Deprecate the USPA

[grimmie 186]

jlmiracle

"If you don't find a location listed on our site, you don't know what you're getting, you don't know what the standards are," Scott said.

May not be an outright lie, but not gives the false impression to the unknowing that all the DZ's they find on their website are safe.

Judy

Ed Scott's quote.

"If you don't find a location listed on our site, you don't know what you're getting, we don't know what their standards are. The important factor with tandem skydiving is the experience and certification of the tandem instructor.”

Which I think even you would agree that the point he was making is that tandem instructors are certified to work at GM DZs.

[grimmie 186]

jrodrod

***First of all, show me where Ed Scott lied to the media after the Lodi incident. In direct quotes please.

I see the brown noser roll call has started. It's in the news and on video. I've gotten multiple PM's about why you bend over for them but I'll let you share yourself.

And about the PM's explaining why I support the USPA. Since I don't hide anonymously, most everyone here knows that I received support (none financially) from the USPA to open a drop zone. Everyone here also knows I help other USPA members with all sorts of questions when they are trying to start a DZ. Or to keep their DZ from being booted off of an airport. I was a also a guest speaker at the last DZO conference. That presentation was to help DZOs prepare for emergencies. I think that being a part of this organization for 26 years has shown me one thing. You can either be part of the problem or part of the solution.

So yes, while I have disagreed over the years with some things that have been done, I usually wrote to my regional director, or to the BOD and voiced my concerns.

So please explain again why you are so upset that the USPA is ensuring all tandem instructors are properly rated?

[Baksteen 84]

While I'm waiting for my popcorn to heat, I'll add that I've jumped several times in the US. No USPA-membership was required. I merely had to prove that I was a member of the KNVvL (the Dutch organisation).

The same thing would be true if a foreign jumper wanted to jump in The Netherlands. A valid USPA/BPA/etc. membership would suffice.

"That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport."
~mom

[JohnMitchell 16]

I'll say it again. The USPA does what it can to keep the FAA off our backs. I haven't agreed with every rule change coming from the board, but it beats the hell out of dealing directly with the federal bureaucracy in order to jump out of planes.

[FlyLikeARaven 0]

I have to agree with you. $30 a year for the kind of liaising they do is a damn bargain.

I'm not a lady, I'm a skydiver.

[Quagmirian 40]

$30 a year is indeed a bargain. In the UK we pay more like 130, and we don't get a whole lot more for it either.

[ILUVCHUTERS 1]

Indeed. Here in Canada we pay $89/year and IMO, the third party liability insurance alone makes it worth it.

[jlmiracle 7]

grimmie

***"If you don't find a location listed on our site, you don't know what you're getting, you don't know what the standards are," Scott said.

May not be an outright lie, but not gives the false impression to the unknowing that all the DZ's they find on their website are safe.

Judy

Ed Scott's quote.

"If you don't find a location listed on our site, you don't know what you're getting, we don't know what their standards are. The important factor with tandem skydiving is the experience and certification of the tandem instructor.”

Which I think even you would agree that the point he was making is that tandem instructors are certified to work at GM DZs.

How do we know they are certified? Aren't some of the TI's in question doing jumps at Group Member DZ's? Obviously the USPA has no way of verifying anything or this would not have happened.

Weren't the tandems that fell out of the harnesses at Group Member DZ's? Even a Board Member's DZ? Pretty apparent the certification means nothing, but that is not the impression Ed gave to the press and the general public is it.

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

[chuckakers 425]

Quagmirian

$30 a year is indeed a bargain. In the UK we pay more like 130, and we don't get a whole lot more for it either.

I'm not sure where the $30 figure came from. USPA membership is $65 for new members and $55 for renewing members.

Still a bargain when you consider all the things USPA does behind the scenes to keep our costs down and our jumpers up.

Chuck Akers
D-10855
Houston, TX

[cpoxon 0]

Quote

and we don't get a whole lot more for it either.

We get £5,000,000 of third party cover, compared with $50,000. I'd call that a whole lot more for a start...

Skydiving Fatalities - Cease not to learn 'til thou cease to live

[cpoxon 0]

Baksteen

While I'm waiting for my popcorn to heat, I'll add that I've jumped several times in the US. No USPA-membership was required. I merely had to prove that I was a member of the KNVvL (the Dutch organisation).

The same thing would be true if a foreign jumper wanted to jump in The Netherlands. A valid USPA/BPA/etc. membership would suffice.

BPA third-party liability insurance is not valid is the US, so a BPA member would be wise to join the USPA for their cover (or a specialist travel policy).

Skydiving Fatalities - Cease not to learn 'til thou cease to live

[Bob_Church 7]

I support the USPA, but the one thing that sticks in my throat and has from day one is the Pro rating. I know, I know, this will get me roasted, but I think it's a scam. And I've jumped with Pro rated skydivers who prove my point.

[Quagmirian 40]

cpoxon

Quote

and we don't get a whole lot more for it either.

We get £5,000,000 of third party cover, compared with $50,000. I'd call that a whole lot more for a start...

I mean on a day to day basis. USPA seems to do all to sorts to keep skydiving accessible, but I haven't heard the of the BPA doing anything similar.

[cpoxon 0]

Quagmirian

I mean on a day to day basis. USPA seems to do all to sorts to keep skydiving accessible, but I haven't heard the of the BPA doing anything similar.

What do you mean by accessible?

http://www.bpa.org.uk/assets/Miscellaneous-docs/What-does-BPA-do-for-me.pdf

Skydiving Fatalities - Cease not to learn 'til thou cease to live

[FlyLikeARaven 0]

My bad, I just threw a low dollar amount out there. Maybe I was thinking of the license fee I just paid. You're right though, still a screaming good deal. The USPA keeps us in the air and on the FAA's good side, and for my money it's well worth it.

I'm not a lady, I'm a skydiver.

[gowlerk 2,190]

cpoxon

***I mean on a day to day basis. USPA seems to do all to sorts to keep skydiving accessible, but I haven't heard the of the BPA doing anything similar.

What do you mean by accessible?

http://www.bpa.org.uk/assets/Miscellaneous-docs/What-does-BPA-do-for-me.pdf


BPA thinks that if it wasn't for their overbearing hidebound organization the UK government would shut down skydiving in the nation. Why they think Britain would become the only place in the world to do so is beyond me. They are overcome with their sense of mission and importance, while a large portion of their membership simply leaves the country to get out from under their heels.

In comparison USPA is a free wheeling club. The title of this thread should be "appreciate the USPA" rather than what it is.

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

[cpoxon 0]

Your signature says it all

Skydiving Fatalities - Cease not to learn 'til thou cease to live