How many of you jump without an AAD?

[tbrown 26]

In the last couple years I've taken two exceptionally hard head slams doing RW. the last one was just a few months ago and gave me enough of a headache that I didn't jump again that day.

This month's Parachutist has the annual fatality report. Back in the seventies, with 30+ fatalities a year, "no pull / low pull" was the leading cause of death in our sport, with an average of 11 deaths a year. Of the total 14 deaths in 2009 (we ARE getting safer), NONE were caused by no/low pull.

Most people will only ever need an AAD once, if at all. Trouble is, nobody knows in advance which jump they'll need it. As Sparky Owens has often said, none of us is so good, or ever will be, that we can't be killed on the next jump.

Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

[SansSuit 1]

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When I first started out, I had an FXC-12000 AAD in my rig. I had it removed after a mis-fire left me with two out at 70 jumps +/-. I had just dumped my main at 3000 feet and out the reserve went.

I had the same exact thing happen to me at 138 jumps.

Peace,
-Dawson.
http://www.SansSuit.com
The Society for the Advancement of Naked Skydiving

[boinky 0]

I don't have one. When I first started skydiving, I could barely afford to buy my gear. Then I got into CRW and refused to do any RW at all. Now, I very rarely jump and if I do, it's usually just a solo freefall. Not necessarily the best excuse, but it's all I got.

Nina

Are we called "DAWGs" because we stick our noses up people's butts? (RIP Buzz)
Yep, you're a postwhore-billyvance

[diablopilot 2]

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I wear an AAD more for you than for myself.

This thread disgusts me and I'm done replying to it.

Do you wear an RSL on your rig as well?

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[captain1976 0]

I jump with one, but probably won't do much good if it fires. Looking at others impaired means you will probably smash the hell out of your face and head unless you can steer.

Makes a good argument for going back to a round reserve.

You live more in the few minutes of skydiving than many people live in their lifetime

[tjm 0]

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So how many of you jump without an AAD and why?

I don't, but also don't encourage others not too.

Two reasons:

1. It think the simplest system is the best when my life is depending on just that one system. So, no RSL either.

2. I like the fact that I have to save my life everytime I jump. I like to push the limits a little bit sometimes like low pulls, sketchy demo jumps, low exit high winds, or "practice" emergency procedures. Unfortunately just jumping does not seem to be enough for me. Sometimes I need to do jumps in which the stakes are higher than normal.

There is just something about being so overwhelmingly scared that you reach that point to were you fully realiize that you could and are more likely to die on this jump, accept this fact, don't think and just react to the situation, take that step toward death and come out victorious. No drug comes close, IMO.

Of course, being mentally and physically prepare is key. I definatly not reckless with preparation and equipment though. It would be stupid to go due to negligence.

-tj

If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

[tjm 0]

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To those jumping without one: fuck off you inconsiderate risk taker.

You fuckin' battery operated skydivers just crack me up!

+1

If it was safe then everyone would be doing it and we would not be so cool.

What happened to skydiving because of the risk, and not because to risk is minimized?

If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

[billvon 2,991]

>Makes a good argument for going back to a round reserve.

Or a larger square.

[fasted3 0]

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>Makes a good argument for going back to a round reserve.

Or a larger square.

This is a good point. I wonder how many of those that have an AAD in case they are knocked out, have a reserve so small that the landing will kill them anyway.

But what do I know?

[skyrider 0]

WOW, gotta admit the numbers surprise me...BTW, I jump without!

But I see nothing wrong with them, it is just that shooting video, I have knowingly went low more than once, for safety and to save someone!

[Halfpastniner 0]

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>Makes a good argument for going back to a round reserve.

Or a larger square.

This is a good point. I wonder how many of those that have an AAD in case they are knocked out, have a reserve so small that the landing will kill them anyway.

I imagine quite a bit.

BASE 1384

[Boris73 0]

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WOW, gotta admit the numbers surprise me...BTW, I jump without!

Yeah same here

[captain1976 0]

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>Makes a good argument for going back to a round reserve.

Or a larger square.

This is a good point. I wonder how many of those that have an AAD in case they are knocked out, have a reserve so small that the landing will kill them anyway.

I think even a large reserve is still going to do lots of damage. Since the ram air parachute will assume a forward speed regardless, its gonna smash the face of anyone who is limp.

You live more in the few minutes of skydiving than many people live in their lifetime

[billvon 2,991]

> Since the ram air parachute will assume a forward speed regardless, its
> gonna smash the face of anyone who is limp.

I've seen more than one student land without a flare under large squares with no injury. Indeed, the limp ones seem to do better; they just collapse. It's the stiff-legged, reach-for-the-ground, break-your-fall-with-your-hands types who seem to get hurt most often.

[airtwardo 7]

My reserve is a 220...with the brakes on it will land me softer than the T-10's I learned on!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[happythoughts 0]

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Of course, being mentally and physically prepare is key.

Tom Piras was a former world 4-way champion and
co-organizer of several world freefall formation records.
Over 13,000 jumps.

Sandy Wambach was a plane captain on the World Record 300-way attempt when she went in.

A good friend (organizer) had the front-float come down
the side of the plane and push his head into the tail side of the door. (hard helmet, fortunately)
After years of jumping, his wife had bought him an AAD for Christmas. It fired and he landed. Unconscious, bruised and battered, but alive.

Nobody plans on a collision. Skill hasn't saved some far greater jumpers than myself. It is a personal choice.

