SEREJumper

Just got an email saying mine is going to Germany for service. 4-6 week wait. Ive always been impressed by SSK's services, so I'm not to upset anyways.

Some of the interviewees really didn't do their products a great service and without your questions wouldn't have really anything to say. It's FREE advertising people...

It blows my mind at who some of these companies have representing them.

I appreciate your efforts!

I know the military stopped funding/endorsing sport parachute clubs in the 1990's. Got that part.

The question I have for the military members here is, has your base/post/air station/fort officially endorsed or authorized civilian skydiving on a limited or permanent basis?

I do know of one base that has done a military organized (and discounted) tandem day for a special event.

Are there any other examples of this happening? What about student programs? MWR or Outdoor recreation programs?

Thanks for any input.

The rant wasn't meant for you, for sure. Just an observation that I've seen and no forum to vent it in lately.

Hope it is warming up for you up there!

Peter,

I should clarify, yes I agree that instructors are not responsible for an all-weekend gear seminar, but here is the problem/trend I seem to be seeing...

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In reality, the instructor gets paid for a jump

Instructors doing the bare minimums and possibly less, to just move on to the next student to get paid for the next "jump". Its a little off topic, but what is that mentality doing for the young jumpers in the sport. No old heads hanging around the DZ to offer...gasp...free help/instruction/knowledge to the new guys? Im guessing that is why we are seeing more and more young skydivers coming on to DZ.com and asking questions that they should be asking at their home DZ instead. Then all those young jumpers just want to get to 500 jumps so they can make money (which is totally their choice). I'm sure their are plenty of helpful jumpers out there in skydiving land, but I see the community as a whole providing less mentoring and trying to develop skydivers. Its really not the big stuff that we over look, its the little stuff. Rant off.

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Another example would be that you would be taught as a student how to inspect 3 rings for basic assembly errors, but students don't disassemble rigs, so you'll likely never actually have one apart by the time you are licensed. You'll just have to learn that sort of stuff from others in your down time at the DZ.

If your a USPA instructor, I hope so...
http://www.uspa.org/Portals/0/Downloads/Form_ALicenseProgandApp.pdf
Cat H

or

http://www.uspa.org/Portals/0/Downloads/Form_ALicenseProfandApp.pdf
Equipment Knowledge Section

Your instructor should go over the key parts to the parachute system and a basic knowledge what what each component does and how to do a proper gear check for the MAJOR items. If you haven't gotten this yet, you are probably just starting and there are things that your instructor wants you to learn first. The training should be more in depth as you go along, but it might not be as in depth as you may like, but...

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it's possible that this is more my shortcomings as a student

Knowing about your gear, how to all works together, what the different manufactures recommend for user maintenance, and how to inspect it are all things you SHOULD be taught if your instructor is doing his/her job you are paying them to do. You can also get this information for free from jumpers that have been around the sport a while and like to share their knowledge.

To many new jumpers don't know enough about the gear that is the only thing between life and death, literally. Go get your answers, heck you may want to look into a future as a rigger too!

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Ya dig up a 2 year old thread and don't even make it clickey!?

+1 haha

Thanks for the updates, keep them coming!

OP is 235lb exit weight, PDs published max exit weight for a 150 is 240. A Spectre loaded at the max isn't going to perform like a Spectre of a larger size. Same name but will handle like a different canopy.

Have you jumped another SP150 and had better results? (just asking).

I've jumped several pre-1998 Javelins (1998 is when they went to the better main reserve tuck flaps, bridle protection etc) and never had any issue with the reserve flap. It depends on how used the container is though, the older worn out it is or what size reserve you have it it (to soft) may also make a difference.

I would personally be more concerned with the main flap, especially without bridle protection. I've had the main flap come open on some jumps before. Same reasons as above could affect it.

Bottom line, pre-1998 Javelins weren't made with freeflying in mind, more of the RW scene.

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The document we're looking to create is not for public use/view. It is for a written record of conversation and actions.

I think DSE explained it pretty well.

I like the idea, here is a good article on the right to refuse service.

http://blogs.findlaw.com/free_enterprise/2011/11/have-you-reserved-your-right-to-refuse-service.html

Have You Reserved Your Right to Refuse Service?
By Stephanie Rabiner, Esq. on November 3, 2011 5:45 AM | No TrackBacks
We reserve the right to refuse service.

The sign's message is clear and simple, but the truth is that a business can't reserve a wholesale right to refuse service.

As places of public accommodation, private businesses are subject to federal and state anti-discrimination laws. These statutes prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, gender and sex. Some also include sexual orientation.

And others, well they outlaw even arbitrary discrimination.

For example, California's Unruh Civil Rights Act prohibits all types of arbitrary discrimination. This includes biases based on physical attributes, political beliefs, and geographical origin.

Courts also tend not to favor arbitrary discrimination. In the past, judges have used consumer protection, unfair business practice, and tort laws to punish such practices.

None of this means that you absolutely cannot refuse to serve a customer. It simply means that you need a legitimate business reason to do so.

You can usually refuse service in the following situations:

-When a customer is not properly dressed
-When a customer has been, or is being, disruptive
-When a customer harasses your employees or other customers
-When there are safety concerns (highlighted by me)
-When you know someone can't, or won't, pay
-When a customer is intoxicated or high
-When you need to protect another customer's privacy

It's still essential to apply these criteria on a bias-neutral basis. Even the most compelling business reason can't overcome obvious discrimination. So remember to use your right to refuse service wisely.

Is it just an in house tool for IDing unsafe behavior of a jumper or a way to share that info with others?

The military uses simple memos for record from the supervisor to the member to document behavior as well as a solution to the problem. Its a paper trail to justify action in the future, usually called a LOR or Letter of Reprimand.

This could be a sticky subject if not an employee though, although if you had something in the waiver about it that they have to agree to to use the DZ, maybe something.

There are multiple examples out there, but here is one:

http://ww2.odu.edu/ao/humanresources/forms/reprimand.pdf

I would guess that this is an ex-military rig that is adjustable, but if it's not and just has a XXL harness, make sure it fits well ,or you may have more problems than a light WL.

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A lot of manufacturers have made it hard to even tell what the TSO certification limits are.

+1

Lets put together a master list of container manufactures TSO weight limits for easy viewing.

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The new tandem rig add caught me as quite odd.
Absolutely ZERO information, links, websites, just NOTHING.
Except a picture.

Its called suspense. Just like pictures of new car body styles that everyone talks about. They want a lot of buzz at PIA this year, let the cat out of the bag now and it will be old news by then.

RIP Devil Dog

I would say no, I had an I-44 and a new Spectre 170 was pretty tight!

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that would be awesome given i got my 2 v3s for Christmas

Well just selkl those old/outdated things to me then...they probably aren't safe anymore either!

Search function, upper right hand corner, this has been discussed a lot

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=54889;search_string=pilotchute%20material;#54889

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however with the patch, the riser flap now blows opened as soon as I leave the plane or sometimes just while sitting down

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seems to cause my canopy to spin up, maybe due to uneven riser tension at extraction

These need to be addressed before your jump next IMO.

"I was previously a member of a military parachute demonstration team back east"

Yeah, she looks to be a legit previous member of a mil jump team...said no one.

P.S. Keep the full face on please!

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Not always the Curve dropped them

I can't find the article right now, but I believe RI dropped the magnetic riser covers because o fthe astetics only, not because they did not work.

Great video! Thanks for sharing, always looking forward to your next post about this beast! Awesome!

You are seriously comparing meeting TJ Landgren to D-1 ...

Here was a thread on the N3 used with that.

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4410620;search_string=PD%20wrist%20band;#4410620