kimemerson

Members
  • Content

    657
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Feedback

    0%

Everything posted by kimemerson

  1. When I was S&TA and Club President. I wanted so badly to get a large plywood arrow and place it in one agreed upon landing direction, locked down, unmoving, or anything that left any ambiguity completely out of the picture. I wanted nothing that could vary with the L & V winds. I didn't really want discussions, opinions, or any possibility for individual reading of the winds. But, as with any position of responsibility, I wasn't able to act alone and I was not allowed to follow through. So we still rely on wind socks and PD streamers and wind blades and leaves on the trees and egos and whims and fancies and personal individual training goals and crystal balls and witchcraft and by golly we haven't had a single accident or injury due to mis-reading landings or traffic. We must be on to something but I'll be damned if I can figure it out. Oh, I forgot voodoo. That voodoo that you do, scooby doo. We tried FMD but we have a good assortment of fucking lunatics and a lot of people were just plain scared of how those FMDs got to be FMDs in the first place because a few of them had exited later but landed earlier. And even with talking it up at the boarding area and getting 22 skydivers to agree on one landing direction, we still get the renegade, the wayward soul who gets artistic and creative in thought at about 200' and decides to try something new. Or suddenly realizes they'd committed to a downwind landing (in light & variable winds) at the boarding area and thinks, "what a fool I was. I'll never survive a DW landing in 1- 5 mph winds so I'm not going to try." Not a whole lot pisses me off more. Some things do. Just not a whole lot.
  2. I have never understood why we seem to teach to avoid downwind landings as though they are the devil incarnate. I understand why we teach landing into the wind when the wind is high enough. When the wind sock shows one primary direction throughout the day, without any variation, then it's obvious and shouldn't be too hard to sort out. But when winds are light & variable then they're LIGHT & VARIABLE! The variable means they have little chance of being the same from load to load or skydiver to skydiver on the same load. Theoretically, if we insist on landing into the wind, we could have 22 canopies landing 22 different directions and all of them are in the right. Light means barely traceable. Almost not a factor. So why don't we teach how to land downwind in light & variable winds? Flat out teach it to students who have progressed beyond the elementary basics. We should at the very least stop demanding upwind landings as the norm and downwinders as for HP swoopers and nut cases. I've been at the loading area and heard people say they are landing into the wind no matter what when the winds couldn't have been at 5 mph (or Kts... whatever they are). That approach is potentially dangerous in my view. One of the problems we have is that we have many people who are basically intimidated by their canopies, canopy flight and the range of performance our canopies are capable of. Most of us have limited skills compared to what our canopies can handle and to a great degree the parachute ride is dealt with as a necessary inconvenience. I'd love to see canopy training that we now reserve for licensed skydivers to be implemented much earlier. I think a form of CRW should be brought into very early training as part of a required program and not solely as an elective for whoever wants to give it a go. Self improvement for canopy flight shouldn't be left as an option to be ignored if one so chooses. Somehow I figure that thorough education goes a long way toward fending off further legislation. We have discussed ad infinitum exit separation but the irony here is that after we separate ourselves successfully during exit we all follow a bottle-neck drive for the landing area. Canopy speeds and individual flight characteristics can - of often does - mean we have people passing others in flight; we have a complete disruption of organized exit order degrading into a chaotic landing order. If only one person is in the air then they can do whatever they want. There are almost no rules. Upwind, downwind, crosswind, sashay over the LZ, change direction... Have a fucking party. But add one more canopy and rules become a necessity, a formula for a long and happy life. None of this is new. I've been jumping 22 years and this discussion was at full throttle when I started. Elephants gestate, the FDA approves, and unhappy Catholic marriages divorce faster and they're not killing loved ones and friends and family. But we are. I know we all want to avoid legislation and I am one who would hate to see it. But, frankly, if we don't fix this problem our own damn selves legislation is highly likely. Apparently I could keep going but I'll wrap it up by saying that we have it in our power to solve this ourselves. Let's.
  3. Who asked you? 1. If Billy and his habits had nothing to do with this the whole fucking thread wouldn't even exist. 2. If we keep ourselves to that which will produce only good, we wouldn't be skydiving. 3. What are you contributing that does have something to do with it and will come to any good? Try not being such a fucking bore.
  4. [reply Let's keep on topic. My intent was to put forth that FFX bought the nearby airport to protect themselves from any competitor should one arise. But you are just guessing, right? You don't actually know this as a fact that can be supported - even anecdotally - do you? I'm just asking because you speak (type) without hesitation or reserve, sounding every bit like someone who does know. So I'm just wondering how you know. Could you tell us that much? Because my guess is that the airport was never bought with that specific intention as the sole and main thrust behind the purchase. It might well serve as an additional security but I don't believe that keeping any other DZ from operating nearby was what prompted the sale. And if that were the case, Billy would have to busy himself and go through his money a bit more aggressively than that because Kobelt isn't the only airport within shouting distance of the Ranch. So, I would just like to hear or see something a bit more tangible than your guessing as long as you are going to comment with an air of authority and certainty.
  5. You think they bought it to run a restaurant?! You think they bought it for those piece of crap hangars or the beat-up runway? They bought it to keep another DZ away. Go ask Billy, Kay, Joe, Kenny. JR So let me see if I have this straight. You're saying that one business hoping to prevent a competing business from operating too close nearby is bad form? And though I've been jumping at the Ranch for a mere 22 years some things have managed to escape my notice. So, which skydiving operation was it that Billy stopped or tried to stop? This must have been a while ago because Billy already owned the restaurant as of maybe 10 years ago. He had been keeping some of his other aircraft there even before that. In fact, his relationship with Kopbelt goes back before my time - or damn close to it. So, I'm with Dan on this one in that it would be nice if you somehow documented your claims. Because it could be me and it could be you but me thinks it's you, stranger. You see, Billy may well be an entrepreneurial opportunist and not everybody cares for predatory business practices. But Billy is also real estate savvy and has bought up several properties in Gardiner for whatever reason he has. Which, as he and I are not partners and not best buddies, I can only speculate on. Which is all anyone here with the possible exception of TK can do. So, I don't know, back it up bub. Or at least accept that you're just guessing and really don't know.
  6. The only reason I ever felt a night jump should be a license requirement has to do with it also being linked to qualification for the Instructor rating. I always felt that if you're going to teach this sport to beginners then I'd like you to be far and away well more experienced the one you're teaching. In that sense I have no real issue with adding wing suit, CRW etc as further qualification for instructing. I'd love to believe that every person involved in any USPA instructor program is a candidate for best-skydiver-in -the-world status. But that just reflects my notion of an ideal. I'd like each instructor to be able to answer every question from a student from a position of experience. Wherever possible. While it has been argued that we don't skydive at night by accident, I'd add that the word 'accident', by design, is meat to cover a lot of stuff, none of it anything you can be prepared for. But you can maybe be in freefall at a time when though it may not be USAP legal 'night', it could be too dark for you. Is the D still required to compete? Frankly I don't know. If so, then couldn't there be a D for competitor and a different D for instructing? Like maybe both need to meet many similar requirements but there would be differences depending on what course the skydiver would like to take. If they want both, then it's just a matter of qualifying for the differences and obtaining both.
