wind tunnel! So being a bit of a parent make your choice! Trip or learning, because you can't do them both. Just my juvinile opinion! C But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

You have (basically) described skydivings most recent fatal. Please wait a while, use something conservative for a bit, tell us you have taken a canopy course before in the same sentance your telling us that your going to be hanging full turns close to the ground after 11 years layoff,... then after a bit you will be telling us your choice after you have seen what is out theere... C Take a look at Lazlo's hit at 1.5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ9C0ym7WA8 Just my 2 cents, because I have a concern about the skill required and a 11 year couch time. And what you have described...

Can somebody tell me the emergency procedure in a plane load of skydivers, when the offset feature has been implimented, and the aircraft suddenly dives? I think the procedure should be to reach around your back and grab your reserve and hang on to it. Or perhaps everyone should grab everyone elses reserve, kinda like a conga line?? Hey, can anyone tell me how to shut off, quickly, my adhd if it's not readily accesable??? Like do I have to fully take off my rig to reach it?? Like I have said on multiple posts in the past if you actually have to use this thing (AAD's) your nuts! All this reliance on AAD's has done,.. is to create a skydiving public that is dulisional and living in some kind of fantasy land. This is why this issue is so heavaley debated and full of emotion! It's kind of like this: The USPA is contimplating raising the min opening altitudes. Might be a good thing! Now what happens??? How can we make money off of this??? Well lets add a new feature to our AAD's, PEOPLE WILL FEEL BETTER! Will it actually do anything? By the way: Just how dangerous are 2 outs? I mean after you have left the aircraft? Are there more no pulls as compared with 2 out fatals? I want to say that it has not gone unnoticed that everyone here wan'ts to do everything they can to have a zero fatality sport, this has not gone unnotice and is gratly appreciated!!! Many who read these threads don't understand this, they think this is just endless debate without end, this is not endless debate without end,it is an attempt to save 30 - 40 people each year! And the way 2013 is going it is going to be more than 40! And that sucks! But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

All 20 of them. But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

It actually is about how some manufacturers are selectivly including some information and excluding other information. I have heard this exact quote more than 10 times from these same manufacturers in the last month: "If we include all of the information in our manual, it would just,...(enter excuse)...and they don't read the manual anyways." We have people running around stating Vigil has changed the shutoff parameters (the 14 hour thing.) BUT VIGIL MAKES NO REFERENCE TO THIS WHATSOEVER???? We have a disaster awaiting the unsuspecting with the Cyres units failing, and a company that is perfectly happy waiting years to check out exsisting units! We have another disaster awaiting the unsuspecting with the USPA contemplating raising the min activation altitudes ((Hard Deck.)) and the number of individuals wanting to bump up their offset to raise the activation from around 800 feet to 1000'. And why are offsets such a big issue??? Because of the "pilot notes." And of the consequences of an aircraft emergency! I want everyone to take notice of the amount of excuses to not include detailed operating instuctions regarding this issue??? Their are so many of you that are complacient regarding this issue and way too many that are buying into the excuse that they "DON'T WANT TO CHANGE THIER MANUALS."???? What the price of paper is too much?? Is it too much to ask for this information on offsets and the consequences to be posted on the web somewhere? As it stands the Vigil manual makes no reference to the 150 +/- activation altitude when you put in an offset! THIS IS THE QUESTION "WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ENTER AN OFFSET, TO THE OTHER ALTITUDES? WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SHUT OFF ALTITUDE??? Both the manufacturers don't want to add a few sentances to explain, in detail this issue??? WHY? The Cypres people make quick reference to the new user selectible hard deck deployment feature, but notice that this feature is not available on the Vigil, no wonder they don't want to point this out??? But they leave you in intentional limbo regarding the folly and consequences regarding raising the offset to get a higher deployment altitude. Yes I freely admit not every contingincy can be anticipated, I am speaking to the things we currently know and how the manufacturers have their best interests at heart and not the skydiving public. It has been a great boon to their bottom line with all of the increasing mandatory AAD jump areas! And yet we accept their lack of documentation and insane excuse that the skydiving public "won't read the manuals, anyways." Considering the consequences of raising the offset and aircraft emergencies this issue is a sleeping bomb for those that are the ones that are going to fall victim to this, there needs to be an increased effort to educate the skydiving public regardless of the marketing consequences to the manufacturers... The problem is that there is no supervising authority regarding these manufacturers, imagine the response if we as a governing body had a minimum of control to demand better written documentation? As it stands any factory rep can say what they want in any public setting, why do you think I am harping on the documentation so much???? If we had any clout as consumers this wouldn't be an issue, they know this and they continue to exploit this!!! It's the multitude of skydivers that just go with the flow and accept this dribble and the attitude of unquestioning everything that sick'ns me! Reminds me of the pictures of people lining up for the final solution,... And yes Chicken Little was right, for some,... But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

Even in the Cookie video, one of the first things he says is: "To reduce the chance of entanglment." Like I said this is a question of when, not if. Some of us want to save lives and point out this unsafe practice, some of you want to keep living in denial land! But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

