EDYDO

User fees just sound so fair until you realize you are still paying the tax that was originally intended to pay for that service. I had not seen that update, thanks. It really sucks that we did so much work and it is still on the table though. We are not out of the water. This is the way it seems to work. It is dead for this session, the proponents continue working, people forget about it and then it comes up again and is passed. Once our legislators take a position, they usually stick with it. We need to make our voices heard now. Once user fees take a foot hold, they will expand. They always do. Ed

Some have considered Flight Following to fall under the same category as IFR Flight plans. Nothing has passed, so nothing affects skydivers yet (or anyone else for that matter), but we had better not drop the ball here or it could be in our laps. Ed

My personal view and request. A lot of people have worked really hard (myself included) to find a way to fund aviation without user fees. We are quite close to getting the Senate and the House to agree (a near impossibility in itself). Now we find out that the President's advisors, who have essentially been out of the informational loop, are getting involved and want to kill the compromise funding bill. I am aware that email to government agencies carries little weight, but perhaps if it is done in numbers they may get the idea. Unless someone has a better idea, please flood the White House comment list with your views about this. There are two links below. One is an email link to the White House and the other is a link to the Senate Aviation Sub-Committee. My Senator is on that Committee. You can check to see if yours is as well. If so, you can do even more by explaining why skydiving aircraft are different from others. At one point it was proposed that all turbine aircraft would pay a $25.00 user fee per takeoff. This could possibly be argued with aircraft that go 1000 miles per takeoff and use Air Traffic Control Services through the entire trip, including instrument landing facilities. Skydiving aircraft use very few of these ATC services and make a large number of takeoffs per day, putting a large burden on skydivers and YES, it will cost about $1.00 more per seat if it passes. Certainly, if it comes to turbine user fees, skydiving aircraft should be exempt. Ed [email protected] http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/cgi-bin/newcommittee.cgi?site=ctc&lang=&commcode=scommerce_av

To add to that, up jumper and student jumper slots/dollars should be made to work together. Up jumpers can be used to assure there are few vacant seats on the planes. If it were not for the up jumpers there would be no pool from which to get new videographers, coaches and instructors. To be successful a DZ must realize the value of both and how they mesh together, then encourage both. If you as a DZO discourage the up jumpers, then you are expecting other DZs to produce your tandem instructors, which is pretty short sighted. Ed

Not far fetched at all. I hadn't thought of that, but most of the components are already in the (newer) ELT for compiling the data and transmission of the data. If you want to receive from others you could opt for a receiver that outputs to the GPS screen, most of that is already in most planes. So, bottom line, it looks like a modification to the ELT and another small receiver for the GPS would do the entire job. They wouldn't make it that simple, would they??? Ed

For those who may not know, the FAA is trying to do away with radar. A simplification of the way this would work is the aircraft GPS would transmit identification, position and altitude. Other planes and ground stations could pick up this information and display it on a computer screen. I am sure that the FAA in conjunction with the avionics industry can find a way to make this expensive; with their cooperation it should actually cost less in the long run. This unit would replace the aircraft transponder and ground radar stations. As an Amateur Radio Operator, I was involved in a test of a similar system about 15 years ago. It was called APRS or Automated Position Reporting System. About 30 of us in the southeast US and Bahamas put them together and placed them on our sailboats. It required a GPS, transceiver and a notebook computer. The information from the GPS was periodically sent out in "packets" and it showed up on everyone's notebook computer as position and identification. By todays standards, its costs were small and it proved to be an excellent system. The big job would be getting the FAA to approve a low cost system. It is possible to mass produce such a unit for less than $1000, but who believes that will ever happen if it is for an aircraft? There was a time that one could switch from one plane to another and the avionics worked "pretty much" the same. Today that is not so and I want MY GPS with me so that I know which button to push. The FAA needs to learn that portable no longer means unreliable. Ed

Hi TK, What equipment are you not allowed to use VFR? Ed

Please tell me I will not have to run against Glenn in the Mid-Atlantic Region !!!!!

