propilot

Thanks for the info so far.

I can't extend, have to leave on the 1st.

My experience so far is a mix of belly and freefly. In other words, I stink at both! When I left the sport a few years ago I was sitflying, backflying, and just starting to work with a camera.

I'll be focusing on bellyflying as I want to get my , and Tandem,rating this summer. I also intend to become a tandem camera/video man so, another reason to belly fly for most of the trip.

I am going to Florida to skydive for a month. March 1st - April 1st. I want to stay around the Orlando area preferably so I'm choosing between Deland, Zhills, and Spaceland. I know I can try them all but ideally I would like to stick to one DZ for the duration.

I'm looking for 7 day a week jumping with lots of fun jumpers around. I'm coming alone so will need someplace that isnt a tandem mill (lots of fun jumpers to jump with). Deland would probably fit the bill but I tend to enjoy myself more at smaller DZs.

Thoughts? Which ones are your favorite?

Yea, I don't expect anything different from UPT, I agree that they probably don't have any good options to increase production without incuring other negative issues. I'm just in a unique time crunch position and was wondering if anyone wanted to sell their slot.

Anyway, I ended up buying a Wings (loved my previous Wings). If I end up jumping as much as I plan, I may order a UPT rig and have two by next summer.

Thanks for the suggetions via PM guys/gals.

Cant wait to get back in the air!

The reason I want the UPT rig is for the Skyhook.

I have owned two custom order rigs, one Mirage and one Wings. I liked both. I would love a new wings but...no skyhook. I think the added safety of a skyhook is worth it.

I think Javelin offers skyhook too right? But Ive read reports of riser cover issues when freeflying. I have no idea if this is a real issue or not, but since they are about the same cost and really not that much faster delivery time....

I have never jumped a UPT rig, but with the skyhook, and considering who makes them, I figure its a solid choice. The wait time is painful though!

I start jumping on March 1st, so no matter what I do I will need to pick up a used rig in the meantime.

Thanks for the suggestion.

But... ewww.

No rush option available from UPT.

Emailed the major stores and they don't have "slots".


Damn. Used it is.

I didnt see a rush order option on their website. I sent an email to inquire.

I check out the Square1 thing, thanks for the suggestion.

I want to get a custom UPT rig but don't want to wait 6-8 months.

Anyone know of someone who has one on order but has changed their mind? I want to take over someones slot.

Its a long shot but I thought I would give it a try.

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Post your stories…

It was the first load (Cessna 182) for a new pilot (Phil) at the dz. He was an old friend of the owner who helped him get his hours in. Also, he rode a BMW motorcycle so we knew him from riding. On the load were myself, Tracy V., one student, and an observer. After a nice takeoff, we had an uneventful climb to alt. We put out the student, then, I climbed out onto the step.

As I was waiting for Tracy to join me, I saw him say something to the pilot. He then reached up, turned off the key, pulled it out, and quickly dove out with the key in his hand. Astonished and dumbfounded, I just followed him off the step. If you would have seen the expression on Phil’s face, you’d know why I didn’t stick around long.

So, Phil starts his procedures for a dead stick landing on a short grass strip. At about 2,000 feet the observer, who (unknown to Phil) was also a seasoned pilot, handed Phil the spare key to the plane and asked, “would this be of any help”?

I was completely unaware of the plan to mess with a new pilot. Later, I tried convincing Phil of this, but he never believed me. He would spend many years paying me back for this incident. I always had to be very careful going “far hang” or trying to nap in the plane.

That is funny to you?

If you tried that one with me I would be spending the night in jail after I got through with you. You also wouldn't be a passenger in my plane for the rest of the season.

There is no guarantee that engine will restart.

I would hope that other jump pilots don't put up with this BS.

Yea i'd say it is a bit understated.

I'm here indefinitely.

Do you need any help with the DZ? I hardly ever fly (maybe 5 days a month), so if you could use an extra pilot or skydive instructor maybe I can help out. I also have equipment to do video and stills, but I am not proficient at that yet.

I also dabble in video editing.


I'll PM you my email.


Allen

Hey, I am an expat pilot based in Riyadh. Which airport are you operating out of? Is the dropzone up and running? Would be nice to get some jumps in over here.

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OK, what about me, the average jumper, who's just curious about how safe the plane is that I'm about to get on. I just want to know how well the owner and operator(s) of the plane I'm about to get on are complying with the FAA regulations that govern the operation of said aircraft.

I'm asking these questions because I seriously do not know the answer to the question. I don't know how I find these things out ... this thread is making me wonder. You're saying that aircraft maintenance logs should be these highly protected documents; I also suspect that I probably wouldn't have a clue what I was looking at anyway.

So what can I do to check up to make sure I'm flying with someone who's operating on the up-and-up?

Its very hard to tell sometimes. I know of one dropzone that has had 2 very serious accidents in the last 2 years, but in my opinion they are one of the best run safest dropzones out there.

Wish I could give you better advice.

