Spy38W 0 #1 September 17, 2002 Hrm, it seemed like a good idea at the time? -------- Gear checker zip-ties reserve handle at Southeast boogie Beware of the gear checker! One gear checker recently did more harm than good after inspecting a jumper's gear. Jumpers are familiar with drop zones attaching stickers or zip-ties to rigs during the check-in process at boogies. It is supposed to be used as a quick-look identifier that the jumper's reserve has been inspected and repacked within the last 120 days and that the DZ gear inspector has visually inspected and OK'd the outside of the rig. In September's Skydiving Magazine, rigger Mark E. Lancaster of Skyworks Parachute Service submitted a photo of a rig brought to his loft for a repack following a July boogie in the Southeast. The picture shows a zip-tie secured tightly around the main lift web and through the reserve handle, rendering the reserve handle useless. "What bothers me is the fact that no one caught this on the ground or in the airplane," Lancaster said in the article. "And the owner had not a clue!" It is astounding to me the number of jumpers (some with thousands of jumps) that do not understand the basics on how skydiving gear operates, how to give an adequate gear check or how to untangle, inspect or assemble their own main parachute. This is necessary information if you are going to be able to recognize when someone puts a zip-tie in the wrong place, hooks up your main backwards or routes your RSL incorrectly. As for this gear checker who zip-tied the reserve handle down...this is obviously unacceptable. Drop zones need to hire well-trained riggers to check the gear and attach the zip-ties, if necessary. I really don't see the value in the zip-ties or stickers anyway. I have yet to see a drop zone loader check each rig for the zip-tie as each jumper loaded the plane. If you were allowed to purchase a jump ticket at manifest, then your gear has been checked out. Lancaster found another rig with the same problem from the same boogie, so keep your eyes open for ill-placed zip-ties. 16-Sep-02 mg http://www.chutingstar.com/riggerrantandrave.html -- Hook high, flare on time Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jumperpaula 0 #2 September 17, 2002 He said Zip Tie But seriously, not cool! Thanks for sharing that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happythoughts 0 #3 September 17, 2002 There is a pic in Skydiving magazine. Very bad. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SBS 0 #4 September 17, 2002 seen that happen before...the other one that I have seen more frequently is on ROL deployment rigs with the tie around the right stabilizer, and thus the bridle. Scary that people think that it is such a meanial job that they will put any random kid with nothing to do in charge of checking and fooling with gear (not to say adults aren't just as clueless about gear if they are not experienced jumpers). Point is, gotta make sure these people know their shit! -S_____________ I'm not conceited...I'm just realistic about my awesomeness... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #5 September 17, 2002 People also do this sort of thing to themselves when they travel on airlines. Some people tie their reserve handles so that if a gate agent or security person uses the reserve handle as a gear handle, then it won't deploy the reserve. The trouble is, some people can forget to untie the reserve handle. After discussing this with a few people a better idea might be to use the chest strap wrapped around the reserve handle a few times and then secured to it's normal fitting. This -should- make it a bit more difficult to put the rig on without noticing the problem.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freebird 0 #6 September 17, 2002 Do you have a pic of that? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spy38W 0 #7 September 17, 2002 QuoteDo you have a pic of that? Nope, Happythoughts said it was in Skydiving, but I haven't managed to stea... er borrow the new issue yet -- Hook high, flare on time Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingbunky 3 #8 September 18, 2002 QuoteDo you have a pic of that? not a scan, but i took a digital pic. you can see in the article where it says the tie was neon green... kinda hard to miss one would think."Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart." MB4252 TDS699 killing threads since 2001 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skitzo 0 #9 September 18, 2002 Good grief! Why didn't you tell me about that today? "How do you keep your feet on the ground when you know you were born to fly?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spy38W 0 #10 September 18, 2002 QuoteGood grief! Why didn't you tell me about that today? Woo hoo, you finally figured out how to post! Now, lesson two, above where you are reading this is the word "Messages" with (1 new) next to it.. click that. -- Hook high, flare on time Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #11 September 18, 2002 Anybody recognize the DZ from the ziptie? My first though was Eloy, but it doesn't look like the standard eloy tag.... Anyone else? _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spy38W 0 #12 September 18, 2002 QuoteAnybody recognize the DZ from the ziptie? My first though was Eloy, but it doesn't look like the standard eloy tag.... Anyone else? I was kindof curious about it too, I think they said a Boogie in the Southeast. -- Hook high, flare on time Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #13 September 18, 2002 Well I'm glad it didn't happen to your rig. We all know you use your reserve handle alot!! ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
