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I like "FOFS." "GAS" would be more suited to POPS IMHO. Still have just under four years to go (for me) for a 50+ group to be named lol......... "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!"

Have used "Protector" brand sunglasses for about ten+ years from Bunnings Warehouse here in Australia both for myself and my passengers. UNFORTUNATELY they decided to change the design and they are now crap. I am down to my last pair after buying a lot at $10ish each before the design change. When something is good there is always someone out there hell bent on trying to change it grrrr!!! "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!"

I would not say that I aggressively tighten the MLW'S before exit but they are quite firm and I DO adjust them when connecting passenger to self. I have had 6 people chuck in around 6000+ Tandems......... "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!"

I busted a femur at work some time ago, and our new manifest chick rang my other half and told her that I had bounced......that did NOT go down too well!!! What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, and hopefully wiser! Heal well.... BSBD! -Mark. "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!"

As standard we also have everything ready to go if something were to happen (90% tight) and the students would be hanging lower but still secure in this situation. The 10% left is done about 4 grand lower than exit height. I am not racist but I HATE "RUSSIAN" to get ready before a jump! ;) Usually the diagonals are done already, the lower adjusters are tightened and the belly strap loosened and the top clips tightened and excess webbing stowed. -Mark. "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!"

I still log them but have always been like that ;) When flying I would log absolutely everything I did. With invoicing I also do it EVERY day we jump, not at the end of the week like some of the other guys. JUST ME!! BSBD!! -Mark. "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!"

As someone who was also had a PPL I too agree that there is no such thing as a perfectly good aeroplane!! When Cessna started making 172's again I flew in a few that had as little hours as possible for a customer/consumer to fly them and they still had little problems. Nothing at all to be alarmed about but not a "Perfect" aeroplane in the technical sense of the wording ;) BSBD!! -Mark. "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!"

Also don't think about the money or having to repeat a jump during the AFF course, just try and RELAX as much as you can. There is no such thing as a fail, just a repeat!! I have found that students who relax into their arch in freefall (one example) are much better than those that worry about a lot of little things and really strain to get into the right position during their jump. Skydiving is supposed to be a fun activity - learn as much as you can and never stop learning!! As far as paying up front I would also be wary - if you are not losing much by paying per jump I would be going that way also. BSBD!! -Mark. "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!"

Mmmm - Might work and might end badly. Either way I think the pilot would be tad stuuuupid to let anyone do this or rather pissed off if you were not nice enough to ask first!! BSBD!! -Mark. "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!"

In Australia you are required to have a Private Pilots License medical for Tandem Master actvities. I have always thought that a CPL would be more appropriate or something involving checking heart/cardio etc. Just my thoughts though. If you are under 40 yrs old the medical is to be done every four years, if over every two years. As far as jumping for fun you really don't need anything apart from answering a few simple questions during the AFF or Static Line course or prior to doing a Tandem skydive. BSBD!! -Mark. "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!"

A friend of mine also lost a shoe in freefall during a memorial jump for Pauline Richards. Another person was driving along one of the main roads and found it and returned it to him! Also we let roses go high under canopy and one of them landed within 5 metres of the cross ;) BSBD!! -Mark. "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!"

$500 for a windscreen via rental agents insurance?!?! How much would it have cost to just drive to somewhere and pay cash to get a new one fitted before you returned the car??? BSBD!! -Mark. "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!"

I fly my own body on exit never trying to control the student and then generally leg lock for the remainder of the skydive once the drogue is out. I have seen more than one bad jump from those who leglock after drogue, start spinning and remain in this position. If this happens then UNLOCK and counteract the turn - your legs as a Tm are a good device for doing this but if still holding the students legs you are pushing poo uphill ;) BSBD!! -Mark. "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!"

Definitely agree with body pilot. If you have a contract with the guys you are working for now then honor that and then explain with as much notice as you can give them about the situation of wanting to go back to the old dz. In most forms of employment as long as you are reasonable with the employer they don't have a problem with you leaving or doing something else. Nothing pisses people off more than those who are unreliable or just leave at the drop of a hat. It is a little bit of "do unto others" here. Then again SOME dz's can treat you like shit so they shouldn't be surprised when thats what comes back at them!!! BSBD! -Mark. "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!"

God I miss our LET lol!! Anyone got a pic of the G92?? BSBD!! -Mark. "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!"

Oh how the first 100 are a bitch! CHECK CHECK CHECK everything you do and get into a groove whereby you do the same thing EVERY jump from gear up to gear off. (A ROUTINE!) Don't EVER get "used to" being a tm. SHIT DOES HAPPEN WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT TRUST ME!! "Now I just need to do 10,000 more tandems to have a "normal" record!!! BSBD!! -Mark. "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!"

If possible most times when NOT doing handcam I support the students head during the opening. No doubt there are and will be a lot of pros and cons but this is just my personal thing. My CI btw also does the same thing where possible. Early/low number tm's need to be sure their "holding" arm does not drop or waiver from a normal position though as early on if I were to do the same as above I think I would be doing more harm than good. Be sure about the strength in your arm and its position otherwise don't support the students head...you may be doing more harm than good. And of course THIS IS just my own personal opinion. BSBD!! -Mark. "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!"

QUOTE - I'll say it again, If you want to get rid of "line-overs" ...the answer is very simple...flat pack. Our company has had very few line overs from the thousands of tandems we do each year, and very few mals for that matter either. We Pro pack all the time. Space and time are a big consideration these days. It is a bit hard to pack 7-8 330 square foot tandem canopies up to 9 times a day in a fast as well as safe manner if it were by a flat pack method. Obviously if we had a large amount of malfunctions we would consider packing in a different manner but what we have at the moment is both efficient as well as safe. BSBD!! -Mark. "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!"

I SO would LOVE to have a pic of myself and my CI head down over the back of an "average" AFF student. Was scary to say the least as I was jm 2 at the time and had the pilot chute to contend with!! The "vertical aspect" of the instructors (US!!) came in waves and luckily for me I knew what height we were and saw the ripcord pull enough to be more than sufficiently away from it in distance to be ok. The CI and I landed almost together and with eye contact started to breathe deeply and chuckle a little! And as far as tandems go - the pax ain't doing ANYTHING until they touch their toes with their hands!! "EARNING Thir money" (You from the DEEP SOUTH BY THE WAY?? ;) BSBD!! -Mark. "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!"

HOP HOP HOP Nothing compares and they are constantly evolving. The flare and general handling is I think comparable to your own gear around 150 foot size. The only reason they are not more popular I reckon is the fact that the makers don't pimp the canopies out like other companies. Just my own opinion! BSBD!! -Mark. "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!"

1. Find a mentor. 2. Do a lot of AFF with them. 3. Do AFF with others. 4. Never think you know how a dive will turn out. 5. Be humble. 6. See 4. I have been head down with my CI above the back of an "average student." (Read - Hanging onto a green wheelie bin full of cement - not sure what you guys and girls have in the usa but our green waste bins hold I reckon at least 150 litres ;) 7. Always be prepared to learn ANYTHING and stay current with regs and training procedure/s especially at your home dz. 8. DO NOT get a "hot" canopy!! (Some spots suck at times whether your fault or another persons so get used to landing off and accurately. BE PREPARED TO HELP THE STUDENT WITH AN OFF DZ LANDING! (Hard to do with a small/very small canopy.) BSBD!! -Mark. QUOTE - "It's the year of the Dog" Really?? I am according to the chinese as well as a few females with foresight! ;( "A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!"