lowpull

Who ever taught your FJC did you a great dis-service. PLFs are mandatory for the class. Period. I have a trick that really helps teach why PLFs are so important. Me: "Ok, now we come to the spot in class where we learn to master the dreaded PLF.PLF stands for 'Parachute Landing Fall', but I am going to teach it to you in such a way that you won't be as likely to forget it, and, you will understand whento use it, and why you will need to.. PLF really stands for 'Pretty Lousy Flare'" This is where I get a few laughs, and soften them up for the next 1/2 hour or so, where the nice people in my class really start to not like me. I am pretty strict about making sure all my students know how to safely plf both directions, and we talk about what to do if they find themselves having to do it backwards. Sorry, if I rambled a bit. Hope some of this helps. ralph

This question just came up last weekend at the dz over beer. I was talking to a newly minted AFF I that had attended one of my SL ICC courses last fall, and we discussed this at length. Here is what we came up with. SL is simply not as sexy as AFF. Sl usually entails 3 students in a Cessna going to 3500'. Put out 3 low passes, make sure the bags are safe under the pilots seat, and get out for a low h&p. That is if you have the energy(or time),I usually ride the Cessna down and get ready for the next load of sl's. Plus making sure you have someone on the radio that can deal with more than one student canopy in the air at one time. The pros of the SL progression are that people that went through sl are usually better canopy pilots,can actually spot the a/c, and since sl usually entails multiple passes at a low altitude,the students are much better with spacial awareness in a small a/c, and as such do a much better job of protecting their handles, gear, and other peoples gear in tight quarters because they have had to move around on the floor of the Cessna. Because the sl program starts with 3500' exits, people are much more comfortable exiting at 3500'(or lower). How many days do you get at your dz where the cloud base is 4k, but below that it is clear and pretty and jumpable. In central and northern Fl we get quite a few. We have had newer jumpers come to the dz from some of the bigger dz's,and want to do their 55 and 35 exits. I love observing the look af stark terror when the door pops open and they reaize they can see their car from altitude. And seeing the confidence level climb when they realize that you CAN safely skydive from below 13.5k. Plus, as instructors, we are afforded the luxury of spending lots of time flying around at 3500 with the door open, and making sure they understand, and have the ability to communicate with the pilot, and know how to properly spot for the load. Plus, some guys(used loosely) really want to do it on their own. No one strapped to them, and no one holding on to them. I hope enough people realize that SL is a valuable tool to have available to teach people to jump out of airplanes. Some students can simply not process, retain,and use all the information we present at the AFF FJC. It is a huge amount to injest. After all, we are making them drink from a fire hydrant of information. It is also easier for student to swallow the knowledge that they have to repeat a jump when the jump costs $50 or $60 as opposed to $175. I hope enogh people see the light that sl is good for this sport. It is good for the student, it is good for the instructors, and it is good for the dzo's bottom line at the end of the day. Sending up a few loads to 3500' in the Cessna is better than said Cessna sitting in the hanger all day while we fly the turbine. Hope this helps ralph nichols

Hell, I'll answer this one. I know lots of jumpers that wear a camera ever jump. This in no way means that they are to be considered dedicated video jumps. Just because you have a camera on the side of your freefly helmet, does not a videographer make of you. I consider a video jump to be a jump where the sole focus of the skydive is to fly your slot to capture video evidence of that jump. You wear a camera and the end video is the goal of your skydive. Does this help? Your gear, your slot,your mind set,everything on that jump is about you making sure you video is in focus, in frame and does not interfere with the world going on on the other side of that view finder. Ralph

tnink they could find her a rig that actually fits her???

And what is wrong with Palatka?

yes sir it is. I will post a better pic of my dz ride tonite.

I took 4 years to finally get it, but here is my new tag! The State of Fl's public service can sometimes be measured as glacially, but I did finally get the tag I have wanted since I got home from Iraq in 2005. ralph

I have jumped almost every tandem main on the market. I owned a Sigma with the 365 in it. Once the canopy was open, I really liked it.The openings were just not to my liking. Now, before I get dozens of responses from people extollong the virtues af this canopy, and how I don't know what i am talking about, this is my OPINION. I liked the flight charactaristics of the canopy, and really liked the response of the bottom end of the flair. I am sure, had I put a few hundred more jumps on it, it wouyld have not seemed odd to me. Good luck with your new baby, abd be safe Ralph Nichols USPA Tandem I/E 09

I don't know Dave, might make for some eye catching video. I can hear the intro now "Tonite on Rescue 911, an English sky-god attempts to prove, yet again, that stupidity IS painful" "I'm William Shatner,and we will return right after a word from our sponsor, Lifestyle condoms, because some gene pools should be allowed to dry up" What ya think? ralph

The arms crossed on exit is not a "stunt" Nor is it forbidden. Having the hands on the harness(left hand left side, right hand right side) helps promote a better upper body position, and lessens the chance of the student having a fetal position in freefall. We teach the newer hand position, but there are still lots of instructors that still have the passenger cross their arms, and it works well enough for them. Just because we update procedures does not mean that the older proceures are forbidden. Not sure where you got that. Ralph USPA TAndem I/E

if you are the person that started this thread, and clings steadfastly to the idea that this is "cool" then yes, you

evry time you add to this thread, you proudly display your ignorance pertaining to every aspect of skydiving. Quit while you are behind dude! Now, I will wait for your reply trying to explain how I have no idea what I am talking about. Tandems, even if they go flawlessly, are never boring. Booth told me in my evaluators course that a tandem is the single most dangerous skydive you can make. The man knows what he is talking about. I sincerely question whether you have the intelligence,maturity, or common sense to participate in this sport. From what I have read, I believe you do not. ralph

