tombuch

The other posts on topic are pretty good and have probably already answered your question. My old Ditter actually has the directions printed right on the case just below the "gold" dial in raised letters. Actually, my first original-original Ditter had a black plastic dial. The Ditter is a pretty good instrument, and it's pretty close to accurate. It's not as accurate as newer devices, but yours was probably very inexpensive, and it remains a good value. Back in the day the Ditter was a big improvement over the old style Paralert. The Ditter did everything the Paralert did, but in a much smaller package. I've actually still got a Paralert on my old camera helmet, but it hasn't been used in about a decade. Tom Buchanan Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

My choice for improvements would be a publicly recognized quality control program such as the FAA TSO. I'd also like to see the "brain" of the unit available for analysis by a source other than the manufacturer. I love my Cypres, and I'm generally happy with the manufacturer, but I'd be much happier if the unit met a better defined standard, with better quality control, and greater public confidence. Tom Buchanan Sr. Parachute Rigger Author "JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy" Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I've written a feature for The Ranch web site about our emergency response plan, and how regular skydivers can help. It doesn't relate directly to this event, but it can offer some interesting elements for thi discussion. Find it at ranchskydive.com>S&TA>In An Emergency, or click http://ranchskydive.com/safety/tb_article10.htm Tom Buchanan S&TA, The Ranch Author, "JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy" Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Butterflies are normal. There are a few things you can do to help with the stress, and some reasonable strategies you can deploy. Many of your concerns are similar to those of first jump students, and I suggested solutions in my new book "JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy." Check out the home page of this site for a summary of "JUMP!" and a direct link to Amazon.com where it is on sale for 30 percent off. While the book is really written for first timers, I think you will find some useful information, and it will help you to answer questions from your whuffo friends and family. I'd also suggest you pick up a copy of "The Skydivers Handbook." That is the bible for advanced training and should make for some good reading through the slow winter months. Use this part of the year to read about the sport, and if you haven't picked up Joe Jennings DVD called "Good Stuff" do that now...it's not a training video, but rather a compilation of some of the coolest video of skydiving ever made. It's a great motivation video for the long winter months. As for making another tandem...do what feels right. You don't need it for skill management, but if you want to make a tandem for comfort, then by all means do so. The static line/AFF debate has been raging for 20 years. Each program has advantages, so again, it up to you to make the decision. I teach them both and give the nod to AFF, as long as the student can afford it. If a student just doesn't have dollars available then static line is at least a way to get in the air. The key is to have fun and enjoy the sport, and whatever method is going to work for you is the way to go. Blue Skies, Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy etc. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

It's a fun tunnel, but not the best in the country. You can make a tandem just about anyplace, but there are not many tunnels, and you won't find one near Skydive Chicago. Spend a few dollars on tunnel time and take the story back to Chicago...it'll be fun. Tom Buchanan Author, "Jump! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy" Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I've encountered several skydivers with diabetes, including one instructor who stopped doing tandems because of his diagnosis, but continued doing AFF for a few more years. At first I was shocked and thought it was a crazy idea, but the more I learned, the more reasonable it sounded. Chat it up, let your friends and fellow jumpers know about your diabetes. Ignorance is the enemy. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

There are other ways to determine wind conditions. Please take a look at a recent post on The Ranch S&TA site http://ranchskydive.com/safety/tb_article6.htm. One of the elements of the feature is a suggestion to check local airport reporting points by phone or internet to get a more complete picture of the actual conditions of the air mass. The article includes contact information for The Ranch, but you should be able to get similar information for the area around many local drop zones and demo locations. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Interesting question. In the United States an altimeter is required for ALL students at USPA drop zones. The requirement applies to static line and tandem students as well as AFF students, and it can not be waived. (2003 SIM, Section 2-1; K; Parachute Equipment; 2;c). I like my students to use their eyes to build altitude awareness and then cross reference with the altimeter. I suggest to them that when looking at the ground in freefall or under canopy they should also glance at their altimeter. This way they begin to connect the visual with a specific altitude. I tell them they are "building and encyclopedia of visual references." I started jumping in 1979 in what was then a cutting edge static line program. We didn't use altimeters until after 10 second delays, and that was pretty standard back then. Likewise, I started teaching tandems in the early 90's, and we didn't use student altimeters. Obviously most of us survived, but we figured out that students learn better and become safer skydivers if they have altimeters from the first jump. The change to the BSR's reflects this interest in student safety and training. 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 best plugs I have found are called MAX, produced by a company called Howard Leight. They are organe foam and are rated at NRR 33/SNR 34 Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I believe the jump numbers for a rating are expected to stay where the are right now and not go up with the license change. See the attached (below) from the S&TA Newsletter following the July BOD meeting: "JULY BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING The Board Meeting wrapped up on Sunday, July 14 after several long days of work by Board members, USPA staff and Board advisors. Below are the motions that came out of Safety and Training: • USPA Licenses will be aligned with the FAI requirements effective September 30, 2003. The jump number requirements will be the following:  25 for a USPA A License  50 for a USPA B License  200 for a USPA C License  500 for a USPA D License Appropriate changes will also be incorporated into the competition and rating systems to allow for similar jump number requirements that already exist in order to obtain ratings or enter competition. Those who have obtained a license prior to September 30, 2003 will not be required to meet any additional jump numbers if they are below the FAI minimum when they receive their USPA License." Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Interesting. When I clicked on your link originally I saw a page with "under development" and a lot more locations. Now it's showing a smaller number of sites "under construction." Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

It just shows the site is "under development" not construction. Development is a long way from the construction phase. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Do you mean "next year" or in two years? -tom buchanan Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Why tandem before AFF? My general feeling is that with a drogue out the tandem pair is a sitting duck, and nobody other than tandems should be following them. Likewise, if the spot is long it's easier for tandems to get out late, and perhaps even on a 180, but that's tougher for an AFF student to handle. My preference is for tandems to be last-last. Thoughts? -tom buchanan Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

It wouldn't have made a bit of difference in #12. I had jumped a cliff over water with him several weeks prior to his drowning at NRGB. He couldn't swim a single stroke or even float on his own. A landing in water was pretty much a guaranteed fatal jump with or without body armor. I don't know about the other accidents listed, but I'm a strong believer in wearing maximum protection whenever possible. -base 128 Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

The Ranch uses the student Cypres for all student jumps, and all jumps using our student equipment. We give our graduates the options to use a Cypres on their own rigs if they like. I've never encountered a graduate using the student Cypres with his/her own rig. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Those photos are covered by copyright and shouldn't be reused without authorization. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

That's a rotten reason to use expert units rather than student units specifically designed for that application..."it's increasingly common." The student Cypres offers protection at a slower speed, and would probably be the better unit to use for legal liability protection. Ask your rigger to come up with a better reason, then chat with the folks at SSK or Airtech for their thoughts. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I compressed T-9 and T-10 about 12 years ago. It was uncomfortable for a few months, but doesn't bother me at all these days. Once it healed I was fine. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

OK, I'll admit that I've jumped through a few clouds in my time, and it's definitely fun. Now, can I be a bit of a spoilsport and start a discussion about why we shouldn't jump through clouds? My thoughts: The primary reason we shouldn't jump through clouds is that there may be an airplane in or below the clouds. Airplane pilots have a right to fly below the clouds as VFR traffic, they can actually fly in the clouds as IFR traffic, and we have an important legal obligation not to create a hazard. Airplanes do not always show up on radar, and controllers aren't even required to tell us if they see airplanes directly below us. Jumping through clouds puts us, and the pilots who may be under the clouds at risk of collision. While we may think it's cool to take that risk for ourselves, it isn't ever cool to inflict the risk on pilots. I wrote a feature for The Ranch web site last season about airspace, and who has a right to be where, and what our responsibilities are. take a look at it at: http://ranchskydive.com/safety/tb_article8.htm and think of the real safety implications of jumping through clouds. I know cloud jumps are fun, and perhaps there isn't much of a threat when it's just a small puffy, but we need to be very careful when those clouds obstruct our view of the airspace below. Tom Buchanan S&TA Commercial Pilot (IAMSEL,G) etc. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

you should have both volumes as well as the Parachute Rigger Study Guide. The study guide will help you with thw written test questions...check out parapublishing.com. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Here's another one: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0071410686/qid=1041540276/sr=1-8/ref=sr_1_8/002-7704188-3024024?v=glance&s=books#product-details This is a link to Amazon.com for a new book called Jump! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy, to be published by McGraw Hill later this month. It should be available on most book related web sites and at many bookseller throughout the country. I wrote the book last summer to help first timers figure out what our sport is about, and to help them select a drop zone. Check it out in a few weeks! -Tom Buchanan Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Tom how can you say that? It is a member benefit. So the member can get the rating. If 6 guys can get a plane and want to hold it on a non dropzone grass runway then the uspa should make every effort to do it. However the members can work it. We are the uspa not group members. Geeeze, it's not "us vs. them." The instructional programs were designed to support the training of students. That's really what the rating is about. the idea was to certify instructors so the FAA would believe the public was assured a minimal level of safety. It's not something USPA does for the members, or the dropzone owner. It's something USPA does to help students enter our sport safely. Instructor training programs help us as individual members because they give us the skills we need to teach students. The programs help dropzones because they create a well trained labor pool. These courses are a benefit to both partners in the training process. The other question is why should it be a group member benefit. That's a whole different topic, and frankly, I'm tired of discussing it. My position has been made pretty clear in past posts, and I'll be happy to rethink the issue of group member benefits in a few months, and then hash it out again on a different thread. -tb Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

Do as many practice dives as you can, and try to do them with the same partner. That helps you develop in-air communication and splits the cost of the two person training jumps. CD's are better for those training jumps than regular AFF-I's, and the precourse is best of all. If you are doing training jumps with an AFF-I, you don't really need to do all simulated level jumps. Try some skill work, like asking the I to flip and spin, then you catch and roll, repeat, repeat, repeat. Do the repetition thing on each jump. Flat spins with recovery are good for this kind of drill, as are slight drifts with a requirement to stay in place and evaluate the causes of those drifts. I think isolating skills and repeating them is a efficient use of training time with an AFF-I, then put them into the context of a full practice level. -tom buchanan AFF-I, etc. Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

I'm not a candidate, but I'll offer a thought. Those courses are partially a member benefit, but they also benefit the local dropzones. I'd like regional directors to be more tuned into how many courses are offered in their regions and at what dropzones, then push for a course when DZ's or members feel the need. That may mean advocating at the USPA level, or encouraging a DZ with the facility and air support to hold a course. Regional directors can probably better use their S&TA's for communication with regard to that function. Likewise, the USPA monthly S&TA and DZO newsletters should be listing courses and promoting them more aggressively. I'd also like DZO's to be organizing courses on their own. If a DZO runs a small dropzone he probably won't have a need for a course, but several small DZ's may have that need, and certainly the larger DZ's can be a source of candidates and facility when a local need has been established. DZO's should be working together to pool resources and coordinate needs in this area. Creating an adequate supply of AFF instructors helps create happy customers and AFF graduates, and that benefits the entire industry. -tom buchanan Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy