tombuch

You should contact the Relative Workshop for clarification of that point. I'll offer a couple of quick quotes from my copy of the contract that is also available at http://relativeworkshop.com/pdf_files/tan_eua.pdf: "...7. Buyer agrees that it shall follow all of the Seller's requirements and recommendations as to the maintenance and use of the Tandem Parachute System..." "...20. In addition to other remedies available to Buyer and Seller at law, the Buyer and Seller agree that the Buyer and Seller shall be entitled to injunctive relief to enforce any and all terms of this Agreement, when appropriate..." Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I believe the internal computer tracks the number of cycles. While it's not possible to know easily wthout pulling the unit, I believe the number of jumps is available information if needed. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I recommend visiting all three, or at least calling each and talking to them on the phone. I actually wrote a book recently called JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy (McGraw-Hill 2003) that should help you sort out the answers you receive. JUMP! includes a series of questions you can ask, and the text will help you understand the answers you receive. JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy is available at many bookstores, skydiving dealers, and on Amazon.com. You can also find quick notes about JUMP! in the "GEAR" section of Dropzone.com. Blue Skies, Tom Buchanan Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Have fun on your first jump. I'll try to address a few of your questions... Yes, plan on staying for two days. You will probably make that first jump on Saturday, and Sunday then becomes available for the second jump (or third). I also think you will enjoy hanging out at the drop zone. The B&B is probably a good idea if dollars are tight, but the bunk house will also work for you. What to wear? Regular clothes with a good pair of sneakers or light hiking boots. If it's chilly bring a jacket or sweatshirt. Be comfortable. If you wear contact lenses, bring an extra pair of you have them...that's not critical, but is generally a good idea. You will be provided with a jumpsuit and anything else you may need. The Skydivers Handbook is a good read, and you are right, it is US-centric. Books need to target a specific market and the US market is the biggest. I actually just wrote a book myself targeted at people like you, called JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy (McGraw-Hill 2003), and found it takes far too much space to explain the differences between all the different national markets and programs. The concept behind such a book is to provide an overview of training, and then allow the reader to seek out differences in his home market. I actually tried to include Canada in my text, but even that one extra country added confusion, and created more questions than answers. If you have a chance, do pick up my book, JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy, but know that it too is US-centric.JUMP! is available through many online retailers including Amazon.com. Blue Skies, Tom Buchanan Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

USPA affiliation is important, but the lack of affiliation should not automatically eliminate a drop zone from consideration. Ask the owners WHY they are not affiliated, and then ask them to compare their program, safety record, staff, and equipment to USPA centers. Some drop zones don't belong to USPA because of safety violations, or a desire to break one or more rules. Some don't belong because of politics. It's hard for a potential student to know why a DZ isn't affiliated, so you really need to follow up with more questions. Check with a few other schools in your area and compare their answers to the answers from Lodi. You are already doing a great job of trying to educate yourself about the available programs...keep at it and then make your own decision. I jumped at Lodi many years ago and thought it was a solid operation, and I believe the owner, Bill Dause, is well respected within the industry. From everything I have heard, the folks at Lodi have developed a solid reputation for safety, even though the DZ is not affiliated with USPA. So, is my opinion worth anything? I'm actually rated as a USPA instructor in the static line, IAD, Tandem, and AFF programs. I'm a rigger and pilot, and wrote a book called JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy (McGraw-Hill 2003) that is targeted at people just like you. JUMP! provides all the information a student needs to select a drop zone, and answers all the basic questions such as "Must a drop zone be a USPA member." If you are looking for more information about the sport, or for ways to compare different drop zones and understand the answers you receive, check out JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy, available at some larger local bookstores, and on-line at places like Amazon.com. Tom Buchanan Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

When I offer advice I like to start the conversation with a question, or series of questions..."How long have you been jumping a Reflex? Are you happy with it? You know, I'm a rigger and I think..." The questions might help me learn something about the topic, might let the other person know that I'm interested in the topic and not just interested in fluffing my own ego, and can clue me into the experience of the person and how aware they are of the issues I'm interested in discussing. Ok, so sometimes I'm a jerk and just announce my advice, but I generally try to start soft with a question, at least most of the time. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

The web is an amazing resource. Pro-Tec helmets are distributed by MOSA Sports in Hermosa Beach, California. I called their customer service department and asked about the differences between their helmets used for various sports. They told me there is no difference among the helmets. A skate helmet is the same as a skydiving helmet. HOWEVER...there is a big and important difference depending on WHERE you purchase your helmet. There are actually two different liners available, one is closed cell and very stiff, the other is open cell, and much softer. If you buy a Pro-Tec helmet in California it must conform to state standards and will have the stronger liner. If you buy the helmet anyplace other than California, it will probably have the softer liner, although some of helmets with the stiffer liner are sold outside of California. Want more information about Pro-Tec, a Vans Company?...Contact them at 310-318-9883. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

When I started doing tandem jumps, yes, I often did the leg lock, and I was especially aggressive if the exit was getting ugly. Another tandem instructor saw one of my videos and strongly encouraged me to "fly" the full exit. That's what I have done since. It's far easier, takes less energy, and is far, far, far more effective in controlling an unstable student. The only time I have had to physically manipulate a student on exit was with a small women, and later a small man, who started to roll me into what I thought was a side spin. In both cases the side straps couldn't effectively hold our hips in alignment because of size differences, and I felt the student shift to the side as we rolled. A simple push on the student hips with my hand, coupled with solid flying, got us stable. I've made about 4,500 jumps, 1,000 tandems, and have earned the tandem rating on the Strong, Vector, and Racer rigs. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

