galispo

Hi Jarkko, As a teacher I'm always searching for interesting reading on the matter, and you should look for FE books (FE = further education, which effectively is adult education). Further education is about teaching a very specific skill, often vocational, to a wide range of individuals. Someone who just finished secondary education (high school) or someone much older. There's plenty of literature in this area. Also, I believe you will find this seminar very interesting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmqtUoWZ6Mk

If it contributes to the discussion, I’ve jumped in 3 different continents with different systems, having stayed at least a couple of year at each DZ. Busy boogie with lots of guest jumpers at a small DZ with no check-in system. A jumper landed off behind a dense line of trees parallel to the runway, but way off the DZ. Nobody noticed until he showed up 2 hours later. He joked about if he had a broken leg he would have died of hypothermia at night. We all thought it was funny. Now I jump in the UK, where we have a gear check before boarding, a spotter, and a check-in system. As it was said on a previous post, having a a simple check-in system does not slow things down an it is not an onerous thing on the manifest, instructors or anybody. But one thing remains a fact: people are reluctant to try new things and change their ways to prevent unforeseen events. I suggested the check-in system to the DZ I mentioned above, where that jumper landed off. They said it is not necessary because they never had a serious incident related to a missing jumper. I guess skydiving is just like the rest of the aviation industry. You need a serious accident to implement a new policy. Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."

Marc, I'm going to give you the perspective from the other side. My wife wanted to try skydiving to see if she could share my passion in the sky together, despite her absolute fear of it. She spent every weekend for months at the DZ with me, making friends, getting involved with manifest, helping organising stuff for events, attending the bar, etc. She finally did a tandem jump and found out that skydiving was not for her. She was heartbroken because she thought I would be disappointed. I was very understanding and put her mind at ease about the whole thing. Since then, she doesn't show up at the DZ so often and I don't go skydiving every single weekend, but I reserve at least one weekend a month for us to do something different together. She understands it and continues to fully support my skydiving life. Perhaps you could show the same support without necessarily having to jump. Depending on the size of the DZ, there's plenty of things you could volunteer to help, and be part of the community. Ask the DZ manager and I guarantee your help will be welcome, specially on the busy summer season. At my DZ there are a couple of people helping who don't jump at all. On a side note, if you loved the canopy ride so much, have you given a though on paragliding? The thing is, it's done in a completely different environment from a parachuting centre, making you spend your weekends away from your wife, doing your own thing. But it could bring you that pleasure you have of flying a canopy. Nevertheless, well done for losing weight and for being brave to try something out of your comfort zone, facing an incredible fear. The experience you had will be with you forever. Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."

Great stuff! It sounds interesting and I'll be looking forward to it! Again, thank you for the the time and effort you guys put into it. Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."

It's laudable that you guys are improving this site and I'm sure a lot of people will appreciate it. Even so many social media groups about skydiving and gear sales, I keep coming here almost on a daily basis for further reading and in depth discussions, and I'm sure many others do the same. The new skydivers I meet (the ones passing B license and more likely to be retained in the sport) don't know about dropzone.com. Perhaps you should invest in spreading the word about it, to make it grow and keep it going for a long, long time. From my perspective, the only major issue you have is the fake profiles/passport selling scams type of thing going on, which has increased. But I know you are trying to mitigate this problem as well. Thanks for all the work you guys put into this, and making many of my dull work hours more "productive" to myself. Shhh... Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."

My dad had a client who was a Beech Bee 18 pilot and used to fly skydivers. I was 12 when I flew with him on the copilot seat. I always loved aircraft and flying, but when the pilot cut back power and said “look behind you”, I couldn’t believe those people climbing on the wing, jumping, smiling and shouting. I never forgot that moment. Eleven years ago I decided to do an ASL course at a tiny DZ, flying the most beautiful C180 Skywagon I’ve ever seen. Did 10 jumps and stopped for lack of money. Went back 4 years later to do it again and get my A license. Never stopped since then. Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."

Hey Sam, You want it so much, go for it! You only live once. Be resilient and face the adversities such as weather and distance. You will only find out how much it is important to you when you start doing it. After your consolidation jumps you will find out if you are going to stay in the sport. That's when things like travel distance and costs (of buying gear and progressing in your discipline) will hit you. Then you will find out how important skydiving is in your life. If is not that important, you will move on with your life with an outstanding experience of having done 20 plus jumps out of an airplane. I did static line in 2007, and after 10 jumps I had to quit due to lack of money. Four years later I was living somewhere else and I did an AFF. I had to travel 3 hours each way by coach to jump because I did not have a car. In one occasion, I traveled that distance to do 1 jump due to weather holds. After my AFF, I did about 60 jumps and stopped again for another 2 years, now because of work, which made me travel constantly, rendering impossible to stay in the sport. However, skydiving was always in my mind, every single day. In 2013 I lived near a DZ and did a refresher training to jump again. Did a dozen jumps and then had to leave. Again. Not to mention most of my work was done on weekends, which limits the chance of skydiving quite significantly. In 2014 I finally changed jobs and managed to settle down at 1 hour from a DZ. Now I am a current skydiver and glider pilot. I couldn't be happier. My point is, I had several chances to quit the sport. I was discouraged by a lot of people. I was told I was wasting time and money. Well, the only thing I can say is, I will only live once, and I won't take a single penny to my grave. Today, I am a current skydiver and a happy man. Save your money for 2017 spring and summer. If you can get a lift from Portsmouth, that's already a jump with rental gear you save on the ferry. Go for it! Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."

Italy. There's not a national regulatory association. The sport is regulated by 'ENAC', the Italian civil aviation authority (the Italian FAA), under the directives of FAI. If you want to jump regularly there, you will only have to pay membership to the club where you're going to jump. However, you must buy your independent third party insurance for skydiving, which already makes your annual costs higher than in the US, without the same benefits. Not having an national association can make the sport weaker, and leaves its promotion to the individual clubs around the country. It has its advantages and disadvantages. I'm not an USPA member, I am a BPA member because I jump in the UK now, but from what I've been reading lately, it seems to me you have a pretty good deal with USPA over there. Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."

I am the kind of person who likes to do things that are "once in a lifetime" opportunity. However, I obviously would not go by myself, without an "expedition leader" of a big group of sensible people - which already excludes 90% of my skydiving friends. Of course, it would still be a bit scary. Would I go to jail if I accidentally spilled my coffee on the man's picture in a newspaper? I would never know. Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."

On the "How to join" page, it says: "Kindly note that tourism to the DPRK is only possible via pre-arranged tours organised and sold by approved DPRK tour agencies... The tour arrangements, dates and itinerary must be finalised and booked in advance of travel; spontaneous, independent travel around the country is not possible." _ I'm glad it is to promote peace and friendship. Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."

From their website it looks like a tandem operation only, like Salisbury, which is a pity. http://www.skydiveiow.co.uk Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."

You posted this question on a FB group, I replied to you there with info that might be useful to you. Have a look. Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."