Drop pilots - how to...

[Meatbomber 0]

How do you guys calculate wind correction for the exit point ?
We're flying the jumprun at 80 KIAS with the Skyvan, what we do to get the wind correction is:
a) get the wind up to 5000ft and use 0.1Nm/3Kts Wind (wind drift on the chute)
b) get Wind up at drop alt and use 0.1/6Kts Wind (wind drift in free fall)
Then consider that you're "tossing" them 0.5NM due to exit speed
e.g. 15 Kts up to 5000, 30kts at altitude, same direction (say 270) would give:
Jumprun heading 270:
0.5NM+0.5NM = 1NM after passing overhead, and due to the balsitics you give the green light at 0.5NM after passing overhead.
Now that's all nice as long as the Winds aloft and the wind on the ground is about the same direction, and as long as you don't have an exceedingly high number of exits. But how to deal with highly different wind directions, high number of exits (long jump run)
What i do if the wind is calm and i have a large number of exits (for example there was a freefly corse and we had something like 17 exits with 24 skydivers in the load) is to fly an arc at 0.5 around the field, that gives everybody a pretty reasonable distance to the field and the seperation is not a problem too...
Comments, suggestions, different experience ?
MB

[JeffGordon 0]

most of the pilots i know use tarot cards

[diverdriver 6]

If you want more info on spotting larger loads or stringing out a bunch of two ways go to http://www.diverdriver.com. I have a whole section on spotting and using GPS also. .5nm is fine but really some might be put out too long if you have 22 on board and they're all two ways. But I'm sure you already noticed this.
Chris Schindler
D-19012
ATP/CFII
www.diverdriver.com

[Meatbomber 0]

Wow diverdriver .. outstanding site !
I'm just starting to read thru all of it .. if i can contribute any i'd be more than happy ! (see you're still missing THE SHED :))
Cheers
Phil

[wingnut 0]

just do like they do at my dz.... 5 left... 5 left.... exit, exit , exit.... oh shit i'm over the next town.... oh well open at 10,000 and cross country it back.........

"up my noooossseee"- wingnut, at first euro dz.com boogie

[freeflir29 0]

I can't seem to find it at the moment but there are some web based copies of a HALO calculator. It is very specific and accounts for winds every 2,000 ft. You can get the exit point down to a ten meter square. Chuck! Where is it? I know there is one on www.romad.com but it seems Charlie is having some technical difficulties at the moment.
"There once was a man named Enis....."-Krusty the Clown
Clay

[Dutchboy 0]

This is a cool website!
The Dutchboy
http://www.geocities.com/ppolstra

[diverdriver 6]

Thanks. It's a work in progress and there are changes coming and additions. Check back often. I just had an interesting email with Ed Scott of USPA. He pointed out some very good things that I will change. Thanks for looking in and tell your jump pilots and anyone else about it. I hope it becomes a good place for exchange of information.
Chris
www.diverdriver.com

[cameramonkey 0]

CHRIS!!!! Glad to see ya! When did you get here?
Gilligan

[diverdriver 6]

Oh, I've been quietly looking at stuff here for a year at least.
New link at http://www.DiverDriver.com pilot forum.
http://diverdriver.com/forum/z_forummessage_show.php?method=showhtmllist&class=forummessage&rollid=4,12&x=3be704d5e57f2&
Download the latest safety reports from NASAs Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS). Many important things in there for pilots and jumpers alike.
Chris Schindler