  7. But as I re-read your question, I'd have to say that your non-solo jumps are fine. I believe the solo is a precaution and not something to keep you from getting the D if you have not done the solo. When I was an S&TA I would not have kept you from getting the D if you had 5 night jumps but none of them as solos. But in my opinion that's still up to interpretation because the SIM does use the word "must". However, in my reading, only the BSRs are requirements which must be followed whereas everything else are recommendations. So I would take it up with your S&TA to see what he/she has to say. They're the one who is going to sign it off anyway.
  8. Clipped from the SIM: D License 4. Persons holding a USPA D license are able to exercise all privileges of a C-license holder, are eligible for all USPA ratings, and must have— c. made two night jumps (one solo and one in a group) with a freefall of at least 20 seconds While I applaud your asking, I cannot recommend enough that each skydiver own or download (free) the SIM. Your question is addressed very specifically and you could have had your answer in under 30 seconds. Also, know that the only requirements - unless specified under a particular topic - are in the BSRs. Everything else is a recommendation even if it makes all the safety sense in the world.
  9. One time I was teaching one or another emergency routine to a small group in a FJC (might have been aircraft emergency. Not sure) when a nice, sweet looking, summertime-clothed young nubile female strolled past. I noticed I had lost the focus and attention of one of those in the class. Now, I admit I may have been a trifle brusque, but I stepped in front of the guy, blocking his view and, while I didn't yell, I got in his face Drill Instructor style (my father was a USMC D.I. and I grew up about an inch from his face) and I was forceful when I said something along the lines of, "You're going to die and you're going to die this afternoon! Those tits are not going to save your life." I managed to get his attention, and we proceeded without further issue. He jumped. He lived. And the tits went on without molestation. All was well.
  10. Hi Van, I meant that Max gave the guy the class A, #1, winds talk. He hit all the right points and covered everything to tell the young stud he ought to stay down. When the kid said what he said, Max ramped up the speech and doubled his efforts and saw to it that the youngster didn't jump. I didn't mean any real dollar value. I was being colorful. I think.
  11. I remember one time at the Ranch we had a two way that both had Cypres fires. (No names. I know you know some of the parties) One of these guys was a Golden Knight in waiting and the other was a highly experienced skydiver. The GK was grounded by his own boys for the day and the other guy got a chewing out from his wife. He excused himself by saying, "It was only this once." I was right there when the chewing out happened so I chimed in with, "How many times do you have to cheat on your wife before it's one too many? How many times do you have to murder someone before it's one too many?" She loved me and he gave me a scornful look. Also, someone wiser than I once told me that in skydiving if there's a 1% chance that something can go wrong, and it happens to you, for you it's 100%. Another time a newbie asked an experienced guy about the winds. With three Otters on the ground on a sunny Summer day, and only a Porter going (tandem mercenaries) and a ton of folks with over 1,000 jumps each all staying on the ground, it was a good moment to ask. So the kid got the $100.00 talk hitting all the right points. After he heard it all he said, "Thanks. I'll just make this my last one then." The $100,00 talk got raised to the $150.00 talk and he stayed down. So I recognize we are limited as to what real preemptive action we can take, but maybe through anecdote we can try to prevent stupid behavior. Sadly there are times I feel the tough new pups need to see death, maybe even a good friend. While danger lurks in our sport it doesn't present itself so obviously so we can get a tad complacent. Myself, I've seen enough death and lost enough friends that I get a bit timid at times. Never enough to spoil the fun, just cautious. I've also been S&TA and filed enough death forms to almost give me some cred. when t comes to having these little chats.
  12. One time I overheard two tandem students (pre-jump, post waiver video watching) talking as they were leaving the waiver video viewing. Said on to the other, "Did you know you could die doing this?" And I wondered, was it Bill Booth's comments to that effect that enlightened this young woman? She had no idea whatsoever earlier in her day as she was getting ready to go to the DZ? So, there is a potential for complete ignorance and surprise by the uninitiated. And until I heard this, I would have put money on the belief that it is impossible for anyone not to know the worst possible outcome from skydiving. I'd have put a lot of money on that one. Back to your question. As an AFF Instructor I have always assumed the student already knows the risk, despite what I heard that tandem student ask. There is, or ought to be, a difference between the first-time tandem student and an AFF student as far as basic awareness goes. So I don't have a built-in moment or speech which addresses death and dying unless it's part of the FJC. Then it comes up a few times both during emergency training and in other, more casual moments. I usually take students out to watch canopy landings and if someone out there is not exactly shining in performance, I will discuss the possible dangers then too. I never shy away from talking about death but my one rule regarding the dangers of the sport is that we stop talking about negative stuff once the wheels are up. If I haven't covered it all by then I'm flailing. Take-off is for positive thoughts only. So, to sum up. I do make sure during the FJC and may taper off after that. I will never pass up an opportunity when one comes up, say, if I hear some remark that demands I bring up death.
  13. Or when you accidentally say something like "I've jumped one of those" when you mean you've driven one, rode in one, sat on one, wore one, eaten one, took one, gave one, saw one... and you're not talking about a canopy. Or when you can no longer use the phrase "go in" even if it's just to enter a room. Or when all your whuffo friends talk about how great and beautiful the weekend weather was but you thought it sucked because even though the sky was clear and the temps were warm the wind was too strong. Good enough for kites but you gave that up a long time ago and you know that if you see nice little kids and their daddies flying kites you know you're fucked. Or when those same friends don't even bother asking you to join them on weekends until at least November. Yeah, it gets in your blood if you let it. Let it.
  14. Never heard of it but I've only been around the sport 22 years so maybe it's me.
  15. [reply The name must be cursed. -Blind Pending results, it could be blessed.
  16. I'm reminded of the film (and I suppose it's in the book. Can't say)"The World According to Garp". In it,Garp is looking to buy a house with his wife and the realtor shows them a house that has just recently had a small plane crash into it. In fact, when they're being shown the house the plane is still stuck in the front of the house. Garp says. "We'll take it." His wife thinks he's nuts. There's a plane stuck in the living room. His logic? What are the odds of it ever happening again. It's the safest house on the street. The moral of my story is that you got that out of the way. What are the odds of it happening again? The odds exist but now they're not as great. Unless you're an odds percentage hog. Then all bets are off. So get some extra help. PLFs and maybe video of your and other landings. It's a tough period to be in but you have to work through it. And eventually, when you're a canopy ace, your fuck ups will just reflect your advanced skills and really thrill us all. Carry on, don't quit and best of luck.
  17. kimemerson

