toronto_bill

I once had a reserve repack where I found lines crossed, and a steering line wrapped around the riser once. From the previous repack. All in all, I believe it would have saved me, but if I'm paying somone $65.00. Then I expect a line check to start. I have seen packing damage on reserves, and rigs on a 'rack' that had ribbons through the reserve closing loop. So, I would like a 'Rigger Lite' rating to pack my own. I would feel better knowing whats on my back. Until then I will look for the best rigger by reputation I can find. Pencil packs aren't the way to go. Bill

Hey thats gives me an idea. You ever heard of Fainting Goats? We need the fainting gene to be isolated and incorporated in all livestock so that they get low when someone swoops them....just an idea.

Thanks to all who have responded. Yeah, my idea of a cutaway system is seeming a bit overboard, given the low likelyhood of an entanglement. My other concern was that a cutaway is just one more thing to get snagged...(accidental cutaways idea)

Yeah, it seems it would have a bit of a polarizing effect. On a small dropzone, the few making money make more. Our dropzone has almost no video, so this won't be too bad for us. Something is better than nothing.

The impression I get is the whole liability angle if something were to go wrong. To sign the waiver, youmust be a legal adult. If a parent or guardian signs it then legally they are signing away the rights of the 'child'. This makes for a legal hornets nest. There is great advice already posted above, i'm in the 'call around' club. Bill

True, kids are allowed to do motocross, but it doesn't come close to justifying kids skydiving. By the same logic kids should be able to drive on the streets, drink and play with guns whenever they want. My point is that kids and motocross isn't the best thing. So maybe that should be changed instead of going the other way. Bill

I had the educational oppurtunity to work as a bartender for 10 years, so I say this with a large degree of confidence... Money may not talk, but it does help memory. If someone tipped me well on the first round of drinks then they had my attention all night. They would get served fairly quickly. Their drinks may have a smidge more in them and the next time the came in to the bar, I might remember them and the great service-great tips would continue. If the packer knows that you are considerate tip wise, then your rig will get packed quicker....maybe not any better..but quicker. Tie goes to the bigger tipper. All this being said I pack for myself, I don't have to tip myself, and the pack job is better. Bill

I haven't jumped one yet, which is the reason for posting this thread. The idea that line(s) could catch on it, somewhat like a camera helmet, is a bit of a concern. But, during deployment, my hand is about as far away from the canopy as it can get. I have always dumped stable on my belly. But, I am trying to be ready in case that isn't the deal, and it leads to an entanglement. I would say when you have lines caught on the camera. A reserve entanglement being the worst? But there is no guarentee a handcam cutaway will allow the canopy to deploy. thanks for the input so far... Bill

my contribution.... Doing video (w/ niteshot) of a 4 way night jump, and then taping over it the next morning when a cute girl bounces up asking for video for her balloon jump. Sigh. Doing in-air video for a TV show, climbing out of a 206 cargo door and then see the "pro' camera man inside the plane have a problem with his battery and have to change it. 44 secs. I almost gave him the finger on camera. My most common prob is the camera freezing and fogging up in Winter

Thanks guys.......we're going with PC9's cause we already own the cameras ($$$). Rob, yeah you got it. Back to the instrument panel (facing aft) beside the pilot. Thanks again, Bill

We are going to start doing handicam video for tandems, and I wonder about the incident record so far. Anyone hear about any handicam cutaways? Or tense moments without a cutaway system? Some Video guys dont have cutaways on their helmets, but thats their decision. A TI has another person to consider...the passenger. So I see having a glove with a cutaway as almost mandatory. Another point is, do you have a pilot chute for the camera? I expect no one does..but I have been surprised endlessly by what people do and don't do.

As you can tell I'm not exactly a 'grounded' person. Hehe.

I was just mulling over whether you can expect a AAD to be a 'melted hunk o junk' after a landing in powerlines? I guess if it aint grounded then its okay? But, I imagine you want it to be checked. Would a FXC have a higher survivability with no electronics? No one has ever landed in anything but trees round here. We are currently waiting for a runway to dry. So I admit I am bored. Bill

Be prepared to educate people. I travelled to Toronto back from Skydive Chicago after getting my tandem rating 2 years ago. The day I flew was the day after the London Al Qaeda bombing. So security was tight. I brought my rig as carry on luggage. The security guy said he needed to open it. I said very politely, "Would you please check that with your supervisor?" Which he did. No problems were found and I was passed through. I had arrived early to the airport so, to kill some time I went back out of the gate to get some food. The next time through security....I get waved through and I see 5 TSA guys getting the 'parachute inspection' seminar from the supervisor. Oh and I travelled the whole way on my Quebec birth certificate (no picture). If they asked for photo ID I showed them my Skydiving license. Yeah I was a shit disturber. But, if your polite and don't demand stuff, I ve found everyone is reasonable. Bill

Yeah, The same pissing contest can be fought among pilots. Flying hours vs. Take offs and landings. imho, I lean towards the amount of successful repetitions. I want to go on the record that Bill and Don should be looking over their shoulder ! Cause I'm gunning for them. Hehe. Only 10 years of 10 jumps/day to go. The real question is: How many cases of beer have they had to buy for their actions? Who holds that dubious award? Bill

Thanks for the info.

yeah good point. hehe. I have to go on a trip....so Im thinking if I could even...or would I need to transfer everything get a medical and buy a membership etcetc sorry to mislead...i meant that I wasnt looking to do anything shady...and was willing to pay for all the administration. Bill

My girlfriend wants me to go and do some tandems in France. I have CSPA and Vector Sigma ratings. She has lots of relatives. Whats a typical DZ going to say? I can speak french ...just not like a university professeur like my GF. I am not looking at more than a couple of weekends? I'd work for free... But are the ratings (IA, C2, SSI, and TI) transferrable at all? I bet I need more. Anyone from the FFP help? Bill

Yeah, a great story ! I remember the guy who was drunk and went through a 13 story hotel window, landed on a walkway 'roof', (went throught i mean) and lived. God protects drunks, fools, and children !

Okay for all of you who remember the show... if you threw a turkey out of a plane at say 1000ft, would it be able to glide and land safely? Or would it die as Less described, like little bags of wet cement? Yeah Im bored and easter is coming soon. Bill

OKay thanks guys....a follow up if i may.. Were looking at doing it out of a U206B (right cargo door)...so I was concerned about having a camera on my wrist. moving back from 5 slot may be difficult.

Sigh. Your buddy is probably right on the effort scale. My two cents is ... Designate a swooping area. With a good access for ambulances and a heli pad. maybe..All swoopers land last, after pulling high (if they can) and sit in brakes. The best advice I got was from Scott Miller. Try to count all the canopies from your load. If you can't find them all then you should be thinking of defense not offense or apathy to the fact. But there is no solution to people who aren't paying attention.

TI's doing video. So if money were no object. What is the best sys to use? I'm thinking a lipstick type camera taped to the hand and a wire up your sleeve to the deck. What camera would be the best? If PC9's were used is there a lipstick camera that can be used? Thanks in advance for any info, Bill

Take Care Johnny, Thanks for all the hospitality at Zhills. Bill muff #3305

School with grad photos....sweet. So what do you have on TK? Hehe. Can you sponsor me to work at your school? I have 300 tandems. Start a fruit plantation and hire me to harvest it. I'll be the first Canadian to head south to do it. Say to TK and goofd luck on the 200 seq !