jonathan.newman

I learned sewing from my mother. In fact, I'm using her first machine for canopy repairs and relines, and jumpsuit repair. Where do you live? In NE you have Don Meyer at the parachute shop and Bev Furlong of Bev Suits. Both are very approachable. +1 for the idea of learning to sew at a retirement home. If you break it down, there are a lot of skills you need to learn to build a suit. Just a few off the top of my head -- pattern making, seaming dis-similar materials, using elastic, installing zippers and snaps. Another option might be to look for a commercial pattern. Simplicity, McCalls, maybe others might have patterns available. Expect that you would have to figure out your own cuffs and collars, and make sure the zipper works in freefall. The benefit here is that it will include instructions and tips. Have fun! Have faith. You can do it. Jonathan

I'm not familiar with your particular alti, but if it is like most analogs, there are four screws on the back. Take these screws out and look under the cover. The guts of the alti are probably in a hermetically sealed metal can. You can wipe this off and put it back together. The strap is probably nylon, and thus isn't affected by moisture. Wash it if warranted.

This is just my experience taking the oral and practical exam with Sandy Reid. Sandy mentioned that he might be perceived as a tough examiner, having heard that some locals intentionally went to other DPREs to test. I just want to say that he seemed fair and tested by the book. I had a vacation planned to visit family in Phoenix. I already had 20 packs done and a letter from a master rigger. I called Sandy the week before arriving to see if he had time to give the exam. He said he might have time, but call back when I passed the written exam. I made an appointment with the Scottsdale FSDO for a Weds morning, as I arrived on a Tuesday. Then I made an appointment with a CATS test center at an FBO about 2 miles from the FSDO for a couple hours later. I met with the FAA (who didn't have my appointment on record) and got my paperwork signed. I drove straight to the FBO and called CATS to register for the test once I got there. The written test was hard, as my main study aid was the parachute rigger's handbook. But, I passed. I missed a lot of questions, so I'd recommend some other way to study for the written exam. I called Sandy from the parking lot of the FSDO, and we made an appointment for 8am Friday. The oral and practical tests were exactly what I expected from reading the FAA Practical Test Standards. There were no surprises here. Well, one surprise, and that was coming away knowing a lot more than when I arrived. After the exam was over, we debriefed everything. There was a rigging class going on at the same time that I was testing, so I could see that I would have learned a lot more about rigging had I been in the class. However, I was there just for the test, and what I got was a fair test. Cheers, Jonathan

Could GPS and servos also steer a round? What about using a reefing line and cutter? Have you taught the computer how to flare a square?

The double bag is a static line deployment system that uses one bag to "direct bag" release a second system that contains a pilot chute, d-bag, and lines at full stretch. The inner bag is held closed by the pilot chute bridle. Once the pilot chute reaches full stretch, the inner bag opens and the canopy inflates. This prevents all the malfunctions caused by direct bagging a main while the lines get blown around while the jumper exits. If you want to read more and see pictures, check out the SOV-3-HH manual here http://www.cpsworld.com/outside-pages/CPS-Technical-Manual.html

Salut Jimmy! Why are you interested in traveling to the US to get certificated for rigging? The Federation Francaise de Parachutism is the national club for France. They teach 2-week classes for rigging. I found the course outline here:http://www.ffp.asso.fr/IMG/pdf/Plieur_formation_2011.pdf. A Bientot, Jonathan I think you will learn more about sewing and repair in a US course. The French course seems to focus on packing. If your goal is to pack reserves in France, you must research the requirements. An FAA certificate may not let you pack in France. Or, it might.

What is the difference between "E" thread and commercial designations V69 and V70? Are they all just bonded nylon thread?

It's been said already in this thread. Heading (look in the direction you want to turn) Altitude (pull before your AAD fires) Arch (Stop the tumbles) Legs (Big contributor to spins, tot taps are good here) Relax (Stiff as a board, fly like a board) Turn (only after focusing on all of the above first) For the student you describe, I would emphasize the arch and relax as key points. Do any of your coaches or PFF instructors have cameras they could wear?

I've seen all the same things. There are many reasons for it, and I think you have to address each reason if you want to fix it. At the big DZ I jump at, the turbines always land before the tandems. Combine this with hot loads where TIs and videos are turning, and it really adds pressure to have a spinning prop in the loading area. If you don't want to keep the plane waiting, you need to either burn it low, or crank the turns. Another issue is "favorite parachutes". Everyone has their favorite rig, and if they get down first, they can grab that rig for the next load. We've had days where the turbine starts in the morning and doesn't stop until the loads are done. Even when the plane hot fuels, it still only gives you about 4 minutes extra. You better time your potty breaks good. Perhaps other TIs are the only ones who notice this behavior. Or maybe it's only a few who care. The only people I can really take care of are me and my passenger. 6 grand or 5.5 has more than once given me time to get out of gnarly line twists. Now, turning off the cypres because you intend to pull low -- that should be grounds for losing one's rating.

