GAjumper84

Two sets of rules, one for above 10k, the other below 10k. You are required to get out at least 1000ft above the cloud deck or 1000ft below the cloud deck. So no getting out in the middle of clouds. There must be 5 mile visibility in the clear airspace. This is something that you can get from an aviation weather report. I am yet to come across a day that I would want to jump with less than 5 mile visibility. Usually means heavy fog or storms when it is less than that. And finally you must be at least one mile in any direction from a cloud that you would potentially pass through. Meaning on a perfect jump run with only one group, the rule is that you must be jumping through a two mile wide hole. Below 10k the rules change to 1000 ft above, 500 ft below 3 miles visibility 2000ft away from any cloud that you would pass through. So in this case you could jump a hole just a little less than a mile across. Hope that helps. If you have more questions, just specify what part you don't get and I'm sure we can help.

You mentioned money being an issue for you, as it was for me when I started skydiving. You may want to look around for a DZ that does IAD training. It takes more jumps to get off student status, but costs less per jump. At the DZ I did my training at it costs the same as AFF, just over 13 jumps instead of 7. That allowed me to still get several jumps every 30 days for just a little over the cost of one AFF jump.

If you search for it, you can find the thread where I was going through the same decision six months ago. I ended up with a vigil2. No 4 yr maintenance, same cost of ownership as the M2 given it is rated for 20yrs. Yes the cost up front was a little higher, but it is made up for over the years. Vigil has been around quite a long time and my rigger recommends them highly (apparently everyone out there is on one team or the other). Cypres is obviously a great product, but it costs basically twice what the others do over the life of the unit. And you have to deal with the downtime. The Mars M2 and Vigil2 have both been proven effective in the field IMO with Vigil having a longer track record.

Glad you are enjoying the training. It gets much more fun once every jump is no longer a "test". Welcome to skydiving!

Update time for educational purposes on the consequences of overlooking something in skydiving. So if you read the first post, there was a good deal of bruising and soreness. That all went away. Found a cracked rib that is starting to feel better. The only lasting injury was where the lines/riser tightened down around my arm. It severely toe my tricep, which they almost did surgery on it. I am currently rehabbing it, but they say the muscle will never be back to 100%. Keep in mind that prematures in freefly from poor gear management or jumping gear that's not freefly friendly could result in similar injuries or worse. We always hear prematures hurt, but they can be life threatening. Be safe everyone! And I'll be back in the sky in a few more weeks myself.

People just told me you have to have a reserve, not the reason why. I figured it was required, just didn't know the FAR so I didn't want to assume.

Thats an odd question. I personally don't see any reason why a person would want to jump without a reserve. I understand the reasoning behind single parachute systems in BASE, but there is no reason to take one of those up on a plane. Plus without reserves deaths in the sport would spike up dramatically I would imagine with main malfunctions not being that uncommon. Either way I can't think of a DZO that would allow someone to jump without a reserve. Everywhere I go they want to see your repack card. Never looked up if they were mandatory by the FAA or USPA, but even if they aren't good luck finding a place that will take you up without one.

I had problems with my ears for the first thirty or so jumps. I finally got fed up when one of my ears didn't open back up for a week. Apparently it is called barotrauma. Went to a doctor who gave me a nasal spray (flonase). His instructions were, do not do this every day but only on skydiving days. Push the tip of the spray against the nasal cavity tubes or whatever they are called(horizontal towards the back). That way it goes into the nasal cavity. Then equalize using the valsalva technique. As someone else said, this puts it into your eustation tubes. The spray dialates the surface, essentially opening it up wider. I still have to equalize under canopy and again on the ground every jump, but at least my ears do open, and it works perfect every time. Hope this helps! Disclamer: He said that if used too often the spray can become habit forming.

First, let me say to MHS, congratulations on successfully defending yourselves! It was a long road, but hopefully this battle has been won. This story was around the first time I went to DZ.com two years ago. I am sure it has seemed like 10 years to MHS. Second, someone said that there were other airport noise groups watching this case, and you have been proven right. In the comments on the article, someone was sympathizing with CQS and put a link to their own website quietskiescoalition.org. Didn't realize that people were warring with airports all over the country. This society of self entitlement just continues to get worse.

I can tell you from a recent incident I had, from what the leg strap did to my actual leg (severe bruising and swelling) if anything else had been in between I don't think it would be functioning anymore .

http://www.pacificskydivinghonolulu.com/skydiving-experienced.php This is the DZ I have always heard about and seen video of fun jumpers at when it comes to Hawaii. Don't know anything about them, but at least there is a DZ on Honolulu that takes up fun jumpers. Best of luck on your move if you make it out there!

My main purpose for the audible is for if I lost altitude awareness during freefall. I always pull at 3500ft. So if it starts screaming at 3k then I've already gone lower than I want to. I do get what you are saying though, just wasn't my purpose for buying it. My main point was that while I have an audible, I don't use it as a traditional altimeter.

I personally bought an audible with the same mentality I have with my AAD. I hope I never need it, but I want every chance I can get to help save my life. My only purpose of buying an audible was so the thing would be screaming in my ear if I burn through 3000ft (thats what my lowest alarm setting is at). I don't use it to tell me my altitude. As a plus it also logs my jumps. I am sure there are other things audibles are useful for, but for me I only trust my eyes and my visual altimeter in tandem with each other. Just my 2 cents as a newbie, hopefully it makes sense.

A talon 2 with full bridle protection, a tight BOC, and a modified wide stiff tuck tab for the main flap. I know it's not the best, but I've had three riggers say it was all good to freefly along with several very experienced jumpers. Oh and the pilot chute has a freefly PUD. I don't even really freefly, just when I purchased the rig I told my rigger I wanted any modification possible to increase safety or close anything better.

I was at the spaceland Atlanta grand opening. And I was really enjoying the $15 lift tickets