LittleOne

This brings up a question I've always had. How does the average jumper know the difference? Of course, there are some riggers whose reputations precede them but I don't always have access to them. At every dropzone I have been to, the locals swear by their resident rigger. Furthermore, I have a Racer which, for all the debate, is at the very least not common.

Everyone else going there is fluent in Russian only. Bring on the Speedos!

I had a problem with the chest strap placement. In my case, the chest strap was a symptom of the underlying problem. To make a long story short, the rig was rebuilt. Here's a bit of my saga. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2334800#2334800

For no logical reason, I used to be thoroughly intimidated by Eloy, even though I had already visited every destination dz in Central Florida and Southern California by myself. In October 2005, I went there for a weekend with a friend. My friend and I had 100 and 200 jumps respectively. While waivering, we asked to jump with an organizer. To make a long story short, the organizer engineered a series of fun, progressive dives (we both got our C license qualification jump) with an array of locals and other visitors. Afterhours, he introduced us around. It was one of the most memorable skydiving experiences I have had to date. Besides, there's something inspiring about riding up with Airspeed and watching them exit.

I've lately had a few questions about licenses and ratings. I contacted USPA directly by email and received prompt, authoritative replies. Give them a try.

If you really don't like the yellow arms (wouldn't be my first choice but then again, I have a hideous freefly jacket that I refuse to wear in public), I'm sure that changing that part of the jumpsuit is one of the less expensive modifications that Bev can make. If you do send it back, consider having inner leg grips added.

Very, very sorry you have to go through this. I feel your pain. How about: d) Being 10,000 miles from home and having to go into emergency surgery (excused from all meetings) Look on the bright side: it could be worse!

Call all of the airlines that fly the route you need and ask them. It's a pain to call them directly but it could end up saving you a lot of money. These policies are not always explicitly stated on websites. If you do find such a carrier, print out the policy. I received different statements of policy from different ticket agents when I recently flew Virgin Blue within Australia. Is it an option to carry on the rig? If the weight limit of carry on is not too far off from the actual weight of your rig, you may be able to circumvent the weight limit by putting the rig into a soft shoulder bag (I did this a few times, even though it killed my shoulder to carry it this way through the airport). The volume was small enough that no one questioned the weight, even though I fly a 150. Indeed, you should expect to cut down on the amount of non skydiving personal effects you can bring when travelling with a rig. Bring lots of laundry detergent and get used to wearing the same three outfits. It just comes with the territory.

I'm from New York City and currently work and live in Sydney, Australia. I have been here since January and it looks like I will not leave until at least next June. I am not sponsored in the strict visa sense. I am a contractor paid by a US company so I am here on a short stay business visa. This means I have to leave the country every 3 months but this works out well since I get to go home at the company's expense. Also, the company pays for all living expenses, except jump tickets (I'm still trying to figure out how to charge those through and am open to suggestions). I got this contract through Craig's List, of all sources, because my experience is predominantly international. I expected to be sent to Brazil based on the interviews but when I showed up on the first day, I was told that I had been assigned to Australia. There is a thriving skydiving community here and that is one of many many things to love about this country. While the majority of the dzs are tandem or Cessna dzs, it seems that each major city has a turbine dz that forms the focal point of that area's skydiving community. Then again, Cessna dzs are damn cool too! You may be able to live and work here without sponsorship if you possess one of the skills on the "Skilled Occupation List". http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/index.htm Of course, it's probably more profitable to get a company to sponsor you but depending on what your profession is, it really is hit or miss (try Craig's List!), especially if you are based in the Cayman Islands. Australia is every bit as awesome as most Americans suppose it to be. I recommend it highly.

If you are a chicken, then allow me to officially welcome you to the Chicken Club. I like to think I'm providing a public service for my fellow skydivers by being the first to sit down when conditions become questionable. Once I choose not to jump, suddenly others follow me to the bench. There is a real pressure to not be the first person to back down. I am apparently immune to it. I have had several uncomfortably close calls resulting in scary canopy rides that often ended in me being dragged halfway across the dz. I have witnessed hard landings resulting in serious injury and I will do everything in my power to avoid that or a worse fate. I was talking to someone about this and I told him that since I know I am not a great canopy pilot, I won't go unless the conditions are nearly perfect. He assured me that indeed I am the best canopy pilot because I have absolutely guaranteed my own safety (unless I choke to death on my sandwich). Contratulations for making the right choice. This is especially true since you are uncurrent. You're not a chicken. You are a smart jumper and being smart makes you safer. And it is the right choice because we can confirm that you will live to jump another day. If we're ever at the same dz on a day when the winds get nasty, please join me for a leisurely lunch.

Many people take many more jumps than you have so far to get through AFF and acquire the first license. However, you do not have to contemplate quitting unless your instructor has suggested that you do so (aka the Take Up Bowling/Golf speech). The peer pressure and pride can become hard to handle (I know from personal experience) but just get through it. Student performance is not necessarily an indicator of your future performance once licensed. Who knows, you may be the next world champion formation skydiver/ freeflyer/ swooper, etc.

