toolbox

Tandem AAD's going off do not have much to do with the 207 crash,but I am interested in what events led to the AAD's firing anyway.What happened?Was the TI incapacitated?Was there loss of altitude awareness?We should learn from these incidents, and we need the facts to do so.

I feel that night dives test our ability to function in unusual situations that may tend to overwhelm our abilities to maintain level headed thinking. If you can handle a situation that takes alot of level headed thinking and good decision making,then you may be better equipped for the shit that may hit the fan when working with students.Having seen and experienced just a small spoonful of the shit that is possible with skydiving,I know it is just a matter of time(numbers of skydives)before everyone gets to see or experience some scary shit(if they skydive long enough).So why not test our selfs in a somewhat controlled scary and unusual situation,before we get to test our abilities with our students, when shit is going south in a hurry.Like emergency exits,or premature deployments on the step and on and on and on.......I remember when they changed the manditory cutaway and reserve deployment to 10 hanging harness simulations for the tandem rating.Wow! that must get your blood racing, hanging in that harness knowing that if you fucked up you would have a chance to do it again.Instructors should be put to the test in situations that crank up the fun meter(stress that is)before they are turned loose on the students.Everyone nowdays wants to make it easier to get the prize.In my opinnion,the D-license requirements are just the way they should be.We need to stop making things so easy.I am glad they increased the # of skydives for the D-license to 500 by the way.Do your night dives people!You may love them alot. If you aint got the guts,or you really are blind as a cave fish at night,then get the restricted license.
It's all fun and games till the pilot chute gets ya in the eye,and it's not yours.

You amuse me.

I hope to see ya there.Maybe we can do some RW,just be easy with me cause my hips been hurtin lately(old age and stuff).

Hey jt! I know what you mean.I came here from Skydive Oregon and everyone got along up in the Northwest. I remember seeing DZO's from the direct competition skydiving with us there.Skydivers would move freely back and forth from one DZ to another.You would see Skydive Oregon folks at Skydive Toledo.You would see Toledo folks at Skydive Oregon or kapowisin.The eugene people would show up everywhere.Everyone got along and had a shit load of goodtimes meeting new friends and learning from each other.The egos were put aside and the sweet goodness was about.When I came to vegas I was amazed at all the fucked up shit that I witnessed here.I have only returned here to help Brad achieve his dream of a real DZ that people can come to and have fun without all the vegas bullshit.The other DZ's are trying to prevent this from happening(Mesquite not included)since in my oppinion, all they want is to prey on the tourist(tandems) and huck em out as low as possible. Brad is looking forward to the day he can buy his own aircraft and offer 10000 AGL or better to everyone, students and experienced alike,but as of now leasing and fuel are tough on a new business.Even with that,he is planning night dives next month for experienced people.Give him a call and check on it.
Blue skies bro!

I could care less about the D-lcense debate.I was simply reading the post by all the whiny little bitches on this issue because it amused me.Then I read the post by Lastchance about wanting to experience a night dive.I thought it was cool that a new skydiver was excited about making a night dive for the same reasons I had for making my first.The last thing on my mind was a D-license when I made my first one. I was thinking about how new and spectacular this experience might be,and it was better than I expected.If I still had a second rig I would do night dives more often.In fact I plan on making one on the 9th of next month,just to help the new guys get some night RW.From what I understand,you can get the night requirement waived for the restricted D anyway so why the debate?If you want the unristricted D then make the night hops,otherwise stop complaining.Its that simple.

Night dives are spectacular. I have 64 night dives and would do more except I only have one rig now.9 years ago I had two rigs and they had old sabre mains.If I chopped one of these,I could get another one fairly cheap and still had the second one to play on while the other was being replaced.The main I have now cost twice as much as the old sabres and if you chop at night chances are much better that you will never see that main again,unless it lands close by in a clear area.Oh by the way I just had reserve ride 61 recently.I have packed several thousand canopies with no mals(But there are those who have and those who will).All my mals were packed by someone else since most times I have to be on the turn with another student(and I'm too lazy to want to pack it my self).

Quote

So I think night dives are awsome, but they can be expensive.Make sure the spot is right and roll the dice.Your first night dive is unreal.You will be in awe.Have fun!

Dude! I heard the plane is a total. Is this so? What kind of damage did it sustain?