topdocker

I'm curious, what would you describe as a real problem? Riding in half a main with your reserve stuck in it. I think what we are discussing is the difference between, "I could have died today" as opposed to "I nearly died today." The first involves a screw-up that is caught before the dire consequences come to pass, and the second where consequences happen, but you luck out. Yeah, it's not a huge thing in the world of human suffering, but it's what we do here...... top Jump more, post less!

Gee whiz, Craig, what happened to your sense of humor? I just pulled the post to the top of the page with a sarcastic post. Anyone can still send me comments. . Did see the sarcasm icon, sorry! My thought is the shorter the better. Most of the groups that I have a vote for the BOD or Trustees have less than thirty day voting periods. Just not sure we are going to get the quorum necessary to change things with regard to BOD elections, this just isn't very sexy. Also, I would think the money should come with the letter of intent. If you really intend to do it, put your money up early. have fun! craig Jump more, post less!

Geez, it's kinda long and involved and uses big words an stuff. And seeing how this is the first we hearin' of it, it might take usn's some time to unnerstan it all. I had copied and pasted it and was dissecting it a bit, but I won't bother now. Obviously, the members have missed their window of opportunity to voice an opinion. top Jump more, post less!

How about having POTUS and gang fly commercial? TSA makes the planes safe for all of us, so why not the Prez? He can find out how much fun it is trying to get gear through all the security checkpoints and be shocked when it all arrives at you destination! Yeah, I know. He is waaayyyy to important and busy to mess around flying with us commoners.... top PS. Where's the sarcasm icon? Jump more, post less!

Tracking away after someone has mistakenly pulled his cutaway handle. Moved his main risers out to insure a clean deployment of the reserve without cutting away his main and possibly losing it. Explains the "get outta my way stare." top Jump more, post less!

Log another jump.... jumped to a conclusion! top Jump more, post less!

OKAY! It must still be airworthy, we aren't using it for water training..... top Jump more, post less!

I've got another POS F-111 canopy laying around here. If I find it, I will send it your way. No, I don't even know what it is.... top Jump more, post less!

Sure do! You guys should upgrade! top Jump more, post less!

Cloud (230) to a Fury (220). But I stayed with the 26 ft round for a reserve. top Jump more, post less!

Or they airline/FAA use MSL and the DZ/jumppilot use AGL. top Jump more, post less!

My thoughts on the appropriate response would be: * Do not unstow the brakes. * Reel in the RPC and control it. * Gently reel in the reserve bridle so that it does not have so much drag as to pull the reserve from the pack tray. * Unstow the brakes and gently bring the canopy to full flight. * If you had a mal when you unstowed the brakes, chop and release the RPC. I thnk the riser/bridle entanglement would act as a MARD. * Slow turns and gentle return to the landing area. I have seen this on one other occasion. Jumper opened in this configuration but soon his freebag was in the slider. I was able to top dock him and let him use both hands to reel in his RPC. He then chose to remove it with his hook knife and toss it, leaving the freebag/reserve in his hands. He landed uneventfully. Sorry, no video..... top Jump more, post less!

That depends. If you want a/c packing, jump tickets would go up a few cents. Video review stations - couple a pennies there. Bottom line - we get what we pay for regardless of who pays for it. At the DZ I ran - Skydive USA outside Houston - we packed in a hot hangar, but we always had free cold beer on tap subsidized with a "throw in what you can" effort when it went dry. We didn't have a bunk room, but jumpers were welcome to crash on the couches in the air conditioned manifest/office - with satellite TV that doubled as a review station, thank you very much. No swimming pool, but an inflatable kiddie pool worked just fine for cooling off and made for many "interesting" drunkenese nights. No cafe either, but nobody cared when they were getting naked around the bonfire eating pizza delivered to the DZ - usually at DZ expense. Weight room? Nope, but climbing the beacon for midnight rides was pretty good for toning muscles anyway. And on, and on. I owned 4 tandem rigs and 20 student rigs. Tandems were important - but only as a way to get people to the DZ. From there, everyone on the DZ - including the fun jumpers - interacted with them, all of us looking for the ones that had "that". Those people were targeted for the Saturday night party. The parties of course included real skydiver talk. That usually sealed the deal. There is no "right" formula for making money in the DZ biz. Money in, money out. That's it. The DZO decides how to get it done. We did it with the vibe. Please let me know if you re-open this!!! Sounds like a real DZ! top Jump more, post less!

I think a lot of the holes in the top skin are from poor packing techniques. But many do come from the pin slapping the top skin as the bridle retracts, as well as the old line slap/pinch. Not sure this will prevent either of those from damaging the top skin as the slicker Spectra will allow the bridle to move faster which may make the bridle/pilotchute/pin whip against the top skin more. I say try it and see what happens! top Jump more, post less!

"Next time I say 'Five right,' you go FIVE RIGHT!" top Jump more, post less!

Agenda items are still being collected from BOD members, staff, and members. Now is the time to get something on the agenda! top Jump more, post less!

Yes, but there is no currency requirement for "time in sport" either. It's not THE answer, just a better one. top Jump more, post less!

Well, Top...we could shoot that idea out of the sky too easily. Yes, but find an alternative then. If you are looking for verifiable starting metrics, that is an easy one. Certainly better than "time in sport." top Jump more, post less!

One of the real areas that needs to be cleaned up is "time in sport." Doing one tandem every year for ten years then going through AFF does not mean you have ten years in the sport. Also, its almost completely unverifiable. I would suggest it be "years licensed." It is easily verified by HQ, means you have been skydiving and staying current, and ultimately is a better litmus than "freefall time" or "time in sport." top Jump more, post less!

As far as I know, this died at the BOD last Summer. top Jump more, post less!

And isn't better. Some of us have many, many hours of freefall time and lots of jumps but don't live close to a tunnel or don't want to spend our dollars that way. Don't diminish the importance of being an experienced skydiver in any way. Add jump numbers, freefall time, or any other skydiving-related experience, but not tunnel time. top Jump more, post less!

So, if you are doing it right, you never spill your drink! top Jump more, post less!

But your attitude is a lot closer to killing yourself or someone else. And even if all you do is splatter yourself in the landing area because you bag of luck ran out before you filled a bag of experience, you make someone like me do the paperwork. We also have to listen to your momma talk about how you were "too cautious about skydiving to be hurt," while trying not to roll our eyes. And we have to face the other low-jump number jumpers about mortality in this sport (and some will quit). So, really just fill out the top half of the incident form now and hand it to your S&TA, tell your parents your a total dumbshit and refuse to listen to way-more experienced jumpers than you because you know better, and keep playing Russian roulette. You might be the next Totally Awesome Swooper Dude in the making, but more than likely you are just going to make a big divot somewhere. top Jump more, post less!

Well, the third question is easy. 1- stupidity Trying to impress a chick 2- stupidity Boobies 3- stupidity Screwing around on a weather hold 4- stupidity 5- stupidity 6- stupidity 7- stupidity 8- stupidity 9- stupidity 10- stupidity There fixed it for you. You're right. I forgot another top reason. Another. Actually, yours should probably be number one. That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me here! Thanks! top Jump more, post less!

I actually wouldn't be opposed to a training course, as long as the jumper could take it at any time. I don't believe in restriction, but I believe in education. You can "take" it at any time. Doesn't mean you will pass! You talk a lot about wanting to be educated, but don't seem to want to listen...... Attitude determines aptitude. top Jump more, post less!