TrickyDicky

PS. if the number was a canterbury number it would be:

(+44) 01227 ....

That post code points to canterbury University.

Plus there is no such place as skydive canterbury, and the phone number is somewhere in London, not canterbury (so its not the address he's listed).

Its all def a big fat scam.

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France
Spain

I dont think Spain have a rule. Skydive Empuria insists you should have one, but at skydive spain (nr Seville) you dont have to have one.

I have had a similar conversation with a DZO and CCI here in the UK. He noticed that most people now seem to be leaving earlier on the weekends, whereas it would be common to have people stay until sunset on the sunday before going home (this will usually be 8-9pm in the summer). And all this would be 5 years ago. He "blames" various things.

I think a big "problem" now is that people are focusing more on training camps, wind tunnels and foreign trips and spending less weekends at a dropzone just to do "fun jumps". In a good way this is meaning a lot of people are constantly focusing on skills, but it means people see the fun jumping as not progressing their skills as much as saving the money for a training camp would.

With the 2 new tunnels in the UK, opened in late 2005, our FS nationals has had a slight decrease in numbers (record was 52 teams in 2004, with 43 teams this year) but the quality across the board, especially the lower catagories, has increased significantly.

There is a DZ in the UK that has a couple of wind turbines about a mile from the DZ (I think they're 2-300' tall). no problems at all. What is a problem was when the factory on the edge of the DZ (its next to a village and industrial estate) tried to erect one, in reality for tax purposes. The DZ managed to get the planning permission rejected on the grounds of closing the DZ because of danger to aircraft and skydivers. But that was within 200' of the landing area.

I dont think 4000' is going to cause a problem. Thats between half a mile and a mile away.

I know its not the US, but I think DZs in France will take you on AFF.

As for tandems, alot of European countries will take anyone as long as they fit in the harness.

My Approximate timescales:

0-50 - 18 Months
50-200 - 12 months
200-550 - 4.5 years.
550-750 (where I am now) = 4 months

around 90% of 350 - 750 have been part of the same 4 way team over 3 years. In those 3 years I have around 24 hours tunnel time, with half of that in the last 6 months.

I must be lucky, that in the 7 years Ive been skydiving, I can only think of 2 people that I have at least met that have died whilst skydiving. There are about 2-3 others though that probably could have died and got away with only a broken femur.

Of the two fatalities, one was an instructor who got me through most the level to my A, and the other I had only met a couple of times at a couple of boogies. The injured few were jumpers from my ex-home DZ.

But like someone else said, I am probably linked to all the other fatalities via a friend of a friend or some such. ie. for every fatality, I will probably know someone that it affects.

In the UK, you have to throw a WDI before any static line jumping or displays.

I had a look through a 1993 sport parachutist over the weekend, and saw and advert for the stilleto. It made me wonder a couple of things:

1. Is the stilletto the oldest canopy still in production, excluding resrves? (at least 15 years now) How much has the design of the stilletto changed over the years?

2. With the stilletto being so old, are people ignoring it as a path on the route to HP landings, and going too quickly to katanas, or to put it another way, are people treating the katana too much like the "new" stilletto?

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No one should make you jump without your favorite safety device.

If there is a jump you would absolutely not do without your favorite safety device, then you should not do the jump WITH the safety device, either.

I hate this argument. It just doesnt make sense. I dont see it as an over reliance on devices, just someone not accepting the risks of jumping without an AAD. A perfectly acceptable choice.

Sorry for the analagies, but thats like arguing that you shouldnt drive your car with seatbelts and air bags because you wouldnt be prepared to drive without them. Why not? You're more likely to live with all the safety devices that without, and I dont agree that having the safety devices there makes people start pushing boundaries with regards to safety.

The numbers say everything:
With ADD: more likely to survive unconsiousness or lack of altitude aware ness. I dont plan to fuck up, it would probably have happened if I didnt have the AAD aswell.

These will be because the student pulled low. IIRC, the FXC12000 has a margin of error of something like +- 500ft or so. So when on big rigs, with students pulling above 3500, it should be fine.

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I personally won't pack an FXC. Yes, I (unfortunatly) still know of dropzones that use them on their student rigs, and frankly I feel that they are doing their students (customers) a terrible dis-service by not offering that type of gear to them to learn on. I lose a little respect for a DZO that will allow his students to learn on out of date gear.

As far as the Astra is concerned, this is another high-horse I could get on. There is nothing wrong with one as Long as you have the updated software versions. it's a good, safe AAD. This may just be personal opinion, but I believe that unit was very undervalued and overlooked by most jumpers because it came out when Cypres was the hottest thing since sliced bread.

