howardwhite

"Sorry Howardwhite, but Racer never did figure out the secret to building one-pin Pop-Tops." Sorry, riggerrob, but I said I didn't jump one. I hadn't looked at this issue (even though I know John and Nancy.) Riggers seem in my experience to divide between a few that love to pack Racers and a larger number that hate to/won't. Thanks for the correction. John's an engineer; I just guessed he had figured it out. HW

I would be surprised if Racers didn't offer a one-pin version, but in any case, I wasn't suggesting you consider one, just that it should have been in the poll. HW Mirage

Even though I don't jump one, I'm surprised that Racer was not included in the poll. It seems both reasonably popular, at least where I live, and widely imitated by non-US manufacturers. HW

Well, a little more complicated. Orange opened as a commercial DZ in '59 operated by Parachutes Inc. It hosted the '62 World Meet and the '65 Nationals. It closed in the early '80s. The Massachsetts Sport Parachute Club, now DBA Jumptown MSPC, operated from the early '60s and maybe earlier at Turners Falls, MA, and moved to Orange in the lateish '90s when its clubhouse fell apart. It is closely associated with the University of Massachusetts/Amherst and with MIT. Pepperell, MA was a DZ from the early 60s and has been through several ownerships since then but has been in more or less continuous operation for close to 40 years. It was, despite competing claims, the first US DZ to use a Twin Otter, in the spring of 1972. Many now well-known jumpers got their SCR/SCS awards there. Yup, it's neat that the Orange police have a square on their patches and cars. A long time ago, it was a C-9 round. HW

Unfortunately, the "continuous operation" fails for Orange, MA. I made my first jump there and lots of others, but it was not in jumping operation from the early 80's to the mid '90s. HW

At least in New England, there are local and regional news groups, "banters," which provide the local touch you're looking for. Skydive Banter at MIT predates the WWW and there are other DZ-centric groups. My vote that's the way to go. Keep DZ.COM global. HW

This is not for me, and it's not on a written test. I was listening to a coach giving an A quiz yesterday and she told the student "that's a gay guestion." I know all the answers are in the SIM; I just think it's counterproductive for a student to have to memorize stuff that doesn't make sense. Sure, it's important for a jumper to understand the importance of looking for closing loop wear, but the "fuzzy" suggestions made here match what I heard from others at the DZ, including a master rigger. It's also important to have jumpers understand the consequences of an AAD firing in the door, but the Cat G question implies there's an "answer" which is not provided. I respect the amount of effort that has gone into the SIM and continues, but I hope coaches/instructors will recognize they need to "intepret" some of the advice. HW

One of the questions in the 2001 SIM for Category H (a potential question for A licence candidates) is, paraphrased, "what is the maximum acceptable wear for a main closing loop?" The "answer" is 10 percent. The next question is how do you determine that a main closing loop is 10 percent worn? On the Category G test, there is a question which approximates "what precautionary measures do you take when you have an AAD and are near the open door of an aircraft?" The approximate answer is "this is dangerous," but it doesn't suggest what precautions USPA had in mind. Have these been changed in the newest SIM? If so, how? If not, what do you think? HW

"IMHO these are just reciprocals of each other " (compression and decompression. Interesting thesis, but how does it deal with the fact that diving involves nitrogen in the bloodstream and flying high doesn't. In response to other posts, I say again that nitrogen narcosis and the bends are two different animals, both involving nitrogen. I've been "narced" at much too deep, but it goes away quickly on the way up. HW

Don't confuse the FAR requirements for oxygen with the separate caution about skydiving after SCUBA diving. The former applies to everyone; the latter applies to divers who have nitrogen dissolved in their blood -- the deeper and longer, the more nitrogen. The bends occur when the nitrogen comes out of solution and creates bubbles in the blood which can cause painful or fatal blockages. Nitrogen Narcosis ("rapture of the deep") is another animal. It is a sort of drunken situation which occurs at depth. HW

"If for some reason you do receive your free T shirt within 30 days, please contact us at our web site. " And if you don't receive it?

"Why ? Whats the biggest problem ? Do students have a lot of accidents in U.S ? " It's hard to say, because there is no comprehensive reporting system other than fatalities. The current fatality reports seem dominated by experienced jumpers in landing accidents. Although the wind limit is "unlimited" for licensed skydivers (as few as 20 jumps), many DZs will impose 100 or 200 jump minimums when the winds are whistling. USPA will change its licensing requirements effective next September, increasing the number of jumps for each license. The requirement for the A license increases from 20 to 25, while that for the D goes from 200 to 500. HW

" the 2003 PIA Symposium. PIA usually hosts a few lectures on aircraft operating procedures and aircraft maintenance" That would be cool if it appeared to be happening, but the only thing I see on the schedule is a one hour session (repeated once) on NTSB jump plane accidents by Ron Price, who appears to be an NTSB accident inspector with some special expertise on choppers. Perhaps it is not too late to see if more can be added. Out of curiosity, does anyone think it makes any difference if the pilot is a jumper (no, not one who made one tandem)? HW

You didn't mention Mark Blevins, and I apologize for responding to two message in one. Hadn't heard the term ab intitio in that context. Learn something new every year. HW

"ab initio " Ooh, perfect score on my Latin SATs. Or is that also something else lawyers would know? I'm not sure the death of Mark Blevins, Otter pilot at AerOhio, who died in a non-skydiving Caravan crash, is relevant. But anyway, I sense in responses that insurance may be a good tool for encouraging some kind of performance expectations. The people who fly AerOhio Otters (and other from the same group) have been through training with DeHavilland trained pilots. HW

I have hooked up several thousand static lines. Haven't missed one yet (though in a couple of cases I sorta wished I had.) HW

http://www.executivechute.com/

There are other responses here with which I agree...But to simplify. The USPA (private) licensing organization requires for the A license a minimum of 20 freefalls with a set of requirements (including a three-way and a two-way check jump with instructor/coach.) In the U.S.,we don't have "cats" but we have "levels". We don't have "consols" but we have "level 8 jumps" which probably need a new name. Bottom line: a USPA "A" licensed jumper is entitled to jump solo or with any other licensed jumper. to pack gear, to jump without wind limitations or water gear, and a bunch of other stuff. It probably needs to be improved. HW

Neither USPA nor FAA is qualified, nor do either want to accept the liability associated with jump pilot qualifications. Radical suggestion: a national organization/corporation whose charter is to train and certify jump pilots. In return, it would negotiate for better insurance rates. Pipe dream? HW

You can also find Hell in the Cayman Islands: http://www.epinions.com/trvl-Dest-Caribbean-Cayman_Islands-Hell HW

I, too, lurk but haven't posted for some time. rec.doc seems to be populated by people who hate USPA for a variety of reasons, mostly currently centered around the Group Member program. If you want to read such opinions, go there. Of course you will have to wade through the prevailing cracker talk: "If you kin read this, yur not as big an idiot as you seem." HW Rat -- the other dark meat

"Rubber Jumpers".....kinky This is not the place to (small letters) Lie about your weight (big letters) In the distant past, A&F was an expensive sporting goods store in New York where you could stock up on polo mallets and croquet sets. Then there's "the uniformed call it..." Is this an extension of the "I'm a cop, can I be a skydiver?" thread? HW Rat ...the other dark meat

requires a preceding or . It is not clear when you became sarcastic. HW

I've seen homemade ones, and will ask tomorrow. Out of curiosity, how many FXCs are you still seeing in the field? HW

Have you been in the sport long enough to have had HaagenDasz as an instructor? He was awesome. HW