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i dont think you will find one thats not safe and still going


good luck

Sorry to burst your bubble but there are many dropzones that are shady and not safe.

Unfortunately, its hard to evaluate.

Keep in mind pilot pay doesnt work like the way you get paid. Its not 20/hr on the clock. Its 20/hr hobbs time.

I love how people see the hourly wages of pilots and think they get paid a lot.

Its not like you clock in at 9 and off at 5. The hourly rate is only for every hour that the plane is flying. Thats about two tenths of an hour for a hop and pop and four tenths for a full load.


Fact is, skydive pilot pay is insulting. Most jump pilots make 10-20k per year, without health insurance, sick days, or other benefits. That is so that your jump ticket is 22 instead of 25.

Just remember that you get what you pay for.



As far as building experience....its not all about time. Its about QUALITY time. Flying skydivers is ok for a few hundred hours, but after that it doesnt help much at all. I would hire a 1800 hour single pilot freight dog over a 3000 hour twotter skydive pilot any day....and so would most other pilot hiring managers.


For the record, ive been a c182 and twotter skydive pilot, freight dog, and people charter pilot, and ive been on both sides of the hiring table.

I happen to know a DZ in the NE that puts 55 Gallon drums of water in an otter to simulate landing with full loads during emergency landings.


Wouldnt be hard to do with a cessna.



When I first started flying jumpers in a C206, we did something similar with milk jugs filled with water.

You mean in the drop down box? Or do I have to go online and find a new driver?

I have Adobe Premiere Pro 7.0 and my camera (PC1000) is not listed in the dropdown box when I try and set up capture. Am I stuck with having to buy an old camera so I can get my tape onto the computer? Is there some kind of update I can get?

aerodyne no longer supports hornets. They sold the rights to some guy.

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That's bullshit at a lot of DZs and at most that I've been to (and I've been to 17 so far). I have been fortunate to have jumped with many, many jumpers with hundreds and thousands of jumps who have happily and willingly jumped with me and other jumpers of lower experience levels and who have asked nothing of me but to smile and have fun on the jump. I had to get over the idea that with my limited skills I was going to "ruin" a jump for a more experienced person.

How did I do this? I said yes when people asked me to jump with them (and also said no if I felt like a jump was over my head - such as being asked to be on a 12-way when I had 40 jumps), and I asked others to jump with me. If I go to a new DZ, especially if I don't know anyone, I ask to get pointed towards the load organizers.

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yea, but your a girl ;]

Ive been skydiving for about 3 years. I came very very close to quitting after my first year. By that time, I had invested in a brand new rig, AFF, and other expensive goodies. Well over 5 grand. Why did I feel like quitting?

Because jumping alone sucks. At the DZ I started at, after you were off AFF (what, like 8 jumps or something?) you were on your own. Cant jump with anyone unless its a coach..want a coach? 50 bucks please. OK, so I jumped alone till 20 jumps. now what...anyone want to jump? nope, too busy doing jumps with people who know what they are doing.

Im glad I stuck it out, but a lot of dzs are like the above...and people wonder why people quit? Other sports are much better to new people...take motocross for example. I started on my own, bought a bike and went to the track. I didnt know anyone...did I ride alone all day? Hell no, right when I pulled up people introduced theemsleves and offered to show me around the track, show me how to turn, bla bla... basicaly coached me all day. At the end of the day, I felt like coming back.



Im sure $ has something to do with it too...expensive to live right now.

Do you anticipate there being retrofits availible? I want one on my Wings!

thanks!

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Of course he is impossible, always has been always will be. But the fact remains he brought up some issues that you have avoided addressing.

Just how long did you fly jumpers? How many hours in turbine twins did you have when you started flying jumpers and how many now?

It’s a 2 way street, DZO’s use pilots and pilots use DZO’s. They get cheap pilots and pilots get cheap hours.

Your preaching to the chior. Was the line where I said "to those of you who talk about a market economy... you are right...goodbye" typed in invisible letters?

I understand the situation completely.

I flew jumpers for 1.5 years. I had 1000 hours when I started flying turbines I have 1500 now. I have 350 turbine hours. What is your point? Yes I benefited, I never said I didnt.

All im saying is that jumpers pay for what they get. Also, most jumpers have no idea how ill-trained and experinced their new turbine jump pilots are (by and large).

Im not making any conclusions. I didnt end my post with "so you should pay pilots more and instructors less". Stop acting like I did. My post in written in black and white there are no hidden meanings.

Jesus, this is retarded. You are imposible.

Ron,

wtf, get some reading comprehension. I never said anything to quote "undermine the importance of a skydiving instructor"

I never said that instructors should get paid more or less. I am not attacking skydive instructor pay. I recognize how it is, and I am getting out.

In fact, I think I even said something about thsoe who talk about a market driven economy and if you dont like it leave are correct, did I not?

I posted to rant (mission accomplished, i feel better). Im not arguing with anything your saying.