rasmack

Wow... lots of responses. A couple of points.

Our examiners were trained by Jay Stokes. If they ask me for something, I assume the request is well founded and legitimate.

UPT don't want grounded equipment to leave the factory. I asked. I assume it's a liability issue.

Yes, dealing in grounded gear is frowned upon, but as I'm asking on behalf of a national entity, I should be able to convince people that we're not going to let the equipment take to the sky.

So... does anyone have an old Sigma lying around?

Hi people

The Danish Parachute Association is looking to buy a non-airworthy Sigma. As the old Vector 2 tandem rigs are becoming obsolete, our tandem examiners would like to get their hands on a Sigma that won't be used anymore, so that it can be used for ground training of new TI's.

We realize that there's probably some trade-in value with UPT, and we'll of course match that. Does anyone have something, or know someone who might?

Thanks for your info. I have forwarded my material to the powers that be. Let's see what happens.

ufk22

The reason you can't find a proven case against this is because there isn't one...

You misread my intention. As you say: "This is the way it has always been done.". This move will run into all kinds of hypothetical killer scenarios from old instructors, so videos of lazy throws by students lying on their back resulting in a fine main canopy would be really nice to have.

ufk22

The "if he's not dead I'm going to kill him myself" crap makes me question whether you should work with students.
That attitude is as old school as rip cords.

I'd never let a student know I was upset. I was just trying to make people remember the jumps where they'd been really scared on behalf of the student. You know, when a 5 second delay turns into 11 seconds...

That would be good to see. Thank you.

It is also not uncommon for me to sit in the door looking at a student doing a 5 second delay like "1... 2... 3... Flip... Pull". On those occasions a spring loaded PC does its job very well. Statistics seem to indicate that throw-out works just fine but seeing how these situations actually resolve themselves would be nice.

riggerrob

My point is that unstable exits and malfunctions are so rare with IAD and hand-deployed early freefall that it is difficult to find damning video.

Ah... got it.

Guys! I have plenty of rigging information and statistics from Norway and Sweden. Please don't hijack with those discussions. What I need is video to show when the what-if scenarios pop up, which they will.

Sounds interesting, and I really could use a large statistical sample to give a sharper analysis in the end. Can you point me to someone in the CSPA who would be sitting on stats like that?

Other than that, all the places I have looked seem to indicate no strong case against the switch. That will, however, meet some resistance from hypothetical what-if scenarios. I really would like some videos of some of these situations to tell us what happens. Some Canadian student must have made a lazy throw. Some Canadian student must have botched a poised exit. Video would really help.

In Denmark we have used BOC-placed ripcords for SL students for many years. AFF students are generally taught using throw-out pilot chutes. We are, however, considering allowing the use of throw-out pilot chutes to be used also for SL students from their first freefall.

I have been in contact with skydiving organizations from a number of different countries to gather statistics and experience, and it seems that there is as of now no proven case against making this transition.

As any SL instructor will know, these first freefall jumps can be scary to watch, and a lot of instructors (myself included) will be thinking of entanglement situations arising from bad exits and lazy throws. Avoiding those is why we have ripcords in the first place.

Therefore:

Do any of you have videos of bad student exits and pulls that you are willing to share with me (and with those who will ultimately make this decision)? I want to see the videos where you were sitting in the plane, thinking "If he's not dead, I'm gonna kill him myself.". We all know that the good student can be taught to use BOC throw-out with no problems. It is the life of the less-than-perfect student we are out to safeguard here.

Side note: If you happen to sit on statistics with large numbers for this situation or for IAD which should be comparable, please send me a PM.

Thanks for the responses.

I'm trying to figure out which size canopies I can safely put in my trusty old (2000) J4. However, the Sunpath "Pre K-series" chart doesn't contain the J4, but the J4-K. Can anyone point me to the relevant info?

A black president, a white prime minister and a female prime minister having fun at what at that point was essentially a stadium concert. Seems pretty much like what mr. Mandela fought for.

Had he been alive, he'd have asked for a copy of the pic.

I noes, but the week of vacation time I have starts on March 31st. I'm trying to squeeze it so I can leave Thursday, though. I would hate missing the toga party.

Still, nothing's settled yet...

Thx. Mayhap one should consider crossing the pond...

So, when's the reunion boogie?

Thanks for the suggestions, but it is beginning to smell as if the time is better spent visiting a couple of Hellfish and sharing stories (and beer)

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Especially since a new tunnel is opening up this month 10 minutes from our place.

where would that be ?

Here abouts. Back in Denmark...

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Rasmus, you could also drive to MOntreal and hit the tunnel

Hey m'sieur Fish

I think she-who-must-be-obeyed thinks I've spent my tunnel budget for the year. Especially since a new tunnel is opening up this month 10 minutes from our place.

Some distance that's feasible to drive out in the morning and back in the evening would be nice. I'm there for work. Just have a spare day.

I'll be in the states in December (Ann Arbor, MI). However, it seems that every DZ I can find is closed by then. Anyone know of one I've missed?

(And yes, I know it's cold. I'm from Denmark. We jump all year round, and it is getting chilly up there. )

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Some judges will look outside state or federal law and even the US Constitution to get their way on an issue. We have judges who want to cite international law as persuasive or even controlling on issues within the US. This law was clearly intended to preempt that kind of behavior.

If the international law in question is part of a treaty entered into by the US, then it IS US law according to the US Constitution. But you knew that already.

This one bears repeating, as so many people apparently don't get it. To support it, I'll even provide a link, hoping it will not be considered to biased.

Wrt to the OP, I can't see what the referendum was actually about. I can't find the wording anywhere, and most news sources just talk about sharia law. I know that one should never let facts spoil a good discussion... but what was actually voted upon?

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But, for clarity, could you post a photo of the ripcord handle(s) in question.

Inquirying minds want to know.

Inquiring minds are always good to encounter. However, this is a weekend DZ and I won't be there for at least a week or two. I'll try to ask if anyone have pictures ...

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students shouldn't be allowed to wear gloves... as it was taught in my first jump course

I'll tell that to the next student who comes to make a jump in November...

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I can't get very far ordering a student icon either, seems to be a bug in the website I get stuck on "Select main canopy size"

Heh! Me too...

Anywho, thanks for the options list.

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Why is that a serious issue? I like the improvement, a lot. In fact, I would really like a smaller profile reserve handle myself on my (older) Icon

Well, with all due respect, you're not a student.

I think the instructors are more worried about a panicky student unable to fit a gloved hand into the handle during winter than they are about an accidental deployment.

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BTW the Aerodyne website doesn't list other types or sizes of reserve ripcords as an option for the student icon.

Did you find an actual list of options? I had to go through the motions of pretending to want to buy one, and then I was defeated by Flash.