How number of jumps influences the accuracy of landing (for us with <200 jumps)

[kelpdiver 2]

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But at some point I'm going to have to bite the bullet and start hitting that circle to get my B. I'm terrified of this point because I like landing slightly by myself, out of the crush of people.

You don't have to land on that circle. Make your own where you like to land.

TK - I'll mail you about hosting the PDF.

[RandomLemming 0]

I'm not too bad at picking my own landing point, but it's hard to describe that to whoever is supposed to be observing my declared landing.

I tried once... That tuft of grass where it's kinda white around it about 15 meters east of the arrow.

If it was an instructor observing every landing, I could probably walk them out and show them, but they normally have the JM or some other experienced jumper on the load do the observation, so you're 'training' a new person every jump.

The circle and the arrow at headcorn are at least known points, but that means other people go for them as well.

I'd try for the accuracy tuffet, but I had a bad experience with that at Empuria - I aimed for the blue target... and hit it... and then bounced off and face planted. Now I know that they're bouncy ;)

[bob.dino 1]

phoenixlpr had a good suggestion: get your own marker. Then it's pretty easy to prove you landed x meters from your target.

[RandomLemming 0]

That definitely sounds like a plan. I'll go and scavenge something from next to a road on the way home... We use too many cones here anyway :D

What also seems like a useful idea is to move my home DZ to Netherhavon for a while - from what I've been told, they will actually do low passes, which gives me more practice and I'll get more jumps in to practice in a day, which will hopefully build up the muscle memory :)

[chrismgtis 0]

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You don't have to land on that circle. Make your own where you like to land.

Actually, you don't have to hit the "circle" (whatever the circle may be). You have to land, within what 20m for B, right? (can't remember) That's 65.62 feet. It's pretty easy to get within 65.62 feet of a target.

Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033
Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

[DougH 270]

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Actually, you don't have to hit the "circle" (whatever the circle may be). You have to land, within what 20m for B, right? (can't remember) That's 65.62 feet. It's pretty easy to get within 65.62 feet of a target.

10m from the center of the target ten times.

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[riggerrob 643]

1. I'm a coward. As soon as I see anyone even remotely in my airspace, I change where I'm going to land. As long as I fly my pattern from one end to the other, I am fine, but any avoidance moves me off the target and I don't know how to fix this.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

You are part of the problem ... if you randomly change your landing pattern.

The only way other skydivers can avoid collisions is if they have a rough idea of what pattern you will fly towards which target.

For example, I am comfortable flying final approach parallel to other senior jumpers - a mere canopy span or three off to the side. We can confidently fly safely that close together because we both know that we can do it safely as long as we both fly predictable patterns.

[RandomLemming 0]

I thought it was 15ft from the centre, 5 times out of 10? I took that from the fact that it is within a 30ft diameter, so that only gives you 5 metres from it.

[DougH 270]

Chris is in the US, most likely jumping at a USPA drop zone. The accuracy requirements for a USPA B license are 10 "accuracy" landings 10m from the target.

I think some jumpers just get lucky 10 times when their canopy carries them to the peas.

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[RandomLemming 0]

Ah - that makes sense. I guess most US dropzones have more space than average UK / European DZs ?

We don't have the luxury of luck here - we have to predeclare the landing as an accuracy landing. We have to get 5 out of 10 or start over again. So if you have 4 'hits' on your 10th predeclared landing and you miss, you start from 0 again.

That's why I'm trying to get it right before predeclaring :D

[kelpdiver 2]

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We don't have the luxury of luck here - we have to predeclare the landing as an accuracy landing. We have to get 5 out of 10 or start over again. So if you have 4 'hits' on your 10th predeclared landing and you miss, you start from 0 again.

The process is much more casual here, based largely on an honor system. Pick a spot, land, count off the paces, get someone to sign the entry.

and at least on this side of the country, the LZs tend to be very large.

[iamsam 0]

I think your accuracy rate will go up once you start pre-delcaring. Mine did.

I've been jumping in light traffic which maybe made it easier, but something just clicked for me about 20 jumps ago. Having the confidence to flat turn a little lower onto final, flying with more brake input (maybe more than I should make a habit of, but in light traffic ) maybe my 7 cell helps but sinking in if you need to.

I do a lot anyway, but if you have traffic issues under canopy tracking dives pulling a little high are a good way to be last in the sky (bar tandems/aff) and have the landing area to yourself.

I'll say it again, if it's safe to do so make the circle the ONLY place you are going to land.

What TKHayes said accuracy and landings can't be taught. You have to learn it, so go jump!

Good luck

but what do I know

[DontPanic 0]

Personally, I have also found dialing in the accuracy of a lightly loaded Pilot a little more challenging than for some other canopies. I really like my Pilot, but it has a very flat glide path through a wide range of brake settings. That's great for getting back from a long spot, but makes you work harder for your accuracy.

It's been good for me, because it really makes me work on establishing a good pattern, and using the different points of the pattern to dial in my target (as described in "The PARACHUTE and its PILOT" and other canopy piloting resources).

I've been working on my C-license accuracy landings. As you've said, when you're with 10 other canopies setting up for their pattern and approach, I tend to concentrate on traffic rather than on hitting that 2-meter accuracy. But at my dropzone, I've had pretty good luck hanging back in brakes and letting most of the people land ahead of me.

[phoenixlpr 0]

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That's great for getting back from a long spot, but makes you work harder for your accuracy.

How is that so?

It recovers so fast it can safe your ass when play with brakes.

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It's been good for me, because it really makes me work on establishing a good pattern, and using the different points of the pattern to dial in my target (as described in "The PARACHUTE and its PILOT" and other canopy piloting resources).

My experience is a good pattern/plan leads to accurate landings.

[jbanning 0]

At jump 12 I started jumping a Diablo 190 and could not figure out accuracy with it, I was always landing away from the intended target. At jump 30, I actually upsized to a Sabre 230, and love it i now land within a few feet of the peas every time. Its all about coming in slower and judging the glide characteristics, I also believe confidence is a big factor!

[Kiki32 1]

On my 14th jump, I decided to try an accuracy landing. Good news was that I hit the target. Bad news, i hit the target.... with my hand.

People told me after the fact that i couldve done a slight turn flare to avoid the obstacle but as a student I really think that wouldve been even more dangerous.

My canopy pattern was great and I felt in control. Feels like the only real mistake I made was in my actual spotting of where I was going to land. I guess when the hand heals Ill be working on my spotting before resuming my accuracy landings.

Poetry don't work on whores.

[Royd 0]

I just had a friend, with about the same number of jumps as me, ask me about my accuracy.

I really couldn't explain it to him at the time, but I've given it some thought.

I still start with the basic approach and then factor in the current wind speed. This is particularly important when planning your final.

It becomes a game of angles for me.

Knowing what angle your approach will be, depending on the windspeed, is important.

One side of our LZ is restricted by the runway, so that is always a factor on the base leg.

Let's say that if the windspeed at 7-10 mph will cause a 45 degree angle on final, then as I fly by the target, when I'm at a 50 degree angle I turn onto base.

This will work regardless of your altitude. The higher you do it, the more opportunity you have to practise the rising/dropping point.

You can then use fronts, rears or brakes to adjust the approach.

The other factor to consider is how the canopy planes out during the flare, depending on the wind.

You have to visually readjust your target accordingly.

If it's a no wind day, then my actual target would be 40-50 ft. shy of the desired target.