There are a few. And it is possible to do higher BASE jumps with conventional skydiving gear. You will see a lot of that at a big events like Bridge Day. I was actually involved in a wrap from the 876 foot New River Gorge Bridge back in the 80's. The upper jumper was tangled in my lines as we passed through about 700 feet, spinning toward almost certain death. Cutting away wasn't an option, and neither was landing what we had. I ended up deploying my reserve, but alas, we were spinning so fast that the pilot chute flew over my shoulder and dropped between my legs. I hand deployed it back into the air, but it was wrapped around a riser and couldn't get the reserve out. Fortunately, the reserve pilot chute by itself was enough to create tension on our lines, and that made it possible for the other jumper to kick free. The episode was shot by Carl Boenish and incorporated into a film called "REACH," and there was a great series of four still photos in Skydiving shot by a guy named Steven Ilko. So, that was an attempt at a transfer that didn't go exactly as planned, but it did carry me into bonus days. When all else fails, get more nylon overhead, kick and scream, and hope for the best. Tom Buchanan BASE 128 etc. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I love my Altimaster III. I've had it for about 20 years and it's still ticking. The company that manufacturers the Altimaster series now is probably one of the most customer friendly in the industry, and that's something to consider. As for your later question about commercial airplanes...the cabin and cargo hold are pressurized. If you did happen to take your altimeter on a non-pressurized flight to 30,000 feet it would be fine. I've actually done a few high jumps with mine, and it generally stops reading accurately in the mid-20's, but returns to normal on the way down. I've watched a bunch of other conventional civilian altimeters and they all behave pretty much the same above about 24,000 feet, but the differences in readings between altimeters are significant at the higher altitudes. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Actually, consider a case that I watched recently. A jumper had a spinning malfunction and was having trouble cutting away. He struggled, struggled, struggled...and at about 300-500 feet he chopped. Somehow, he lived. A reasonable alternative at that altitude would have been a transfer. The process: 1) Recognize you have played too long. 2) Say OH SHIT! 3) Dump reserve to get more nylon out. 4) Chop ugly main, if possible. I have watched a few very nice modern day transfers, including a few on BASE jumps. They generally work, but should be reserved for those cases where you are already too low for a normal cutaway. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Am I missing something here? Isn't it our job as AFF instructors to get a parachute over our own head no lower than 2,000 feet, even if that means leaving an unstable student. Doesn't an instructors open parachute signal EMERGENCY pull time to the student? Doesn't flying with the student below 2,000 feet add a significant threat of AAD deployment INTO the instructor? Doesn't dumping the student so low that there is no time for an instructor to track increase the threat of a canopy collision? Isn't it more heroic to STOP trying to save the student below the hard deck and let his/her training and AAD save the day? I don't mean any disrespect to either of the instructors involved, but perhaps we need to rethink how we define a hero. As I recall these issues were discussed in the original thread, but it's worth revisiting given the redevelopment of the hero status. Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) S&TA, Rigger, Pilot, etc. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I earned mine on a Sabre 120 loaded at 1.5. I have always tried to land in the peas, traffic permitting, so it wasn't all that tough to do in 10 jumps. The idea behind using the Sabre 120 was to qualify for my reserves...a PD 126 and PD 143. There is a bit of psychological pressure at about jump number 7, but you can get past that with a bit of focus...something you will need to do on high pressure demos. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Links for USPA supplemental life and disability insurance have already been posted. Health or medical insurance is probably a bigger concern. Most accidents in the sport of skydiving are not fatal, but cause injuries such as broken legs, compressed vertebrate, etc. They are rare, but these accidents do happen, and you should have basic health coverage. USPA does NOT have a vendor that offers health insurance. For that you need a more comprehensive policy. One of the things I've done when traveling is to buy a cheap "travelers" policy from the airport. Those usually provide basic coverage when more than 50 or 100 miles from home, but don't cover you unless you are traveling. Some also have restrictions on skydiving. I've used them for out of country BASE trips, Florida skydiving trips, SCUBA trips, and general travel. There are also a few companies that add medivac coverage when traveling, and that's another cool option. Travelers plans add coverage to your existing plan, provide first line coverage, or can help with deductibles, and in some cases can provide air assist with return travel. They don't help much if you are at your local DZ. Think carefully about what you want coverage for. If you are young and single with no family, then life insurance probably isn't a big deal. Ideally, you just need enough cash savings on hand, or coverage to settle your estate and provide for burial. If you have family or outstanding debts, then life insurance is more important. Disability coverage is pretty critical in case you have a serious accident that requires long term care, and that applies no matter what your station in life. Health coverage is important for financial security in the event of an accident. Buy the coverage you think you need. Tom Buchanan Author, JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Check with several of the local drop zones. Make sure they have experience with handicapped jumping, and ask them if they have read a booklet distributed by The Relative Workshop called Tandem Guidelines for Skydiving with Wheelchair Dependent Persons. Tom Buchanan Author, JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

The first reviews are on the Amazon site, below the product listing. There is also a new review in the April Skydiving Magazine. JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy is targeted at people who have not yet made a skydive. It helps them understand what the sport is about, how dangerous (or safe) it is, how to find a drop zone, how skydivers are licensed, how to evaluate a drop zone, and how to relax in freefall. It has a solid index and quick access FAQ of questions. JUMP! is NOT a book for experienced skydivers, although it IS a good book to give your whuffo friends. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I just received the latest issue of Skydiving Magazine (April 2003) and found a great review of my new book, JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy. It's pretty cool to see the book reviewed in one of our leading industry publications. Dan Poynter even added his own reader review to the listing at Amazon.com. I'm interested in what other readers think of JUMP! It was originally profiled on this site in February, is listed in the equipment area of dropzone.com at http://www.dropzone.com/gear/Detailed/417.html, and has been selling well. If you have read JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy, please drop me a line with your comments, or better yet, add a review to the listing at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0071410686/qid=1044061742/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/002-7704188-3024024?v=glance&s=books&n=507846, or in the equipment/books area here on Dropzone.com. JUMP! may be heading for a second printing at the end of summer, and if that happens there will be a chance to make a few quick changes. If you see any technical issues that need clarification or correction, please let me know so I can get them included in the update package. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

