Schoenauer

My two rides took place around 600 tandems when I was still cocky and invincible. The two occasions happened within a hundred jumps of each other and were eye-openers. The first lasted over five seconds until the drogue was out a textbook sidespin with the drogue side down. I fallowed the recovery procedure outlined in the video by Bill Morrissey of Strong Enterprises at the time, “Side Spin Phenomena”. I had practice the recovery several time during a solo jump but was amazed with a student in front how fast it went from good at the door to bad. The second time we rolled to our side after the exit and stalled there not turning with the drogue up, so drogue out. We were on our sides less then five seconds. Both immediately happened on exit we just fell right into it and in hindsight, my exit technique and our body positions were to blame. Memento Mori

I am under the impression that there are three types of canopy collision: Wrap – When only the canopy or part of the canopy is wrapped around the jumper Entanglement – When a jumper or part of the jumper has passed through one or more lines Body to Body—Self explanatory “The SIM seems a little muddled in its instructions about what to do in case of a collision.” My question about this discrepancy is why did the USPA make the change in 5-1 H-3.b to the 10-11 SIM from the previous 09-10 SIM? From the 09-10 USPA SIM: 5-1 H-3.b 3. If a collision is inevitable: a. Protect your face and operation handles. b. Spread your legs to avoid going between lines. What do they what Instructors to teach students? Memento Mori

There was this guy who intentionally cut away a perfectly good canopy at or just above 1000’ which was seen by other jumpers on the load still under canopy as well as the manager who was also the S&TA and head rigger. All that was done was the jumper was grounded and banned from the DZ for a month. The neighboring DZs were notified of the incident and agreed to also keep him on the ground. It is hard to tell if this guy learned anything, but I don’t remember any further problem he gave while skydiving since his grounding. He died on a base jump with in the year of the incident. Memento Mori

No argument or disagreement there because of BSR 2-1 E.8 (NW) makes it very clear but this also apples to the pilot cannot supervise students while simultaneously piloting the aircraft. Most reputable skydiving school establishes a chain of command beginning with the pilot to the jumpmaster/spotter who supervises exit procedures for the fun jumpers. The instructor fallows the command from the pilot and the student fallows the command from their instructor, so, in this case of emergency exit, the responsibility rest on the instructor who makes the decision on whether the student exits or not once the pilot gives the command. Memento Mori

That is correct, but the instructor is still responsible for the student and yes the chain of command remains the same. The pilot is in command of the aircraft but the students take their command from the instructor. What skydiving school teach their students an alternative this? The instructors if they made the decision that the students should not exit then both or least one instructor should have remained aboard with their students. On the grim side of this it would make great headlines would it not? “Airplane crashes killing pilot and skydiving students as instructors parachute to safety”. Memento Mori

I agree. Memento Mori

This incident with all that happened or didn't happen is FUBAR. There is a good side to this in that no one was injured and some people will learn from it. Memento Mori

The USPA is very clear on aircraft chain of command. Fun jumpers take their commands from the pilot, instructors also but the student listens to their instructor not the Pilot. The pilot can not supervise students, SIM Sec. 2-1E.8 “No skydiver will simultaneously perform the duties of a USPA instructional rating holder and pilot-in-command of an aircraft in flight. [NW]” However the pilot can request that the instructors get out of the plane to lighten the load but the instructor’s have the final decision based on their training and experience and their students training. Do I believe that both instructors should have gotten out? No, not both of them at least one should have stayed with the students. I would like to know who was the AFF/IE who gave them their ratings?? Do I believe this incident happened on a twin otter? No, because I have landed in a full otter when it lost one engine's Beta Rings at 1000’, (This Ring is used by the propeller governor to gage the propeller pitch and when the Ring fails the propeller goes into feather, meaning no output). The pilot circled back around and landed without incident with field air density at 2200’. Memento Mori

Incomplete scenario, I hit another canopy on my second spinning 360 and then what happens, where, and at what Alt? Memento Mori

The first thing is communicate with the other jumper while check altitude. Seeing that my main is raped around the other jumper I would yell to the other that I am going to cutting away and do so if I don’t get a quick reply. As for checking for traffic below I may or may not, it depends on the scenario of where and when, details that are not given. Memento Mori

1.what is the seating config for LV 1 w/video in a 182? We don’t do videos for AFF students so main side sits with back against the instrument panel student in front reserve instructor sits behind pilot. When we did videos the video flyer sat back to instrument panel, main side sits in fort of them, student behind pilot, and reserve side sits in rear with as much weight forward as possible. 2.How do you teach COA's & short circles? On exit they should perform a body scan, then COA; altitude, heading, instructors. Instructor signals to perform maneuvers /skill set as per dive flow. After maneuvers COA's until 6000' then short circles; altitude, heading, altitude, heading, ect. At 5000' Wave off and pull. 3. what is the hard deck for Lv1? & Pull priorities? We look at #3 and #4 as being the same thing and that is the hard deck is the decision altitude the minimum altitude for the student to decide either to keep the main parachute or cutaway and pull reserve. The hard deck/decision alt. is 2500’ and the student should be performing the EP if that is their decision by 2000’. Of course if the decision is made at a higher altitude then they should take care of business at that time. The priorities Pull to save your life Pull on time Pull stable 4. What is the decision altitude? See #3 5. Would ever have a LV 1, 2 or 3 student next to an open door with out a grip or restraint? No. On a 182 or 206 the reserve side has a leg grip just before the door opens, the main side is blocking out the student when the door opens. The main side takes leg grip once they are on the step and then signals student to begin climb out. Memento Mori

TI: $35 TI: with HC $65 (includes editing) AFF Main side: $35 AFF Reserve side: $15 Coach: $15 Tandem pack jobs: $10 All AFF rigs and rentals: $6 Memento Mori

