Dangerous Practices at a Florida DZ A few yeas ago I visited a world famous Florida DZ and was quite shocked by their lack of regard for USPA and FAA laws. Here’s what happened: There’s a very big lake right next to the DZ. When I asked whether I need a floatation device, I was laughed at and told that only students use them, but if I REALLY wanted one, they’d give it to me. There was a solid cloud cover about 3000 feet thick, but that didn’t seem to matter. The plane went up to 16200 feet and had no oxygen. Not for the skydivers, not for the pilots. By the time we got to the spot, the sun had already been below the horizon for about a minute and the thick cloud cover made it even darker on the ground. By the time the door was opened I had considered all these factors and made a decision not to jump. I was the only one. Everyone just gave me a strange look and went out the door. I rode the plan down and left the DZ. My question to you is this: Am I a tight-ass party pooper who blindly follows “stupid rules” and who’s not cool enough to be a skydiver, or was everyone in that plane and on the ground running the DZ wrong, but I made the right decision? The reason I’m so confused is because this IS a world famous DZ and I was jumping with people who are EVERY experienced, famous, and good at what they do and I’m just a newbie. Don’t they know better???