The first time I saw inside video was when I was taking my AFFI course and a group of Brits came with students and instructors to knock out the AFF course. I liked the way they taught; so I bought a Contour for my helmet. At my DZ, I'm the only AFFI who wears a camera. I think it helps to show students what we are talking about. I give them the files for free. The advantage of inside video is that you always record what you are looking at. The disadvantage is that you only get half of the action. The disadvantage of outside video is that the camera might be too far away to capture the hand signals or not in the right quadrant to see the action.

At 1000 jumps, I took the basic canopy control course. Every jump was about identifying the "sweet spot", or stage one, and then smoothly flaring the rest of the way, for stage two. The very next day I was chucking drogues and landing better. I made it standard procedure to use the flare of my controlability check to find that sweet spot, which is different for every canopy and every wing loading. A couple practice flares ("feet up!") for me and the student helps us both land better. The whole Category E canopy skill set is about finding the sweet spot. That is typically when I teach it; earlier if the student shows interest.

I have a ContourHD1080 on an x-shut wrist mount. I also have a lens adapter from XVUSA.com so I can thread a 43mm lens on it. Has anyone used a wider angle lens on the Contour? What have you found that works well for handcam? Thanks, Jonathan

Rhonda, I'm surprised that Gene offered to fly you up to come see the DZ. I hope you take him up on that. You would be welcomed the same as any jumper -- and you could meet our lovely manifestresses (we don't have manifest b!^#es) and some of the refugees from that other DZ. Perhaps you could even give a seminar on style and accuracy. And you could certainly help in the tandem rotation. There are 63 reservations for today -- on a monday. Jonathan

It all depends on the DZ. Some club DZs have coaches who don't get paid for the jump. Another pays $10 for the jump. Another $15, and another $20. Oh, and yes, we get paid with smiles and little warm fuzzies, too.

This is a follow-on question to my previous post about the ISP. I am a TI and an AFFI. And, I hate seeing students sit around when clouds are at 6k or 8k. Let's assume that I take a student on a successful Cat A and Cat B jump using the AFF method. Then I hand him off to an IAD/SL instructor who will (I presume) watch the student make two 10-second delay freefalls. In the AFF progression, the student would wait until Cat F to do two hop and pops. Is there anything in the ISP that prevents me (the AFFI) from moving those hop and pops in front of Cat E? How about after Cat C, where they demonstrate a solo pull? What about right before Cat C? At what point am I entering IAD/SL territory for which I'm not rated? I remember when I was going through the static line program that I had to do my last SL practice pull and first freefall on the same day. Would the student have to demonstrate a solo pull (Cat B AFF) and freefall hop and pop on the same day as well? Again, this is all about what to do with AFF students when the clouds are too low for an AFF jump. Comments are appreciated. Jonathan

I teach at one DZ that follows the ISP progression for the AFF method only. If you want to learn to jump, you take the AFF course. I teach at another DZ that progresses from one tandem, to 4 IAD jumps, and then continues with either AFF or slow progression. Is anyone out there switching freely among the three instructional methods? How is that working out for you? My primary motivation is that I hate seeing students sit around on days when clouds are at 8000 feet and we're doing low jumps while they sit around. I have another question about students doing hop and pops, but I'll ask it in another thread. I appreciate everyone's input. Jonathan

I've never gotten a tip from an AFF student. Once from a tandem. A cooler full of something cold would be most appreciated. A couple of instructors brought a cooler full of ice cold watermelon last weekend. Wow, was that appreciated. All of us overworked, overheated, undernourished and underhydrated instructors appreciated that.

I'll throw another one out there. Startskydiving.com in the Dayton/Cincinnati area has a great vibe, great instructors, lots of coaches and fun jumpers who will pick up a solo student for some RW. I got my coach and TI ratings there, so take it for what it's worth. They offer a zero to A-license package for $2500. The AFF only package is around $1500. I jumped The Farm and have nothing bad to say about them. Actually, I have nothing but good things to say about them. Good luck to the OP.

You Asshole, don't you bring my father into this!!! the Meoff's are a very proud family. next you'll be makin fun of my cousin Ben Dover or Phil Mecrevase....you bastard! Jeez, you had me laughing good there. Look, guys, he can't be a troll, with a sense of humor like that. Everyone knows trolls can't laugh. What was this thread about? Oh yeah, induced speeds on smaller tandem canopies, or something.

Manipulation and hand signals work great... until they don't. I jumped with a student who was signaled to do a PPT, then got the wrist-tug (and fought it), then signaled, then manipulated, then signaled and manipulated a third time. The main side then gave him two whomps on the helmet and yanked his wrist back while he was still stunned. After that, I looked at putting together a VOX system using the motorola handsets that we already used for canopy instruction. The chief instructor thought it would be too distracting and was not thrilled with the idea. I say that it's another tool, and you don't HAVE to say a word. I never thought about motorcycle intercoms, but I might have to try a pair. The long-range ones might even cover the canopy flight portion.