My target is 4 working hours with 4 to 6 students so break times are not included, lunch is on their own time. I can see that with the right instructor student match that a 2 hour FJC is vary possible. The information is being delivered at accelerated pace and the information in turn is being assimilated at an equally rate. I have had one student like this, lacking a better word, gifted where skills and the knowledge aspect were easy for them so teaching again was easy. It doesn’t happen vary often but it does and they are out there. Memento Mori

He says it was two hours ground training, so how much exaggeration does this in tale? I find if I am interested in a lecture time seems to fly. Memento Mori

Ditto. Memento Mori

I can only speculate but it sounds like The Parachute Center want students that are more committed in learning to skydive, who are more likely finish the program. Tandem first skydive with in 30 days prior to the training program is one way to weed out the one time yahoos. The yahoo has an affect on the school’s time, staff, and space available. At a busy DZ I can see this may displace the motivated students who are eager to learn how to skydive. As an AFF instructor I want to work with the motivated student. Memento Mori

Stretching, exercising, food, and foot ware are all vary good and the only thing I would add to this list is cut down on alcohol and stay hydrated. Treat your body like an athlete should. I am 44 and I to have had my aches and pains over the years and plenty of visits to physical therapy. A great thing I learned from my physical therapy and has eliminated my visits, is I needed to pay attention to the physical ergonomics of how I am using my body. The list could go on and on but a few examples are where and how I am sitting in the airplane, how I handling equipment like lifting to putting the rig on or off. The idea is to recognize and avoids continuous repetitive movements and do the same work differently, a little or a lot, to break up the repetitiveness. A simple one, I think to notice and do, is do you always carry the tandem parachute slung over the same shoulder when you walk in after a jump, and if you do change sides frequently though out the day. Memento Mori

Every DZ has some type of structured landing direction North/South or East/West depending on specific landing area either the expert, experienced or student, then I am saying yes. In order to eliminate collations especially at a large aircraft DZ where parallel landings are numerous then every one should lands in the same direction. The direction is set by the first person down in the specific area. And yes this may mean landing in a crosswind say in an east west only area where the winds have a northern or southern component. I agree with that people must follow some type of predictable pattern of downwind, base, and final but this is where my agreement ends. The most dangerous portions of any landing pattern are the base and final turns, this is where people die or get hurt. This is where someone flying their base leg and in their wisdom chases the wind sox with out paying attention and end up landing against the flow on final. Memento Mori

We shoud not be afraid of it bacause it happens. I agree in that crosswind landings should be covered with a student during their daily ground preps following there FJC as new information and it should be covered prior to being cleared to solo jump, however it should be included in the FJC if the conditions exist the day of their first jump. I can only hope that when a student becomes “A” licensed qualified from all drop zones is that they understand that landing in the wind is preferred and that crosswind or downwind landings will happen during their life of skydiving. So the concept we must all understand is that we land in the same direction as the first person does to prevent a potential collision. Memento Mori

#1 landing priority “Land in an open field free of obstacles”, plane A is the drop zone plane B the next best place, an open field free of obstacles, and the rule regarding obstacles is? “Avoid them” * After CCC, find the Drop zone, and locate the upwind boundary then fly the canopy to the upwind boundary while maintaining Altitude awareness. * Landing pattern down wind 1000’, base then final, altitudes are specific to drop zone and winds. * Final approach keep flying the canopy making gentle turns to maintain your flight course, with no more than 30 degree course change toggle input, until your feet touch the ground and you have collapsed your canopy. * Fair 10 to 12’ above the ground in a steady rate until you hands are full arm extension to the crouch while prepared for a PLF. Crosswind landings, Interesting topic and I am not sure why you bring it up. I don’t teach crosswind landings it in the FJC nor will I porously land a student in a crosswind when it could be avoided. If the student was injured on a crosswind landings I instructed them to do when it could be avoided I feel it exposes me to liability issues. I would instruct any level student on crosswind landings if the conditions existed that day. Memento Mori

I took a blind guy on tandem who after the jump thought it was the greatest thing ever. He is by far the tops on my student list. We did a poised exit out of an Otter that felt like I was jumping solo there was zero tension as we stepped off, a perfect poised exit with no rotation on the hill. Memento Mori

Tandem/I = For tandem progression AFF/I = For harness hold SL/IAD = For those methods this includes the clear and pull portion. As far as the I’s have it you will need all three to stay clean. Move the clear and pull portion of your program to when the student has been cleared to self jumpmaster via AFF. Why do you have Five levels in your Tandem Progression Program, required before single instructor AFF? Memento Mori

I agree, instructors are supposed to fallow the manufactures SOP, however I am not seeing everyone fallow them. Memento Mori

I don't know how you fit the harness on your students but the last thing I adjust is the y mod, and all I did was take most of the slack out of it. I know everyone has an opinion/their practice on how to fit the Strong student harness but what I see too much of is the leg straps are over tight making it more difficult for the student to perform the sit back drill under canopy. An other thing I see that adds to a students discomfort and immobility are caused by the instructor who makes an adjustment to the student harness while the student is sitting on the airplane. Why it that? The student’s harness should be properly fitted to the student and checked ready to skydive while standing, before boarding the airplane. As far as an adjustment had to be made because the harness loosened during the flight to altitude then that should be a signal that its time to replace the harness. Also articulated passenger harnesses are not available from strong anymore....? *** If this is true then it’s about time it didn't help with the students comfort while under canopy. Memento Mori

A memo??? What Memo? Cutaway, breakaway, release, and chop handles are terms I have heard in our community to describe the same thing. I would say the important issue is we know how the system works, how to use it, and when it needs be used. Call it what you want, but to me it will forever be a cutaway handle. Memento Mori