Gary73

The Atlanta channel 5 FOX News I-Team just aired a followup to the investigation they did last year. You can view it on their Web site: http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=2034603&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.1.1 The contents won't surprise anyone who's familiar with that operation. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Oh, also: beware of sneaky-ass Evaluator tricks. I heard of an Evaluator at another course who called a time-out after the second JMPI to go to the bathroom, tore off his reserve rigger seal, then called time-in and got on the plane. That's a deliberate FAR and BSR violation, not to mention being a violation of course rules, but the CD allowed it. Make sure your second JMPI is thorough and as close as possible to boarding time. If the Evaluator disappears after that, insist on another thorough JMPI. I've also heard of an Evaluator who will dive out the door the instant it opens, which is highly unrealistic. Even so, the main-side instructor should have a leg-strap grip before the door opens. The job of the AFF Evaluator is to provide reasonably real-world scenarios in the safest way possible. Unfortunately some Evaluators treat their jobs as opportunities to trick candidates by any means possible, fair or foul. What's worse is that some CDs allow Evaluators to get away with it. At one time there was a great deal of standardization among CDs, but nowdays they can do pretty much whatever they want. I've heard from someone with a lot of international experience that USPA is the best such organization in the world, but there's still some room for improvement. Good luck! "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

I just became an AFF Evaluator last week, so I may be able to offer some more insight now. To answer your questions one at a time: Practicing with another skydiver is better than not practicing at all, but practicing with an active Evaluator is much better. USPA keeps a list of Evaluators on it's Web site, but for some reason it's in an area that can only be accessed by people like Course Directors and maybe DZOs. Ask your DZO or CD to get into that area and try to find one for you to work with, even if it's not one that he/she regularly uses. Unlike students, Evaluators will provide a reasonably arched, stable backfly for you. There are several different techniques to use, depending on whether you approach from the top, bottom, or side (most common). To do the side flip: fly up level and grab one main lift webbing with each hand. Make sure not to grab any handles!!! Push the near side under then up while pulling the far side over then down. From the top or bottom, fly up level, cross your arms, grab arm or leg grips (or whatever is safe and convenient) and flip. Once the student is belly flying again, switch grips as necessary, give whatever signals are appropriate, and re-release. Candidates can use any exit they want at the course, but most candidates use the "Course Exit" for simplicity and ease of working with other candidates on the Level 3 dives, so yeah, practice that a lot. At least some CDs have an outline that they prefer for you to follow during the ground preps. It's shameful that USPA hasn't standardized this and doesn't provide either a printed copy or a video of a good ground prep to the candidate ahead of time, but that's USPA for you. Ask your CD for a copy of what he/she uses and become familiar with it. Worst case, it's been said many times that the best preparation for an AFF course is an AFF course. Like a lot of people, it took me two tries to get it right, and the second one was far easier and less stressful. Good luck, and let us know how it goes! "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Usually the suit doesn't make a big difference, but I definitely agree with Strong's recommendation (mentioned above), especially with light or tall students and especially with less-experienced TIs. Fortunately it isn't hard to take in a jumpsuit (i.e., make it tighter), so if your TMs find them to be a problem, almost anybody who knows how to sew can fix them pretty quickly. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

You might ask yourself why it is that of the 300 dropzones and scores of other skydiving-related businesses in the country, only the enterprises owned by Butler and Quattrocchi receive this kind of reaction from the skydiving community. Don't let the ASC/Skyride propaganda fool you. We all have choices. Skydive the Farm (previously linked) and Skydive Atlanta ( www.skydiveatlanta.com ) are both within reasonable driving distance of midtown Atlanta and both have far larger, safer landing areas than ASC. As for making a lot of jumps, I haven't been to the Farm lately, but at SDA I made four AFF training jumps with the same student a few Sundays ago, and it's fairly easy for a regular jumper to make that many or more. In fact, a few months ago with our "one plane" we flew thirty loads. One jumper was on all thirty of them (special circumstances) and three others made over fifteen jumps each. We all have choices. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

