timbarrett

Am i missing something?...that's not rhetorical, really! A bit of background first...50+ jumps, USPA A signed off and UK FS1 signed off...nearly all my jumping done with Skydive U in Deland...and i have just moved back to the UK and want to continue to learn - right now my focus is FS. I am finding it very difficult to get coaching to progress further. Am I right to be concerned and frustrated by this or should I just get on with finding a few new friends to jump with and figure it out ourselves? The attitude I am encountering here is "Oh, you have got your A. We don't really coach beyond that". My experience in other sports - i represented my country in one - and after i got my FAA PPL, makes me believe that all have now at my experience level is a "licence to learn". I remember the massive difference deciding to commit to a professional coach made to my previous sporting life. Sure, I can get together with a bunch of jumpers at my level and we can figure it out together and maybe get somebody to look the video of what we are up to and give us a few pointers. That would probably be quite fun - any jump feels good right now - but it doesn't strike me as very efficient. Maybe I will get lucky and get the occasional nice person to "jump a newbie" as Skybytch suggested. However right now I have the money to work with a coach but I do not have a lot of free time - especially when you discount that time for the UK weather. Is this issue a general problem for people at my stage? Is this something that explains the disappearance of so many post AFF jumpers? Is this a particular problem in the UK and I should just wait until my next break and get on plane back to Florida and the fantastic coaching I got there?...but that's way too long to wait. Should i try going down to Spain? Is there anyone who wants my money? Any and all thoughts on the general and specifics would be appreciated. "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

I did my AFF and A licence in Florida all wearing a Havok from the start because of my glasses. I also liked it because I wanted to wear a full-face in the tunnel. Peripheral vision is less good imho than the newer Mamba and I have since switched to that. Tim "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

an experienced packer i asked this question of last week told me that she had seen (by PD i believe) a demo showing that double stows held with more tension and that thereafter she always used them regardless....i wasn't able to get more from her but has anyone heard of such a study or similar work done by anyone? "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

just my experience..i did AFF up to level 3 and then had to take 6 months off...i felt that i had not done a good job with my jumps so far (unstable) and so went for some good tunnel time before starting from AFF 1...the combination went like a dream and i got my A licence requirements done with the minimum jump number allowed. As i recall on the repeat AFF 1, the reserve side JM released almost immediately and it just went on from there. Of course that it probably a tribute to the great coaching from SDU and Rob Laidlaw but it sure worked well for me. Going back and running thru the AFF 1 again so well also gave me a lot more confidence. Good luck "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

Having made a decision that I want to pursue the psycho-pack or (more accurately it seems) psycho-bagging approach as the only way to get 280 sq/ft of new and slimy ZP into the bag, I have one question... After turning the cocooned canopy thru 180 degrees and laying it down on the ground, is there an increased risk that as I fold over the ears of the tail that I accidently pull a D line or control line around the front? How best to guard against this? I have checked the threads on the topic and while I can find a mention of this the only response was along the lines that a line-over is just as possible on the pro-pack..true but not helpful I guess. I am very new at this and won't be jumping what i learn without the process being checked out by my instructors/rigger of course but I have become very keen on this approach as it seems to be the only chance to stop wanting to shooting myself in frustration... any hints/suggestions on this and any other aspect of the psycho-pack/bag very much appreciated... thks, Tim "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

if i remember the train from CDG dumps you off at Pte Maillot and that would mean about 25-30 euro taxi.. "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

can't speak directly for the route from the airport..by taxi from the Gare du Nord it cost 50 Euro and from the Champs Elysee it cost 30 euro...i think the best way may be to get the train into the center and then taxi from there at that time... "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

