MikeTJumps

I will consider anyone who voluntarily exits from an airplane, whether as a Tandem Passenger or as an individual carrying sport parachute equipment on their own back a skydiver. The person "dives" in the sky. Static Line, AFF, Tandem, Instructor Assisted Deployment....we all use the same media and basic equipment. Now the military may call them Parachutists but we all know the same feelings. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

Each tandem landing is different because of the amount of weight and help the tandem instructor has to deal with at landing time and the dynamics of the landing flare (just like switching from one size of aircraft to another all the time). We Tandem Instructors try to make everything as safe as possible for you, our passengers. Some landings are rougher than others. There is just a huge amount of "stuff" to deal with, but ideally, the landings can be sit down - slide into a base -soft or stand up and walk-outs. The equivalent is a drop off a three foot platform. By all means, it is very important for the passenger to get their feet up so that the tandem instructor takes the landing force. Wishing you many more safe jumps! Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

Welcome to our world!!! Your post was a joy to read. We can all re-live our first jumps through posters such as yourself. Be sure to get a copy of either (or both) of the leading introductory texts on the sport: Parachuting, The Skydivers Handbook (by Dan Poynter and me) and/or Jump, Skydiving Made easy and Fun (by Tom Buchanan) Either or both will provide you with lots of information to make your journey into our world more knowledgeable. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

Interesting story, Bill!

Flight physicals have their own expiration dates. A class 3 physical has either a 3 or 2 year term depending up the age of the person it was issued to. See the back of the form! An up to date physical certificate is required for ratings renewals. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED.... Dan and I are very happy to personalize and autograph any of our books for you, previously purchased or purchased there. It is our pleasure! Mike Turoff Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

To my knowledge, Dave Boatman (deceased) operated the original Spaceland Parachute Center in League City, TX (Houston Gulf Airport formerly known as Spaceland during NASA construction days), and was the first one to introduce the Twin Otter as a regular jump ship (I emphasize regular as in scheduled routinely, not just one or two times) in skydiving operations. That was back in the 1976-77 era. Mike Turoff Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

Please feel free to stop by at the Para Publishing booth at the PIA symposium and say hello. I may not remember names as easily as others, but the pleasure of your company at the booth will always be appreciated. Mike Turoff

Good for you, Rita! Congratulations on finishing your book. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

Several years ago, an audiology study was performed on the climb to altitude and the freefall noise. The freefall noise exceeded the normal safe limits for exposure (>105dB). I have been wearing the foam earplugs for the majority (>95%) of my jumps. Age and other exposures not withstanding, they have helped me not lose more hearing than normal. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

Please remember the manufacturer's directives if you are in an uncontrollable side spin: If the drogue side is up, you may throw the drogue. If the drogue side is down, you should deploy the reserve. (Yes, I'm a Tandem Examiner) Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook

I've had two malfunctions in 15 years of Tandem Instruction. I've known folks who have had more. I've also known folks who have had less. I average one out of every 400 jumps for my regular gear and about the same for the Tandem gear. Mike Turoff Instructor Examiner, USPA Co-author of Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook