climber71 0 #1 November 11, 2012 Hello, Am in the AFF Program just completed the Cat D1. Learning new things, so this may appear silly, But want to get it right. When one tells you to hang out in the holding area, 3,000 AGL feet to 4,000 feet AGL. What things, turns, applying the brakes, do you do to stay in the holding area? Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrewwhyte 1 #2 November 11, 2012 Turn when you get close to leaving. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyjumpenfool 2 #3 November 11, 2012 Play!!! Remember, this shit is fun. Ask your instructor what manuvers you should work on?Birdshit & Fools Productions "Son, only two things fall from the sky." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #4 November 11, 2012 QuoteHello, Am in the AFF Program just completed the Cat D1. Learning new things, so this may appear silly, But want to get it right. When one tells you to hang out in the holding area, 3,000 AGL feet to 4,000 feet AGL. What things, turns, applying the brakes, do you do to stay in the holding area? Thanks Practice full turns, half turns, half-braked flight and full flares. Also start training your eyeballs for altitude. Look at your altimeter then look at the ground to see what that altitude looks like.My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Namowal 0 #5 November 11, 2012 ...and keep an eye out on what your "neighbors" are up to so nobody surprises you... (I'm new at this myself, so pay attention to any clarifications and corrections by the more experienced jumpers...)My blog with the skydiving duck cartoons. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #6 November 11, 2012 What Pops said, what Namowal said. Play with your parachute, but watch where you're going. Check for traffic before you turn, and try to get above or below the other canopies so you're not all landing at the same time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nigel99 489 #7 November 11, 2012 As pops said use the time to learn your canopy. Something that I always do is finding which way is into wind and gauging the drive I have. Just remember the wind is usually the.same direction as the ground, but not always.Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #8 November 12, 2012 While in the holding area you are looking to find your place in the "school of fish" that are going to be entering the pattern soon. A mistake that every jumper makes at some point is to "try to get out of the way" of another jumper by spiraling. If you're not loading a top-end canopy (Velo, JVX, etc) loaded well north of 2.0, then you're only causing congestion. Even if you are jumping one of those canopies, you really don't need to spiral to break traffic. If you think you're in the way of another jumper in the holding area, flat turn up wind and let the jumper pass you. Before you load the plane, you should have a general idea of what number you'll be in the school of fish for landing. Even if you have never been to that DZ and know not a single person on your load, you can make an informed guess via the rigs the jumpers are wearing. For instance, the guy with a chest strap extension, swoop shorts and a wet rig is probably jumping something sort of small. The guy with 8 GoPros and a rig that is larger than his back is probably a DZ.com expert with 100 jumps and a 200sq ft canopy.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #9 November 12, 2012 Talk to the instructors specifically about this next time at the DZ. I am sure Adam, Bud, Brad or any of the other instructors will describe in great detail what we are wanting you to focus on for that specific skydive. You can only learn so much online and some of the topics are just better learned in person where we can draw out the diagram of what we expect on each skydive.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
climber71 0 #10 November 12, 2012 Phreezone, Thanks, was going to ask the Instructors, about this next time. Just wanted to get a feel about it from others. Know asking the Instructors face to face is best. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyjumpenfool 2 #11 November 12, 2012 Quote Phreezone, Thanks, was going to ask the Instructors, about this next time. Just wanted to get a feel about it from others. Know asking the Instructors face to face is best. Eager to learn!!! We like it. Birdshit & Fools Productions "Son, only two things fall from the sky." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EOCS 0 #12 November 12, 2012 ok ok ok you guys got me wondering. where can i look what this D1 means? for me that sounds like a D cat what means 500 jumps + ect ect. however this msg is not about that. ´ is this a USPA guideline? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blueblur 0 #13 November 12, 2012 It's the levels of AFF as named in the USPA ground school charts. I think that's level 5 numerically. ETA: you're thinking of D license, not category D of the AFF progression.In every man's life he will be allotted one good woman and one good dog. That's all you get, so appreciate them while the time you have with them lasts. - RiggerLee Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,523 #14 November 13, 2012 Quoteok ok ok you guys got me wondering. where can i look what this D1 means? for me that sounds like a D cat what means 500 jumps + ect ect. however this msg is not about that. ´ is this a USPA guideline? As was said, it's an AFF category "D". It's all described in the USPA SIM"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davelepka 4 #15 November 13, 2012 QuoteWhat things, turns, applying the brakes, do you do to stay in the holding area? You can do any sorts of manuvers you want (traffic depending) while killing time (altitude) in the holding area. However, remember the winds and their effect on your canopy. For example, if you chose to just do big circles to stay in the holding area, that's fine, but you won't get that by simply locking into a slow turn and holding it. Half of the turn will be with the wind, and the other half will be against the wind. The end result will be a ground track that looks like a long 'curly Q' line extending in the direction of the wind, and carrying you out of the holding area in short order. What you would need to do is speed up the with-the-wind half of the turn and slow down the into-the-wind half of the turn to make a circular ground track that remains in the holding area. The overall lesson is just to watch your drfit while manuvering. You can't stop the drift, but you can fly your canopy with it in mind so you stay where you want to be over the ground. If you can stay in the holding area, and not create any traffic conflicts, what you want to do with your canopy is up to you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
climber71 0 #16 November 18, 2012 Had a great Cat D2 Skydive yesterday in the AFF program, passed going onto Cat E1. The turns in freefall went smooth. Getting comfortable starting and ending them. Spoke with my Instructor Adam about hanging out in the Holding Area. Did that, the Cat D2 called for working the rear risers. Did that, the turns went great. The DZ is closing for the winter, so may hay to go the Florida DZ to keep current. Thanks for the input. Blue Skies Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
