JBar

We are a single Aircraft (Porter) Dropzone, so the number of people that get on a load is quite limited. This means I can not speak for bigger places, just offer some thoughts. I organize the occasional tracking jump, and the question always comes up, even with a max. capacity of 9 jumpers in the aircraft. The rule at our DZ actually won't help you as much, because tracking can pretty much go out anywhere in the exit order, since a separation from jumprun is normally guaranteed. This of course under the pretense that the heading of the group is communicated with the pilot and other Jumpers on board. If I take a tracking/angle group we can exit: a) first and go anywhere between 90-180° to jump run b) somewhere in between and perpendicular to jumprun or c) last and perpendicular to, or with Jumprun (given no AFF, Tandems, Wingsuits/tracksuits on the load) Wind direction doesn't play as much a role as you would think, if you have someone that can lead the dive towards a good opening spot after the initial separation from Jumprun. It becomes a factor though when you have strong winds and multiple tracking groups in the load. But that should normally be discussed then and there,as it's hard to make up a rule without knowing the terrain. Normally, group size and opening altitude are the key factors. The General rule is that we exit by group size. Even in a bigger airplane, an eight way with video is normally hard to top in size. That should put you guys out first most of the times. Leaves the pull height as last point. Normally we Organize our Exit order as follows: 1. Belly groups big to small groups 2. Freefly groups big to small 3. Freefall groups pulling above 4000ft. 4. AFF 5.Tandems 6. Wingsuit/Tracksuit 7. High Hop and Pops Tracking somewhere between 1st and 4th, AFF/TD, WS going after. If you have people pull higher in the group, that should automatically move them towards the back of the exit order, f.e. if you have a tracking and belly group the same size. if someone looses the group for whatever reason it is important to have a plan b and be aware of the position in the exit order. In general It is important to have someone in the group with experience that can gauge the abilities of participants and assures the right direction is maintained. If I was you I would talk to your S&TA to include a standard rule for tracking groups into the exit order, so everyone's on the same page.

One of the testjumpers was at our dz recently. he had a petra that had a sail-cloth front and that thing does not stop! he got a swoop over 180 meters (downwind).we had measuring tape and stuff set up, so we got a rough idea about the length. (nothing offcial of course.) I don't have specs on WL and sq. ft. though...

I recently started jumping in Lillo here in Spain. They have two seperate landing areas and it works quite well. The landing are for students is huge and consists of soft fields. In the area for the more experienced jumpers (100 and up; I know 100 ist not experienced) you can only land with the T, which only points parallel to the runway in either direction, no matter what the wind direction is, since the landing area is quite narrow. Also they are quite strict with the beerline. If you cross it, next landing is in the "student" area. do it twice and you land out the next month. The two landing areas are seperated by the fence of the DZ outskirts and a path. Now people are told not to cross that path and to turn away from the DZ for base leg if they land in the "Student" area. The DZ staff always keeps a good look out for whatever might be out of place, which also has the advantage of them picking you up quite fast if you happen to have a long spot.

thanks for the info

First of all I agree with the three posters above. Second I'd say it depends on what you jumped before and third, if you want to make your rig smaller, you can do that by getting an optimum reserve the same size as your reserve you've had till now since they pack 1-2 sizes smaller anyway. But making your rig smaller is not a reason to downsize to start with. From how you put it, I understand that you'd be downsizing the reserve either way, so I'd go conservative on that. especially with the reserve for reasons mentioned above.

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Hey everyone! Just got my A-license in the mail...