bigbearfng

First off I don't want this to be any specific DZ name bashing post because that's not my intent. I've been trying to jump at a fair number of different DZs around the country, and am finding large discrepancies in safety; yes I know I've read about those things here, but after seeing for myself the different levels of safety I guess you could say it makes it more real for me. When friends and family ask about either making a tandem, AFF or fun jumping I have strong feelings about where I recomend now! And there are DZs where I won't bother going to again because of this issue. Have many other folk gone thru this, hmmm, is the right term "rude awakening"? And I can't help but feel concerned for the first timers that have no clue!!!

________________________________________________ I don't see as how climbers "tear up and deface" the rocks. Hell, we even have "etho" chalk that's colored the same color as the rock you're on so it doesn't show up! But when it comes to big walls.....you're supposed to pack it out now but.... Base jumpers don't crap in a bag and send said brown bomb below.

Just curious what you have done-checked or carry on for neptune and regular altimeters. Problems/reasons? Thanks. And yes already found that I need to carry on all my rechargable camera batteries. Next months vacation will be the first time flying in a long time that it wasn't for work-so I actually have to go thru screening and metal detectors this time!

Pick a better analogy in reference to how it was stated....... If someone in your family dies by knife it damn sure isn't only 20% as important.............

With the wingsuit fatality, the 'instructor' did not ensure that the student was geared up properly, and given that mis-rigging with a wingsuit can be a very big deal (obviously), they dropped the ball. __________________________________________________ First off I agree with most all you've said here. However I'm having problems with the continued "throw down" of the instructor in this case. There are several questions still left hanging. As I questioned in Incidents. What was his demeanor? Was he asked about proper gear up and he did the "WS gear check shrug" and said ya ya ya I'm good to go and already double checked everything? (he did already make one succesful WS jump with proper gear up) Did he misrepresent jump numbers? He did already get turned away once and just went down the road; which to me shows a trend in demeanor/attitude. I don't know that there are any real answers for the following, but these (ethical?) Q's have sure been sticking in my head lately. How far are you expected to go to verify jump numbers? If you get resistance to your 1/2 hour explanation of why it's a bad idea at this stage, how far do you go to prevent him from doing something really stupid and getting hurt or worse? This is beginning to feel like deja vu to when Ron tried to talk about not downsizing canopies too soon......and then finally wanted to tell them "told ya so!" as they're laying there femured in! A lotta food for thought bouncing around here lately......hope everyone can learn from it, but if there's one thing I've figured out by now; there's always gonna be more DGITs.........

It's easy for accusations to fly about instructors/jumpers whether it is in regards to selling a HP canopy to a newbie, getting a jumper into wingsuiting for the first time, or any number of similars. However if you are told by someone that their experience level and jump numbers are such and such-do you usually take them at their word? Verify their word? And how much would you do to verify their word? (And no I'm not saying that this was the situation in FL. Even though it may very well have been the case, there is not enough info to say that right now and may not have been that way.)

Planning a trip to Hawaii in March. What is to be expected as far as wind conditions and weather? Thanks!

Atleast the sheepdogs understand. _______________________________________________ Concerned sheepdog.... I like that thought! Well put!

If the "Intel is there," then the attack is prevented. _________________________________________________ Only in a perfect world. Or in a place where there are sealed borders and no civil rights left, (all those constitutional "unreasonable search and seizure" things). And since we are all human, guess that means it's not a perfect world either.

Actually the Intel is there, and our department is seriously preparing. As are others. As for the speculation....this is SC after all?

OK folks, what's your thoughts. Cause fact is the next 911 is already being planned, most LE agencys are training for responding to it now, and it's gonna be ugly.

I really wish there was an option of "none of the above" on the ballots. If none of the above won then would the politicians listen? After all they all lie, it doesn't matter what party they're from.