Well, if we did inspections, exactly what would we be inspecting? The FAA certifies the mechanics and they are already doing inspections on the aircraft. They are responsible for their work, inspections and sign offs. These inspections come around every 100 hours. I can hear it now, "But these guys sign off on things they didn't do." Maybe, but they put a lot on the line if they do. How would another inspector know whether the work actually had been performed? Answer is, in most cases he wouldn't. Ok, we are going to inspect the skydiving equipment. Well, the FAA is taking care of that one too. The riggers fall into exactly the same category as the mechanic. He could pencil pack one and chances are no one would ever know, certainly another inspector would never know. So, exactly what would this inspector be looking at? Ed

Well, they could, but who would pay for it? If there were no GM program and DZs did not require USPA membership, there would be skydivers who just depended on the rest of us to support USPA. They would be jumping without liability insurance and in the event of an accident, they might just walk away leaving someone else holding the bag. I suppose under these circumstances you could expect to pay $125 or more to be a regular USPA member. Ed

Ok, I received your PM asking me to chime in here. I am the Mid-Atlantic Regional Director and I am one of the members of the Nominations and Elections Committee. I am the newest member and probably the least qualified concerning the history. I asked to be assigned to this committee because I immensely dislike our election process and want an opportunity to participate in change. There are several constitutional changes that need to be made, as listed in some of the posts above. These changes require a 10% vote of the total membership. We all know that at present this is impossible. AOPA and a number of other similar membership organizations have a proxy written into their membership application, they get quite good response and are able to make the necessary changes when needed. We need to do that. What happens is that protocol gets in the way. That has to be handled by the Constitution and By Laws Committee chaired by Mike Mullins. I am hopeful that will be done soon. The entire board is and has been distracted from their duties by a number of issues that simply cannot be ignored. I wish they would go away so that we could move on with important business. Right now our Committee is daily working on the process, testing, costs and possible providers of electronic voting. BJ and Jan both have possible systems under consideration. Concerning the list of names on the Committee, please also know that Larry Bagley is a staff advisor to the Committee. Jerry, (Jerry and I have a lot in common.) please know that I will be in the room during any nominations procedure and will be paying attention. Martin, I have read a number of your posts and man you really need a briefing from your RD. GIGO I have a hesitation about posting on internet forums where the words are forever public record and can be taken out of context for any particular future purpose. I have held back some of what I might like to say for that reason. Please know that because some of us rarely post, that does not mean we are not paying attention to the wishes of the membership. If you have questions on history or procedure, Jan is the one to ask. Blue Skies, Ed

This years POPS Nationals will be held at Skydive Carolina in Chester, SC October 17-21. We can expect a great time. This is the first time they have hosted this event and they are are making the effort to see that it is a good one. If you haven't been to a POPS Hit and Rock, you have missed out !!! Link to the POPS Flyer www.thepops.org/usa/files/CarolinaFlyer.pdf

Chris, I added a few. Ed

Florence, SC 2007 May Fly. We made 3 jumps and payment was getting to fly the jet in the picture. Best paying demo I ever did !!! Ed

So, who would you (plural) like to see apply for the position? Ed

Jennifer, I will be up there in a few weeks to try and untangle this mess !!!! Blues, Ed

Yep, fire can happen anywhere, but there are times in a plane that you can't just leave, under 1000' for example. Sometimes I jump smoke and I always wear cotton on those jumps. I once spoke with a burn MD and he said that sometimes serious burns due to melting fabric would have been little more that an irritation if a natural fabric had been worn. Paste from another website: "Wear clothes made of natural fabrics such as cotton, wool, denim, and leather. They offer the best protection. Synthetics may melt when they are heated. " Ed

Warnings: Avoid wearing synthetic fabrics while traveling by plane. If a fire breaks out in the cabin, these materials will melt to your skin. Ever think about the fabrics you wear when jumping ? Ed

You have a lot to learn and in the process, you will be making mistakes. A larger canopy will help you survive intact until you are ready for a smaller canopy. I would suggest a 210 main and downsize after 100 or so jumps. If you are a natural, you might be fine with a 190. Ed

I got a ride in a T-33 this past week-end in exchange for 3 demo jumps. That was pretty good pay !! Ed

I prefer the contact lens to the goggles. I remove my goggles for landing, It gives less of the tunnel vision effect and I can see other canopies better. On occasion the goggles fog on opening. I like to be able to see with them removed. Ed

If there is a paint requirement, I would like to know as well. I just removed all of the trim from one, painted it and put it back. I did notice that the new interior fabric had an FAA approval. Ed

(2006) 12 claims/ 11 paid/ 1 pending payment Ed

Took my grandchildren to see the manatee the last of December. They are ages 6 through 12. Then took them to fly in the wind tunnel in Orlando. They haven't stopped talking about it to this day. Rented gear and a boat at Port Hotel and Marina. If I can take 5 kids with me, it should be a snap without them. Manatee came right up to us to play. The kids will never forget it. Ed

If not for Ted, I might not be skydiving today. I was having some problems when I returned to skydiving after a layoff and Ted helped me overcome some hurdles. I didn't even ask, he just recognized the problem and offered the help. There aren't many like that. He will be missed. Thanks Ted !!!!