BlindBrick

We're not talking about a rig stolen from a campsite or some such. A skydive was made and the rig was clearly being used. I consider cutting away a canopy during a skydive an intentional loss while in use. If it had not been in use, the loss described could not have occured. Bob I could be wrong but the gist I get from my biz law professor is that once the gear touches the ground it is considered to no longer be in use. My prof was of the opinion that if several witnesses saw the thing touch down, it's a valid insurance claim. -Blind "If you end up in an alligator's jaws, naked, you probably did something to deserve it."

I'm currently repacking a Vector II for a friend. I just moved and it seems like the bulk of my owner's manuals got left at my old DZ. I work most on Jav's and RI gear, so it's been a while since I packed a Vector. I've managed to cobble bits and pieces of the Vector owners manual, but am still missing the section that covers the reserve pilot chute. I'm kind of anal when it comes to packing reserves so even though I'm about 98% sure how to do it, I don't want to just trust my memory. Does anyone out there have a scan of that section of the manual or know of a web site that might have it? I've already looked at Rel. Worskshop's site and didn't see it. -Blind "If you end up in an alligator's jaws, naked, you probably did something to deserve it."

That's a great ID and I'll pass it along to our DZO. We didn't have any problems until we went to using AOD's with a fixed ripcord setup on our student rigs. It's been kind of a learning expereince for us. Blues, -Blind "If you end up in an alligator's jaws, naked, you probably did something to deserve it."

I just had a cornea transplant last week and the doc's telling me it'll be a year before I jump again. Of course, that's not coutning the fact that he wants to do the other eye as soon as this one heals. So right now I'm looking at 2-3 years out of the sport. Does any one here have experience with cornea transplants? I'm not stupid enough to go jumping any time in the near future but even if I could get by with a 8-9 month layoff that would still give me time to get in enough jumps before USPA hikes the D lsicense requirements next September. I hate to sound whiney but I'm really fustrated right now. It's just that I have worked so hard to get my D liscnese. Having bad eye sight, there were many times I'd thump in on a landing and then have to leave the dz to go to work. Usually I hurt so bad that I ended up having to take 16-20 Motrin every 4 hours to get through the shift. But in my mind, there was no other way because I had to work to afford to jump. Most of all, I remember telling my family how much I loved them before I went and did my night jumps. Being night-blind, I honestly did not know if I would survive them. But I wanted that /unrestricted/ D liscense bad enough that it was a risk I was willing to take. Now I'm sitting here grounded while that D that seemed to be within reach, appears to fading out of sight. Any advice or help anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated. Blues, -Blind "If you end up in an alligator's jaws, naked, you probably did something to deserve it."

I'm not saying that the other jumpers are responsible per se. I was more advocating keeping an eye open. Besides the danger to the newbies, think of it as an enlarged sense of self-intrest. Everybody suffers from the bad press and such when some one gets seriously injured or killed in this sport. That's not to mention the posibility of having that happen to you becuaqse of someelse's gear. -blues -Blind "If you end up in an alligator's jaws, naked, you probably did something to deserve it."

You're right, guy was making a freefall and just grabbed a rig off the ready rack without checking it thoroughly. No JM was involved as the guy was just off student status. It was like jump 15 or so for him. He's such a natural in the air that he blew right through the student program.in 12 jumps or so. I guess everyine was so in awe of his ability(for his 19th jump he lauched a 4-way from a 182 that built in to a multi-point hybrid) that we forgot to make sure that he was well rounded. I wasn't thre that day but I have heard that he did check his AAD and AOD so maybe he simply missed a part of the check. This is all supposition on my part but if I really had to hazard as guess. I think he was making a newbie's mistake of putting too much trust in his rigger. It is amazing how much trust people(even experienced jumpers) put into us just because we have that certificate. I think he assumed that since the rig he normally jumps had just been packed by a rigger and placed on the ready rack that it was good to go. Blues, -Blind "If you end up in an alligator's jaws, naked, you probably did something to deserve it."

A few weeks back we had low-time jumper(jump 16-17, IIRC) have a reserve ride. The reason was that he unknowingly did a freefall with a static-line rig. While it was his fault for not checking to see if the ripcord was set up for a PRCP or not, the sad fact was that he rode to altitude with three D liscense jumpers, one of who climbed out behind him. None of them noticed the static line stowed, in plain sight, on the back of the rig. It mzde for a good story aroudn the DZ but it also made me take note of how lax I had become in my own gear checks. So this is just a friendly reminder to encourage eveyone not only check their gear but their buddies as well. The incident sure made me pay more attention to my checks and I guaratee that jumper will never again forget to get one. :-) Blues, -Blind "If you end up in an alligator's jaws, naked, you probably did something to deserve it."

Me and my buddy split the rigging duties for student gear at our dropzone. We exclusively the J mod FXC's 12000's. We are required by FXC(and by extension, law) to chamber test the units every repack cycle. Everyone of our units fires with the /300/ foot tolerance that FXC finds acceptable. In truth, all but one of our units fires within /100/ feet of the set altitude. The one unit that fires within 300 feet is one we use as a teaching aid for our first-time jump students. 13 /years/ out of date and with damage to the face and casing of the control unit, the thing still operates within factory specs. As a student AAD, the FXC 12000 is a very good choice. They are cheap, reliable, and it is a lot cheaper to return one to service after it fires. With a Cypress or an Astra, you have to replace the cutter at ~$150 US. With a 12000, you simply get a hook and recock it, cost: nada. The only real drawback to an FXC 12000 for an expereienced jumper is the stigma attached to having an AAD that is that old, bulky, and mechanical. There has been some talk about two-out situations caused by FXC's. But this isn't really an issue with the mod J's. With their narrower operating range, you can set the activation point on a mod J down to a 1000 ft. and get performance similar to an Astra without having to worry about batteries or cutters. As for the Cypres vs. the Astra, it's a close call. I have heard that FXC came up with a mod that conserves the battery by shutting the unit down after a set time in case you forget to turn it off. If that's true, I'd personally go with the Astra as it's the more rugged design and with a $60 test kit from FXC, your rigger can perform checks that keep you from having to send your AAD back to the factory for those expensive "4 year" checks. -Blind "If you end up in an alligator's jaws, naked, you probably did something to deserve it."

How long, after you pass your practical, does it usually take the FAA to send you your seal and number? I know I can rig under my temp certificate but I figured if it was likely to be months instead of weeks, I'd just order a press with blank dies rather than mashing my seals with filed down pliers. :-) -Blind

I'm working on a little homework for my senior rigger's class. I have a PISA Naro container but forgot the instructions at the DZ. Does anyone have these in an electronic format? Specifically, I am looking for the reserve packing instructions. thanks, -Blind

Hi, I'm an S/L progression student that's about halfway through the program, I just did my first "clear & pull" last weekend, I'm not blind but my vision's pretty lousy(20/200 in L eye, 20/100 in R eye). To make matters even more interesting, I weight 244 lbs. This makes for some rather fast and interesting landings, even on Laser-9's and Mantas. I was wondering if anybody could suggest gear to help me out. In particular I am looking for an audible altimeter that can count down the last 50 feet or so in 1ft. increments, does anybody make those? I know that students will invaribly flare themselves too late and too early, but it's harder for me. Last weekend, I got bad visual cues and flared so early that I fell around 30 feet straight down( got the video and back ache to prove it), I'd very much rather not do that again. Also, I'm getting ready to buy my own rig and I was wondering if anyone could suggest a good wing loading ratio given my needs and a good canopy in that size? I know it's asking alot, but I'm looking for a canopy that's very manueverable but slow and very, very forgiving on landings. thanks, -BlindBrick