icevideot

This poll needs a third option. I really don't understand it or get the joke or point to it. That isn't condemning of the shirt but I wouldn't get an oriental word tattoo for the same reason. "... this ain't a Nerf world."

It seemed to me he was referring to helping others with their gear and not his own preflight, but you seem intelligent enough to know that. I agree with the poster who called bad form on this passive aggressive personal attack. As an instructor dealing with a person you expect to be resistant, cocky, or even just plain arrogant you have to plan ahead. Adopting a similar attitude and spitting advice at them sets you up to be able to say "I told you so" if anything bad ever happens. If anything it only makes it more difficult for future people who actually want to help. If you know you can't relate to them in a positive manner ask another instructor or knowledgeable person (privately) to take a shot at resolving it. "If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem" seems to be true enough in cases like this. I know I don't know the people or actual events here but I am not the one who put this out in the street to begin with. Good luck and blue skies to everyone on here. "... this ain't a Nerf world."

From what you have stated, no. My experience has been that tandems often go when conditions are on the edge. When those running the business side (read "financial") are willing to eat the cost of a plane ride I am going to buckle up. I can't make an informed decision about landing conditions from altitude. There have been times when I only went because I want everyone to be able to have video but there have also been times when they had to do without video. "... this ain't a Nerf world."

Why not? It doesn't take any time or distract me from other things and it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. I also know I am ready for that cool shadow swoop if it presents itself. "... this ain't a Nerf world."

You can download it free here: http://www.uspa.org/publications/manuals.htm How much too big is the yoke on your harness? My chest strap doesn't hold my rig on my shoulders. The shape of the harness does. I do appreciate that you are trying to eliminate risk but your condemning the practice of loosening chest straps is the same as others condemning your "hook turns" or others that don't approve of CRW. To each his own. Welcome back into the sky. Be safe and have fun. "... this ain't a Nerf world."

I am not a TI. I was just wondering, if he had that much trouble getting the student out the door and found the drogue to be compromised then what are the odds he could get him back inside? I agree some advice and retraining from more experienced instructors could remedy future issues that will surely crop up otherwise. "... this ain't a Nerf world."

you can just give it to me yourself tomorrow "... this ain't a Nerf world."

Boy do I feel stupid. I have searched and ultimately gone to "My Profile" and then "Edit Profile" and I don't see the upload option. I even tried it in both IE and Firefox. Feel free to give me crap but then please help. "... this ain't a Nerf world."

I forgot to mention I am opposed to having velcro anywhere near my lines. I have seen enough fuzzy steering lines. To each his own. Personally I will risk a toggle fire over a broken steering line on flare. "... this ain't a Nerf world."

To answer the poll I have to vote #1. I stow my slider, loosen chest strap, release brakes. That is overly simplified. First upon opening I clear my airspace, harness turn toward the landing area and clap for the tandem video I most likely just shot and turn off my camera. All the while determining that I have time to complete all this stuff. After the chest strap and before the brakes I also unclip my wings and slip off my booties. Once I unstow my toggles I will likely be in some degree of brakes until I am flying my landing pattern. (Velocities don't glide very flat in full flight.) I feel this poll to be unashamedly faulting a loose chest strap alone for a very tragic incident. The skydiver seems to have been very competent and qualified so I doubt any one thing is to blame. As a jumper who almost always flies large camera wings, I would suspect interference between the wing and handle to be much more of a contributor here. My chest strap is often pretty loose from the start and many RW jumpers still leave them loose to make it easier to arch. Is there anyone here who cannot see their handles once the chestlstrap is loose? I can tell you first hand that as soon as you lower your elbows the wing material is flapping in the breeze. If you are more or less on your back then it covers your handles and must be swept out of the way before you can grab your handles and it can be tough to grab one without a handfull of the other. As we strive to learn from the past we have to avoid narrowing down the details and blocking out distractions and interferences you may need to deal with. This is a high speed activity we have chosen boys and girls. Good luck to each of us in dealing with an inevitable array of circumstances. Flame 'em if you got 'em, Robin "... this ain't a Nerf world."

HA! You are just worried I'll splash all the water out of the pond. With all the great things I keep hearing I am sure we will be back. "... this ain't a Nerf world."

I am too shocked to respond to this! Nadia and I will see you Friday. "... this ain't a Nerf world."

Yes, I read the pm after I read your reply and confirmed I am coming. Thanks for answering quickly. I'll have to see what the rest of the Chester croud does. They aren't usually all that timid so I haven't given up on them yet. Of course I have made friends at every dz I have ever been to so I am stoked! "... this ain't a Nerf world."

That is what I suspected and I forwarded the response. You can count me in. "... this ain't a Nerf world."

I am looking for confirmation that we can still jump and tent Fri to Sun.Some friends sent me an email saying they aren't coming due to the following news report in the Fish Wrap(Cedartown Standard) http://www.cedartownstd.com/pages/full_story?page_label=home_top_stories_latest&id=101925-Skydive-the-Farm-ordered-to-cease-some-of-its-activities&widget=push&article-Skydive-the-Farm-ordered-to-cease-some-of-its-activities%20=&instance=home_latest_1st_left&open=& I still want to come make some jumps. What's the real deal? Thanks, Robin "... this ain't a Nerf world."

I watched about a third of it. It really looks like fun to me. "... this ain't a Nerf world."

Bill, are those legs or boobs on those magnets? "... this ain't a Nerf world."

Agreed "... this ain't a Nerf world."

I am not sure I have met this "Chuckie" you speak of. I look forward to this one I think. "... this ain't a Nerf world."

If you are going to be in Indiana then who is going to prove to us we don't have to get wet to swoop the pond? "... this ain't a Nerf world."

What are you doing for the 4th Bolas? Any chance of seeing you and your wingsuit at the Farm? "... this ain't a Nerf world."

Thank God Bolas doesn't swoop yet! I can see him now in fishnets and stripper heels... Excuse me, I need to go get a lobotomy now.... "... this ain't a Nerf world."

We are trying to get a small contingent from Skydive Carolina to swoop the Farm as well. So far it looks like 4 are probably coming and hopefully a few more at least. I have to come because so many peeps have been bugging me to come bask in the awesome experience that is the farm. I suspect a few of them just want to see me get wet in the pond though. I'm good with that "... this ain't a Nerf world."

I want to move to Fl and work for tk "... this ain't a Nerf world."

As I was reading these posts I found myself having conflicting schools of thought. For experienced people I don't see it posing an inherent hazard. I do think both riser and harness turns can be done with the hands in the toggles. For students and novices I don't see any value in letting go of the toggles except for those already mentioned such as cutaway or entanglement. On the other hand I could see a slim potential for panic if the student had trouble getting their hand back in the toggle. I would also just as soon keep them looking around instead of staring at their toggles while taking them off or putting them on. "... this ain't a Nerf world."