captainbb7

http://www.timescall.com/opinion/ci_27915815/poll:-annoying-noises-in-longmont local newspaper poll on skydiving noise... have at it...

Something else to consider... Is flying the standard left hand box pattern under a 60 square ft canopy while wearing 40lbs of lead compatible with standard traffic? Where does the speed differential amongst canopies fit into the discussion?

My XL booties have a piece of elastic cord in them that you can tighten up... I assume yours do as well? Tighten up the cord a little bit more. I love my tony suit...

That is correct (you said it better than I did, thanks!) I was not advocating any specific landing procedure/policy, (thats for each individual DZ to specify) just for everyone to discuss it before you board... or at least in the plane on the ride to altitude. If for some reason you cant come to an agreement on how you are going to land, at least you know who to keep on your radar screen under canopy.

That is not what I am saying. There is a time and place for HPLs and that varies according to each DZ. If you have someone who is not willing to follow the rules laid down at your DZ, then scratch off the load if necessary and get the DZ management to ground the unsafe person for not following the rules. Then go get back in the air and have fun. My point is, you wont know what other people intend to do unless you ask them. Hopefully the situation could be handled amicably without the need to miss a load. But in the end, if you dont feel safe with the situation, then go get the DZ staff and make it safe.

Yes. If the situation is outside of your personal safety parameters (be it from wind gusts, number of people in the air, who is in the air, etc) then dont jump... and live to jump another day when the situation is within your personal safety parameters. If the cause of your safety issues is man made, then discuss it with the appropriate DZ authorities.

My Friend, if you are going to wait until you are under canopy to start thinking about protecting yourself, then you are doomed. Nothing will protect you from the person who intentionally breaks a "no swooping on bigways rule" or other such canopy related BSR. Once you are in the air, you have no control over what other people will do. That is why canopy safety must begin before you even board the plane. Discuss what canopy behavior is appropriate on your load BEFORE you board. This is the time where you do have control. Find out what the people around you intend to do, not only under canopy, but also during freefall (i.e., are they freeflying, RW, tracking dive, pulling higher than you, etc). The more information you have, the better decisions you can make about your own safety. If someone ends up breaking the plan that was agreed to by everyone, then hold them accountable. Secondly, nowhere did I say that it was appropriate to perform HPLs in any situation as long as its been discussed. Example, HPLs are not allowed on bigways (most of them anyway). This is a complicated issue and what works for one DZ may not work at another (i.e., Cessna DZ compared to a Boogie DZ). There is a time and place for HPLs and that is for each DZ to decide and ENFORCE (if you dont like the DZs answer, then jump elsewhere). However, the person ultimately responsible for your safety is yourself... so make good decisions.

You can start by discussing and agreeing to a landing direction with everyone on your load before you even get on the plane. Then discuss if anyone is going to do a HPL and where you intend to perform such HPL (or if even such HPLs are allowed, i.e. no HPLs on bigways). If you are all agreed, go have fun. If the discussion leads to something that is not within your personal safety parameters or makes you uncomfortable, then dont get on the airplane and go talk to the DZO and/or DZ Staff to resolve the situation. It is your responsibility to know what the other people in the air are going to do around you. No BSR or any other "Rule" release you from that responsibility.

I want everyone to start making better decisions under canopy. Right now we cant get people to follow a simple rule such as "no swooping on a bigway". Rules were in place to prevent many of the recent accidents that have occurred... they just havnt been enforced.

Welcome to Pacific Tech, Smart People On Ice!

I love that game... especially the H's...

Yev! i jumped your brand new katana for you yesterday... I put some speed holes in it to make it go faster... hope you dont mind... just kidding... Dawn #1 just looked and it hasnt come yet. Get your butt out here to the DZ...

Ellis, when do you come home??

yup! At least on sunday... small chance I'll make it for saturday... to early to tell. You gonna be around?

me!

Me and my doggies will be there as well! We've got some quiltin to do people...

It was great seeing everyone this past weekend. I really miss you guys. Thanks for the signed pictures as well... I cant tell you how much that means to me... I cant wait till it arrives in the mail. LJ, you are the best teamate I never had. Talk to me Goose... Come up and visit me at the Ranch! The landing area is flat and they have a pond.

Believe me, I'm gonna miss you more. I cant even begin to describe how much you and Lyman have taught me the last two years. I consider myself truly lucky to have been your student... and there is still so much more to learn. Downwind NC Rigging Rules! Alot of that goes to everyone else at CSS too. What a classy DZ. Great instructors, staff and the rest of the skydiving CSS family. I truly will miss you all. Thanks for everything you guys have taught me. Blues and downhill landings! -Bootie Boy

Huh... LJ was at the Boogie? Hey guys... Its my last weekend as a regular CSSer... so come on out this weekend and lets do alot of jumps and all land downwind and down the hill!

This is from http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/basics/launch.html "it takes eight seconds for the engines and boosters to accelerate the ship to 161 kilometers per hour (100 mph.) But by the time the first minute has passed, the shuttle is traveling more than 1,609 kilometers per hour (1,000 mph)" Still think you could hold on?

I'm so happy that Sirio was found. Sounds like he had an interesting adventure this past week!

Wish I could be there this time, but there is too much going on the next two months. I'm moving near Albany, NY at the end of the month... but once I get settled in up there I should be able to make the next camp. I know you guys will have a blast!

I guess 134,217,721 (stupid minus signs...)

Whoops... talk about a typo... just the kind that could get you kicked off of Team America... hey, nice limo.

What a kick ass weekend... All I can say is... America! Fuck ya!