Since I asked for some opinions and advice on Aerokart Paris a while back, I thought I should give some feedback on last weekend's trip. First by way of background so you can assess appropriately the validity of my comments: 25 jumps/A licence/one hour in Orlando previously/100kg ex-rig I will also let others debate "value for money" as thats been done here already. I cannot comment on what time is worth and I had time to get to Paris and not to Orlando... 1) The organization is definitely more relaxed in Paris. Scheduling was a guide but within the looser parameters that were set it all got worked out by the instructors. There are benefits to that as when part of my party cancelled at the last minute due to sickness we could be worked in around others or others could be called to come in early. Have faith it will work. The blocks of time you are sealed in the chamber are longer it would appear. 2) Flying was harder and required more discipline in positioning. My view is that the airflow was faster and more turbulent; dropping out of the flow and onto the pads was more likely. I think in Orlando you could get away with more. The compensation is more lateral room. 3) The tunnel sealed area is larger and so you can - and indeed have to - dirt dive once you are sealed in the chamber. This creates some problems as it is harder to schedule periods to get out and debrief orally rather than writing screeds on the walls. 4) The instruction is more informal than I received in Orlando with a greater emphasis on getting the feel for positions and moves. The instructors said that this was their style rather than the more aggressive American approach..must have been talking with Chirac. Regardless, I would say that the standard of instruction and the benefit I derived was excellent. I think I gained from seeing a different approach. They are also a nice and friendly bunch with quite enough english to cope with Brits and Americans. 5) I had a (sixteen year old female) beginner with me and for her it was very much a question of being given a couple of hand signals and a simple instruction to push the pelvis forward..and then off she went. I don't know that I would teach that way but she had a serious blast and really felt she had got the feel for what flying her body meant by the end of a few sessions 6) The location is in the middle of nowhere and is not cheap to get to by taxi..but there is also an indoor go-kart track there as well so if you are looking for a full entertainment package you could put something together. I will probably take some whuffo clients back there and do both...get someone else to pay for my tunnel time! 7) Hey..its flying and its always going to be fun. Jumping is better but if you live here and want to train this is still a very good option to consider. Hope this helps, Tim "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

i worked with Rob Laidlaw and SkydiveU from Deland - that was a great experience and very efficient in getting me to the A in the minimum jumps. It made sense to re-start with AFF1 for me as a confidence booster but your instructor will know what is right for you... enjoy it! "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

thks everyone "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

just moved to UK and had a repack done. I am used to seeing the lead seals used in the US and was surprised not to see one on my newly repacked reserve pin. Is the seal just a US thing and what is the common practice outside US? I will, of course, ask my rigger here but can't get thru right now so just indulging in a healthy dose of paranoia.... "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

I can only answer from my perspective....i did AFF1, 2,3 and then got stuck with a few failures before i had to stop jumping for 6 months...then i went to the tunnel in Orlando and was thereafter able to rattle off all the remaining jumps to complete AFF and get my A licence in 8 days.... for me it was like night and day...before tunnel time I was unstable and frankly pretty dangerous...after the long layoff and the tunnel I repeated AFF1 and the reserve side JM released almost immediately and he was never needed again. Not sure if it was the best value for money but it sure speeded it all up! nb. tracking was not helped by the incremental moves made in the tunnel and, of course, my landing still sucked... "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

adjusting the nose cover to clear the grill seems to help as it also shifts the nose cover higher..but i would love to hear what you are doing to adjust it... Generally pretty satisfied tho'.. i found the anti-fog solution worked pretty well if i didn't breath too much but my glasses fogged instead.... "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

Can't take the weather in UK any longer so i have booked in for some tunnel time with Aerokart in Paris. I have used the tunnel in Orlando and had a great time with Rusty Lewis as my coach... Any advice for the Paris version? I thought I would work with one of their coaches but I am not sure how that works...any info/thoughts/opinions gratefully received about any aspect of the place..even how to get there... thanks "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

I was just getting into flying aerobatics when my partner suggested that I make a jump so I would be more willing to jump just in case I pulled the wings off my plane....I made an AFF jump and I was hooked immediately..guess i discovered what real flying felt like.. It seems like a natural progression..SCUBA, sailing, flying and then skydiving.... "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

pre-tunnel - 8 jumps repeating basic AFF levels - really ugly stuff.. post-tunnel - A licence in minimum jumps required - so i reckon good value for money but....my spotting needs work, my tracking needs work and my landings need work... do it... "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

I did a series of supervised pack jobs during a "packing class" over about 5 hours one evening...when i got fed up with doing it and asked the packer if it looked alright he replied "if you promise to jump it first thing tomorrow i will sign your A licence card"..pause for thought while I tried to discount for the possibility that after 5 hours I would be willing to jump anything just to stop..then I said OK and did a hop and pop at 5,000 as i did not want to think about it in freefall.... I like the idea that in this sport you have no excuses and no way to dodge responsibility for what you do.... "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

Packing in London? Stuck in London over the winter with these amazingly consistent 1000 ft ceilings (7/8 sc)...thought i would try to improve my packing skills..so the question is, is there anyone in central London who could help me to begin properly?..I would pay! I spent a miserable evening packing and re-packing before jumping my first and only pack-job for the USPA A licence. I know its mainly a question of practice but I would like to start with getting the basics right.... "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

