Brianflian

Thank you for asking that question. We tend to forget how our government and people would react. We the United States do have a tendency to think we are better, and we make our own rules. Not a very democratic way to look at the world. The United States thinks we are better because we are better. We make our own rules because we are a sovereign state. That's what sovereign states do. A democratic way to look at the world? Does that make any sense? First, the USA is not a democracy. Second, the world is not a democracy. There are no worldwide elections.

So what are the final standings? How did my teammate, Senor Tagle do?

Gee, maybe I'm a little hard hearted. I don't think it's appropriate for kids to be at the dropzone. They might encounter someone like me. As far as the unthinkable happening...There are plenty of kids with two parents or one parent that shouldn't be allowed out of prison. And others with no parents who do great things. Have fun, and let them be orphans. Gosh, am I really going to post this?

Man, everyone is rushing to the aid of a chick in need! That's never happened in the world of skydiving before! Stay tuned for help with packing! The key is to put your fingers in your armpits, snap them out quickly, placing them in front of your face. Take one whiff, and reflect on the fact that you are a superstar. I've had some experience with this method, and would be glad to look at video next time we are training at Elsinore (april 16 - 18). It always seems to me that 18's can be made much better with a ridiculously long wait before crossing. Make sure centers are completely stopped before you and tail cross. Feel the Xandre, Brian Elsinore GT

Nicely done, Skratch! Some random thoughts: 1) Knowlegdable skydivers ask for, and pilots report, about upper winds. Your discussion seems to indicate that we should be concerned with ground speed on jumprun. Various planes have different airspeeds on jump run, pilots fly at different speeds on jump run, and jump run may not be going directly into the uppers. So the relevant question to determine how much exit separation is required is "how quickly is the plane covering distance on jump run?" 2) In really strong uppers, it would be great if the spot was such that the first group opened over the landing area, or long of it. Then there would be no need to fly up jump run. Of course this might work if winds at canopy flight altitudes were also strong and in the same direction as the uppers so that the last group could make it back. If they are opposite the uppers, or weak, the last group will not make it back, or have to do a go around. (Kudos to Mile-Hi Skydiving: On safety day, they explained that they were quite willing to do go arounds to promote safe separation between groups. At DZ's where it is not safe or convenient to land out, this is a great philosophy. At DZ's like Skydive Arizona, you can often get back to the hangar quicker by landing out. You might get picked up by the van and the ever vigilant Bryan Burke, and ride back, rather than walk.) Perhaps the answer is to arrange jump run perpendicular to the uppers on high wind days. Then there would be no reason to fly your canopy up jump run. The jump run would have to be shortened to ensure that everyone gets back to the landing area. But it's better to have adequate separation and do a go around than to die (or perhaps just be wishing you had a change of underwear after a close call). 3) Your discussion about using the ground as a reference is right on! I have had the same thoughts for a long time, but have never heard it put so succinctly. To ignore the ground is to lose the most solid dependable reference we have. In the strictest, most pointy-headed intellectual way of thinking, the ground probably isn't important for determining exit separation. But I don't know of any skydivers who are that pointy-headed on jump-run. Every now and then (perhaps not often enough) people tend to think of the anticipated freefall manuevers while on jump run. 4) The idea of having a GPS at the door is great except for one drawback: If it happens to quit working, people will be lost! I think it would be a great training tool. People could reference the visuals to actual data. The missing element then would be climb out times. There are rare occasions where a group anticipates a 15 second climb out and manages to get it done in under 10 seconds. If ground speeds are 60 mph this puts the group almost 500 feet closer to the prior group! Keep up the good work! Perhaps some day you can publish the "S(kratch)IM!" Brian

The first step is in recognizing why you had a brain lock. The most common cause is "being over the line", or amped, or over aroused. Skydiving requires a calm mind. When you are calm, your awareness expands, you see more, and you remember more. If you are only looking for grips to pick up, or to present to, you will not see the whole picture. When you brainlock, look to see what formation is being built bythose who are not brainlocking. If you see 3 people sitting in a donut, it is probably supposed to be a donut. By cross referencing, you can see the picture and respond. Often people use the dirt diving process in the wrong way. It is not a time to perform, rather a time to build in muscle memory, pictures, and anticipation. When you are dirt diving, go through the skydive with pauses at each point. During that pause, anticipate the next point. See the next formation in your mind. If you brainlock during the dirt dive, don't stop, deliver expletives and start over. You don't have the opportunity to do that in the air, why do it on the ground? Instead, calm your mind, look at the formation being built, See your slot, then respond by going to your slot. Then, anticipate the next formation, and go on.

