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riggerrob 643
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That is so "old school."
Cutting power only makes a tiny difference in the amount of muscle required to climb out of a Cessna. If a skydiver lacks that muscle, they should take up bowling!
No sympathy for wimps!
riggerrob 643
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If you want to discuss the letter of the law ...
Federal Air Regulations do not require jump-pilots to wear bail-out parachutes ... however .. the Supplementary Type Certificates for several in-flight doors require pilots to wear bail-out parachutes when they open the in-flight door.
So the letter of the law is: if the STC requires a bail-out parachute and the pilot is not wearing a PEP, then he is operating illegally.
riggerrob 643
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Lame excuse!
Especially considering that APF, BPA and CSPA have all published jump pilot manuals. In the age of the internet, the only excuse for ignorance is LAZINESS!
If DZOs hire low-time pilots and are too cheap to train them, they get what they paid for. Skydivers who frequent those "low rent" DZs get the service they pay.
You said he didn't get much training. How do you know? I don't doubt it just trying to see what was said about the training.
I disagree with one of the comments here that flying jumpers is not technically demanding. I happen to think it is one of the most demanding pilot jobs you can have. Take off at max allowable take off weight. Do it during mostly warmer months where performance is lower. Fly with minimum fuel to take as much revenue to altitude. Fly long hours. Sit long sits waiting for the chance to make a few dollars for food. Get into an industry that has no standard for minimum training just minimum hour requirements usually by insurance which guarantees that you still might not receive the proper training to do the job.
I flew jumpers for 10 years. I'm still appalled that there is no set standard in the USA for training and checking jump pilots. Could someone link me to the BPA jump pilot manual? I actually have not read it. Might be a good thing to link to on my jump pilot website.
www.diverdriver.com
ATP/D-19012
FB #4125
I disagree with one of the comments here that flying jumpers is not technically demanding. I happen to think it is one of the most demanding pilot jobs you can have. Take off at max allowable take off weight. Do it during mostly warmer months where performance is lower. Fly with minimum fuel to take as much revenue to altitude. Fly long hours. Sit long sits waiting for the chance to make a few dollars for food. Get into an industry that has no standard for minimum training just minimum hour requirements usually by insurance which guarantees that you still might not receive the proper training to do the job.
... AND your "cargo" moves around, stinks up the airplane & makes other rude noises, makes smartassed comments and clings to the outside of the aircraft, sometimes on control surfaces before getting out!

I flew jumpers for 10 years. I'm still appalled that there is no set standard in the USA for training and checking jump pilots. Could someone link me to the BPA jump pilot manual? I actually have not read it. Might be a good thing to link to on my jump pilot website.
True. The way I understand it, besides needing a commercial ticket, jump pilot training/requirements are pretty much driven by what ever it takes to get on the aircraft insurance at the DZ in question. I could see where that would differ DZ to DZ. However... before we go "nationalizing" this... where do you think the COST of doing this is going to get passed onto? Higher Jump Ticket Prices and possibly Higher USPA Membership Dues!

The DZO, who was a TM on the load, was known to hire low-time, low-pay pilots (I know because I flew for him with a fresh Commercial certificate). My speculation is that this pilot let his airspeed bleed off too much while he was distracted by the student on the step. The fact that the aircraft was overloaded and out of CG was sort of a function of the DZO's business practices.
Most specialized types of flying have their own skills and tricks. Flying skydivers is probably not the most technically demanding flying there is, but it's not simple, either. Beware of pilots who take it lightly.
Kevin Keenan
C-AMEL-Inst.
Dude, you are so awesome...
Can I be on your ash jump ?
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