maestrabella67

So, what will USPA do with this situation, given that the DZO/pilot did not have the proper licensing to fly jumpers, and his medical was out of date and this was a USPA member? Just wondering.

You know, I'm about 25 years younger than you, OP, and I can't arch properly either. I've done 3 jumps towards AFF, I'm stuck on the second jump (cat B) because of that problem (and because the DZ has gotten weathered out, I've had other things to do that have kept me away from DZ for a while). So I'm not so certain that age is a valid reason for your instructors to tell you to consider quitting. All in all, I think you're getting good advice here, and I am going to take advantage of it, too! I just want to wish you the best of luck--I hope you get that A license and eventually jump with your son. I want that A license to prove to myself that I CAN do this (I never, ever in my life considered learning to skydive until last fall sometime) as well as to be able to jump with the love of my life. Age is a question of mind over matter... if you don't mind, it doesnt' matter! Hang in there!!!

Mine are: 1. Saying adiós to my 6th hour class next Wednesday when they will walk out my door, never to darken it again! Whoo hoo! 2. Watching the love of my life and 2 others jump flags Saturday and helping as ground crew. I saw them practicing at DZ recently, it was way cool, will be even cooler at the actual event 3. THURSDAY, MAY 22, THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

Dang, if I could just get an A license by doing hop n' pops I'd be all set!

Those are great words, croc, thank you! And thanks to everybody who's been answering. I've only done 3 jumps in AFF, and one of my hang ups is that I keep dropping my knees during free fall. I can't get my arch correct because of dropped knees. I'm so embarrassed to admit this, but I'm probably the only person ever to get stuck on the category B jump. I know, however, that I am not ready to continue on to C until I can arch properly. My other hang up is that free fall scares the bejeebers outta me! I don't have door issues, I don't have problems getting out of the plane, it's just the actual free fall itself terrifies me! It's such a relief when I hit 5,500 and it's time to wave off then deploy. Under canopy so far has been fine. Jump 1 went great, jump 2 I totally busted I got so freaked out, to the point of losing my altitude awareness... I suddenly realized one of my instructors was making the "pull" signal right in front of me, that was when I looked at my altimeter and went "oh, crap, I'm already at 5,000!". Jump 3 went much better than jump 2, yet I can't make my legs do what I want them to. Fortunately, my instructors tell me that the knee dropping IS a fixable problem... and they haven't handed me a bowling ball... yet...

Skydiving and Scuba pretty much have the same basic concern . . . running out of air. Hope you're enjoying your jumps. That's a good one!

I wouldn't say that the AFF program in general is hard, it's just hard for ME. My instructors are top-notch. They're patient, encouraging, thorough, and honest. I know that I won't pass a jump just for the heck of it; if I can't do the skill required, then I won't pass. Fortunately, they haven't handed me the bowling ball... yet...

Spanish: extráñame cuando me haya ido amor verdadero

I've done 3 jumps towards AFF, and each time free fall feels different... I wouldn't really say it's a feeling, it's more about noise and speed... free fall goes SO FAST that 5,500 comes quickly, it's LOUD and at least here in Indiana, at 11,000 feet up it's also a bit chilly this time of year. Hehe... why don't you do your AFF1, then YOU tell US how it feels? Answering this question is like trying to explain skydiving to a whuffo! Good luck with AFF1, BTW!

I LOVE Mexico City!! I've been there scads of times so I can try to help you. Send me a PM and let me know more info about the AIDS conference, as in what part of the city it will be held, how much time for sightseeing you will have, etc. Anything you want to know, if it's in my realm of experience or knowledge, I'm your girl!

According to my AFF instructors, almost everybody who jumps ran into some kind of hang up or difficulty they had to overcome somewhere along the line while learning... what was your "hang up" and how did you overcome it?

Isn't being scared normal? Especially after only 2 jumps? What's weird for me is that I wasn't totally scared Sunday when I did AFF1, but last night as I was falling asleep it suddenly hit me... I did THAT?? I got scared in retrospect! But it's not enough to keep me from continuing! I have a feeling, though, that when I get to having NO instructor holding me in free fall that I'm going to be a little more (ok, a lot more!) nervous. From what I've been reading on here, you will get over it. Hang in there, fellow student/newbie!!

Yippee!!! It's been about 15 hours since I got back on the ground, and I can't get the grin off my face for longer than 5 seconds! It was GREAT! I went to the DZ yesterday not sure if I would actually do it, I didn't feel ready, not really scared, just not ready. It wasn't a very nice day being chilly and gray. But then we went out to the plane, and practiced the dive flow bunches and bunches until it was burned into my brain. My two instructors are more than patient, they answered any question I had, right down to the most trivial or silly. Then it was time to board the plane. I didn't feel really nervous, I'd been in that plane before on my 2 tandems, I knew what 11,000 feet was going to look like, so I just tried to enjoy the ride up while going over everything mentally. I also remember praying "God, if I'm going to bounce, please don't let it hurt too much!" I had forgotten how the wind rushes by--when I got my right foot out on the step and grabbed the strut while getting my other leg out I really had to hang on! I vaguely recall thinking "I can't believe I'm doing this". I did my hotel check, then off we went! I was so amazed to find myself belly flying--the arch really does work!! Yes, you skydive veterans can laugh at that comment. It's all just so amazing to me still! My instructors gave me hand signals, I tried to do them, they had to whack my legs because I didn't have them positioned properly, as AFFI 2 wrote in my log "dropped knees a little low, tapped legs, she pulled them up some, I would like to see them a little higher". Got my 3 practice pulls done, although the first time I couldn't find the handle--it moved! 6,000 ft came super-quick; I did my wave off at 5,500, then pulled the handle. The pilot chute came out... and the bag didn't. AFFI 1 had to pull my bridle to get it out since we were in a burble... lucky me... both instructors told me that as a solo jumper burbles don't happen like that, but with the 3 of us together they sometimes appeared. Then, as the main came out, I was jerked upward, thinking at the time "Okay, now I'm on my own". When I looked up at the main, it was all in one big twist, however, as I started to separate my risers, as if by magic it untwisted, righted itself, and as soon as that happened, down came the slider. Then I heard one of the coaches on the ground talking to me, telling me to finish my opening checks, and if I could hear him, make a right turn. By then AFFI 1 was back on the ground, and he then took over the radio. AFFI 2, who had been on the reserve side, ended up off the airport in a field (hehe, two times in row, both with students!) It was incredible!!! The canopy ride seemed to last forever, it was a bit frightening under canopy when I realized "hey, I am the person flying this thing!" yet everything went smoothly. AFFI 1 on the ground gave me good instructions, and I had a nice,soft stand-up landing. One of the regular jumpers was there to meet me, he had my camera, took some pictures, and helped me corral the parachute--after I landed it, it was like I got overwhelmed and when I was told to pick one toggle and pull it, it sort of didn't register and I almost got bowled over by the chute. I hope to do the next jump this coming weekend; it depends on what's on the DZ schedule, as well as the weather. Indiana is more than temperamental this time of year. All in all, #1 was a blast!!! I still have a long way to go to that A license, but I've taken the first step!!

Double whoo hoo and congrats!! You got the first one in! Yay!!!

GRRRRRR!!! Looks like we're going to get weathered out again this weekend here in Indiana. Holy cow! Hope you get yours in, npgraphic!

As a newbie who hasn't even been able to make her category A jump in AFF yet due to crappy weather, I've been reading the forums, and I also read the thread about the cutaway handle being a "dummy". I've been reading THIS thread with interest, and as a scuba diver who takes very good care of my gear, knows it well, sets it up, dives with it, tears it down, cares for it, etc., I see myself transferring that concept to my skydiving gear when I finally get my own. I can't imagine participating in an activity like scuba or skydiving and NOT taking care of my own stuff. I've had part of a packing lesson, and all I can say is that when I become proficient at it, I will be packing my own rig (except reserve, obviously) even if it takes me a long time to do it. I was diving in Mexico last month on a boat where the divemaster sets up each person's scuba unit... I was not happy about that! I went through FJC/ground school at my dz last weekend, and I am happy to report that this particular place IS doing everything the way it should be done. I KNOW what the RSL is, when it should be disconnected, and not to rely on it. I KNOW what the handles do, I had to wear the rig and practice practice practice. I KNOW the parts of a parachute, I UNDERSTAND how they work, I have all the knowledge pounded into me (heck, we were there for 8 hours!!) now I just have to get up into the sky and use it. We were also taught about gear checks... although maybe my dz is a bit different in that it's smaller, homier than perhaps a big dz, in the two tandems that I've done, my TI checked the spotter's gear and vice versa just before door. Yes, even though ultimately I will be responsible for doing a thorough gear check on the ground before putting the rig on, jumpers at my dz still look out for each other (but I can't rely on THEM). I think that knowing your gear intimately and taking care of it yourself is one way to become a safe skydiver. Of course us newbies will need lots of help at the beginning, but when we're finally capable of doing it on our own, it's up to US. The idea of getting an A license, purchasing my own rig, then letting somebody else always take care of it makes me extremely uncomfortable. Long-winded, sorry, just the thoughts of an anxious newbie.

That is just SO lame! But I have to admit that I did laugh, while rolling my eyes.

Yay for you, Mr. Biceps!! You did it!! You got your first AFF done!! Whoo hoo!!

Weather here is looking great right now, it's about 63 and sunny, but tomorrow it's supposed to change... dropping about 30 deg, going to get snow and rain showers... I already know that I won't be getting the actual first jump tomorrow, there's too many tandems scheduled at my DZ so I'm sure I'll get it in Sunday... if not, I'm going to have a nervous breakdown waiting for it! It all depends on the weather... One of my students (I'm a high school teacher) wanted to know if I would do SPLAT before first jump... SPLAT? I asked? Yes, he said, S squat P pray L leap A aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!! T touchdown Hehehe!!!

The Covenant by James Michenor, about South Africa. Intriguing story, makes me want to visit SA.

I appreciate all your comments... the training really is the important part, it does kick in when a situation arises. I know this from dealing with my first underwater difficulty on a wreck at 70 feet. I knew what I had to do, and I did it as a reflex action because it was something that was practiced, practiced, practiced and practiced till it became a natural reflex. From what other jumpers are telling me, it's the trained reflex actions, the knowing what to do when, that make all the difference. That's what is giving me the confidence that I CAN learn how to skydive and handle what happens. I'm so excited for that first jump!

I'm in Indiana, and right now the forecast isn't so great for this weekend. However, did I mention I'm in Indiana? "We have a saying here: if you don't like the weather, wait a couple of hours and it'll change." Anything is possible!

I'm doing my first AFF this weekend... I alternate between excitement and apprehension... yet from what I've been reading (the SIM, this website, etc), I almost feel that parachutists just expect malfunctions or problems; that this is the norm, and that more than likely I'm going to have some kind of situation on my hands every time I jump. On the other hand, I'm an experienced scuba diver, which helps me see many correlations between scuba and sky diving. The basic scuba course is all about learning what COULD go wrong and how to deal with it underwater IF it does. I'm thinking that skydiving is this way also: learning about what COULD go wrong, and how to to deal with it IF it does. Which of those two perceptions is closest to the truth? I appreciate any input or thoughts from you wiser, licensed jumpers! Thanks! MB67

Hehehe... you asked all the questions that are in my mind, npgraphic! I also am doing my first AFF this weekend. I did two tandems last fall, and have decided no more messing around; I'm going to learn to do this on my own so I don't have to depend on another skydiver to jump. Ground school Sat., and if there's time between all the tandems at the dz, cat A jump Sat as well. My home dz is small and has about 20 tandems scheduled for Saturday. In technical terms, I am not a "paying" customer so I don't get load priority. If I can't do the first jump Sat., it'll definitely be on Sunday. I alternate between thinking "This is going to be so cool! I can't wait!" to "I can't do this! I'm gonna die!" Fortunately, your all's responses to the original poster answer all my doubts/questions/fears, too, and encourage me as well. Thank you all! I'm interesting in hearing how your first AFF goes, npgraphicdesign! I know we'll do great, and we're going to have a ball!