kflying

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Posts posted by kflying


  1. I'm just curious - with the evolution of tandems from a compressed FJC to a carnival jump - is there a correlation between the amount of time spent on the ground with the student versus the no time other than gearing up carnival rider and balking at the door?

    "old timers" - who remember when there was at least a 30 minute training class - your viewpoints would be appreciated!
    A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.

  2. Quote

    MMMmmm...
    I'm no expert,,,
    Have only 12,000 skydives,,
    ...7000 tandems......
    When faced with a line twist like that be 'VERY' careful of your next move...

    That was a "no-win"situation....Sometimes you need to accept the reality..
    The fact that i continued to video is irrelevant..the camera was on anyways and was not my primary concern..
    The malfunction was my primary concern,,
    Altitude pre-determined the cutaway..
    If you ever have severe line twists like that on a tandem or your sport rig treat it with kidgloves,,You might turn a safe,stable cutaway into wild spinning situation..
    The man in the seat,makes the call...


    I am in NO way an expert - only 2600 jumps/1200 tandems/4 tandem chops - to this newbie, you did it right! (And yes, I am ruining the chop average - all tension knots years ago before the highly improved gear!)
    A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.

  3. Quote

    Quote

    Buchmann should still be charged with manslaughter and reckless or careless operation of an aircraft.



    Wasn't he on final approach for landing? On an active runway, I'm guessing with radio contact?

    Unless he was operating outside of standard landing config. (airspeed, approach, flaps, etc), I don't see how you could classify his actions as reckless or careless.

    I can't believe that the Deland PD doesn;t have an FAA liason in on this. How do the cops know what normal flight ops. are? Addtionally, didn't the FAA just reinstate his ticket? When was the last time they did that without an investigation of the accident?

    The cops need to let this one go. I'm sure there's a half blind, senile senoir citizen making havoc on the roadways out there somewhere that needs attending to.



    I flew jump planes for many years, IMHO, my responability for the jumpers did not end when they exited the aircraft.

    I would count canopies while I descended - paid attention to them while juggling airspeed, aircraft avoidance and "observors" on board.

    Again - it's just MHO - I needed to "see and avoid" the canopies - I was higher and faster. When I was in doubt about "where they were", I'd go burn a few more gallons away from where "they might be."

    The argument that "he was in a standard landing pattern" simply ignores the responsability the "higher and faster" person has. And to even mention "radio contact" demonstrates a complete ignorance of basic safe operating procedures - was the jumper using a radio to "announce and declare landing intentions"? WHere does the basic safety rule of "see and avoid" enter into the "radio contact" mindset?

    Landing an airplane is EXACTLY the same as landing a parachute - smart people plan the landing long before the "landing pattern" - maybe I am demonstrating my age when I mention that part of spotting on jump run is planning where a round reserve opening at 1,000 (or lower!) feet will land?

    A truly competant jump pilot is planning his landing based on not just the "normal airplane landing procedures" but also on where his load is AT ALL TIMES!

    And yes - that is complicated when multiple jump aircraft are dropping loads. When that is a reality, the pilot's responsabilty extends to the other loads as well.

    To fall back on the "in the standard landing pattern" argument is as wise as saying, " I was waiting at a red light - it turned green so I went forward without looking left or right and suddenly I was hit."

    Arrgghh - let's stop making excuses. Lower and slower has the right of way - higher and faster, when it does not yield, is always wrong.
    A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.

  4. Quote

    >then please tell me why the new definition is not acceptable.

    Because science is the study of natural, not supernatural, phenomena.



    What defines the difference between between "natural" and "supernatural"?

    If one works from the postulate that the working of God is a "natural" thing, would not "science" include the study of things often considered to be "religious"?

    Please remember, once "science" "proved" the earth was flat and that it was the center of the universe.

    A real scientist keeps her/his mind open.

    And I ain't no scientist!

    -
    A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.

  5. Quote

    http://www.PetitionOnline.com/usncpr/


    I've just been invited into a couple of organizations. The work is in finding the ones that are about the kids and not hating people. I don't hate people. I hate the system. It has to change quickly.



    Sorry you're going through something similar to what I went through. What worked was firing the lawyer and working with the school - demonstrating who the parent really was.

    'Course - it was more complicated than that, yet putting the child first really is the best option. Doesn't matter how awful the ex is - focus on how you can help the child.

    (My son is now safe and secure with me! Took 4-1/2 years, cost me a flying career and it was worth it!)

    Kinda like a bad spot on a night jump - you know this is not going to be good, but you keep your head all the way in.

    Hang in there, my friend! Kids are always worth it!

    -
    A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.

  6. Quote

    I must be missing something here....

    I just read in the classifieds that Toledo is looking for a bigger turbine, twelve place or larger.

    Whats up with that?



    C'mon, Brett - tell us what you "know".