That also increases your forward speed (as you mentioned) and will increase landing distance. If you are already tight on space you may not have enough ground in front of you to glide/run/surf off all that extra speed. Somebody else mentioned using light breaks, but that can increase lift in some cases, further extending the flight of the parachute. Deep breaks will generally sink the parachute. As others have mentioned, you should discuss this with your instructor and practice up high. Every parachute is different, so know how YOUR parachute handles things like deep breaks, 1/4 breaks, front riser descents. It's all part of skydiving! Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I just saw the following on Avweb http://www.avweb.com/newswire/9_16b/complete/184390-1.html#3a: "Supporters are trying to save the Chambersburg Municipal Airport in Pennsylvania. Borough council members seem intent on selling the 93-acre airport this year to land developers. Airport supporters are considering several options to keep the airport open for the forseeable future. One option is to educate the local government on the field's economic value and its ability to run profitably, like Chambersburg's electric and gas utilities. Other ideas include the possibility of creating a municipal authority to buy the airport or finding a group of investors who might be willing to purchase the facility from the borough. The Gazette, a local newspaper, reported Council President Bill McLaughlin told airport supporters they have until the end of the year to prevent the sale. "You've got eight months," he told airport supporters. "Bring us something that could change our minds." While some hope has been raised, the supporters have an uphill battle, as McLaughlin has openly stated he believes the borough should rid itself of the airport. A 1989 study concluded it was not significant to the area's economic development and that, financially, it was not in the borough's best interest to continue operating the airport. The council has already decided to authorize the sale of the airport to the highest bidder at year's end. The clock is ticking." Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

It's in the 2003 SIM, page 21. Your drop zone probably incorporates it into their waiver. "I represent and warrant that I have no known physical or medical infirmities that would impair my ability to participate in skydiving, or if I do have and such infirmities, that they have been successfully treated so that they do not represent any foreseeable risk while skydiving, or that they are being successfully treated so that they they do not represent any foreseeable risk while skydiving. I also represent and warrant that I am not taking any medications or substances, prescriptions, or otherwise, that would impair my ability to participate in skydiving." Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I teach that if you have deployed the pilot chute you should cutaway. If you can't deploy the pilot chute (can't find it, hard pull) go right for the reserve. I understand the concept behind teaching the reserve handle for a pilot chute in tow, but I don't really like it. There is a pretty good chance that the pilot chute will clear once the reserve opens and pressure is off the main container, and also a chance that it is just a hesitation. I strongly object to suggesting a student make any effort to evaluate the pilot chute in tow or make any decision in the air. The decision should be made NOW on the ground and then implemented if there is a malfunction. With students, I'm the guy that makes that decision for them, and my decision is to cutaway. Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) Author "JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy" Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

OK, you made me dig out the search engine and find the interactive freefall drift chart. I think the one you are talking about can be found at http://www.iit.edu/~kallend/skydive/ A Powerpoint discussion about the topic can be found at: http://www.omniskore.com/kallend/slide_1.htm Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

http://www.skydiveaz.com/exit_order.htm This is the text version, the graphic is linked at the bottom of the page. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Interesting post... the topic of frozen cutaways was actually discussed about 20 years ago when I started skydiving and the three ring was just becoming popular. At the time I had a Security System with a weird release system that involved two rectangular pieces of hardware and a stiff piece of webbing that was threaded through, then held in place by the same kind of loop used on the three-ring. One of the big problems with the system I was jumping was that in cold weather it would become stiff and lock up. The big part of the problem was the webbing, not the loop. The three ring remained functional even under adverse cold conditions. Back in the day we did some tests by putting our rigs outside in the cold winter air and then activating the cutaway. The three ring was a kick-ass winner. Now, I don't want to suggest that a three ring CAN'T freeze, but it is unlikely to happen, and that has long been an advantage of this system over others of the earlier days. So, an interesting post, and a topic well worth revisiting. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Try skyhivisuals in Denver. They have a page at http://skyhivisuals.tripod.com/malfunctions.htm Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy