Ron

But that is where this will go.... And if they are paying their money, why shouldn't they get the basic same type of services? I disagree with it on the very face. Paragliding is as much skydiving as tunnel flying.... Let the tunnels create their own org. As a bandaid, have the USPA sign off once. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

7500+ jumps, 25 years, National records, medals, and three instructor ratings tells me I know more about students and skydiving than you and your 4 years and 260 jumps.... And I'll put a bet on that any day. Because there are plenty of parts that have exactly ZERO impact on students. But please tell the class why a STUDENT should read section 6-9? Or maybe ANYTHING in section 7 (BTW, I have a PRO rating... Do you?) No because I actually know what I am taking about... Unlike you it seems. You should read more and type less. Oh, I just saw you are from Zhills and have a coach rating.... Tell you what, walk into the Sunshine Factory and tell Dave Ruffle you think you know more about skydiving and students than me. Then maybe walk over to Paragone and do the same with Sally. Maybe ask Paul at the bar if he thinks you or I know more about skydiving. I will make you a deal... I will meet you at Zhills or Clewiston and you can try to school me in the air... Deal? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Nope, tunnel is no more skydiving than paragliding is skydiving. The USPA if they HAVE to appoint a team should do it this ONE time and make it clear that they will not be doing it again. But I fear the USPA wants to get involved to make money. To charge the tunnels to be group members (and be just as worthless as the DZ group member program). And then charge non-students to be members. The USPA set the precedent when they DIDN'T get involved in BASE jumping. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I disagree with that. I guess I am also wrong and should not be giving advice? I have AFF, SL, and Tandem Instructor ratings that do not agree with you if you think that. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Sunshine Factory Sandy Grillet There are more, these were just the ones off the top of my head. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I doubt you will find anyone that had a bad experience. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

This is exactly what I was looking for, thank you. You too Jim. I have the manual, just could not find the correct reference. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Found this and it might work http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/11890/1/IJFTR%2036(2)%20145-151.pdf "It can be observed from Fig. 3 that the nylon webbing (control) shows drastic strength loss on exposure to outdoor weathering. The strength loss after the initial exposure period (i.e. after the first month) is 24%. " So that is a start. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yes, we "know" it.... But I am trying to show this to a group that thinks of the parachute as an expensive seat cushion. If I had some source that said it will lose 10% of it's strength with "X" hours of exposure, then it would be a home run. But just telling them "it happens" is not enough to bring a change of habit. I'll keep looking... "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yep, and the level of nerdiness is a bit high. Looking for simple "X" days of exposure = "Y" reduction in strength. I don't care about the chemical process involved. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I fly acro planes now and people are HORRIBLE about leaving their gear in the sun. I'd like to find a reference showing UV degradation on nylon, but my google foo is weak. Can someone give me a good source? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Have the AME do your basic med medical. I had the same issue with my SI where my PCP would not sign a letter the FAA was asking about.... So I fired her ass and hired a guy that does AME to write the letter. Then used a different AME for my medical. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I had to have cystoscopy after the AME said it would find nothing, my PCP said it would find nothing, and the urologist said it would find nothing. I had to pay for several visits, the procedure, and several follow ups to find...... ..... Nothing. Add in that Basic Med just kicked off and that allows a pilot to fly a 6K pound plane with 6 PAX's with an online test and a Doctor visit and the demand from the USPA that we have medicals to do tandems becomes more silly. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Just tell them they did great in front of their family... They will not know and honestly not care. If they happen to be aware enough to know they didn't pull.... Like they never made the attempt, just tell them you pulled early because of "X" and they will feel better, "I didn't get to pull because we were far from the landing area, I was JUST going to do it when he pulled!" "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

