freeflyguy 0 #1 November 18, 2001 Hey, cool new poll!My question is, looking at the results, What is your definition of 'Decision Altitude'? Your's may not be what the pollster had in mind. If not, it is time to think about it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FallinWoman 1 #2 November 18, 2001 decision altitude to me:whenever i have a total or spinning mal, as soon as I see that it is junk, I chop and go silverIf I am under a canopy that is not perfect, and I am working to fix it, like a line-over or something, I will work til 1800. Than I decide. Land what I have got or go reserve. It is the altitude at which I stop fighting a questionable canopy and get myself a good one.Out of curiousity, what is your definition of decision altitude? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflyguy 0 #3 November 18, 2001 Me? Mine? I don't want to get flamed, but it all depends. We do a lot of hop n pops here. Some lower than what others call their 'decision altitude'.Basically it is the same as yours, but a bit lower. I chopped a baglock this summer and was under a reserve at 2500. There was no need to mess around anymore. If, I am under a basically level flight line twist, and I know for sure that I am over a good landing area, I would play with it down to 12-1400. But that would only be after a hopnpop, where I knew exactly where I was. After a full altitude freefall, it would be 16 to 1800 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aviatrr 0 #4 November 19, 2001 Quote If, I am under a basically level flight line twist, and I know for sure that I am over a good landing area, I would play with it down to 12-1400. But that would only be after a hopnpop, where I knew exactly where I was. After a full altitude freefall, it would be 16 to 1800 What's the difference between a hop&pop and a 10,000ft freefall? You should know EXACTLY where you are.. If nothing else, look at the ground while tracking away from the group......and, of course, you(or somebody you trust in your group) took a second to check the spot before you exited, right? Of course....who wouldn't do that? Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #5 November 19, 2001 Well...I seem to remember a 3 way free fly at the festival where I had no idea where I was until I was under canopy. We were so far out that nothing looked familiar. I tend to get too busy skydiving to worry about that stuff. Of course at SD Atlanta there are plenty of outs in almost every direction so landing out is no big deal. "Shut up Dummy!"- Fred G Sanford Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aviatrr 0 #6 November 19, 2001 Quote Well...I seem to remember a 3 way free fly at the festival where I had no idea where I was until I was under canopy. We were so far out that nothing looked familiar. Funny, I remember that same 3 way.. I remember the other two making it back.. I remember(after checking the spot while the group before us was preparing to exit) saying "We're long, break at 5.5 and pull high".. Both of you shook your head yes, so I assumed you understood.. I know, I know....you're sticking with that story about the guy deploying underneath you, so you had to take it lower, right? Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #7 November 19, 2001 "guy deploying underneath you, so you had to take it lower, right?"I really wonder if I would have made it back even if I dumped at 4K. We didn't break till 4.5 so I don't think I could have dumped much higher than that. I found a really nice freshly cut field to land in and someone was there to get me just a couple minutes after I stowed my brakes and lit up a smoke! I would rather have a great skydive and land out than pull high. Just my opinion????"Shut up Dummy!"- Fred G Sanford Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflyguy 0 #8 November 19, 2001 "You should know EXACTLY where you are.. "I wish I lived in a perfect world too, but then I guess I wouldn't even need the reserve."What's the difference between a hop&pop and a 10,000ft freefall?" About 7500 Feet. No, the difference is, In a hop n'pop, here, we self spot, and always get out with a large landing area directly underneath.Freefall is different in that we often get out with large forest or pond underneath, and deploy over same. If I was fool enough to play with a mal til 1200 feet, I might end up lunching on a fir tree. So I make the call Before I get out of the plane each time. It is easy to say, 'Pitch at 3k or so, play with a mal for no more than 5 seconds, then go for handles'. I wouldn't waste time looking at an altimeter under a bad mal.As far as spotting, I completely agree with DiverDriver on the post on spotting. Our Otter pilot never does us wrong. He has the GPS and knows current winds at four altitudes. I have seen more people land out (or cause others to land out) from not trusting the jump light, then I have ever seen from the pilot give us a bad spot. That is our pilot though, on our dropzone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aviatrr 0 #9 November 19, 2001 Quote As far as spotting, I completely agree with DiverDriver on the post on spotting. Our Otter pilot never does us wrong. He has the GPS and knows current winds at four altitudes. I have seen more people land out (or cause others to land out) from not trusting the jump light, then I have ever seen from the pilot give us a bad spot. That is our pilot though, on our dropzone. Hey - if it gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling to trust the green light.....go ahead.. Not me.. I've been on both sides - flying and jumping.. I spot for myself.. Quote I wish I lived in a perfect world too, but then I guess I wouldn't even need the reserve. Now that's not even a realistic comparison.. How hard is it to look at the ground for a second or two? If your group is so large, and you're so far back, that you aren't near the door - have somebody you trust, that IS near the door, spot.. Spotting is usually as easy as looking at the ground and realizing that the pilot is in the right place..After being pitched out over the wrong airport once, with one of the Instructors that was in our 12 way to spot, I like to spot for myself.. Planes without windows suck.. What happened to the wonderful world of GPS? Oh, the batteries on the handheld they were using died - so the pilot spotted visually.. Hey, the spot would've been fine if we had been over the right airport..But, let me guess.....you, your DZ, and your pilot are immune to mistakes, right?Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
canopycudler 0 #10 November 20, 2001 I'm new to the sport.. jumping now for 5 months and have 67 skydives,, just 2 min shy of 1 hr accumlated freefall time (:-)Anyway.. decision altitude for me is 2k.. I ususally pull around 3800 and under canopy by 3k. I'd give it 1000ft to work on the problem then i'm choppin.. not worth the aggravation of fighting it, especially on a first reserve ride, maybe a little more experience would give me more working time but for now i'll stick to what i feel safe at. Peace, Love, & Skydiving ~~ Tina Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
