Visitng a new DZ or jumping a new type of plane

[Armour666 0]

I now have 11 jumps and have one more jump to do for Self spot and landing and I’m done my Solo and then start working on my A. I have my own gear which I can start jumping as soon as I get the Cypress I bought back from its 4 year servicing. I plan on doing some jumps with my instructor on the new my new canopy (Saber 190) just to get some experience with it and my new rig in general, currently I’ve been jumping student Navigator 280.

How much more experience before jumping at a new DZ? Or different type of plane (only jumped C182) I’ll be working in Ottawa for a month or so, I won’t be near my home DZ and would like to keep jumping while out there. I feel comfortable doing the self spot and had no problems doing it and been doing pretty good on my own for landings (the place looking to jump at has more open space and less obstacles than my home DZ) I’ll have hopefully another 10 jumps done by the time I leave, My instructor says I should do just fine else where but I’m still nervous about being at a new DZ away from home. What’s the norm for visiting a new DZ ?

SO this one time at band camp.....

"Of all the things I've lost I miss my mind the most."

[Chris-Ottawa 0]

Hey Mark,

As far as if you're ready to jump at a new DZ or not, I'll leave that to you and your instructors.

If you're in Ottawa, that's my Home DZ and I love it. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. They jump a Cessna 182 and a 205, so the plane won't be much different. The DZ is easy to find even if you're new, it's a giiant triangle (3 connecting runways). I'm sure you'll be fine.

There are also DZ's in Gananoque and Alexandria. I haven't been to either, but it's a small community and I know lots of people that jump at the other DZ's.

If you want to carpool or anything, shoot me a PM. I typically go most weekends. Alright, EVERY weekend!

There's a bunch of us from Ottawa and the surrounding area. I'm pretty new too, and there's a few students as well, plus lots of good staff.

Edit: You will definately need your solo before visiting another DZ.

Later
Chris

"When once you have tasted flight..."

[NWFlyer 2]

There's really no "norm." Some people do all their student jumps at one DZ, others have jumped at many before they even get their first license. To me, one of the great things about this sport is the ability to jump at a lot of different places, and on a lot of different aircraft, and learning how to safely navigate that is an important part of your growth as a skydiver.

At a new DZ, if no one offers to give you a dropzone briefing, ASK. Ask for the S&TA or one of the instructional staff to do it (or to recommend someone who can). Things that should be included are:

--A briefing on the landing area, including a walk around and/or a review of an aerial photo.

--A review of outs (good ones and bad ones)

--A review of good and not-so-good areas to land and any restricted areas

--A review of landing patterns (how is it set, is there a left-hand or right-hand pattern enforced, is there a high-performance area you should avoid, etc.),

--A review of exit order policies at the DZ.

--A review of spotting/communication on the aircraft (what do the various lights mean, if there are any).

If it's a new aircraft, ask to get in the plane and/or the mockup before you're at altitude. Talk about the door and how it operates (and who can operate it - I know at at least one DZ I've been to, the pilot has to open the door).

That's all I can think of off the top of my head, but it's a start.

Edited to add that if you don't have your license yet, the DZ may wish to match you up with a coach or instructor for a jump and/or see documentation of your student progression.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[BIGUN 1,314]

I'd be more concerned about this than going to a different DZ.

Quote

I plan on doing some jumps with my instructor on the new my new canopy (Saber 190) just to get some experience with it and my new rig in general, currently I’ve been jumping student Navigator 280.

Please discuss a downsizing plan with your Instructors. You may want to read this to use as a guide for each canopy you step down to....

Billvon's Downsizing Checklist

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[Armour666 0]

Quote

I'd be more concerned about this than going to a different DZ.

Quote

I plan on doing some jumps with my instructor on the new my new canopy (Saber 190) just to get some experience with it and my new rig in general, currently I’ve been jumping student Navigator 280.

Please discuss a downsizing plan with your Instructors. You may want to read this to use as a guide for each canopy you step down to....

Billvon's Downsizing Checklist

Thanks for the link I've read that over a few times befor I have been taught and done most of these skills and plan on to keep practicing them till there second nature. Those are some of the things that were stresed to me as very important durring my PFF training on being profecient at.

I've talked with my instructor about the down sizing before I eaven bought the Rig with the 190. I'm setting up some time with him and my new rig to do some jumps befor I eaven think of going eilse where that why I'll have at least another 10 jumps with my rig and the Saber 190 befor going to Ottawa

This fall once I'm done this contract I'm on I plan on getting down south for a canopy cource.

SO this one time at band camp.....

"Of all the things I've lost I miss my mind the most."

[FlyinseivLP2 0]

I think what BIGUN meant was a downsizing plan to jump progresively smaller canopies until you get down to the 190. Going from straight from a 280 to a 190 is a huge leap no matter what your weight is.

[tdog 0]

A good DZ will give you a safety briefing when you show up.

It might be as simple as looking at a photo, "We land this way always in this landing area, that way in that landing area, never land here (cactus/unfriendly neighbor) unless it is an emergency and you can't make it back. Board the plane here, and get your tickets there."

Or it might be much more intense, including an instructor walking around the entire DZ - and you having to get your gear inspected from the rigging loft.

I think you should not have a problem if you are honest to the manifest office. "I am a new jumper to this DZ, I have only X jumps but am cleared for self supervision, can you give me all the details. I have never jumped from an XXX plane before, anything I need to know?"