The USPA Board of Directors meeting minutes don't go into details, but their decisions are published on the USPA Web site: http://www.uspa.org/contact/BODminutes/BODMinutes07-05.pdf page 19-20, motions 35 - 39 http://www.uspa.org/contact/BODminutes/BODMin0206.pdf page 21 As for the jumps, yes, jumps at non-USPA dropzones do count toward USPA licenses, ratings, and awards, but only USPA-certified Instructors, etc., can sign off A-license cards and other USPA documents. We all have to come up with our own definitions of sin. Personally I define it as deliberately harming an innocent person. If you can look at what ASC/Skyride does and decide that their behavior is morally acceptable, then go ahead and jump there; you'll probably fit right in. Likewise, we all have to set our own priorities in life. If you decide that what they do is wrong but that you can live with that as long as it means having a short drive or an air-conditioned packing area, then ditto. It's not for me to tell anyone else what their morality or priorities should be. As for me, I'll quit skydiving before I ever put a penny into Quattrocchi or Butler's pockets. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Don't know about any of the others, but the '74 meet was actually held in DeLand over Thanksgiving weekend. Gary (Georgia Tech team, Second Place, Novice Accuracy!) "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Hi, Anybody out there have any personal experience with using the Sanyo VPC C6 or CA6 as a helmet camera? Thanks, Gary "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Yeah, I would have called RWS, but they're kind of closed now. Anyway, now that it's assembled, the stow isn't as tight as I feared it would be, so I'm sure it's okay. Thanks for the info from the other rig, though; that makes me feel even better. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Question: I'm assembling a new Vector 3M V375 (yeah, what a life I have!) and I notice that the safety stow won't reach the center of both grommets with the bag lying flat. Is that normal on that size bag? Seems kind of short to me. Thanks. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

As has been mentioned, there's no substitute for jumping with an active evaluator. I'd recommend at least twenty jumps (preferably thirty!), and be sure to practice funnelled-exit recovery and rollovers, since those are guaranteed to happen at the course. Also have them practice the in-the-plane stuff with you. It feels kind of dorky doing that, but the practice will help you at the course. Learn the ground-prep stuff and practice that, also. Make sure your routine covers everything required on the evaluator's check-off sheet. Make practice and eval jumps in the suit in which you're most comfortable doing RW. Do lots of RW, but remember that AFF is not RW. You have to be more aggressive in your flying and you must sometimes manhandle the student in the air, particularly during the exit. Get all your course jumps videoed, and as many of the practice jumps as possible. Learn about student jumpsuit selection. An evaluator will allow you to select a suit for him/her that will make it almost impossible for you succeed on the dive. When in doubt, put the evaluator into a fast suit. Learn the hand signals (including the harness shake) and get into the mindset of using them the instant they're needed. Evaluators will generally respond to a clearly given signal, which can save you a lot of chasing. (If only real students did that!) Also get into the mindset of pulling for the evaluator every time (which will be necessary at the course), so have them wear a dummy handle for you to pull. Remember to transfer the dummy handle to your left hand before it's time for you to pull! Remember that most of the stress at the AFF course is self-generated. I did the course twice (both times with Billy) and the difference was like night and day. I simply wasn't prepared the first time, and it showed and created stress. The second time it was kind of fun, and I got to watch all the other candidates stressing over every little thing. Good luck, and let us know how it goes. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Summer: T-shirt and Swoop Pants over regular shorts. Fall/Spring: Double-zipper jumpsuit (real easy to put on / take off) Winter: Same, but with jeans and turtleneck pullover Adjust as necessary for camera. All of the above: Always get cordura on the knees and butt of every jumpsuit. Add extra padding to the knees of any Tandem outfit. (Cordura's available from the factory for most jumpsuits, but not on the double-zipper models I've seen. Fortunately it's pretty easy to add cordura and padding to those suits.) As for durability, I get about 500 slide-ins out of the double-zipper suits with cordura butts. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

I've seen a couple of cases in which a rigger has split open the lower part of the bridle of a collapsible pilot chute and sewn the halves to the top of the deployment bag on each side of the grommet. That makes it a royal pain to change pilot chutes, of course. Is there a reason for this mod that makes it worth the effort? Thanks "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

After an eight-month fight, Skydive Monroe in Georgia has lost its lease and has been forced to close. An FAA investigation is underway to determine whether the city of Monroe (the landlord) is in violation of Airport Improvement Program grant assurances, but if it's anything like the one involving the dropzone in Paris, Tennessee, it could be years before a verdict is announced. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

There are probably some copyright issues there, but they put summaries of their reports on http://www.fox5atlanta.com/iteam/index.html "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Randy Travis, an investigative reporter with FOX5 Atlanta, will be doing a report on the ASC / Skyride scams on their Thursday evening news programs at 6 and 10 PM. I haven't seen the report, but it should be interesting. Be sure to watch, especially if you have any doubts about those operations. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