    Weather

    We could jump in the winter. But a plowed runway might help. I'm a cold wimp anyway and I don't usually jump in this. This is the first winter I have seen the runway not plowed and I have no idea why it isn't. Usually some people will jump (Cessna) if enough show up and they find a pilot. Just not this year. But damn! I don't think they could have kept up with plowing this year anyway. We've had a good snow storm on average each 7-10 days since xmas it seems. Whew!
  18. kimemerson

    Weather

    ok, I'm in New York. do you really want to talk weather?
  19. You said it, not me Not really, how would you know if no one told you? Your welcome..... Just wanted to keep you posted, ya know! I've called myself worse. I let myself off light with that one.
  20. That's it? That easy? What an idiot I am. Thanks.
  21. Found this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4UeK4oKQCg Watch the other stuff if you're so inclined but the part we're all wanting to see is at about 5:16 Someone please clicky it for me. Thanks
  22. [reply Would it be frowned upon to bring beer Ok, I know I've just taken this phrase out of context, but it sort of sticks out by itself. But as a stand-alone question, there is also a stand-alone answer: It is a succinct and resounding, "No." I would go so far as to say that were it frowned upon to not have the beer ready & waiting upon completion of AFF, I am fairly certain the delay would be overlooked by the eventual presentation of the brewmeister's art.
  23. Please, please tell him I say hello. Haven't heard of him in a very long time.