I think this is a little extreme. I spent 4 years at a DZ that had FXCs on all of their RAPs and hire kits, and I didnt see a single problem occur. I dont understand why people seem to hate them so much. They work just as well as they used to work, and in the right situations (ie. student kit with big canopies) can be a cheaper alternative to Cypres.

If it aint broke, why fix it?

As for testing: Instead of blowing, Ive seen them tested with a plastic bag around the box being squeezed. Saves blowing any crap into the air inlet. And they also put bungies around the opening to coushin the impact from the spring.

500 jumps on a 2nd hand Z1, and only just coming round the change the visor.

If I was to buy new now, Id probably go with a factory diver. They are alot more solid compared to the Z1, and have a much more secure way of attaching to your head (grip tape instead of eleastic). IMO, the oxygn visor isnt as good as the Z1, and more fiddly to put back together.

2001: at the 2xcessna 206 DZ I started at

FJC: £150, that included some discount for a group
Student S/L jumps £35 (I think thats still the going rate)
10k = something like £18
At a bigger turbine DZ, singles were £18, 10 tickets for £160
Now, single = £20/21 generally.

At my DZ there is the 500+ jumps landing area which is just infront of the flight light, and is shown by the cut grass, and is adjacent to one of the 3 grass strips.

The <500 jumps landing area is anywhere in the longer grass, to the east of the NS runway. That is about half a mile square, so I dont think low experienced jumps are ever going to do a low turn to avoid the experienced landing area.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=weston-on-the-green&ie=UTF8&ll=51.878677,-1.220942&spn=0.011273,0.025663&t=h&z=16

It will also depend on whether they own or rent the aircraft. Renting is normally dont on hours flown, so normally the minimum load is enough to cover the rental cost. If you have tandems or students on there, it can normally go up lighter, because they pay more,

When they own the plane, its a different story. Ive been up with 4 on a SMG (think porter with a left hand door) and 8 on a G92 (15 seater normally, and faster than an otter).

I was at a DZ where he got a discounted rate on a TurboLet with 8/9 or 10 jumpers. now THAT was comfort. There was more than enough room when it was full.

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also after how many jumps should one think about buying there own rig ??

It sounds like you havent made any jumps yet. Its nothing you need to worry about any time soon. You'll probably know when the time comes. Fow now, just continue using club kit.

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is buying used ok and how much around for a starting rig (the ones i have seen for 1500 for the full set up seem like i would be cheaping out on something that can kill me)

There is a very good 2nd hand market in skydiving. Its usually prudent to get a local instructor/rigger to check over any kit before you purchase it, and if possible demo jump it to make sure all is fine. People wont sell dodgy kit. Modern Canopies are often good for more than 1000 jumps if they've been looked after.

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is there laws about selling/buying used rigs (should they be repacked as soon a you get them)

Reserves have to be repacked every 120 days in the US (most other countries is 6 months), and all this data is logged so you should know whether it will need doing before buying. Often buying kit with an out of date reserve will get you the cost of a repack knocked off the price.

There are also AADs (automatic activation devices). The Cypres and cypres 2 (the most common types) need to be sent off for a service every 4 years, but again all this is logged and the seller should normally inform the buyer when the next service is due.

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how many jumps around b4 you jump solo

You can jump solo (kind of) from jump 1. In AFF the 2 instructors are only holding on to you, and when the parachute is open you're on your own. But some places are putting tandems as the first jump on an AFF course.

There are other methods of learning (static line, IAD) which mean you're solo from jump 1, but without much (if any) freefall.

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how much does jumping cost when you have your card and how much when you don't

When you are qualified, tickets cost around $20-25 per jump, depending on the centre. When you dont the jumps are normally much more, because you're hiring kit and paying for an instructor to be there. If you do an aff course package (prices vary, but the cost is a couple of grand) you get several jumps included with all instruction and kit hire.



Hope I helped. Have a good time wherever you go.

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If you really hate fast openings, the Sabre would definitely NOT be the canopy for you. It's fine, just a little brisk.

I never had too many problems with my Sabre 1, but did get the occasional kicker. But as its an older design, and they havent been built for about 7 years or so now, you're only going to find them on the 2nd hand market.

I dont think any canopy gives hard openings any more, just some are more consistant. I have had a great time with my Pilot, but Ive just been jumping a sabre 2 135 and have had a lovely time (bar 1 instant opening), but I think loading plays a big part.