    You always treated me square when you were the DZO - be that same man again.

    -
    A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.

  7. Update - now I am getting "Operation timed out when trying to connect" when using Netscape. IE still getting in.
    A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.

  8. Well, wherever the updates came from, it's not just happening at dropzone.com. Talenttree.com is doing something similiar, but you get some error messages - wait - just checked again, now it's working (I notified them earlier today).

    I've done no updates for months to Netscape.

    Computers - wonderful when they work......
    A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.

  9. Quote

    Are you using the DZ.com IP or using a work-arounf on your IP? The DZ.com IP address changed last night due to server upgrades.



    It's definately something centered around the IE browser versus other browsers. I had switched to Netscape 6 months ago because of all the security issues. For the last 2 days I've been getting the "Connection refused" when trying to get here with Netscape, but with MS IE I get in.

    Were your server updates from Microsoft...?
    A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.

  10. Since the weather precluded my being at the DZ this weekend, I've been reading and responding some threads. On response, I've waited for the "automatically redirected" action to occur - it ain't happening.

    IE 6.2
    Windows 2000 pro - all MS updates applied.

    Asking as a junior user to someone smarter than me - Waz up?!!

    -
    A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.

  11. 16 jumps - to the obvious tune:

    Some people say a jumper is made outta cash
    A poor man's made outta credit and trash
    Credit and trash and skin and bones
    A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong

    You jump sixteen times, what do you get?
    Another day older and deeper in debt
    Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
    I owe my soul to the manifest ‘ho

    I was born one mornin' when the winds did moan
    I picked up my rig and I walked to the zone
    I jumped sixteen times, out at 2
    And the DZ boss said "Well, I’m still chargin’ you"

    You jump sixteen times, what do you get?
    Another day older and deeper in debt
    Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
    I owe my soul to the manifest ‘ho

    I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rain
    Drinkin' and trouble are my middle name
    I was raised in the loft by an ol' rigger man
    Cain't no-a high-toned woman make me sober again

    You jump sixteen times, what do you get?
    Another day older and deeper in debt
    Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
    I owe my soul to the manifest ‘ho

    If you see me trackin', better track away
    A lotta men didn't, a lotta blood sprayed
    A helmet of iron, booties tuned true
    If you’re in my way, I’m comin’ through

    You jump sixteen times, what do you get?
    Another day older and deeper in debt
    Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
    I owe my soul to the manifest ‘ho
    A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.

  12. Quote

    Tra La La Boom Deyay

    Tra la la boom deyay
    I made a jump today.
    It was a 40-way,
    Nothing went quite my way.

    Tra la la boom deyay
    I took it out today
    In just a tiny way,
    It wobbled anyway.

    Tra la la boom deyay
    I'm buying beer today
    Before I move away,
    That's all I have to say.



    Tra la la boom deyay
    You could go in today
    Tra la la boom deyay
    It could be you today

    Tra la la boom deyay
    And if it's you today
    Tra la la boom deyay
    Don't hit my Chevrolet!

    -
    A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.

  13. Quote

    Quote

    Just out of curiosity....did you dirt dive this at all?



    Yes, Many times. I Even went to the aircraft and we rehearsed the exit about three or four times for the one low timer on the load. Like BCH said, the guy with 40 some jumps took a wrong grip, and the count was given before he was ready.....



    Well, since this is a learning opportunity..........
    You mention that the jumper giving the count could not see you and gave a quick count. Did you dirt dive the exit to include the "counter" to wait for a signal from each that they were ready? You know, someone, if not the "counter" herself, to see that all are ready and give the "hut!"

    --
    A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.

  14. Hey Boss - I sent and then received a pm using a forum link. How does one access the list of pms sent/received? THey don't show up under Email, and I haven't found a link that takes you there, except when you have a pm open.

    Puzzled minds want to know...............
    A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.

  15. Not to be rude to the AAD "hijack" of this thread, this topic is actually far deeper, worthy of a wider discussion.

    Rushing to the plane can result, in among other things, altimeters or goggles left behind, winds not checked, pins or handles loose. Twisted or misrouted chest straps - anyone with a leg pouch pilot chute could get a trapped pilot chute bridle. How about the BOC handle that was stuffed in the pouch when the gear was stuffed in a gear bag?

    Exit orders or dirt diving gets set missed.

    Sometimes a plane gets overloaded - center of gravity or seat belt issues can result.

    These are just a few of the things I've seen when people "Rush to make that load".

    The Air Force use to have a saying that I have adopted: "Never run toward an airplane, but never hesitate to run away from one."

    Take the extra time - do gear checks.


    Quote

    I gotta imagine this little safety point has been posted at one point... but why not mention it again for the new readers? Simply enough, Don't rush through your mental and physical (gear check) preparations to make a load!
    Showing up for your first jump of the day and trying to make a 5 minute call is foolish. For instance, forgetting to turn on your AAD = a paid plane ride down (or at least it should).


