Quick question about skydiving log book.

[sherwoodchris 0]

Well first I'll ask the question. Then I'm gonna ramble a bit about my two recent jumps (cat B and C1).

I have a skydiving log book, 500 page (precision freefall) and so far have four entries. One from my first jump (tandem in Germany) then three from my AFF jumps. I just am wondering if these are official logs and only that, or if you can annotate little codes about things that happened during the jump, IE: "LT" for a line twist, or "CEC" for closed end cells. Or notes about landings (good, PLF, corn field (particularly my cat B landing, hahaha). I just think it would be nice to look back and remember little things like that just because.



Now to ramble about my Cat. B and C1 jumps.
Cat B, I didn't arch as much as they'd have liked and my legs were at a nearly 90 degree angle. Kept getting flashed the signal to extend them, but I'd bobble and thought I went too much and bring em back in some. Kinda defeated the purpose I guess. Went through the procedures and pulled. One thing they mentioned with the pull (happened on both the Cat. B and C1) was that I seem to go in slow motion. I usually pull a little low for that reason. With it happening twice, I think I'll fix that mistake. Had a slight line twist but remedied that quickly and realized I seemed to be way far away from the holding area. Turns out I wasn't gonna make it (partially because I was pulling down on the toggles a little instead of holding my arms all the way up) and when flying into the wind, I heard the instructor on the radio telling me to keep my path and aim for the field and to make sure to clear the buildings. Ultimately I ended up landing in a corn field (would've cleared it if I hadn't been pulling on the toggles) with a PLF. But I was good, which kinda surprised me, hahaha. I remember thinking, "Huh....I ain't in any pain...Cool!"

Later on I went on my second jump and focused on my body positioning and I was actually let go and was free falling fairly stable on my own. When I realized they let go instead of basking in all its glory I thought to myself "don't screw this up" hahaha. Pulled (in slow motion again I guess) and had closed end cells. Took two flares to remedy this and again, I realized I was off course. This time I thought hard to keep from pulling on the toggles and was able to make it to holding area and attempted to begin the landing pattern. I was a little lower than I wanted to be and made the decision it'd be safer to fly straight and land in the long open area rather than try to make the two 90 degree turns so close to the run way. I felt I'd either turn too low or not be able to make the 180 in time. Buuuut, on my left were a bunch of trees. Thought "well, this is gonna be fun. Tree landing on my 2nd solo jump" but I remembered about target fixation (also because i ride motorcycles and know the dangers) so I looked towards the open field and made little adjustments. Kept drifting back towards the trees (later found out that I went stupid and was pulling a little on the left the whole time making right side adjustments). Ultimately I managed to aim myself into the field and flared at the right time (with no radio contact for whatever reason) and made my landing smooth and on my butt.

I guess the instructors for sure thought i was going in the trees, hahaha.

But I'm here and alive and ready for more. I am fairly positive that the problem with pulling on the toggles won't happen again and I'm going to be able to focus more on body positioning. With each jump the techniques will get better and you'll start to see the big picture of things and know why to do what they're telling you to, rather than just memorize it. But that was my rambling of my two recent jumps, just because.


Thanks for reading or answering the questions.

[excaza 1]

To me, the purpose of your logbook is exactly that, log your jumps.

I can only speak as a student, but I've found that writing everything down is extremely helpful (I practically wrote a book for each of my AFF jumps). Not only is it helpful for you to keep track, but it's also helpful for instructors and coaches who aren't as familiar with you as those who have been taking you through your jumps. It also shows that you're being heads up during your jumps and noticing what you're doing well and what you need to work on.

[sherwoodchris 0]

Well I only have 4 entries so far, all from my instructor. He verified my first tandem in Germany, then annotated details of my first three AFF jumps. He said sometime down the road I'll start making my own annotations, but I wasn't sure if certain codes were required or anything. The three towards my AFF jumps are pretty full, thats why just a CEC or LT in the top corner would be nice with a key in the beginning of the book.

[hcsvader 1]

You can never log to much information.
Maybe have your instructors log and sign off the key points to each jump. Then add as much info to it as you like. Your log is your record of the jumps. You could log what you wrote above if you like.
Just try to keep it organized so your instructors don't have to read a novel to find out you need to work on your arch a little bit on your next jump.

Have you seen my pants?
it"s a rough life, Livin' the dream
>:)

[monkycndo 0]

Write down as little or as much as you like. Anything and everything is ok. It is fun to go back and read old log entries from years past.

50 donations so far. Give it a try.