I have a shiny new USPA A licence and my new rig is clearing UK customs...the problem I am concerned about is that I got my licence in June (1 hour of tunnel time and 10 days to complete - thanks Rob Laidlaw) but since then because of a combination of moving countries, business travel and the typical 1500' ceiling in the UK, I haven't been able to jump. Theoretically I am good to go anywhere in the world... but realistically where do I really stand from the point of safety and experience? This forum and the student system seems to have something of a gap here and I would like some advice on how to proceed in a manner to ensure that I continue to learn effectively and safely. Should I just hook up again with an instructor and take a few steps back and is there any recognized process for progressing from here and/or getting the rust out of my jumping? You are talking about someone who has packed just one parachute (I was made to jump it to get my licence) and knows exactly one dropzone (I miss Deland!).... Where now and how many steps back? "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

in my opinion the tunnel is worth it for AFF students...i travelled from the otherside of the world and my stability and relaxation problems in freefall were a thing of the past... however my exits still leave a lot to be desired and the tunnel entry procedure does not really replicate the exit from the plane....but it sure does make gettting stable afterwards easy... good luck... tim "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

just curious... To get signed off on your A licence you are required to have packed a parachute. To get the sign off are you also required to jump your pack job as well? Should you be required to? As for me...at Deland, where I spent a miserable and painful 5 hours learning to pack, the guy who finished supervising me, in response to my asking "Was that okay?", replied "Would you jump it?" Upon my rather dubious response "Er..well..yes..I can't think of anything I screwed up", he replied "If you aren't happy - Do It Again! If you are then jump it tomorrow first thing and I will sign your card." I guess I think that's the right way. There are too many people in this world who aren't willing to take responsibility for themselves and that's generally not true of skydivers it seems.. just curious how others view this... P.S right now I think packers are woefully underpaid!! "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

yeah, i know this costs too much money... i just hope that there will be enough tunnels to make it possible for students to get at least a few minutes in the tunnel at a reasonable cost because..again from my very limited perspective..i was certainly a lot safer a student after the tunnel rather than giving the JMs a work out as I did the first time... "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

kelpdiver i agree with what you say about the fall rate adjustment difference between the tunnel and reality in the air. I found that my early fall rate adjustments were just too small and incremental - not positive enough - after being in the tunnel making such small moves. I guess there is no reason i could not have learnt to be more positive in the tunnel but i suppose it was because i could get away without. On the subject of exits from the plane...and i hasten to add mine need work...the great benefit to me in the early stages of post-tunnel AFF was that I was confident i could get stable. For me at least that was the key to being relaxed and beginning to learn. "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

I have a question about the A Licence process as I am getting some conflicting information. I have completed my A licence requirements and got the card fully signed off and stamped. I was then told that the card is now my A Licence and that I do not have to do anything further. On the other hand there still seem to be people getting A Licence numbers which presumably means I have got to register with the USPA. I was told the registration with the USPA to get a specific number has lapsed as a procedure and that it is only when I want my B Licence and beyond that I should sent in the card... Bit confused..help please... Best wishes, Tim "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"

Why didn't anyone tell me to do it this way earlier! After flailing around on a few AFF jumps last year I signed up for a tunnel camp in Orlando and then went through Skydive U's Tunnel AFF program with Rob Laidlaw. All I can say is that the difference for me with my previous attempts to get through was like night and day. Obviously a lot of the credit goes to the great coaching I got from Rusty Lewis in the tunnel and from Rob throughout the course. The difference that results from being confident in one's stability and control during the early stages of AFF makes it so much easier to relax and learn. From my limited perspective I believe all early training must inevitably gravitate to this method as the tunnels proliferate. It is not the cheapest way of doing things but being able to get through all the A licence jumps within 10 days suggests that the efficiency of the process makes up for a lot of upfront cost. The only issue I had was that while the tunnel is great fun and an incredibly efficient learning tool, Rob had to retrain me for full leg extension in things like tracking as the tunnel can encourage small incremental moves rather than full range. Okay, so my landings leave a lot to be desired and I guess I am also now at that stage that I believe Ron described as where "you don't even know what you don't know". It is a start though.... Thanks Rob for the experience and setting such a high benchmark for quality training! I also want to say thanks to everyone at Deland for running such a great operation. What should I do next....? Best wishes, Tim "Work hard, play hard and don't whinge"