Yes its has - on risers. Ok, now we squabble over mindless symmantical points. The RIG has no velcro. the main risers do. I have been lucky enough to watch this sport evolve at an astonishing rate. And,no I am not an"old school"instructor,as far as being progressive and open minded to anything, as long as it is safe and has the students best interest in mind. That being said however, this has nothing to do with the original post. I still maintain it is stupid and reckless to climb all over the tandem rig unless you are packing. ralph

no, you are one of the people that this type of drivel would appeal to. There are certain people that have responded to this thread because, somewhere,at some dz, someone will read this type of mis-informed " hey, watch this" performance, and try this, and we have enough of an up-hill battle promoting safety as it is. So, having followed your post history, you probably don't want to see this proven to be a mindless, stupid stunt. SOOOOO glad you aren't responsible for students lives....

have you ever even SEEN a Sigma tandem rig? There is NO velcro on this rig anywhere. And I have no idea what you are talking about with the passenger harness either. This entire thread has become ludicrous. At the beginning of you post, you imply how poorly designed the passenger harness i, because "Sigma passenger harness do not even let you make unstable/HD/back fly/ exit from plane (cause this can lead you into uncontrolled spin), " and at the bottom"Never try Sitfly with tandem; never try CWR with tandem, and never try swoop with hook turns. " Your ability to contradict your self makes you lose the tiny bit of credability you might have had. I wish this thread would go away... Ralph Nichols USPA TandemI/E

and the quality of you jm's expertiese ahs what to do with your ability to land a parachute?? Are you sure you are ready to be a skydiver. Maturity seems a bit lacking here...........

#1 Jerrod"Hey Dennis, do you have any tshirts in medium?" Dennis" No we only have them in mens sizes" #2 " I would jump topless, but we have to uphold a professional image for The Wing House" While watching the Florida /Georgia game, after Tebow ran for a td, Dr Baker, my girlfriend, asks something to the effect of"does that make it 37 or 38?" (Dr Baker grew up next to Danny Wuerffel, attended UofF and is a rabid college football fan), and some guy starts to explain how a touchdown is 6 points unless they make the extra point and then its 7 points, and since the gators had 28 before the score, now it would be 35.... After looking at the guy blankly for 3 or 4 seconds, she replies" NO, is that 37 or 38 rushing tds?" He walked away quietly. Any one else?

NO NO NO NO DO NOT trust an RSL to save your life. If you think that only pulling the cutaway will save your life, you have been taught wrong. An RSL is a back up device that can, has, and will fail in the future. The ONLY thing that will activate your reserve to save your life is your left hand pulling the reserve handle(most of the time.) And a Sky hook with an RSL should not interfere with each other. ralph

I'm 5'6 and around 145 and I am a tandem I/E. If you want it bad enough, you CAN do it. Ralph

as reluctant as I am to admit this, I actually loaded up this evening, went to books a million,and waited in line for the release of the book at 12:01. My big mistake was taking my girlfriend along. Lets just say that the biggest percentage of this particular demographic probably are not the most sexually experienced lt. I over heard a heaed discussion by 2 guys in their mid 30s( in costume no less)argue whos scepter was more powerful. Thankfully, my girlfriend had the decency to stagger to the rear of the store before she broke down in a convulsing mass of hysterical laughter, as I would have had to defend my self from being assaulted by some rather heavy, pale gentlemen wearing capes and d&d t-shirts. I made my lady swear to NEVER bring this episode up, basically upon the threat of bodily injury. I truly hope the book is worth the mortification I endured to go get it...... Ralph

AWESOME advice. It is so hard to get candidates to understand that proper procedures will save your life. That aside,the tandem I was pretty poor on this jump. 1 Lazy drogue throw,, 2 Followed by no handle touches in drogue fall. Glad it worked out as well as it did tho ralph

I have worked at several dropzones over the years,(as well as traveled to many to run tandem courses, and I have NEVER seen the dz keep a master log. Never even heard of such actually.

these are NOT coaches we are talking about. There was a time being an AFF I meant doing the best job to teach a student, not slide by with the least effort required. I guess those days are no longer.

Nick, I have read your posts on here for a long time, and except for your wanting to eliminate tandems from our sport, I generally agree with most of what you say. That being said, I DID NOT say that you were setting a bad precedent for this student. I DID say his instructors did, by allowing him to pass this jump after failing the most important objective set before him. Saving his life by pulling. Since I have been an instuctor(1994 by the way)I have become a master at finding a way to accentuate the positive on every jump I am fortunate enough to accompany one of our students on. If they are unable to grasp the seriousness of the ruls set up for their(and my) safety, I will work and try to find a way to teach them to respect thy altitude,and be the safest skydiver they can be. As far as lowering the boom, if you do this long enough, you will eventually have to give the dreded"last jump course" Golf is a great sport, and 3 times in all my years I have had to tell someone they simply were not capable of being in the sky with us. As far as me giving him advice to shop for better I's, I didn't chime in here till I read advice from people with 130 jumps acting like the voice of God. This kid put this out for the whole world to read, and as you know, he is going to get tons of horrible advice from people that have no business trying to impart their input, although well intentioned it may be. I still stick to my original statement,,,,no pull, no pass. I hope this clears up my post, as I do not want this to devolve into the usual painfull rhetoric that this site seems to breed. peace ralph

no pull, no pass period. Like John Wright, I am going to do everything to keep the student motivated and coming back,but, no pull, no pass. You Instructor did you a great dis-service by passing you, and setting you up for lower standards for all the rest of your jumps. "but you pulled for me on Cat A and I passed, so why did you fail me for not pulling on Cat D?" Find better instructors. Ralph Nichols