freeatlast

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content

    660

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Feedback

    0%

Posts posted by freeatlast

  2. i'm also heading to the bridge for my FJC the week of 25/5 and i'm wondering if anyone's going past SLC airport and could give me a lift to TF ???

    Also is it worth spending any time in SLC or should i head straight for TF once i've landed ???

    Thanks ...

  3. [/Quote]several airports i've been thru recently will allow you to either leave it locked and hang out by the xray in case they need to open it, or you can leave it unlocked and ask the screener to lock it afterwards...i prefer the first method, but it can take some time depending on how busy they are...

    I did this on my way through LA to New Zealand and followed their procedures exactly ... patiently waiting until I was told I could leave ... Imagine my surprise when I got to New Zealand and found someone had levered my case open and broken all the locks ... When I asked about it I was told that the case had simply opened in the hold as a result of being stacked up ... Pretty amazing considering the case was brand new and the toughest I could find ... It also didn't explain the LEVER MARKS INSIDE THE CASE !!!

    Clearly the TSA do not follow their own procedures !!!

    They eventually offered me $100 back towards my $400 case ...

    This is why I always carry my rig on and politely refuse to fly until my rig accompanies me ... so long as you remain polite and answer all questions in a calm manner ( and have ALL RELEVANT PAPERWORK) then they've always let me take my rig onboard (40+ flights so far) ... It just takes up to two hours occasionally ....

    So allow plenty of time and don't rely on the TSA to follow their own procedures !!

    James

  4. Well It's only a few days before we head to Florida to play - AND SEBASTIAN IS ON OUR LIST OF PLACES !!! (Do we get the free dinner ???? ) lol !!!! ;)

    We're going to be in Z-Hills , Deland , Sebastian and anywhere else we can find people to play with !!! :P

    What's the weather like right now - here in london it's rainy and cold (surprise !!!)

  5. Well thanks everyone for the overwhelming response - I'm landing in Tampa on the 15th and should be in Deland around the 18th Jan.

    I'm going to do the course with Scott as it seems to be one of the best around ...

    Hopefully I'll be a better canopy pilot for it !!!

    Anyway feel free to say hi if you spot someone looking lost on the 18th/19th ha ha :)
    James

  6. Cool - it definately looks like this is the course to go for then - thanks for all the reccomendations !!!

    It'll be my pre-second visit to Deland :$

    So I better go on a quiet day otherwise the beer bill might be high !!!

    - Also any advice on where to stay in the Deland area?? As we'll be there I guess for a couple of days!!

  7. I'm heading to florida in mid jan and I'm interested in taking a canopy control course whilst I'm out there. I'm interested in learning to fly my canopy in a better and safer manner rather than learning to swoop necessarily.

    Can anyone recomend a course / school. I've seen that deland offers such a course - are there any others running in mid jan ???

    Cheers

    James

  9. Just to add

    as far as I am aware -

    1. Losing a contact lens in these conditions is a rare occurence, but obviously the consequences can be pretty disastrous !!! No vision = interesting landing !!!

    2. Wearing polycarbonate safety glasses or goggles is one of the safest options due to the mechanical as well as optical benefits that they provide. The downside is that they look like protective eyewear and someone might question that. But then again oakleys use polycarbonate lenses and they look prettycool. But on a cold night any glasses / goggles can fog up - which can be a problem.

    3. Lasik or some similar method of surgery (PRK etc) can be the best option of all PROVIDING IT IS SUCCESSFUL. To better understand the potential risks of any surgery it is worth asking around before rushing off to have it done.

    There are many successful lasik and eye operations every day, however it is worth noting that when they go wrong the results can be pretty disastrous. I have seen people who have increased light sensitivity post-surgery. I also worked in places where there were many contact lens patients using just 1 contact lens where they'd had lasik or similar on one eye and would not have the second eye done.

    In all fairness the procedures are practised in increasing numbers and the technology gets better and better so the risks are getting ever smaller, but in truth the risk will never be 0%.

    There was a famous incident with a climber years ago who had laser surgery and his cornea was thinned to such an extent that it ruptured at altitude and left him blinded in very inhospitable conditions.

    So before deciding to go for surgery - just make sure you have all the facts and then make an informed choice.