harro 0 #14 September 18, 2002 someone needs a monkey stomping!!!Jumpy Jumpy?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quatorze 1 #15 September 18, 2002 the right up said that it was a rigger from South Carolina, but there is only one boogie in Mid July here and unless I missed something, they don't use zip ties, so not us I'm not afriad of dying, I'm afraid of never really living- Erin Engle Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #16 September 18, 2002 Just means the jumpers from SC, not the boogie was there Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spy38W 0 #17 September 18, 2002 QuoteWell I'm glad it didn't happen to your rig. We all know you use your reserve handle alot!! No kidding, I'm thinking it might be a conspiracy to get rid of me. -- Hook high, flare on time Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dumpster 0 #18 September 18, 2002 I'm no Einstein, but sometimes the wealth of ignorance around us astounds me. First that some one would put a zip tie there in the first place, and secondly that the owner was so ignorant of his equipment that he missed it. Are we skydivers or merely apppliance operators? Folks, if you don't know how this stuff works, maybe you should persue another hobby- NOBODY puts anything on my rig except my rigger! Stickers or otherwise! Damn!---- Easy Does It Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spy38W 0 #19 September 18, 2002 QuoteNOBODY puts anything on my rig except my rigger! Stickers or otherwise! So what if you wish to jump at a boogie? -- Hook high, flare on time Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FallinWoman 1 #20 September 18, 2002 QuoteSome people tie their reserve handles so that if a gate agent or security person uses the reserve handle as a gear handle, then it won't deploy the reserve. The trouble is, some people can forget to untie the reserve handle. Quade.... Every time I have travelled with my rig I have tied off the reserve handle. To remind my self that I have done so I also loop a pull-up cord thru each large three ring...so that there are three cords flopping around my rig as I go to inspect it next time i jump it. I also do beginning of the day gear check wach day that I jump....I turn on my cypress and check my three rings, my handles, my webbing, etc....I give everything a once over... It scares me that there are people who don't check out their gear before jumping!!! Yikes! Anne ~Anne I'm a Doll!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #21 September 18, 2002 QuoteIt scares me that there are people who don't check out their gear before jumping!!! It doesn't just scare me -- it angers me. I sure as hell don't ever want to see stuff like that, but . . . I have. "Yikes" isn't the half of it.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #22 September 18, 2002 Quade, a good friend of mine did exactly that when she flew down to florida. she caught it after her first jump, but told me she broke out into cold sweats and nearly puked when she saw it i grabbed a couple of the "remove before flight" streamers used to use on weapons and engine pins for her to help prevent any chance of reoccurrence when she travels.____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #23 September 18, 2002 That Zip Tie is farking scary! Someone does that to me, I'm going straight to the S&TA to talk to him/her and tell him/her what I think, as tactfully as possible (seriously, tactfully, since it was a mistake), but I wouldn't just say it to the person doing it, I'd let someone like the S&TA get involved so it hopefully wouldn't happen to anyone else.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quatorze 1 #24 September 18, 2002 Yeah, but it still scares me that at anypoint in time I may be jumping who may not be completely aware of his/her surroundings and/or become complacent. Complancency will kill you quick in this sport. Just because a someone gave you a gear check does not mean that they know more than you. Just like student training, the instructor will tell you when to flair on the radio, but ultimately it is up to you to protect yourself. Always be sure to check teh gear of others around you, you may be saving their life. Complacency kills. I'm not afriad of dying, I'm afraid of never really living- Erin Engle Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #25 September 18, 2002 PLEASE see attached. Let's see if this makes a bit more sense to everyone for securing their reserve handles while traveling. I don't see how it would be possible to put this rig on without noticing. ;^)quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