I checked with Discover card. They will file a dispute and credit my account if I don't receive the camera, or receive something other than promised. Cameratopia.com lists a pc101 for $719. They also list a Pal version for $999. The NTSC version says "This product is brand new and comes complete with all manufacturer supplied accessories. Original MANUFACTURERS USA warranty IS included." It seems that I would be protected. However, after reading 3 months of reviews at Bizrate.com, it seems that they probably won't sell the camera unless I buy several $100's worth of accessories at triple the street price. Guess it's not worth the time.

Thanks for the info. Cameratopia and digitalliquidators both have exceptionally poor ratings. Seems like B & H is the only one out there with good ratings, but their price is 250 - 300 higher. Maybe I should look at a TRV18. Or perhaps just make charcoal sketches...

I've bought extended warranties in the past (way back when) on things such as cars. I never found it to be worth the extra cost. Is it worthwhile for a camera? I can't imagine that they would fix my camera if I abuse it, such as is possible with a camera used for skydiving. I know that if I had crashed a car, an extended warranty would not cover it. Whata sort of problems are likely to happen with a pc101 to make an extended warranty worthwhile?

CameraTopia lists a PC101 for $849. They say it is not grey market, is NTSC, comes in a sealed factory box, with all the normal accessories supplied by the manufacturer, and a USA warranty by the manufacturer. What am I missing here? What questions do I need to ask? Does anyone have any experience with this firm? Thanks for the help. Brian

I UPSed a couple of rigs once. Had no problems. I've also never had a problem at an airport. I fly once or twice a month with one or two rigs. I put them in a hard case and check them. With the new regulations, I always wait until after my bag has been screened to make sure it gets re-locked. The big advantage UPS or Fedex has over the airline is the insurance. For the $35 savings, I'm foolish enough to take the risk.

Listo, You obviously have some great concern for the safety of canopy pilots. I commend you for that. I suggest that instead of trying to create more bureaucracy, more licenses, more restrictions on freedom, etc., that you make the world a better place by educating the people who concern you. Regulations, ratings, restrictions, etc. are not a substitute for good education. For example, as soon as USPA came out with a coach rating, many people went out and got the rating. Many of them have no idea how to fly their bodies, so how can they coach? There are canopy shools available now. Here's a free market approach for you. Create demand for those schools. Get your friends together and take a trip to a school. Tell everyone how great it was, how much you learned, how much they will benefit from doing it. When the schools start doing more business, more schools will open up. More HP coaches will be available. Education will breed education. Piloting a canopy safely will become a matter of choosing to learn it, rather than doing it and hoping for the best. If there were regulations, how could they be enforced? It is easy to borrow gear. It is easy for a 120 pound person to make a low turn on a 280 SF F11 canopy and get hurt. Without an effective way to enforce your regulations, people will take the easy way out. And for all who have posted before, JUDGMENT, not judgement. Sure you can find judgement in the dictionary, but it is only there because people can't spell. Judgment is proper. And if you run the spell checker include with Dropzone.com forums, it will catch you on this one. Brian

Okay.

I'm sorry, Bill. that just sounds like a very tortured argument to make the theoretical sound more important than the practical. The ground is still the most useful frame of reference, since the "window of opportunity" on jump run relates specifically to where the jumpers want to land (usually on the ground). And without wind drift indicators at opening altitude, there is no information to the spotter about wind velocity or direction at opening altitude. In practice, winds at opening altitude usually are closer to those on the ground, rather than those at exit altitude.

I don't know about you, but I find it incredibly difficult to know exactly where the previous group got out . . . especially if I'm the next guy spotting -after- a 16-way. In other words, I ain't anywhere -near- the freekin' door and it's gonna take me a few seconds to get there after the last diver leaves. There's just going to -have- to be some guesstimation going on for that to even sort of work. I already stipulated that we can't be exact. You can however, do a bit of interpolation. Or you can get someone who moves faster to spot.