FlipColmer

Hello Mike! Since man, or woman, first took to the sky, someone has always tried to impress someone on the ground with their aerial skills. I certainly have and it paid off well the other night: I had a great home cooked meal by the target of my affections. There's no doubt that some of that 'flat hatting' mentality is in play here. And, there is nothing wrong with that. Each DZ will sort it out based on their own locality. When I came screaming out of the sky at my home DZ, I took the long walk to keep out of the area where everyone was trying to land. That was just me. However, for viewing pleasure of those on the ground, I would love to see the swoop course close to the spectator area. Again, that's just me. Each DZO will sort it out. Or they won't. Blue SKies, Flip

Hello Steve! [reply You bring up an excellent point. We can have the best plans in the world for both the exit order and pull altitudes. But if there isn't a plan from 1000 feet and below, it will just be chaos. That is why we are making these proposals so that the final part of the skydive isn't completly random. Yes, things can still go wrong in the landing pattern. As we used to say in the Navy, "a plan is just something to deviate from." But at least everyone will know what the plan is supposed to be at each and every drop zone. Ah, self-actualization! (g) Or is there a point to this? Well, actuallly, every drop zone has their too cool for school group. That is the real world. They'll come around, or they won't. Keep up the discussion. That will keep this fresh in everyone's minds as they enter the landing arena. Blue SKies, Flip

DOB! Doh! Flippersan

Hello Matt! So far, I haven't faltered. I haven't started up a DZ or bought an existing one in 15 years. Although I must admit, I've been tempted at times. It's a harsh taskmistress, this monkey on my back! Blue SKies, Flip

Hello Zing! How true. Amazing how skydiving and G.A. share the same physics! Blue SKies, Flip

Hello Rick! Me too! No matter what else is said on this subject, we all still have to keep our senses of humor as we go through life. I just can't get that picture out of my mind though. What kinda cat do you see? Blue SKies, Flip

Hello Ian! I know I'm new to the forum mechanics, but I can only see back to Bill Von's May 30, 2007 start of this thread. What am I doing wrong? Outstanding! Sometimes the only way to get a seagull to fly is to throw rocks at it. Yet, it can fly on its own if it chose to. Motivation from any source is still motivation. Just let me know when to duck. Blue SKies, Flip,

Hello Dave! Why would you not want a tuffet in the swoop lane? Gives the cameraman a comfy place to set up shop and a place to rest your head after the swoop! Blue SKies, Flip

Hello Mykel! [reply You bring up a good point philosphically. Rules that are not enforced; are they beneficial or do they lead to people doing the frowned upon activity because they are not enforced? Sometime these questions seem like the one of "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin." Skydiving is an amazingly self-regulated sport. In the big scheme of things, very little goes wrong statistically. When it does though, the consequences are dire. There is very little interference in what we do by the Feds. Think if the FAA wrote our S.I.M. It would be as big as the A.I.M. and just as unwieldy. However, we have a pretty decent relationship with that branch of the government. So for the most part, we are left alone. But being self-regulated doesn't mean we ignore hazards. IF a hazard exists, we need to address it. Whether or not someone obeys rules that are set up, the rules still need to be set up. Without a concrete target to aim at, an education campaign will fall short, compliance will be spotty as folks will not know what to comply with and enforcement will be lax as there is nothing to enforce. Folks are saying that DZOs will make the rules and enforce them. I applaud all who have already. But not everyone will, and some may let their rules lapse. Skydivers can always vote with their wallets and feet. But why have to make that choice when a simple requirement to address the landing zone is so simple to comply with? That's all we are asking. At the National level, make a requirement to 'scrub' and landing arena. Blue SKies, Flip PS I've started using the terms scrub and scrubbed to address the landing arena. Many drop zones have already implemented changes they feel will improve the safety at their DZs. But as someone wrote to me recently, as time goes on, a constant attention to the landing zone will be required as jumpers push the envelope more, and manufacturers create new products. This isn't a one time fix but a safety culture we are trying to instill Nationally towards the landing arena.

Hello Matt! If I were king, option one of our proposal would be my first choice as I would only be considering safety in the decision process. It sets out a course rules structure that will provide the safest landing environment. However, I am not king, nor is safety the only criteria for any rule implementation. Therefore option three is my favored choice, and does exactly what you want: "something that should be handled at the DZ level, not by USPA". Option three just states that DZs will come up with their own course rules. Nothing in our proposals gets away from low person has right of way and that no one should manuever to assert right of way. Those are great rules of the road to live by. However, by separating out different traffic patterns, you give each jumper a better chance of working with the 'low person has right of way concept.' Again, I do not want to usurp any rule making authority from the DZO. I just want the DZO to be required to 'scrub' his or her landing patterns for safety. Blue SKies, Flip PS The best thing in the world I've ever done was start a DZ. The second best thing I've ever done was sell it! (g)

Hello Grant! Nothing in our proposal says everyone has to be single file to land at a DZ. I don't expect the Velocity to stay with the Manta in terms of speed of advance or rate of descent. Unless of course you want to. The analogy is that just like different performing aircraft can share the same landing field, so can differing performing canopy/pilot combinations. In our sport we have an added advantage: we don't have a single landing surface where you do have to follow each other around single file. Yet, in the aircraft example, you have many ways to get yourself aligned with the runway: 45degree entry, crosswind entry, straight in, and even the military overhead entry. All the different aircraft types and pattern entry manuevers are compatible if everyone knows the rules and follows them. That there is a single surface to land on helps everyone sort out the pattern. However, it is much easier to keep the our landing pattern safer if everyone is flying a predictable pattern. For example, if everyone is flying left turns in the pattern, both the high person and the low person, both the slow person and the fast person, both the floater and the anvil descent rate person have a much better chance of flying to a successful landing. A set of rules that promotes predictability, jumpers willing to learn and fly by the rules and a drop zone that fosters all of that makes for a safer landing arena. Blue SKies, Flip

Hello Andy! You are absolutely correct. I highly encourage everyone who can attend the Board meeting to do so. I think the discussions at the Group Member committee meeting and the Safety and Training committee meeting will be enlightening. Thank goodness I didn't start with a large one! Blue SKies, Flip

Hello Molly! Thanks for posting the meeting times. I hope all interested parties show up for these committee meetings. The more input, the better the final outcome. Blue SKies, Flip

Hello Bill! I agree with Bill Von: while we would like USPA to adopt our language, the reality is that from our proposal will spring the final language after input from the membership is received. To not act just because we realize how the process works would be abdicating safety for hint and hope. Blue SKies, Flip

Hello Andy! I think most DZOs are quite busy and do not have time for this Forum. Another possibility is that there is at times, a lack of civility on all webboards/forums. They could be resistant to opening themselves up to become pin cushions. There are two former DZOs that are part of the committee that came up with the BSR proposal. Or as I like to say, "Hi, I'm Flip. I'm a recovering drop zone owner." Blue SKies, Flip