chicagoskydiver

I agree with Grogs. The wave off isn't really any more to remember than a 5-5 signal, and the wave off is what will always be used throughout their skydiving career, so why not teach it from the very beginning? Why teach something that they're going to abandon after 2 jumps? Might as well teach it from the first tandem. Hackey

Sounds like you hit the nail right on the head! Obviously, I didn't have all my facts straight because I didn't realize that the planes came into that configuration after exit. But I think you're absolutely right....the real problem here was mismatched aircrafts and possibly lack of pilot communication. The most important thing with incidents like these is that we do a careful and thoughtful analysis of the root causes, so we can prevent incidents like that in the future. Thanks for setting me straight on that. Blue Skies!! Hackey

I'm not saying that everyone in a large group should stop and look before exiting...that would obviously not be practical. However, common sense dictates that the person at the door or the first to climb out should be looking before the group exits. The jumper I refered to earlier was in the middle of the lineup on a big way involving two jump planes, a king air and an otter. The jumpers at the door should ABSOLUTELY have had visual contact with that otter! They would have seen that the planes were in the wrong configuration and aborted the exit. The otter was behind and below the king air. The point is, someone should be looking before every exit. Hackey

I jumped with Rook Nelson at Skydive Chicago in the AFP program. At the time he was 20 years old. I think he just turned 21 recently. He had around 2800 jumps at the time I believe. He also holds the world record for the youngest person to make a skydive. He did a tandem with his dad Roger at the age of 4 years and 1 week. He's also now a world champion freeflyer. Not bad for being 21 years old! Hackey

Of course everyone knows about the recent accident in San Marcos,Texas where a jumper struck the prop of a twin otter (another skydiving aircraft). The old saying "look before you leap" applies here. While waiting for separation, we have to not only check the spot, but look for clouds and other aircraft! It's only prudent to know what you're jumping into. Hackey

I think this is what we call getting the "blue flu"! Blue Skies! Hackey

Its where you go to hook yourself in under a new smaller canopy that you're demo-ing. This is a totally inappropriate comment....bording on whuffoism (for lack of a better word). Also, if you're going to make a comment like that, at least have the guts to identify yourself and stand behind your comments. Hackey

My feeling is if altitude permits, pull the cutaway handle first and then go for the reserve. Although it does use up valuable time and altitude, it has a couple advanatages. One, it may cause the main to leave promptly should the main pin become dislodged. Secondly, you should have only one "set" of emergency procedures to use and you should be able to do it without thinking about it. You shouldn't have to stop and think about wether to go for that cutaway handle or not. There are many schools of thought on this, ultimately it's up to you as to how you handle your emergency procedures. Hackey

I also keep one foot out in front and prepare myself to hit the ground running. I have found that even on student gear you'll have to be prepared to run it out on a light/no wind day. If that's not the case, you may be underloading your canopy and may think about downsizing. There is such a thing as jumping a canopy that's too big and downsizing may actually improve your landings! Blue Skies and Safe Landings, Hackey

If the winds had anything to do with this accident, that means the conditions weren't right and they should have called it off. A demo jump is complicated enough without complicating it further with high winds. A skydiving injury in front of a stadium full of people is bad P/R for the sport, and it's better to back out if conditions aren't favorable. I broke an ankle as a student jumping in high winds, and I learned my lesson. Hackey

LMAO @ muff license!! I may have an "A" skydiving license, but I have a "D" muff license. The check out dive for that was interesting. Next, I'm going for my PRO rating. Any ladies interested in being my divemaster? LMAO!!!

OK, I checked with the SIM, and here's what it says for demo jumps. For an open field or "level I" area, must have a D license, 50 jumps on the same canopy in the last 12 months, and 5 jumps in the previous 60 days. For a "level II" area or a stadium, must have a USPA PRO rating, 50 jumps on the same canopy in the last 12 months, and 5 jumps in the previous 60 days. Hackey

I may be mistaken, but I think you only need a PRO rating if you're jumping into a stadium. Otherwise, you need someone with a PRO rating to organize the event, but you don't have to have one to participate.