Matt and Dave hit the nail on the head. It's about matching fall rate. A 220 lbs instructor might have a hard time with a 100 lbs student. And vice versa. As a new AFFI, I thought I was superman. But it's very humbling to watch a light student float up on you and then start spinning. If you can't match the fall rate of your student, you have no business jumping with them. More specifically, your range as an AFFI must be faster than their fastest and slower than their slowest. It isn't fair (let alone safe) to the student who paid for the jump to get an instructor who can't fall with them. That said, to every problem, there is a solution, or range of solutions - lead belt, lead vest, tight suit, loose suit, XXL sweatshirt, AFF jacket. AND knowing your limitations.

I did my AFF instructors course with Markus as Skydive Spain. I spent 3 weeks there, so I got to see a lot of how the DZ runs, as well. Markus' home DZ is Lillo, I think, but he travels a lot to give instructor courses. I can certainly recommend Jonno and the gang at Skydive Spain as a good group of instructors. And, right now, you can't beat the winter weather. There is a bunkhouse at the DZ, with a shower trailer outside, a nice cafe at the DZ. The little town is only 5km from the DZ, where you can stay for under 30 euro per night. Rental cars can be had in Spain for around 10 euro a day, which makes it quite cheap. I don't think you can go wrong at Seville, Lillo, or Empuria. But Seville has the warmest weather in the winter.

I've seen AFF Instructors get rough 3 times. The first, a student didn't have his foot all the way forward as he stood in the door. The inside instructor started kicking the student's foot hard to get him to slide his foot forward. As the outside instructor, I didn't feel he had to be this rough, and I asked him about it on the ground. The second time, was with an instructor who was having an off-day, with a student who was not responding to the shake signal to relax and arch. He got thumped on the bottom of his pack about three times before he realized that we instructors were asking him to arch. Was it physically rough? Yes. Was it the appropriate "hand signal"? Yes. The third time was in freefall again, where a student was not responding to the clenched fist hand signal, and was fighting the wrist tug signal, for about three times each. His other instructor thumped him on the helmet twice, and while he was stunned, grabbed his wrist and put it on his pilot chute handle. Again, rough, but effective. Your situation might have been the same, or might have been different. Did you drop the rig on the grass in the landing area? That's a no-no to ensure it can be safely repacked for the next student. Are different instructors giving you different procedures for the in-aircraft part and the exit count? That's a no-no because you want to keep consistency and not confuse the student. Don't worry about changing dropzones. As long as you are current (30 days or less) you should be able to pick up where you left off. Now, if one DZ uses "level 1 Level 2, etc" and another uses Category A, B, etc, there may be different training programs. If you are not current, you can expect to be asked to demonstrate a few skills before you progress. Please don't feel that you failed a jump. There are certain goals that MUST be met to complete a level. It sometimes takes more than one jump to finish them all. I've had a student take 5 jumps to finish the requirements for 2 levels. As for instructors, you might learn better from a certain instructor's teaching style, or vice versa. Instructors are supposed to know how to teach different styles of students. It also helps to have a couple successful dirt dives before you board the plane. This will help all people involved in the jump get the same understanding of what should happen. I'd take it there is some misunderstanding on your last jump. Again on DZs, if one DZ had 8 instructors, and another has 2, you can expect a vastly different "vibe" at each one. Attitude is very important. If you stress, you don't learn. If your instructor is stressed, he won't be the best teacher. Welcome to the sky. I hope you love every jump from here out!

I have used the XVusa mount on a Z1 for a whole season. It works well, but it's held on with 3M dual-lock. The only time it got knocked off was an overly aggressive AFF student when I had to bury my head in his side. It's a good mount, but I'd investigate the contour box from chutingstar. Depends on how you can SAFELY mount it, and keep it snag-proof...

My DZ issues the pro-card stapled to one double-sided logbook page for all AFF students. The great thing for me, as an instructor, is that if the student blows part of the jump, we still sign off the parts that they did well. Then, we can look at the next jump and see if we can incorporate tasks that were "missed" into the next dive flow along with tasks from the next block -- as long as it's not a safety issue. I have seen many students who struggle for a whole dive and only get two (out of 4 planned) 90 degree turns. So, for the next dive flow, we plan 2 90s, and then 2 180s, and then 2 360s. Sometimes they get through the whole thing, sometimes they might be short 1 or 2 360s. So then that becomes the first task of the next dive. "Gimme 2 easy 360s, and then move on to your barrel rolls". From the student's point of view, some students take "failure" very hard. In cases like that, the pro-card lets you focus on the positive. "You didn't fail the jump, look what we can check off. Now let's talk about what we are gonna do on the next jump." How does your AFF program deal with a D-1 student who only gets 2 90s? Do they repeat the jump?