I said that. Not Paul. I guess, you were not in the same room with me and about 70 other folks during the PIA symposium when Candie Procos from Vigil USA made that statement?! And there's really no place for name calling here. I hope you gonna learn this when you grow up. P.S. I didn't post any flier ,because I don't have one. Do your own research! "This statement is partially incorrect. I'll explain why. Apparently they have changed that function on the Vigil. The new Vigils ( from # 26172 ) WILL shut down after 14h even in flight, but don't bother reading the manual. It's not there. The info is on the flier they will put in the box with the new unit. When I asked why, not in the manual, they said that the change is not significant to change the whole manual. " ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT SPREAD MISINFORMATION,... tHIS INFO IS NOT IN THE BOX WITH NEW UNITS,...NOR HAVE YOU CORRECTLY QUOTED THE VIGIL FOLKS... MY POINT IS THIS: THERE ARE THOSE OF US THAT EXPECT CRITICAL INFORMATION TO ACCOMPANY THE THINGS WE PURCHASE AND THEN THERE ARE THOSE OF YO THAT SPREAD MISINFORMATION! But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

There is no documentation regarding this "water" reasoning from the manufacturers whatsoever. But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

This statement is partially incorrect. I'll explain why. Apparently they have changed that function on the Vigil. The new Vigils ( from # 26172 ) WILL shut down after 14h even in flight, but don't bother reading the manual. It's not there. The info is on the flier they will put in the box with the new unit. When I asked why, not in the manual, they said that the change is not significant to change the whole manual. So reading the manual is not always the answer. I want to make this perfectly clear; The "Flyier" that this poser posted and makes reference to makes no reference to any shutoff parameters other than what is in the vigil manual! AND THAT IS UNTILL THIS VIGIL UNIT PASSES WITHIN 150' OF ITS ORIGINAL REFERENCE ALTITUDE IT WILL NOT SHUT OFF. THE 14 HOUR SHUTOFF IS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM FOR ROUND THE CLOCK OPERATIONS AND IF THE RIG WAS JUMPED THE PREVIOUS NIGHT! THE FLIER MAKES THE POINT WHEN IN DOUBT "RESET THE UNIT!" Because there have already been incidents where individuals have just looked at an AAD, seen that it is on, and then using the rig and it has shut off, in the air at the 14 hour mark! I find it totally unacceptable that this person: p.w. stockwell has posted this misleading information and then makes up a story regarding the fine folks at Virgil. There is no reference to this claim on Vigil's web site nor is there any such reference in the box of new units,... I also find the comment about: "When I asked why, not in the manual, they said that the change is not significant to change the whole manual.", very disturbing that so many people accept this reasoning??? The manual's need serious clarification !! Both on this shutoff issue, with Vigil units, and clarification of the offset functionality with both Cypres and Vigil units. People need to understand the operation of their ADHD's when using the offset functions and the manuals are noticibly deficient in this area,... you need to understand that your AAD isn't going to work if yo have large offsets entered and the pilot returns to the original field! Or if the pilot needs to manuever etc! You need to understand that in this type of an emergency (under this select parameters) you are going to have your AAD fire as you are trying to exit the aircraft in an aircraft emergency!!! But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

Anyone know if they are related to the: Fung Wha Bus company? "Fung Wah has a history of crashes and other safety violations. In the past two years, it has been cited for 159 maintenance violations, including 23 instances of cracked, loose, or broken frames, according to federal regulators. Its drivers are ranked in the bottom 3 percent of drivers nationwide based on experience and training, and its unsafe driving rating is below the industry standard." http://www.boston.com/businessupdates/2013/03/01/federal-authorities-shut-down-fung-wah/IHSu0v1wQXpRJSW7mjVUbJ/story.html I think this is the same place Lodi sends it aircraft to for maintanence??? But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

Thanks Man! Best reads' on this damn forum, best laugh I have had this week! I'M TELLIN YA RIGHT NOW DON'T CLICK ON EITHER OF THESE LINKS BELOW: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9fmf1cdGA4&feature=player_detailpage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKcHqhMh2To&feature=player_detailpage (This one is partiurly disturbing!!!!!!! Don't watch if your prone to upchucking.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQGJMPoYkjE&feature=player_detailpage OR I bet you can't watch the whole thing!!!!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xsDdIByh8A&feature=player_detailpage Hey Leo, you want Mexican or Chinese tonight? But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

With so many people trying to get out of Mehico, why would you want to go there??? As far as I understand, Mexico is on the US State Departments list of places Americans should not visit??? Considering the insane amount of gang violence, the inability of the government to police itself, the poor quality of medical care available, and the fact that your at risk of being robbed and or kidnapped, or found dead if your familia dosent have the ransome money, and all of this never makes the us news??? But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

Airbag went off all by itself, traveling 65, remember hands hitting airbag trying to steer, couldn't see, saw just enough when finally got airbag down,...remember seeing concrete bridge support, remember thinking,..."This is gonna hurt," Woke up a couple of days later, ...it did! C But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

ChrisD Law number 10: "'Expert'" skydivers have the highest fatality rate." I find this ironic. But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

Law number: Mandatory wind Tunnel time, till demonstrated back /front flip. Law number: Increasing AFF class and drill time, mandatory over a minimum of two days! In other words no more cat A one day wonders! C But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

This is becoming an epedemic,... It's not a question of if, it's just a question of when,... And like another DZ.com user says, "just because everyone is doing it, dosen't make it right..." Monkey see monkey do, and somehow hanging fishhooks off your skull is an accepted practice??? Like I said, it's just a question of when.... C But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."

A Sci Fi writer, that will be missed! C But what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump."