tdog

The DZO, if new to employment law (you said it is a new DZ) probably has not considered what he is doing is addressed in IRS publication 15A which defines what are employees and independent contractors.... The DZO is thus making instructors employees, and then must pay social security, Medicare, work comp, unemployment, etc. Source: http://www.irs.gov/publications/p15a/ar02.html

The reason my dog's

So the crown prince, who spent tens of millions to make a runway over the water, and a tunnel in his back yard, has a coach rating so he can afford jumps????

Who said anything about last second? I am talking about advertising to all the instate jumpers (and out of state if you read how I formatted it), motivating and training, doing practice jumps, getting organizers, coaches, sector captains, etc... And getting a legitimately hard to earn record... And out of state folks would be invited too, as my initial proposal would not require locals only or a certain %... It could promote honest friendly competition. Hey Florida, try to beat this! Anyway - the idea flopped big time... I am wondering if the timing is so close to the "bones incident" that the question is getting tainted, and considering 3 people voted in 30 seconds, I know people have not read the proposal before voting. But never the less, it is a bad idea, as voted on. It was just an idea. I admit defeat.

;-) Like it.

Nailed it! Actually since you are right, I want to point out two things: 1) In my idea - the official state record would still be the largest group - and out of towners would still bring money in. 2) But, the same DZ could also benifit from a 2nd organized event, "the locals boogie" where their existing fun jumpers would have "something fun to do" to spend their money.

Because they provide motivation to train for something achievable. I might well never get on a WR attempt, but if I put the time, effort and money in, maybe I could get on a a State one... That gives me a goal to improve myself. It also provides an avenue to bring cash into DZs and towns from out-of-town jumpers, and gives an excuse for a party. >>>I might well never get on a WR attempt That is the exact reason why I agree!!! But I have seen more than once the state ones be so highly competitive with out of towners that the locals who spend every weekend at the DZ are not invited to even try out. I thought it could be cool to promote events/records where those people would be encouraged to join. But, 97% of the people currently disagree with this idea, so by a landslide the idea is a looser. Just thinking of ways to help some friends who really are working hard at being great skydivers.

Two possible answers come to mind: 1) Then why have "state records"? 2) Why do people root for their home football or home soccer team? Because a bit of friendly competition is fun.

I like this idea a lot... My idea or goal was to allow current local fun jumpers to organize something, for the fun of it, to accomplish a challenge, for the sake of the journey... How about instead the USPA adds to the state record data a "notable accomplishments" field where people could submit things like, "A group of 20 jumpers who call XYZ dropzone their home accomplished a 20 way head down." The 200 way head down filled with out of state folks will still be the record, but the people who worked hard locally can get rewards too... I like it.

That could have been handled with a simple document submitted with the record attempt: "I declare XYZ my home DZ as it is where I jump the most, therefore for the next 12 months I call my home state X".

we have a winner... I think you missed the point a bit, maybe because I did not disclose some data... The state record I have (not in my state) cannot be beat by locals without extremely expensive cost of entry... Why: 1) The state does not have enough turbine aircraft. Would require extra aircraft to be brought in. That us how we did it, for a boogie. Common practice I know, but see point two. 2) Simply not enough active local jumpers to fill the slots. Is it realistic to expect organizers to find 40+ people to go thru AFF and get 300+ jumps? I just thought this could be a fun way to let the "locals" have fun too. But the votes are in, the idea is not supported.

I knew someone would ask that, how to keep track of official addresses, my answer is if someone wants to change their uspa mailing address to help win a record, let them do it. considering the official state record will still be total number of jumpers, it would be just state pride, nothing more. There will always be cheaters, my idea was just to promote the accomplishment of locals too.

Ok, in 3 minutes, it appears the idea is a losing one... Wonder why? Since I said the offiical record would remain the largest group, why not track a 2nd record of the largest local group? Other than paperwork nightmare.

Background: *There is some debate online about a jumper that blew a record and people who posted how a group of folks trained real hard to earn a state record. *I have witnessed some people be frustrated that they, and their local friends, were not invited on a state record jump, where the organizer brought in a bunch of out of town folks and professional tunnel instructors, but they were told no. They honestly wanted a shot at earning a record for all their hard work. *I am on at least two state records (historical) that almost everyone on the jump was from out of state. *State records should have a certain aspect of "state pride", especially when friends who jump together a lot accomplish something. *Skydivers do travel a lot, so state records often have the same participants. Without some sort of tracking, state records might start to look like national records where each state earns a record using many of the same people. *State records are often beat at boogies and special events with out of state visitors. *In order to promote locals to compete, and promote training - maybe there should be some credit given to records where locals are the participants. Therefore - I think I would support the following - would you? The motion that could be presented at a USPA meeting might look like this:

http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/nbaa-convention-news/2013-10-21/drake-wins-stc-parachuting-gv

There is another product on the market that has advanced features, well beyond JumpRun, that has run large dzs for a few years too. But it is also not $20 a month, nor would any DZO who wants to spend $20 a month be in the target audience for any of the advanced software offerings out there.... No one could develop such a complex program, customized to the specific DZ, sold to a limited market and survive financially in that price range, as this is not an iPhone app sold to 1,000,000 people. Contact me if you are interested in additional information.

I have always emailed mine in and got a reply back saying they got it. Fax is not the only option..... :-) [email protected]

Thanks for your concern and warning. I treat any opinions and responses on the forum as added info for me to learn. I would like to think that most people on this forum are just trying to help and say what they think is best for the limited info that is provided.... Over 10 years I have gotten just as much bad advice from "experts" at the DZ as on dropzone.com - the key is to question everything and research everything - no matter the source - but use every source availible as you will find people over the world have different things on their mind that the locals may not be talking about. Regarding gear, anything you buy should be inspected by a rigger you trust... That being said, trust nothing I just said.

because skydivers are like middle school students who love to hate the child that is different. Issues: Ugly (matter of opinion, I can name one other more popular brand that makes what I feel is a consistently ugly rig.) Rsl system has issues, search racer rsl. Connected on both sides, can snag. Just downloaded the manual and it says the issue is helmet design.... What about a gopro on a well designed helmet? An influential master rigger I know won't pack them with rsls, calling the racer rsl suicide. Reserve closing loop can be tightened after packing, making a hard pull that a rigger did not do, but takes liability for. Very different to pack reserve, some say harder, many riggers not current in procedure if not a popular rig locally, some charge more. Resale value may be worse than a popular brand Per the manual, needs a 2 pin AAD, which are not as popular, thus harder to buy and sell. No skyhook, if that matters to you (search skyhook if you don't know)

Unless it is a reserve... Thus, we should learn how to fix stuff as sometimes plan C is needed. I had an AFF level 1 land/turn his reserve on rear risers this year..... I see someone posted "pump brakes". If it is a tension knot - it might be helpful to release the brakes as quickly as you can to get a momentary slack in the line.

I don't think it was a paid ad....

I prefer to tell them about the radio - but lay down the ground rules, including that it may not work, and they should not talk back unless they are on the ground and we ask them to, etc... And, "if your instructor tells you to turn into a tree, don't. If you wait until you strap the radio on, do you do all that education then?

I've sat down with people, where I see warning signs, and discussed how my good friends died, and how they got there, and how the need to impress someone has killed them. All three would be alive today if there was not a desire to show off to the camera or a person watching.

#1 - you are replying to a post I made in 2007. The statue of limitations has run out. ;-). #2 - The last post to this thread was 2008 - you brought it back up, why? Is there some new news? #3 – Did you notice the replies in the thread by people who are now dead for less foolish skydiving actions???? I don't think I am a jealous whiner, but instead someone who does care about our sport and friends who I wished did not die. #4 - I just was talking about this a few days ago to a non-skydiving friend after we were discussing how actions of one person often negatively effect the entire population in any sport/industry. If it would have gone bad – many people beyond the person who did it could have lost jobs, profitability, ability to participate in their hobby, etc… Seems pretty greedy to do something as a publicity stunt that can hurt many other people. Anyway – I almost don’t even want to respond because I am afraid of opening a new can of worms on a long dead thread… But if you are going to take something I said 6 years ago and call me a jealous whiner – I think I should stand up for my words I said back then and say – I am not a jealous whiner. I have lost real close friends to “stunts”. Stunts need not be high publicity, but can be showing off to friends and/or the GoPro. I have another friend in the hospital as I write this from a stunt of sorts (swoop gone bad, going big when he shouldn't)… I am not a jealous whiner, but someone sick of seeing people getting hurt and sick of regulations being pushed on me because of their behaviors…. In skydiving and elsewhere.

2 comments, 1) Most of the AFF instructors I have worked with have been stellar pros. Some assholes and some idiots, but that is in every industry. 2) you have been one of the loudest vocal people on the internet complaining about current AFF instructors, but I challenge you back, what have you done to fix it? You say you have traveled to many drop zones, taking the time to observe their operations and judge them poorly, have you ever thought about offering continuing education like Brian Germain does, not regulated by anybody but just respected as an expert individual? Have you made YouTube videos on proper instruction techniques? have you participated in the standardization meetings for AFF evaluations? Every instructor that you see screwing up in your mind, do you tried to approach them with constructive criticism that they will accept because of the tone and the method in which delivered? We can't expect the USPA to regulate and do everything for us, nor would that be the best thing, big government never works. We have to do what is right for our students as instructors, either as hobbyists or professionals, and invest in our own success and sport.