[tjm 0]

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Of course, being mentally and physically prepare is key.

Tom Piras was a former world 4-way champion and
co-organizer of several world freefall formation records.
Over 13,000 jumps.

Sandy Wambach was a plane captain on the World Record 300-way attempt when she went in.

A good friend (organizer) had the front-float come down
the side of the plane and push his head into the tail side of the door. (hard helmet, fortunately)
After years of jumping, his wife had bought him an AAD for Christmas. It fired and he landed. Unconscious, bruised and battered, but alive.

Nobody plans on a collision. Skill hasn't saved some far greater jumpers than myself. It is a personal choice.

If I was doing some things in the sport, like competition RW or something similar, etc., I would consider wearing one, maybe? I realize the risk is there on the jumps I do, but its at an exceptional level for me compared to other more out of your control situations.

The difference in decisions about AADs, IMO (talking about risk), is just how much risk the individual is willing to except for a particular reward. Those who risk more usually enjoy the rewards at higher risk levels than those who don't risk as much. So it probably all evens out, and we are all happy.

If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

[Andy9o8 2]

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If I was doing some things in the sport, like competition RW or something similar, etc., I would consider wearing one, maybe? I realize the risk is there on the jumps I do, but its at an exceptional level for me compared to other more out of your control situations.

So you make only solo jumps. Cool.

[Beachbum 0]

With most of the time, but as others have posted ... jump without when it has to go visit the shop for it's checkups.

As long as you are happy with yourself ... who cares what the rest of the world thinks?

[tjm 0]

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If I was doing some things in the sport, like competition RW or something similar, etc., I would consider wearing one, maybe? I realize the risk is there on the jumps I do, but its at an exceptional level for me compared to other more out of your control situations.

So you make only solo jumps. Cool.

No. Not what I was getting at. Just saying some people are at a higher risk than others. Thats all.

If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!

[happythoughts 0]

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If I was doing some things in the sport, like competition RW or something similar, etc., I would consider wearing one, maybe? I realize the risk is there on the jumps I do, but its at an exceptional level for me compared to other more out of your control situations.

So you make only solo jumps. Cool.

Tom Piras was doing a 4-way Skydive U jump.
My friend was doing a 6-way.

This guy is avoiding a minimal description of how
he has managed to make his skydives so safe.
Kinda hard to discuss.

He must be doing some special kind of jumping that
I've never heard about, but it sounds like he isn't going
to tell us what it is.

[JohnMitchell 16]

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Tom Piras was a former world 4-way champion and
co-organizer of several world freefall formation records.
Over 13,000 jumps.

If I was doing some things in the sport, like competition RW or something similar, etc., I would consider wearing one, maybe? I realize the risk is there on the jumps I do, but its at an exceptional level for me compared to other more out of your control situations.

Tom Piras was on a non competitive fun jump with some low timers. One of them slid below Tom and dumped. The same kind of crap that happens on weekend fun jumps all the time.

I appreciate your independence and confidence in your abilities. I have a lot of confidence in my abilities too, but I prefer to jump an AAD in the same way that I wear my seatbelt when I drive.

[stayhigh 2]

my friend turns it off on even days and on on odd days..
he says it saves the battery...

Bernie Sanders for President 2016

[BillyVance 34]

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Tom Piras was a former world 4-way champion and
co-organizer of several world freefall formation records.
Over 13,000 jumps.

If I was doing some things in the sport, like competition RW or something similar, etc., I would consider wearing one, maybe? I realize the risk is there on the jumps I do, but its at an exceptional level for me compared to other more out of your control situations.

Tom Piras was on a non competitive fun jump with some low timers. One of them slid below Tom and dumped. The same kind of crap that happens on weekend fun jumps all the time.

I appreciate your independence and confidence in your abilities. I have a lot of confidence in my abilities too, but I prefer to jump an AAD in the same way that I wear my seatbelt when I drive.

Plus, you have an awesome wife and four grown (almost all?) kids. Yeah, I'd wear an AAD too. And do for my wife and two girls.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[tjm 0]

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If I was doing some things in the sport, like competition RW or something similar, etc., I would consider wearing one, maybe? I realize the risk is there on the jumps I do, but its at an exceptional level for me compared to other more out of your control situations.

So you make only solo jumps. Cool.

Tom Piras was doing a 4-way Skydive U jump.
My friend was doing a 6-way.

This guy is avoiding a minimal description of how
he has managed to make his skydives so safe.
Kinda hard to discuss.

He must be doing some special kind of jumping that
I've never heard about, but it sounds like he isn't going
to tell us what it is.

Fair enough.

Mental Note: Get better at explaining what I am thinking, and not going off track. Check!

I do fun jumps (cessna dz) like 2-6 way belly, small tracking dives, a little freefly, some demos in footbal and baseball fields, and various specialty jumps and zoo dives (intentional cutaways from direct bag deployment, boogey board, horny gorilla, etc.)

I got off track there trying to compare my risk to others. I'm at a high level of risk just like others. My skydives are not "so safe". Actually, I love high risk jumps, as stated in an above post, but I know my risk and except them. My point in the above posts was that I don't think I'm limitless in my exceptance to all risk in which an AAD is a good idea. Only that I have not personally reached that limit of exceptance for said risk yet, so I dont use one.

Or I just don't want to give up my secret to being super safe.

-tj

If you're not living on the edge; you're taking up too much room!