See, but that is my point. The FAA does not care. It is just the USPA caving to the manufacturers. Does the USPA work for them, or the USPA membership. And don't get me started with the BS DUI crap. Is the USPA going to start drug testing? Are they going to have breathlizer tests at random? So basically, the USPA claims it is for DUI's but you can jump stoned or drunk just as long as you have not gotten a DUI. So the USPA needs to either: 1. Listen the the damn FAA where they don't care. And if the tandem manufacturers don't like it, hand the damn Tandem Instructor program back over to them. Let UPT certify instructors and they can demand any damn thing they want. 2. Listen to the damn FAA and tell the Tandem Manufacturers to pound sand. 3. Tell the membership the USPA is basically owned by UPT. #3 is basically what we have now anyway.... They should just change the USPA to the 'United States we do what UPT tells us to do Association. Seriously, with the recent Basic Med the FAA is going away from the third class medical.... Yet the USPA still requires it? Fucking stupid and only shows how much the USPA is ordered around by UPT et, al. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Key being can't SHIP on PASSENGER aircraft. Look in IATA section 2.3 (page 19 in the 2017 book). Then look at the graph 2.3.A. (you will want to look on p25). So you can't ship on pax aircraft. You can ship on cargo aircraft*. You CAN carry on a plane either over your shoulder or in checked bags. *Depending on the Operator variations. For example FedEx just changed from allowing section II to requiring them to be section I, or IB. I am a certified IATA instructor. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You also can't fly for compensation or hire with a Class 3 Medical. The USPA needs to stop letting UPT tell them how to run the Tandem program. Or the USPA needs to just hand it back to UPT. Even the freaking FAA has agreed that pilots flying 1320 pound aircraft don't need a medical. Glider pilots don't need a medical. Balloon pilots don't need a medical. And you can do all of these for hire. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

What kind of a cowboy, dope smoking, non-USPA, rogue DZ did you start out at? Anyway, after reading some of these many adventures I feel like a rocket-surgeon now. The greatest thing about some stupidity is that no injury results and everyone can laugh about it later. I started at a USPA DZ and they were doing illegal AFF. My 3rd freefall was an 8 way, after that they said I was "off student status". My 13th jump was on a rig with no AAD or RSL. They used to do Tandem jumps was sunset. USPA DZ does not mean safe..... Never has. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I have one on my Pitts. Pretty nice and the company has good support (The US rep is in DeLand right by the Airport bar... Not to be confused with the "Perfect Spot"). "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

We used to have a free press, now we also need the Russians there too! What a world! "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yes, not a big deal. Most cases it involves a back to back when I had a student or a team jump and had to grab my second rig. But the AAD in my second rig is a fairly new thing anyway. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Will you be in the area the weekend before or after that week or both? I don't live in that area, but I travel there a bunch and I have some things that I guarantee you will not get in Canada. Another Canadian with one of them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0prPFD_Oa4&list=PLaG50Nso598ByWF5HgG9CFhV4MfV5SD46&index=10 So if you will be in town on the weekend and I can swing it, I'll bring one up. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Bingo...... Remove the monopoly and watch the membership drop. Which is why the USPA requires it. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well, in that case the answer is simple. Yes it is. Or else the membership, who have voting rights, would reject it. If you are not a USPA member, you can't jump at a majority of DZ's. Remove that requirement (that the USPA requires) and see if membership numbers increase, decrease, or maintain. I know which would happen, and so does the USPA. Which is why they make it so group members require USPA membership from anyone that wants to jump there. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I guess you are right... I only have 7 of them. It is their job to know and they sign saying they have checked all the requirements. "I certify that I have personally checked the applicant’s logbook(s) and found documentation that the applicant has met all applicable requirements as specified in the Skydiver’s Information Manual, Section 3-1." http://www.uspa.org/Portals/0/files/Form_LicenseApp.pdf I have signed a bunch of those as well. Then they are, in essence, worthless. But the point of this thread is how the USPA is mostly worthless. People try to say they made the repack cycle longer. That was more the PIA. And you don't have to pay to have the PIA represent you. People try to say they got us jumping sooner. That was more the AOPA and their 380K members, not the USPA's 30K. The USPA just yelled, "US too!" when the AOPA went to DC. The USPA is afraid to drop the requirement to mandate that to jump at a GM DZ you have to be a USPA member because they know that without forcing people to join, they would leave. It is nothing but a way to trap you into being a USPA member. I have dealt with the USPA for 20+ years. I have seen them ignore issues. I have seen them take credit for things they didn't do. I have seen them shun the individual members to bow down to the manufacturers. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334