Afaik, the suitable canopies types for yourself are:
Aerodyne Pilot (have one myself, lovely)
PD Sabre 2 (have just done 50 jumps on one. Comes down quicker than the Pilot, opening lovely too, but not quite as consistant as the pilot)
PD Spectre (the longest and softest opening of any canopy Ive ever jumped, but Ive only jumped them about 5 times)

Canopies I havent jumped:
Icarus Saffire 2
PD Sillhuette (hybrid canopy, so easier to pack)
Aerodyne Triathlon
Icarus Omni (friend had nothing but good things to say about it).

There is also the ZP.exe. Personally I dont like them, but they are cheap and will work, if you dont mind coming down quick and not be able to get back from a long spot.

I was always told (from my first packing course, if not my first jump course) that having the breaks set for deployment was to actually force air into the canopy. Without the breaks set, you're likely to get a streamer.

So taking them off during deployment is likely to have a similar effect, as shown in that video.

I have a wings with a cordura BOC and its always good at keeping the pilot chute in, and on 1 occasion too good so I was on reserve.

Personally, I dont think Im gonna get another cordura pouch if I get a wings again. IMO, a badly packed pilot chute is less likely to come out of a cordura pouch. And spandex works great on everyone elses rig. I think the cordorua pouch is a solution to a problem that doesnt really exist, like the mini-force 3-rings on aerodyne icons.

I demoed a pilot and sabre 2 150 before I bought my pilot 150. I found the pilot had softer openings, a longer glide and slightly more responsive. (plus its slightly cheaper).

I just recently jumped a sabre 2 135 for 25 or so jumps, and have to say I really liked it, getting better openings than I did on the sabre2 150. but Im yet to try an equivalent pilot.

It is true that the UK rules are probably the strictest in the world, and many pople go abroad to do AFF and when they get back, they find out that the course they've done doesnt meet the UK minimum requirements. Often this is missing out level 8.

Its a shame you were treated like this. I know some dropzones try to be as accomodating as possible. But many people recommend that if you do go abroad, you try and find a course that will satify all UK requirements to minimise problems like you had on your return.

Sometimes students can be difficult too. I dont know about your situation, but some will turn up without a log book, no video and claim to have qualified but with bearly any jumps since qualifying. The DZ will then have no idea where you fit in the UKS system and will probably refuse to let you jump.

But anyway - are you not going to name a shame the DZ?

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(3) anything arising out of: (a) racing of any kind; (b) care, custody or control of animals (c) the ownership, custody, or use of: firearms or explosives, aircraft, aerial devices, motorised watercraft, horse-drawn vehicles, mechanically-propelled/motorised or towed vehicles; this exclusion does not apply to activities covered under Section (S) ACTIVITIES except where cover under this section is excluded for specific activities

This is what does it and excludes skydiving from 3rd party. I have rung them and spoken to them (a very small operation) and they told me I would not be covered for 3rd party liability if it was a skydiving incident. They said they dont cover it because the BPA already does.

I wouldnt worry much about 3rd party anyway. There are very few places where you need any substantial 3rd party cover (Britain and Belgium being 2 of them) and the rest either let you jump on the limited cover BPA membership gives you, or take out USPA membership for the USA, which is not expensive.

Edit: I found the bit about skydiving having 3rd party excludid:

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BASIC CONDITIONS FOR SAFE AND NORMAL PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITIES
(1) You are accompanied by, or accessible to, an experienced and/or suitably qualified instructor or guide.
(2) You are properly supervised, taking part in an organised event, match, game, session or outing.
(3) You are using natural or purpose-built facilities approved for use for the activity by a local or national regulatory authority.
For certain activities the condition is that cover under other sections of the policy is excluded:
(4) cover under policy section (C) PERSONAL ACCIDENT.
(5) cover under policy section (J) PERSONAL LIABILITY.
The condition numbers are annotated to the categories or activities to which they apply below.

5. HIGH RISK ACTIVITIES
(Specific conditions (2), (4) and (5) apply. The High Risk Medical Excess £500 (€750) applies)

Skydiving comes under this section of HIGH RISK ACTIVITIES, and specifically has condition 3 attached aswell

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etravelinsure includes £2m of personal liability - annual world wide policy cost me £63.50, which I thought was pretty good

But it doesnt cover third party for incidents that occur while skydiving. They say "your BPA cover should give you that". Endsleigh was the only one I could find that would before they stopped covering us mad skydivers.

BPA cover does cover you everywhere except USA and canada for £100k 3rd party, which is probably enough for most places. Belgium requires something like 1mil euros, so you'll need extra.

In the USA you can just take out USPA membership and you'll be covered up to $50k 3rd party. So dont land on powerlines that connect to a chicken farm, and you'll be ok.