    A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.

  16. [
    Now i'm left with a quandry, do i put her in a home?, or do i take her cruising more often and use her as a bodyguard? Do they all get crazier, the older they get?;)



    Yes - the older they get the more "crazy" they get. When my mom turned 79, 3 other skydivers and I took her out for a quiet beer. Mistake. A band set up, my mom's party instincts took over, and by the time we dragged her out around 1am she had been pulling innocents out of their chairs to dance, hit on the 35 year old guys at the bar, drank everyone under the table - the crowd was cheering for her all night.

    Next morning all the skydivers were moving slowly (one spent time that night talking to God on the porcelain phone) - mom is stting quietly having coffee and reading the paper - feeling quite fine!

    2 years later and the people at that bar still wave to her when she stops by!

    Treasure the parents who gave you the party gene!
    A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.

  • Quote

    Perhaps it's due to my inexperience or just being over cautious, but I didn't want to risk another burble fest that could've possibly pulled the pin out.



    Just my 2 cents - I think you and your group did well. You recognized a potential problem, and dealt with it in a safe fashion.

    Far better to be on the ground, incident free and wondering what else you could have done, than have a horseshoe caused by another funnel or a dock that goes over the top.
    A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.

  • You're absolutely right - it is judgemental! And it's the TI's judgement that counts. Please remember that tandems can be unpredictable - and so can lurkers. If the TI isn't comfortable with a lurker, please remember that it's usualy due to the TI wanting to make the tandem jump as safe as possible.

    Some TIs have hard and fast rules about lurkers, others don't. Me, I consider each situation at that time.

    Quote

    let me prefice by saying that I have the following opinion at a boogie or at my home DZ.

    I have to say, I have chased numerous tandems. I do not have a tandem rating, AFF rating nor am I a videot. At my DZ, and at other small-time DZ's I have jumped at, tandems are the majority of business. I probably have as much experience chasing tandems as some of our videots (less now since my jumps have decreased annually). But for someone to say no to me if I brought the business and knowing my jump experience and having the logbook to back it up seems kind of prejudice.
    If it is a boogie that you are TM at (like couch freaks, labor day, Iowa), or at my DZ, I feel that I should be allowed to accompany my guest (unless boogie rules prohibit it). If it is your DZ and I am new there, fine, I agree with your rules.

    But to say that it is all the time, every time, if you don't know someone, they aren't going, seems kind of judgmental, don't you think?

    Note: no personal attacks meant, just put yourself in the chasers' shoes.


    A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.

  • I wear whatever I care the least about. Let's face it, tandems can be very hard on what we wear, plus the occasional puking passenger!

    When I first started doing tandems, I also went to the "Baggy 70's" style suit. A far more experienced TI suggested to me that the suit would actually hinder things, and that I should just outfly the student. It works.

    I've also learned to "dress for success" with the video folk. Consider fall rates when picking your suit and the passengers. Work with the vidiots! They will either make you look good or not!


    Quote

    I wear a standard Tony Suit, polycotton, nice and baggy for lots of control.

    I am curious to see what the majority of fellow Tandem Instructors wear?

    Feel free to post your tandem jump experience and (gulp) opinions if you like.


    A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.

  • Frap hat - Several years ago I went the "cool and groovy" style of hatless - after hard riser slaps to both ears, went back to frap hat.

    Quote

    I wear a frap hat.

    I'm curious to see what the majority of fellow Tandem Instructors wear?

    Feel free to post your tandem jump experience and opinions . . .


    A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.

  • I have my answers, but I'd like to hear what others think as:

    A jumper
    An AFF instructor - what does she tell her students?
    A tandem instructor with the same thought.
    A Static Line Instructor - again the same.

    And let's get a few pilot's perspectives.
    A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.

  • The plan? Be calm but fun - nothing keeps a tandem student more calm than their instructor seemingly in control and having fun, regardless of what else is happening.

    Never have had to do it, but I think about it. A lot depends on the a/c. In a Cessna or a bench seat a/c I like to have the lowers hooked up (Loosely) when the seat belt comes off - student sitting in front of me. If the need arose I would just lean forward and snap the 2 uppers, then exit on main or reserve, depending on the altitude.

    Side seats (like an Otter)? That's one of the reason the student is between me and the door. I could turn them and get the uppers while still assesing the situation. Remember, in most twin engine A/C, even if one fan stops turning, another will (usually) keep turning, and rushing things will not help.

    Never had to do it as a jumper - but did as a driver of a Beech 18 - now that's another story, but the 4 TI's, 2 video guys and the AFFI and his student did exactly what they had been briefed on - stay silent, stay calm and wait for directions from the pilot. It all worked out.
    A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.