You know you want to spank it
Jump an Infinity

[sherwoodchris 0]

Awesome. I appreciate it. I just think it'll be funny to look back and say "Yep. On my second AFF jump I landed in a corn field, but was also able to deal with line twist".

[riggerrob 643]

The more you remembered from a jump, the more you learned. ... ergo the more you wrote, the more you learned.

Just let your instructors fill in your logbook for your first dozen jumps. There is a standard format, that helps other instructors know which skills to concentrate on during your next jump.

... and ask an instructor/coach to sign all the jumps that include skills needed for your next license/endorsement.

[sherwoodchris 0]

Yeah, like I said, my instructors are filling it out, but I got home and wanted to add a couple little annotations (like I said, the CEC or LT) just so I know. So that won't cause any problems?

[JohnMitchell 16]

Quote

Yeah, like I said, my instructors are filling it out, but I got home and wanted to add a couple little annotations (like I said, the CEC or LT) just so I know. So that won't cause any problems?

No, your notes to yourself shouldn't cause any trouble. An instructor looking in there may ask what it means. Just don't write "Flew in last on the 20 way." They might think you made that up.

[oldwomanc6 52]

The more you write down (in a log book or other place) the more you will recall. 10, 20,30 + years down the line, the happier you will be. Not only the details of the jumps, but the people with whom you jumped. Don't forget last names. Right now, you think you will remember who the heck they are, but later you will say "Mike who? Jim who, Susan who?"

I wish I had been a better logger.

lisa
WSCR 594
FB 1023
CBDB 9

[dontlikemustard 0]

dude i treat my logbook like a fucking novel. I read it at night before I go to sleep.

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

Write in it any thing you want. It's your record of your jumps.
Anyone "official" who looks in it will recognize the difference between what your instructor wrote and what you added.

Adding extra stuff to help you remember what happened isn't a bad thing. I tend to fill up the whole square with what was planned, what really happened, who was on the jump, what happened under canopy, and anything cool or unusual.
That can include a special spectator, observer on the plane or something like that; or things like the eagle that approached me under canopy once. Now that was both cool and scary!

I like to look back (especially during winter) and see what jumps I did. A lot of times the detail in the log entries will jog my memory and I'll have a vivid memeory of the jump.

"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

[NWFlyer 2]

I still create a paper log, but unless the jump was particularly unusual or memorable, other than the basic jump data, I don't write much more than the number of people on the jump, and maybe the names. I'm on logbook #3 and it's interesting to look at how much less I write now than I used to. But if it's a special jump (like my Blue Hole jump) I'll sure write a lot about it.

"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

[SansSuit 1]

Quote

The more you write down (in a log book or other place) the more you will recall. 10, 20,30 + years down the line, the happier you will be. Not only the details of the jumps, but the people with whom you jumped. Don't forget last names. Right now, you think you will remember who the heck they are, but later you will say "Mike who? Jim who, Susan who?"

I wish I had been a better logger.

I maintain that there is not one jumper in the history of parachuting who is sorry that he logged too much.

Peace,
-Dawson.
http://www.SansSuit.com
The Society for the Advancement of Naked Skydiving

[DSE 5]

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/safety/detail_page.cgi?ID=727 Skydiving logbook article here on DZ.com

[JohnMitchell 16]

Nice article, Spot.

[abaij 0]

I got my A license last year and I always write a detailed description of the entire jump, from exit to landing. My instructiors always ended their entries with lessons learned, and what I should work on during my next jump, etc. So I still do that - on every jump there is always something I need to work on the next time and logging that serves as a reminder. Just don't forget to also log what you did right! If you don't know, then ask the person you jumped with. If your jumps are on video, it's fun to add a small picture of your jump on that page of your logbook. When I had an injury, my instructor told me to be sure to tape my medical ID bracelet from the ER into that page of my logbook. I know it'll be neat to look back on all that stuff someday. Like others have said, be sure to put the names of who you jumped with and get them to sign it - I like to ask at least a couple of the jumpers to sign my logbook after the jump. Even though I've only been in the sport for a little over a year, it's already fun to go back and read my log book. Hope you have fun with it! Best of luck!

[fastphil 0]

Quote

The more you write down (in a log book or other place) the more you will recall. 10, 20,30 + years down the line, the happier you will be. Not only the details of the jumps, but the people with whom you jumped. Don't forget last names. Right now, you think you will remember who the heck they are, but later you will say "Mike who? Jim who, Susan who?"

I wish I had been a better logger.

Yeah, what lisa said. Right now it's about body position, and later it may be formation or airwork, but eventually it's all about friends come and gone...