    I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination and would suggest that if you are interested in lasik or any procedure that you seek suitable information from people qualified to give you unbiased advice.

    The british college of optometrists (i think) offers such advice and you can find them on the net.

    Anyway what ever you choose - be safe !!!

  10. Maybe I should ask about jumping with breast implants...do you use a sturdier bra for slider off jumps?



    Now there's a debate we'd like to see - perhaps some in depth research is required - implants vs. natural. Std bra vs Sports Bra

    Maybe we can get agent provocatuer to sponsor it .....

    He starts to dream ..... :$

    I knew I'd find a better career than optometry eventually !!!

  • Hi purplekitten

    I did my AFF in sebastien and so have several of my friends - they're very friendly over there and the standards were very high !!!

    I would reccomend it, mick and gill are great people.

    Also the flights are plentiful and reasonably cheap if you pick your time !!!

    In fact we're thinking of heading back there in Feb / March :)
    The other cool thing about the US is the wind tunnels - awesome way to get coaching in a controlled environment. I would reccomend getting some time in one if you can ( the cost's the only major downside).

    Other good places to learn include Deland, Z-Hills, Perris Valley and Eloy PM me if you want to ask any questions.

    But do allow enough time to finish your course :)
    2 weeks is usually plenty - I went for a week the first time with some friends and had to go back (shame !!) for another couple of weeks after that.

    Be prepared for all the bills though - because once you've got your AFF you're going to want to jump and jump and that means probably buying a rig !!! :P

    I'm sure though that wherever you go you'll have a great time though !!!! :P

  • I had tons of trouble taking out of Auckland airport ... Taking it in was no problem they just had an issue with it being taken as a carry-on on the way back - 2 hours later and lots of calm explanations to each person starting with the security guard and ending with the airline duty manager eventually saw my rig being taken as a carry on.

    Also on the same trip I had a bad experience at LA
    but again lots of time and patient explanations got the result that I wanted !!!

    Having said that I've flown in and out of LA 6-8 times recently and that was the only trouble I've had.

    The strange thing is my 2.4M kayak gets a much easier ride despite weighing 20 kg and being much more bulky !!!

  • Quote

    And my point is that the dropzone is a good place to start looking. I never said it was the only place. Also, the onus does rest on the newbie to use some common sense in who they choose as a mentor.

    Personally I wouldn't feel happy trusting my life to some stranger that I found on the internet. The closest I've come to that is the BR FJC. It is reassuring that the people I jump with and learn from I already knew from skydiving. But that is just me, YMMV.

    Will



    I guess it's always going to take a little effort to find suitable people - especially in a sport which is as close-knit as BASE.

    Not many people are listed in the phone book under "mentor" - and even when you find someone who is experienced enough, you will then have to prove to them that you are dedicated enough and that you have the right skills and are the right sort of person that they should invest THEIR TIME and EFFORT in YOU !!!

    I know it will take me time and effort to find a suitable mentor, and until one is found, I will continue to practise my canopy control / tracking etc ...

    I just hope I find one before they run out of #'s :P

  • Quote

    It seems to be airport specific these days, in Pasco Washington you cannot take a rig as carry on.

    But at Portland PDX its not a problem.... LAX...not a problem....etc.........I dont get it myself. The podunk airports seem to be the worst.

    Roy



    I had BIG PROBLEMS AT LAX TWO WEEKS AGO !!!!

    I have carried my rig as carry-on about 15-20 times in the last 12 or so months without any major difficulties ....

    However on the last trip from Auckland to Heathrow via LAX I had major problems first of all they (Qantas) didn't want to let me take the rig on board.

    The various excuses used ranged from:-

    "I've heard of parachutes EXPLODING on the planes and causing a lot of mess / trouble"

    "Is that one of the ones with the EXPLOSIVES in it ??"

    "The captain may not want you to have one as he doesn't have one himself"

    "because I heard you say that your life MIGHT DEPEND ON IT (the rig) I'm not sure if we're comfortable with your STATE OF MIND !!!!"

    (- I had just explained that I'd rather not jump a rig that the baggage handlers and TSA had abused out of my sight)

    Eventually 2 hours later after talking calmly and rationally to the not very calm (or rational) baggage supervisor at Auckland airport and after getting the Qantas Duty Manager involved I was allowed to carry my rig on.

    I then went through the same amount of hassle when connecting at LAX ...

    "Do you have camping equipment in the backpack that we're x-raying ???"

    "No, it's my sport parachute"

    "I'm sorry we can't ALLOW THOSE ON OUR PLANES ..."

    "But you have the last 10 or so times I've flown across the US"

    "I'm sorry but I CANNOT ALLOW IT"

    "Perhaps you could check your literature to see that it is generally allowed to be carried onto aircraft"

    "I can tell you (without looking) that I HAVE NO SUCH MEMO"

    "Well perhaps I can show you some paperwork"

    "I'm sorry but unless it comes from MY HEAD OFFICE (TSA) then I cannot accept it"

    "Can I get someone to fax it to them then???"

    "I'm sorry they're closed today" - With a smile !!!

    Anyway 1 hour later after several conversations and a phone call (or two) they eventually let me on the plane.

    The bizarre thing was my rig was more of an issue than my 2.7m kayak !!!

    The general rules seem to be

    1. ALLOW PLENTY OF TIME TO CHECK IN

    2. ALWAYS BE POLITE

    3. STICK TO YOUR GUNS - POLITELY BUT FIRMLY

    4. CARRY ALL RELEVANT PAPERWORK !!!

    5. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR SUPERVISOR

    6. REMEMBER THEY ARE DOING THEIR JOB.

    7. KILLING THEM IS NOT AN OPTION !!!:P

    I hope this helps .....

  • Ok - I'm leaving NZ on Sunday and have a 7hr stop-over in LA.

    (Long journey) Taupo - Auckland - LA - Heathrow - home !!!

    I obviously have to make it back to the airport in plenty of time for my flight.

    My options seem to be -

    1.Leave the airport (if poss) and go sit on the beach :)
    2.Stay in the airport lounge (for 7 hours) :S

    3.Get drunk at the airport bar ????


    What would you suggest ??? (I don't think I've enough time to make perris or elsinore for even 1 load !!!) :(


    Cheers


    James

  • I agree that training is one of the positive ways that we can help to reduce the statistics. Perhaps if more canopy courses were available and more people were encouraged to take one then things might improve. I certainly will take one if there is one available locally (otherwise I intend to travel to a DZ where I can take one once I've settled down after my trip).

    Perhaps you could offer cheaper skydiving insurance to those people who complete an accredited course in the previous year and then maintain the cheaper insurance subject to them completing a (short) refresher/check out jump each year? Perhaps there could be a manufacturer led incentive scheme where higher performance canopies are slightly discounted to those who complete an approved course or hold a suitable rating???

    These are obviously just ideas - but maybe someone clever could come up with something workable !!! :$

    However you will always have the "I know better than everyone else" person who does something totally irresponsible who will continue to be as dangerous as ever despite the best efforts of the rest of us.

  • Quote

    Quote

    Done....have it in my will that no one is to be sued for any reason for any association with my possible demise in any way related to skydiving.



    I dont agree with that, yes shit happens yes we make mistakes, but there should always be questions and if it avoids futher mistakes then maybe court action should be taken.



    Well I don't agree with you :(

    I agree with Phillykev on this one ....

    We aren't saying don't question HOW something happened or that we should not try to establish the cause of accident and then learn from it so that safety improves. But what we are saying is that where something happens ACCIDENTALLY then we would ask that our relatives etc do NOT SUE the companies involved.

    Why should everyone involved in our sport suffer with higher costs etc (to pay for ever larger insurance policies) when if we all took a conscious decision to not sue EXCEPT in the situation of PROVEN MALICE OR NEGLIGENCE then the insurance costs to all of us would be (theoretically !!!) lower.

    Less opportunist "get-rich quick" claims = Lower premiums for all of us.

    This must surely be a good thing !!!

  • I'd probably pay my loan off !!! :$

    And then start running up some more debt !!!

    Jumps / rig / food / drink ...

    And probably have another road trip !!! (This one finishes properly on sunday :( - then it's back to the uk to work like a dawg until I've enough money to do something else fun !!!)

    But you said that you'd got this "little bonus" - HOW MUCH IS A BIG BONUS THEN ???? ha ha :P

    And if its lots - please send me your photo and phone number !!!! :P:P:P:P:P:P