When I was learning to skydive, it was drilled into my head to practice my emergency procedures before each skydive to keep them fresh in my mind. With almost 1200 jumps, there hasn't been a single skydive that I haven't practiced my procedures more than once before exiting the airplane. The one and only time so far that I found myself needing that knowledge, it was second nature. I didn't even think about it. Since becoming a tandem instructor, I have often wondered if I will handle my first tantem cutaway in the same manner. Before I get into the plane, I always touch all of my handles and go through the same routine as I did before. I hope that when it comes time for my first tandem cutaway, practicing my procedures before every tandem jump will prepare me as well as it did in the past. It is good to hear that someone else has had the same thoughts as I have, and good to know that everything went well.