I'm just getting to the point where i'm getting my nervousness in the plane under control at 36 jumps. Usually it's when we get up on our knees for jump run that it hits me. I think part of it is the animal survival instinct saying "what the hell are you doing? That ground is really far away!!",part of it is just the anticipation of the jump and hoping I don't screw it up, and the adrenaline starting to flood my brain. Once I'm out the door I'm too caught up in the jump to be nervous. I don't think the nervousness will ever go away completely. You can't get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them to fly in formation. Blue Skies. Hackey

Actually, I believe there are 3.5 million jumps made in the U.S. each year by 300,000 skydivers on average and the average fatality rate is approximately one in 100,000 jumps, and alot of those occur under perfectly functional parachutes due to the skydiver's error or bad judgement. Hackey

Hey Herv, Looks like we have something in common. I have 36 jumps and I'm going to be trying for a falcon this weekend at Skydive Illinois. One of the members of our four way team there will put it together and include me in, and he says that the fact that I'm a low timer is not a problem. I am really excited about it, I think it will be an awesome learning experience! I'll let you know how it goes. Gongrats on your achievement!!

I just got my A license about a month ago, so I know what a great feeling it is, especially when you end it with a great landing! Now, you'll be entering a new learning phase that I find myself in now. The challenge now is finding coaches to go up with you so you can make that transition from student to experienced skydiver. For now, I am doing docked two way exits and turning points on two ways. This should naturally transition me to doing three and four ways. The important thing to remember is that learning anything is a process and you can't skip any of the steps. You have to crawl before you walk and walk before you run. Good luck with the challenges that face you ahead! That's the great thing about this sport - you will never run out of challenges!! Blue Skies, Hackey

There's a wind tunnel currently under construction at Skydive Illinois, due to be completed late this year, which is supposed to be bigger and better than the one in Orlando. It will be large enough to accomodate four ways, and they say powerful enough for freeflying as well. As a matter of fact, they will be holding some four way competitions in it. It will also have a large creeper pad. There is a website for it...www.virtualfreefall.com. Check it out! Hackey

No, she is way beyond being convertible. I go to six flags with my daughter and without her because she won't even get on a roller coaster. We are kind of opposite that way....I'm a thrill seeker and novelty seeker and she's risk averse. The good news is we've come to an understanding about the skydiving. Even though she will never understand it because her mind is so closed to it, she at least tolerates that I do it because she knows it's what makes me happy. Plus I took out a life insurance policy which would cover a skydiving fatality.

My wife is superwhuffo. Or maybe robowhuffo. I don't even mention it around her, I just tell her when I'm going to the dz. I damn near had to quit the sport. I used to have to sneak out of the house to go jump, but I don't anymore. I figured that's the least I could do in exchange for not having to quit.

I had a lot of problems with spinning due to not having my legs out, which is the most common problem with students. Also, I didn't have my arms back enough, which caused me to backslide, compounding the problem. Then one day a lightbulb turned on and everything clicked. I haven't been spinning since. One thing you can try is rolling up your pants on your jump suit and not wearing socks. It sounds really corny, but that way you can feel the airflow on your legs and it helps you to be more aware of where your legs are. Just a thought. Blue Skies, Hackey

I totally agree with what you have said about canopy control. My landings have improved dramatically lately because I started doing exactly what you have suggested. I do at least a couple practice landing flares on every jump. Also, after making sure I'm completely in the clear I experiment with flying in brakes, taking note of the feel of the canopy and the change in airspeed. Remember, this should all be done above 1,000 feet, below 1,000 feet you should be flying your landing pattern!! Also, I think anyone who is trying to learn better canopy control could probably benefit from the video "Fly Like a Pro", I know I did. Blue Skies, Hackey

The answer "all of the above" is almost always right. There are no medical questions and you don't need to know what aircraft can be operated without doors. What you do need to know about are minimum pull altitudes, visibility requirements, requirements for night jumps, rules about wearing seat belts, remember wind velocity limit for licensed skydivers is unlimited, fall rates (i.e. if you are at x altitude and you pull nothing, how long before you bounce?). Drop me an email at [email protected] and I can give you more specifics. Hackey