During the five jumps I made this weekend, I surfed on every landing. Amazing! I never intended to do this and would like to understand how I managed to do so. They were slow, baby surfs lasting maybe all of 20 feet but for me, it was a first. I am not a gifted canopy pilot. This was my second weekend of jumping after a five week layoff preceded by 2 months of consistently crappy landings. During my first day of jumping after the layoff, I did three high pulls and practiced flat turns, front risers and getting back from a long spot (that one wasn't practice). On this weekend's jumps, I tried to do a few things differently. I brought my knees up instead of holding my legs in the ready-to-run position, I held the plane out until the canopy lost all forward motion and, perhaps most importantly, I was determined to be the master of my canopy instead of vice versa. Otherwise, it was a straight in approach with no attempt to induce speed. On four of the jumps, I landed without a step. On the other, where I know I shut it down a second too soon, I went surf surf knees stand up. The winds were low to none. I fly a Pilot 150 loaded at 1.08. I don't think I did anything differently from an ordinary straight in landing ending in a stand up that I expected to have to run out given the lack of wind. Any ideas how this could have happened? Oh and BTW, dragging my feet across the ground and ending up in the softest landings ever was really fun!

Wouldn't it kind of piss off the RWS rep if I demo'd the skyhook rig only to disable the skyhook?

I have 325 jumps in 2.5 years without a cutaway. I came close a few times but had enough altitude to fix the spinning line twists. There are people who did not have a cutaway until X,000 jumps but at this point, I would feel much more confident going through the procedure. I have seen the RWS Skyhook equipped intentional cutaway rigs at boogies but I don't want to jump those since my rig does not have a Skyhook. Here are my questions: 1. Is it allowable for me, at my experience level, to jump an intentional cutaway rig? I read some posts on this subject and it seems like the people who have done this are far more advanced than I am. 2. Where can I find/rent an intentional cutaway rig or a third canopy to add to my current rig? Sure, I've seen test jumpers at DeLand jumping them all the time but if I just waltz into a manufacturer's offices, will they let me rent one (with proper training, of course)? 3. Is this a good idea at all or should I just muddle along practicing my EPs on the ground and in the plane (which I would continue to do regardless)? I know that I would feel so much better knowing that I can and already have executed the emergency procedures before the first malfunction actually occurs. 4. If the RWS Skyhook cutaway rigs are the best way to go, will they allow me to disable the Skyhook for the cutaway? (I think that can be done...?) Is there anything else I should consider? Thanks for the advice!

If you're not wearing a jumpsuit, then try a men's tshirt. They're usually too long so they stay tucked in well. I had a shirt fly up on my approach on a day where there were lots of spectators with binoculars.

Try 0011 1 800 222 1811. When a US phone number is printed as "1xxx", the 1 is comparable to your "0xxx". Nowadays, US 800 or toll free numbers can be reached from overseas but they are not free.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

I remember lately seeing an email from Sky's the Limit (in PA, not far at all) stating that PD would be there for a weekend. Not sure which one but you can check it out. You can do a demo there. Good luck. It's a great feeling (I still haven't had a cutaway ).

The following comment is not directed at you specifically but you and other responders raise a most interesting point. This is a known problem and has been raised for years. Yet, the PIA and manufacturers have done nothing to address this concern. Why not? Is there anyone on here that can help me understand why a known issue that can be easily addressed with a minor amount of effort has been ignored, causing at best aggravation for the paying customer and at worst creating a safety hazard? As mentioned by Riggermick, a manufacturer may not have complete control over the placement of handles and the chest strap. However, if there was an absolute indication of where the chest strap should be (start at the hip junction and measure up the MLW), then at least the manufacturer could use all options at their disposal to place the chest strap and handles as well as possible. Now, the manufacturer has no indication and it's basically a crapshoot. If I am ordering a custom rig, I have just as much right to expect a perfect fit as the "average" (ie male) skydiver without having to find the hidden network of people that understand the anatomical differences between the male and female torsos, don't I? So maybe my real questions are: 1) How do I raise awareness of this issue with the PIA? 2) Do I stand alone in considering this to be a systematic problem that should be addressed by the industry?

You'll need a life size photo for that, right? No worries, mate. It's in the mail.

How does a container manufacturer determine the ideal placement of the chest strap for a woman's body? For obvious reasons, the placement of the chest strap is more important for women than for men. The driving factor here is comfort. However, incorrect placement can present a safety hazard. I reviewed the order forms for three major container manufacturers. There was no measurement that indicated the vertical location of the chest strap, unless I am totally misinterpreting the order forms. Each form asked for cup size but that does not address the vertical location. How does this requirement get communicated to the manufacturer in sufficient detail so that the chest strap is positioned ideally for each individual customer if it is not on the form? I heard that a customer can ask for a high, medium or low chest strap placement but are such generic categories precise enough for an expensive, custom made article that is supposed to fit a body perfectly and where all other measurements are precise? As I understand it, moving the chest strap vertically is usually not an easy repair so how can a manufacturer be held responsible for the fit of a container if a key measurement is not included on the order form? Thanks!

Happy Birthday Dave!! And thanks for the escorted tour of the barbed wire fences and the highway. That was fun!

Put your scuba and hook knives in your check in. Carry on your rig, if you can and bring the Cypres card with you. A good road map might be helpful if you're getting a car. Don't forget to surrender your gun and drugs with Customs before you leave the airport. They like it when you do that.

Cessna 182 185 206 208 Caravan Grand Caravan BT67 Fiat G222 King Air Porter DHC2 Beaver DHC6 Twin Otter (various models/upgrades) Casa Skyvan PAC750XL DC-3 C-130 Hercules A Helicopter

Is it an option for the instructor to dive first and then you follow? This is how it was done on my level 6. It might be easier that way since you have to react very quickly to catch him with no time to think about it. Overthinking is not a good thing in this sport, or so I've been told.