If you make the crown vent large enough it will eliminate oscillations, but the descent rate goes from barely acceptable to not-even-that-good. Many rounds had a sort of neck above the vent with a stretchy O-ring that would allow pressure release during deployment then mostly close up to reduce descent rate once you slowed down. (Notice my use of the past tense here. That's where round parachutes belong! ) I'll definitely second the comments about the 4-line release. My first reserve ride was on an unmodified 24. The oscillations swung me through about a 90-degree arc. My second was on a 4-lined 24. A far, far better ride, with plenty enough steering and forward speed for someone who started on military-surplus rounds. My third and fourth reserve rides were on a 26 conical with 4-line release. Not a good combo. No oscillations, but the thing wouldn't start turning without a major toggle pull, then it wouldn't stop! Number four got me my first (and let's hope only!) tree landing for that reason. I'm not sure why there was such a major difference between flat and conical canopies. I can also second the comments about aircrew attitude toward cutting lines. I was going through Naval Flight Officer training after reserve ride # 2 and the instructor was describing that process. I was thinking "Oh, okay.", but everyone else in the class was going "Oh hell no!". ________________________ "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Anybody tried this for cutaway mains yet? http://www.loc8tor.com/ "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Skydive Monroe is open Wed - Fri noon 'til dark, Sat/Sun 9 AM 'til dark. From most of the metro area, it's a quicker drive than the other DZs, with lots of friendly people. http://www.skydivemonroe.com/ Gary "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

In case anyone else in the area is interested, there will be a USPA Coach Course at Skydive Monroe next month. Dates: November 13/14 Time: 8 AM Saturday, Sunday TBD Cost: $100, plus jump costs Course Director: Mike Clemmons Please call Lisa at 770-207-9164 if you want to attend. The pre-reqs are listed in the Instructional Rating Manual (available at the USPA Web site), and yes, if you're not a Monroe regular you can do the first-jump course stuff at your home DZ then just come out to Monroe Nov. 12/13 for the course itself. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Lots of good advice above. Hopefully here's a little more: 1. Wider is better. Modify your exit arch so that your arms and legs are as wide as possible side-to-side. Tandems rarely flip, but often roll. 2. If you've rolled past the 60 degree point and are still going, you're not going to stop it on this pass. Barrel roll through the roll, and stop it on the next pass. 3. Don't be in a panic to get the drogue out the instant you clear the plane; sooner is better than later, but get solidly stable first. 4. Don't outfight them, outfly them. I've never tried to force a student into an arch, and haven't had to throw the drogue to get stable since I was a newbie, and didn't know the stuff above. 5. Limit yourself to two or three Tandems a day for the first fifty jumps or so. It's like packing: at first it's strenuous because you're doing things inefficiently, but with practice, without even realizing it, you become more efficient, so the same end result is achieved with much less effort. 6. Every student is different, and the same behavior can have different causes. A student may be talkative because thay're always talkative, or because they're nervous. Liikewise with the quiet ones. Try to adjust your approach to the student. 7. Keep a barf bag in your jumpsuit or QUICKLY accessible on the plane. 8. I always let my students "help" with the canopy flying and landing. I've sometimes regretted it, but I figure it's part of the whole teaching experience. Besides, if the landing isn't too good, they'll probably blame themselves. 9. Learn to do a good slide-in landing. They're not as elegant as a good standup, but they're a LOT more elegant (and safer) than a bad standup. 10. Get large cordura patches on your jumpsuit knees and butt, and add some padding inside the knees. 11. In cold weather, you can put two jumpsuits on slender students to act as extra insulation. (The skinny ones lose body heat faster.) Also, don't forget gloves for the student in cool weather. I've heard plenty of instructors say "They'll be so excited they won't notice the cold.". Not true; just ask the students. 12. On a slide-in landing, don't get your legs under the student. They can get all twisted up and broken down there. 13. Wear a helmet, and have your student do the same. Even if you don't bump into anything, it protects your chin, helps hold goggles in place (especially over-the-glasses goggles), and keeps their hair under control. 14. Every landing approach is different, since each student has a different weight. Set up for final approach fairly high, then S-turn or sashay to lose any extra altitude. 15. Land safe, not close. The worst landing I've ever made was my fault, but was contributed to by the other T-Is making fun of my not wanting to land too close to the tarmac. Throw in a 180-degree wind change on final approach and a newbie at the controls, and it wasn't pretty. Don't let ANYONE push you into something you're not comfortable with. 16. Have fun and don't let them work you so hard that you get burned out. If you feel that coming on, take a break, even if you have to take a weekend off and jump at another DZ. Gary AFF-I, T-I (1100 Vector Tandem jumps) "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Thanks, I'll order a copy through them if I can't find one closer to home (and in NTSC format). "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

Hi, do any of you old-timers (like me) have a copy of "Masters of the Sky", or know where I can get one? Please e-mail me at [email protected] . Thanks, Gary "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan