EDYDO

I took a quick snapshot of the 12 Hour FreeFall Badge. Decide for yourself. Ed

Hi Gary and Everyone, USPA does look at the stated purpose before they sell a mailing list. It is indeed easy to opt out if you prefer. I will take the discounts and if I don't want them, it is pretty easy to trash them. Plus that sort of sale contributes to keeping our dues down. Ed

I am speaking for myself only and I do not speak for any other person or organization. This is off the subject of the thread, but yes you can. 1. Stay in class E or G airspace. 2. Get property owner or airport manager's permission to use the property for landing. 3. Notify ATC at least 1 hour before the jumps. 4. Stay in radio contact with ATC during the climb. 5. Stay away from anything that might be remotely viewed as commercial, such as a tandem jump. Then, have fun. Blue Skies, Ed Edited to add: Oh yes, if you remove the door, you need to get approval (STC) for that and it could take a week or so for most planes.

Tom, you have been repeating that for years. Again, there are a number of cases where private pilots can fly skydivers and it is perfectly legal. Blue Skies, Ed

Hi Louis, I just heard from 3 of them. Orange will be open if the weather is good. Louisa will only be open if they can add a few tandems to the group. West Point will be open weather permitting with a King Air. I have not heard from Suffolk, but Simon just responded to your post and he can tell you. Blue Skies, Ed Dixon Mid-Atlantic RD

Hi Lisa Marie, From the profile pix, you're still lookin' good. Haven't seen you since Dublin, '05 maybe. Where are you these days?

Wouldn't miss it. Ed Dixon Who's Going to be there: Grannyinthesky eUrNiCc skydivingchad peregrinerose Keithmaj leroydb Deisel bmore_chrissy Redline165 OuterFocker1 EDYDO

Welcome to the group. In no time at all, you will be off student status and joining us on the SOS World record jumps. I have fun everywhere I go, but there is no experience like jumping with these guys who are the pioneers of our sport. Ed Dixon SOS 760

I am telling you I have not asked about anything beyond seeing that those who took the course were satisfied. I just haven't been interested beyond that. Everything is not a conspiracy. Oh yeah, my last post on the subject. Blue Skies, Ed

Okay, let me know what you learn when you find out. I told you what I know. Ed

Post number 4 is true. Post number 16 is false.

I do not have an answer to your questions other than what has already been posted. I was never able to make contact as stated. This issue lasted a couple of months. Ed

I will not hesitate to post anything that is of importance to the membership as long as confidentiality (where necessary) is not violated. Ed Dixon USPA Mid-Atlantic Region

In the interest of an open USPA, let me tell you of an experience that I had this year. I received complaints from several USPA members in the Mid-Atlantic Region that they had paid for, taken and passed a USPA AFF course in Arizona, but never received their ratings. I immediately tried to contact the course director, but was unable to get a return call or email. I then asked several who were in the area to check his home and the DZ. We were unable to make contact even though at least two people went to his home. So, we had about a dozen members in my region who had passed the course, but no paperwork or money could be located. We finally were able to get the evaluators and proctors to put enough together to satisfy USPA requirements, but headquarters wanted the fees. It was my position that the members had paid their fees to a USPA representative and that they should not be asked to pay again. I followed up enough to know that those who passed and paid, received their ratings. I cannot say whether or not USPA was ever paid for that course. It was a real pain for a lot of people. Blue Skies, Ed Dixon

This keeps coming up. I suppose it is because everyone has the tandem/commercial operation mindset. In the US there are a number of circumstances where a private pilot can fly a jump plane legally. Just one example: Two (or 4 or 5) private pilots are also skydivers. They rotate flying and jumping, then they split expenses. It's perfectly legal and just one example. Ed

I spoke with Paul today and he wants to make it clear that ONLY his drop zone is closing. He will continue to lease planes to others for the purpose of skydiving. Ed

Bump See you Saturday. I still have to find a cowboy hat !!!! Ed

On full altitude jumps, most DZs in the Mid-Atlantic Region are within a dollar or two of $23.00. For low altitude jumps, Raeford is probably less. They still have a number of accuracy/demo guys. Ed

I am absolutely certain that is not true !!! However if I were in a daylight combat situation, I would prefer a T 10 jump from 400 feet to anything that can be done with a square. Ed

I think you would be the first with HF. Seems pretty risky to me for a one or two minute contact. A 40 meter dipole antenna is 65 or so feet long. If that thing caught a tree on the way down, we would be reading about it. Neat to think about, but not me !! Ed (K4YDO)= EDYDO

Federal Aviation Regulations regarding parachuting are found in FAR part 105. The Advisory Circular AC 105 has some good information in it. I can't recall the words "drop zone" being mentioned in the FAR. Ed Edited to add a link: http://www.flightsimaviation.com/data/FARS/part_105.html

In 1965/66, there were very few skydivers in the area, so anyone with a few jumps was the only instructor available. They didn't charge anything for services, just to get more people involved. My first jump was $2.00 and gear was provided. At that time 7200 was considered full altitude (from a Cherokee 6) and that was $2.00. Often we would rent a plane and share the pilot duties and costs. I remember one day the jumps worked out at 57 cents each from 2500 flying a tri-pacer. Ed

Looks like you are right. It appears to me to be an unintended consequence. Without going into detail on what went wrong here, let me just say I have asked that this be on the agenda for the BOD meeting in July. Ed

I believe the date on this is 2007. I copied it from the USPA Web Page. It was board approved. If you plan to jump in the US more than one season and want to be covered by USPA insurance, you may want to join USPA. Copied from Web Site Temporary Membership Evolves to Introductory Membership Starting September 1, USPA's Temporary Membership becomes an Introductory Membership, with some important differences. Unchanged is the application process; the Introductory Membership can only be sold by a Group Member DZ and the USPA third-party insurance begins the moment the application is received by fax or phone at USPA. Differences are that the Introductory Membership period will be 90 days, the cost will be $20 (vs. $15) and an individual can only purchase the Introductory Membership one time. All Group Members will soon receive packets with the new applications and detailed information. Edit: I am checking to see whether or not an old temporary membership counts as a one time introductory membership. In my view, it should not.

Better late than never !!! That was two years ago. Bill has been jumping in Australia this month. I just hope to be able to continue to be active the way he has. Ed