tooueay

Winter Park has over 3000 feet of vertical. I don't know how you could say they have short runs. Mary Jane (which is a part of Winter Park) is my favorite area. It is known for having the best bump skiing in the lower 48 and only has 2 groomed runs. The glades up in Parsen Bowl are very good right now. They just recieved a fresh footie. Steamboat kicks butt as well and should have less of a crowd. I say go to Berthoud Pass for snowcat skiing. $2400 a day and it fits 13 people. "Free" lunch, powder guides, and avalanche training included. Give me ambiguity...or something else.

Is there really a shortage of pilots at the dropzones you guys are at? I've been hearing of dropzones looking and it amazes me with all of the guys on furlough. Something ain't right. Give me ambiguity...or something else.

I am just applying power for takeoff on our grass strip when I see an animal bounding down the runway towards us. The jumpers give me the "what's the diddly, yo?" look. The dog is coming right at the prop so I shut the plane down. It turns out one of the guys on the load has a 3 legged dog who is VERY attached to him. The damn mutt peg legged it over a half mile from the hanger to the plane! Maybe the dog realized that it's owner wasn't jumping out of a "perfectly good airplane"...? Give me ambiguity...or something else.

Seedy, I realize many safety sensitive jobs have random drug and alcohol screenings. What I am against is being screened prior to EVERY flight. Absolutely ridiculous. The VAST majority of commercial pilots do not fly drunk, hungover, or under the influence of any substance (except coffee and Diet Coke). For people to post that "many" pilots do this is wrong. In my short 2.5 years with the airlines, I have NEVER seen a pilot fly drunk or hungover. This is a very isolated incident that happened. Give me ambiguity...or something else.

I passed my check dive today. Then afterwards I did a fun jump from 5k for the heck of it. Boy was I surprised when the jump master rodeo dived me. I was heads down, sit flying, and generally flopping all over the place on that. It's hard to jump with a monkey (or jumpmaster) on your back... Feels pretty good to have the paperwork done! Pilot/jumper Steve Give me ambiguity...or something else.

Finally, somebody has hit the nail on the head. America DOES have a problem. It's not guns, it's not swimming pools, it's our culture. You don't see as many serial killers, school shootings, etc in other countries as you do in the US (for example). We are a more violent culture. Not just anybody can get a concealed weapons permit (if you state has such laws). As far as guns having only one purpose and that is to kill people....Well, if you could be any more misinformed, let me know. Guns have many purposes. Hunting, sport shooting (trap, target, etc), self defense, offense (killing human beings...war, police, etc.), and collecting are just a few purposes guns are made for. Gun safety is the primary goal of all responsible gun owners. We are not cowboys, crazy people, or wackos...we are your neighbor, your friend, and possibly your savior should the situation warrant. This is a very important topic for me personally. There is a debate as to whether pilots should be allowed to have firearms in the cockpit (after proper training). I would rather have a firearm at my disposal and NEVER need it than to be killed because I didn't have a gun and hence never had a fighting chance. Let us protect you and your loved ones to the best of our ability. Pilot/Jumper Steve Give me ambiguity...or something else.

According to one of the previous posts, we as pilots should be tested for intoxication before flying now, eh? How about surgeons, bus drivers, train engineers, oil tankers.... Huh..., everyone of these professions has had high profile alcohol related incidents yet I don't hear anyone on here jumping on the bandwagon for that. It amazes me how much people distrust pilots. You don't want us carrying a multi-tool yet we have control of the aircraft. How about this, I want everyone who has a job to have a breathalyzer prior to them starting work for the day. I don't want a drunk secretary typing poorly, a packer packing a malfunction, an insurance man selling me the wrong insurance, etc. This goes along the lines of "I don't swim in your toilet so please don't pee in my pool". Give me ambiguity...or something else.

I don't consider removing "under god" appeasing just atheists. What about agnostics (like myself). I guess appeasing religious types is okay though? I love double standards. At least all skydivers believe in one thing...gravity:D Give me ambiguity...or something else.

GPS is a great way to spot and reading the manuals obviously helps. It would also help if there was GPS installed in every jump aircraft. Sadly, that is not the case where I fly so I will continue to spot with my own eyes. Give me ambiguity...or something else.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I jump/fly at a small 2 Cessna DZ so there isn't a lot of canopies in the air at any one time. I always talk over the jump plan with everyone on the load prior to getting in the airplane. I assumed that's how it was everywhere but I'm getting the feeling that that isn't the case. Give me ambiguity...or something else.

I don't understand why so many experienced jumpers pull so low (around 2000). Is the extra few seconds of freefall what you are after...ground rush? I am very new (22 jumps) so I'm ignorant of many things with jumping. Please educate me! PS. I'm a total wuss. I pull at 4000 at the lowest. Give me ambiguity...or something else.

Jumping through clouds is a dangerous and stupid thing to do. You are risking lives (your's and non-participating aircraft). It is extremely difficult to spot jumpers in freefall when you are in an aircraft that is not affiliated with the drop. There was a recent incident in Europe with a skydiver hitting an aircraft in freefall. Everyone died. Not cool. That didn't involve a jumper suddenly exiting from a could either. Air Traffic Control typically separates IFR aircraft from jump activities. However, ATC does not always notice VFR traffic that may be in the DZ proximity...Lastly, you are jeopardizing the pilot's career by violating cloud clearances. We can be violated for anything a jumper does wrong. Your reserve out date...my butt. You cut an aircraft off on your landing...my butt. Please don't risk my livelyhood due to your selfishness. Thanksth, your guysthhh and the greateshthhhhh! Pilot/Jumper Steve Give me ambiguity...or something else.

Thanks for the replies guys and gools. I guess I just have to stop being such a pansy. The good news out of all of this is the DZO is going to transition me to a BOC sport rig for the duration of my student status (with Cypress of course). They want the 215 for the static line whuffos. I'll let you all know what it's like to not be afraid of pulling...(hmm...maybe I should rephrase that).

I've had a couple of "extremely" hard openings in my 18 jumps. On one I smacked my face on my chest mount altimeter. Then a month later on my 3rd jump of the day, the chute sniveled and then snapped open. The leg straps left vivid bruising. I'm jumping a Falcon 215 with a "student" rig from the time of dinosaurs. What can I do to make the openings softer? I've had hard openings with my pack jobs (rolling the nose as tight as I can), on senior rigger "pro packing" jobs, etc. It doesn't seem to matter. I fall at a 129 average. People have suggested watching the chute open as that would limit the "cracking the whip" effect...but then I just read a thread that you could injure your neck doing that due to whiplash. I end up only jumping 3 times in a weekend (max) due to how painful the leg straps are on opening. What's the deal?

Those thirsty bastages! I knew something smelled fishy about a failed 4 way being a case of beer (especially since I wasn't the one that goofed!). Just remember, not that I know how to jump, I won't hesitate to leave the plane if somebody becomes obnoxious or a bit too odorous. Thanks for the "Beer Rules"!