[georgerussia 0]

Quote

I plan on doing some jumps with my instructor on the new my new canopy (Saber 190) just to get some experience with it and my new rig in general, currently I’ve been jumping student Navigator 280.

It may be not a good idea to switch instantly from Nav 280 to Sabre 190. You will feel much more comfortable if you do it step-by-step, something like Nav 260, Nav 220, Sabre 230 (optional), Sabre 210 and then Sabre 190. If there are no those sizes available, ask your instructor what he'd suggest you to jump. I'd also suggest not to progress to the next canopy until a) you feel comfortable with current canopy and b) an experienced person (preferably your instructor) has watched several of your landings, and is satisfied with them. Don't progress just because someone tells you he jumped 170 at your jump numbers, so you should be ok too.

I also hope you do not think that a relatively big canopy is not dangerous. It IS, and even Sabre 190 can kill you in low turn. I personally had a really bad crosswind landing on Spectre 210, loaded as 0.85:1, and if I jumped my 190 at that time, I would probably broke my ankle. There was a fatality last month when someone died after low turn having a canopy loaded about 1:1. Be cautious and safe, listen to your instructors, and don't rush things. The fastest progression usually ends on a graveyard.

* Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *

[jeremy556 0]

As others have mentioned above, don’t go straight from a Nav 280 to a Sabre 190, it will scare the crap out of you at the very least.

I made my first 27 jumps on a Nav 220, then switched to a Sabre2 210 and let me tell you, that was a HUGE change, it felt like I was going twice as fast. I would imagine downsizing almost 100 sq ft and going to a semi elliptical, non-student canopy could be very dangerous.

[adventurechick 0]

I made 30 jumps on a Navigator 200 then downsized to a Sabre II 190... and I felt a big difference with just ten square feet. Also, the flare was much different.

PMS #449 TPM #80 Muff Brother #3860
SCR #14705 Dirty Sanchez #233

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

I made 30 jumps on a Navigator 200 then downsized to a Sabre II 190... and I felt a big difference with just ten square feet. Also, the flare was much different.

the 10ft isn't what you felt.

[sirenoremac 0]

I don't think that an original sabre is semi-elliptical. I'm pretty sure it's a rectangular canopy. Either way, it's a much different animal than a Sabre-2. I agree that you should definitely try to get a few jumps on in between sizes first though.

[Orange1 0]

Quote

Quote

I made 30 jumps on a Navigator 200 then downsized to a Sabre II 190... and I felt a big difference with just ten square feet. Also, the flare was much different.

the 10ft isn't what you felt.

Yup, sport parachutes are much different to student ones. I hardly felt the difference going from a Skymaster 280 to Skymaster 230, but when I went from that to a Pilot 210 it flew completely differently... much faster, much more responsive to toggle input (I nearly put myself in a spiral on the control check!!), and stall-able.

Skydiving: wasting fossil fuels just for fun.

[Andrewwhyte 1]

Although Bigun's and others' advice about gradually sizing down is valid, people need to realize that many small DZs do not have the volume of business to justify transition canopies. It is certainly no more abrupt that the round to square transition that us greybeards went through.
If you are going to be jumping at Arnprior or Alexandria you would be well advised to accept that staying on student gear for a few more jumps while you get used to the new surroundings is just the sensible thing to do.
As far as finishing off your solo, just get right in there; ask your new instructor what he thinks is particular to spotting at this DZ and go ahead and spot the load. Remember, if you really blow it, the instructor won't let you get out.
Have fun and remember to buy your beer (one case for the new DZ, one case for your solo certificate).

[Jumpah 0]

Quote

...plan on doing some jumps with my instructor on the new my new canopy (Saber 190) just to get some experience with it and my new rig in general, currently I’ve been jumping student Navigator 280.

But your instructor won't help you land it safely...

I'm making basically the same transition...a Nav 260 to a Saber 210 or 190. One other thing to consider is the percentages of the situat9ion. A Saber 190 is roughly 68% the "size" of a Nav 280. Thats a canopy that is 1/3 smaller than you are used to jumping. Its also got different flight characteristics, flare, stall point (can you stall the Nav? Most of the time they rig student canopies so they can't, but be sure you'll stall the Saber).

Take your time...I flew a 260 until 60 jumps. I'm on a Saber 230 now until I can get to a 210. Follow Bill the Duck's guide. Its real sensible advice. Hit those peas over and over again. I promise you you'll have more fun over the rest of this summer under a nice school bus canopy than with an injury!

[cHoDaBoY 0]

I went from a nav240 to a saber2 150 at 20 jumps while visiting a new dropzone down south. It was quite the shock when the canopy opened. I thought to myself "where is the rest of the canopy". As far as landing, sure it was a bit quicker, but I didnt think it was anything scary.

I would suggest you get some jumps on that 190 at your home dropzone first if you can. When you get to the new DZ take a walk around and talk to people about the plane, landing patern, outs, ect... other than that have fun

Q. Why do birds sing?
A. Because they dont have to pack when they land

[cHoDaBoY 0]

I forgot to mention 2 things. Your first jump on your new canopy I would suggest you open real high (let the pilot and jumper know you are going to do this) and get use to the canopy and all that other crap.

Secondly, when you get your solo buy beer (corona), but make sure im there to drink it or it doesnt count

Q. Why do birds sing?
A. Because they dont have to pack when they land