This seems to be a rarity, but after seeing it thought it would be worth putting up here for learning info. I'm in the habit of looking at chest straps on the plane and on the way out to the plane and have caught a couple misrouted straps. We were in the door getting ready to exit when a kid on the jump backed out of the door and started looking and tugging on her rt legstrap. Yup-misrouted!!!! She managed to correctly thread it and we let others start exiting, then she decided to ride the plane down-no critisizm with that decision! Afterwards turns out she had already made a jump on the rig that day with no problems. It was a rental that was a bit large on her-legs straps a lot of xtra that she had folded over several times so it would have been tough to see it even if you were looking for it. But i do admit other than a gear check on the ground for a newb I have never really looked for leg strap routing in the plane. She must have unthreaded all the way on that side when she took the rig off for whatever reason, and then misrouted it and put the elastic band back on. To her credit she noticed it kept loosening as she was getting up to the door and didn't ignore it, but checked it. And when I saw what it was it sure got my attention. So I'll be letting my eyes drift over leg straps, not just chest straps now......

Any further info? Costa Rica is in my plans too. Thanks.

Blues skies Harry, you've touched so many lives making so many friends. You will be missed.

I'm beginning to think that it may be when the full realization of just how unforgiving this sport can be really sinks in and you can accept that and still feel the need to keep jumping for as long as you can. "If it can happen to..........(too many names now)............it can happen to anyone."

it took the shine off the penny __________________________________________________ I wasn't sure I was making sense. Thanks for finding some clarifying words.

I greatly appreciate everyones thoughts. But please no sorrys for me... Some more rambling now. I've come to terms with my own mortality, and I'm good with it if I die tomorrow. But it gets to me when someone else goes. I want to do something!!! And I worry like hell about my friends that are students and newbs, especially when they started skydiving because of me........I can't help but feel responsible-just me. I realize that skydiving is not the safest sport, and as is always stated in these forums-if you keep jumping you will lose friends to the sport. But skydiving and the dz has always been the place where I can clear my brain out and mentally recharge. I know it may sound ridiculous to some, but this sport certainly helped me cope with bringing first my mom and then my dad home on hospice. So now I'm finding I need to integrate the harsh reality of the sport with my feeling of the dz as a refuge of sorts.... So to the oldtimers here, is this kind of a natural progression/realization that most hit? I'll not stop jumping, it is my therapy-as hokey as that may sound, it works for me. Thanks for listening.

I'm sorry that I could only watch and not be able to do anything......You feel frustratingly useless......... I know the saying that you have no friends below 2000ft....... And despite all the critizism that instructors have been given when chasing a student low, I can begin to understand those instructors.......

A person you've shared the sky with........ And all you can do is watch and start to mutter "cutaway"....."do something"....... And then yell to call 911 and head out there..... And there's still not a damn thing you can do.... Seems you always look at fatalities and say " hey I maintain my gear so that'll never happen to me" or "I don't swoop so that'll never happen to me". But then there's the one's that, "Ya it sure as hell could happen to me too and wouldn't be a damn thing I could do about it." This sport is my therapy and I'm not about to give it up, but some days it sure makes you think about a lotta shit......... Sorry, I'm just rambling here, but seems to help.... BSBD

I just read thru your whole thread and it sure did bring back some memories....... My first jump was AFF out of a cesna. I was told I did a slow climb out-yea no shit!!!! Later AFF out of an otter-still sensory overload, but way different-at least for me. My point being that I can still remember that climbing out feeling/fear as a student to this day.(even if I am an old fart!) So if you're considering an AFF program and it's still out of a cesna you'll probably still hit that feeling. But AFF exit out of an otter would more than likely accomplish what I think you're looking for. Good luck!!!!

http://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/homepage.do;jsessionid=LpTMlyy2gZ9JwR3yB20Cl33z19CDTv8JSTGv1jb1mv0M1LL3phCJ!1651277320[url] Another useful site. And agreed that you should consider your families safety first, however I do understand and appreciate your getting involved just should have gone about it a bit differently. Now you do need to CYA as far as safety. Ask the Detectives about his criminal history. I guarantee it's not a short one......

Naked pics first

Actually surfers myelopathy is a very real thing and not just a whip lash injury. Research it. It can really suck.

A question about your SOP for the folk with door open from takeoff. Otter (and most other) SOP-Door closed and seatbelts on till 1000ft, then belts off and door open. If the doors open and a pilot chute goes out the door and I'm near enough I'm gonna give you a helping toss out the door if I can. And you need to take off the belts before the door goes up when you're near it or a lotta folk are gonna holler at you about takin the whole plane load down if the above happens never mind what would happen to you. So if you're taking off with door open are you or are you not wearing belts? Genuinely interested for your answers and rationale for your SOPs. edit:apoligies to the OP for thread drift.....