matt1215 0 #1 February 12, 2007 I'm curious what people see as the main benefit to holding a jump license. I've made 62 jumps in 13 months, at 4 different dropzones, haven't finished my A, and never been told I can't jump when I go some place new. All DZ's seem to really care about is: 1.Most recent logged jumps 2.Current reserve 3.Current USPA membership (sometimes) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougH 270 #2 February 12, 2007 Do they let you jump with people at these drop zones that aren't a coach or an instructor?"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matt1215 0 #3 February 12, 2007 QuoteDo they let you jump with people at these drop zones that aren't a coach or an instructor? They do. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D22369 0 #4 February 12, 2007 1)you get second party liability insurance, that will help if you land between cars off the landing area and tear off a mirror. 2)you can hold a uspa instructor rating - not that you are legally required to hold one, but I am pretty sure that in the event of a lawsuit, it would provide a bit more protection to you. 3)you get the parachutist magazine RoyThey say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #5 February 12, 2007 Do you have everything signed off on your card and just haven't sent it in, or are you still working on the requirements? If it's the former, you are a licensed skydiver, not a student. I have been to several DZs that check your USPA card and license prior to letting you jump. To be fair, I never tried to jump anywhere else before I had the A finished up, but I have been asked my license info on pretty much every waiver I've filled out and I've always assumed that it is relevant information ..."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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matt1215 0 #6 February 12, 2007 Quote1)you get second party liability insurance, that will help if you land between cars off the landing area and tear off a mirror. >>So I have no insurance as a just a USPA member? 2)you can hold a uspa instructor rating - not that you are legally required to hold one, but I am pretty sure that in the event of a lawsuit, it would provide a bit more protection to you. >>>No worries there, lots of jumps away 3)you get the parachutist magazine >>>I already do Roy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D22369 0 #7 February 12, 2007 So I have no insurance as a just a USPA member? *** hmmm, I just read my license, it appears i was wrong and the insurance comes with the membership itself.... sorry bout that RoyThey say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brettski74 0 #8 February 12, 2007 Are you planning to compete, ever? All competitive events require some sort of licence, as far as I'm aware, and if it's an event that requires jumping with other people, then you'll probably need your B licence. I never figured I'd be competing when I first started skydiving, but now I'm on my B and thinking that getting a 4-way team together will be a good way to have some fun and develop my skills at the same time, and having something to work towards (ie. the comp) is nice, too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matt1215 0 #9 February 12, 2007 QuoteDo you have everything signed off on your card and just haven't sent it in, or are you still working on the requirements? If it's the former, you are a licensed skydiver, not a student. I have been to several DZs that check your USPA card and license prior to letting you jump. To be fair, I never tried to jump anywhere else before I had the A finished up, but I have been asked my license info on pretty much every waiver I've filled out and I've always assumed that it is relevant information ... No, I still have most of my requirements left to get signed off. I'm really not actively pursuing the requirements, but there's really nothing left that's not doable in a couple jumps. It comes down to the instructors always being busy with tandems and not wanting to pay for coached jumps. I think it'll come down to hitting a DZ with more than one AFFI and less tandem traffic. At this point, I wouldn't even bother with an A-license, only accomplish the card as a requirement for my B. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matt1215 0 #10 February 12, 2007 QuoteAre you planning to compete, ever? All competitive events require some sort of licence, as far as I'm aware, and if it's an event that requires jumping with other people, then you'll probably need your B licence. I never figured I'd be competing when I first started skydiving, but now I'm on my B and thinking that getting a 4-way team together will be a good way to have some fun and develop my skills at the same time, and having something to work towards (ie. the comp) is nice, too. Eventually. In the more immediate future, I want to do some night jumps Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DrewEckhardt 0 #11 February 12, 2007 Quote1)you get second party liability insurance, that will help if you land between cars off the landing area and tear off a mirror. You get the $50,000 liability policy merely by being a USPA member, although it probably won't do you any good if you break one of the cars in the parking lot because damage to other members' property isn't covered. Quote 2)you can hold a uspa instructor rating - not that you are legally required to hold one, but I am pretty sure that in the event of a lawsuit, it would provide a bit more protection to you. Although you may still have to spend $50,000+ defending yourself in court. The liability coverage on your home owner's or renters policy will do you more good. Quote 3)you get the parachutist magazine Also included with membership, no license required. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DougH 270 #12 February 12, 2007 I thought it was a USPA rule that only coaches and ratings holders could jump with students? I just don't understand why you wouldn't want to finish up and get your license? If they already let you jump with people that aren't coaches simply get some one to videotape your swoop and docks, and your check dive."The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites pilotdave 0 #13 February 12, 2007 If you travel more (to boogies or just other DZs), you'll find more hassles. For example not being able to jump with non-instructors/coaches, and having to get an AFF instructor to check your card before you can jump. The things you still have to learn will also make you a better, safer skydiver. Those coach jumps are extremely valuable. I think it used to be pretty common to skip the A-license and move straight to a B or C, but with the ISP that's a bit more pointless... you still have to do all the coach jumps and you pretty much get your A automatically. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites pilotdave 0 #14 February 12, 2007 QuoteI thought it was a USPA rule that only coaches and ratings holders could jump with students? They backed off on that last year and changed it to allow D-license holders too. But individual DZs can still require students to only jump with ratings holders. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DrewEckhardt 0 #15 February 12, 2007 QuoteI'm curious what people see as the main benefit to holding a jump license. I've made 62 jumps in 13 months, at 4 different dropzones, haven't finished my A, and never been told I can't jump when I go some place new. All DZ's seem to really care about is: 1.Most recent logged jumps 2.Current reserve 3.Current USPA membership (sometimes) Having a license will mean you won't have to worry about some one making a big deal when you travel or get uncurrent. let you compete if you want, and let you land at the experienced landing area. I didn't have any real problems not having a license for 10 years, although I didn't travel too much outside the state and had never gone more than a month without jumping. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 7 #16 February 12, 2007 Getting your name, in REALLY small print, in a national magazine! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites darkwing 5 #17 February 12, 2007 sooner or later you will run into a hassle over it. Just get your license(s). USPA does far more good than harm to the sport. -- Jeff My Skydiving History Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DrewEckhardt 0 #18 February 12, 2007 QuoteI thought it was a USPA rule that only coaches and ratings holders could jump with students? Enforcement varies. If you show up at a DZ and can point at people there who've been jumping with you for years it's not going to be enforced. Show up at a boogie with a few hundred signed jumps in your logbook, a rig with your name on it, and a half dozen friends and it probably won't be a problem. Going to a DZ where no one knows you and trying to rent gear may get messy. Quote I just don't understand why you wouldn't want to finish up and get your license? Now that we have turbine DZs it doesn't take much over a month to go from A-qualified to B-qualified except you need to find live water training, and it didn't used to be a big step to get from B to C (50 additional jumps) or C to D (100 jumps more). Why spend the extra $25 when you don't have to? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DougH 270 #19 February 12, 2007 QuoteWhy spend the extra $25 when you don't have to? Because you don't need to spend 25 dollars. You can get a stamped A license application that proves that you have the necessary training without ever needing to send it to the USPA. I never sent in for an A license number, but I still had an A license."The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites kelpdiver 2 #20 February 12, 2007 QuoteYou can get a stamped A license application that proves that you have the necessary training without ever needing to send it to the USPA. I never sent in for an A license number, but I still had an A license. but you did pay for the B license. Why? (I actually did the same thing) When you go to a new DZ, it's much more straightforward giving them a license number. When I instead provided the A card, they nearly always wanted to see the log book and to question me a bit about my history. In the OP's case, he's not even A qualified. A USPA DZ isn't supposed to let him do a lot of things. The wind restriction would be a killer for me - too many bad memories. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites FallingDuck 0 #21 February 13, 2007 I have friends that went overseas and one had a license and the other just had his card. The one that only had his card wasn't allowed to jump at half the DZs they went to. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites DougH 270 #22 February 13, 2007 Quote but you did pay for the B license. Why? (I actually did the same thing) Personal choice. My thought was that my B license carried greater privileges like the ability to do night jumps, a lower minimum pack opening, and at most boogies the ability to get on helicopter and other special jumps. Since I my license carried more privileges I felt that I also had a greater responsibility to help others verify my credentials. It also makes it easier for me to sign peoples log books now. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Pulse 0 #23 February 14, 2007 I was involved in a bandit-jump once. A big issue was that two of the jumpers had "...broken USPA BSR's..." concerning their landing proximity to a hazard. (The hazard being water.) Though the jumpers were far over-qualified for the D-license, they did not hold the license. This was just a nit-picking point for non-jumpers who were upset. It's really meaningless. But in a world that's impressed with print on paper, it seems to mean everything to the idiots out there."Any language where the unassuming word fly signifies an annoying insect, a means of travel, and a critical part of a gentleman's apparel is clearly asking to be mangled." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites waltappel 1 #24 February 14, 2007 Good question. At one time I had no intention of ever getting a license. That changed when some demo I wanted to go on required a C-license so I got that. Then years later I wanted to do pro demos so I got a D and a PRO. If you look at USPA's Skydiver Information Manual (SIM) and the privileges granted each license level, just decide whether you want to do any of those things. Keep in mind that those things apply at USPA member DZs and events (like demos) that are scrutinized by the FAA. Skydiving is largely a self-regulating sport and USPA is the sport's regulating body in the US. Additionally, you might want to consider that some boogies require a minimum license. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites kelpdiver 2 #25 February 14, 2007 Quote My thought was that my B license carried greater privileges like the ability to do night jumps, a lower minimum pack opening, and at most boogies the ability to get on helicopter and other special jumps. Since I my license carried more privileges I felt that I also had a greater responsibility to help others verify my credentials. It also makes it easier for me to sign peoples log books now. I used my uspa number as it took considerably longer than I expected to get the B reqs done (waiting months in the winter for the rig parts to arrive) You don't need to the B license number to do those things (and the lower opening is overrated in my mind). But at a DZ that doesn't know you, it simplifies matters for everyone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 Next Page 1 of 2 Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. 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DrewEckhardt 0 #11 February 12, 2007 Quote1)you get second party liability insurance, that will help if you land between cars off the landing area and tear off a mirror. You get the $50,000 liability policy merely by being a USPA member, although it probably won't do you any good if you break one of the cars in the parking lot because damage to other members' property isn't covered. Quote 2)you can hold a uspa instructor rating - not that you are legally required to hold one, but I am pretty sure that in the event of a lawsuit, it would provide a bit more protection to you. Although you may still have to spend $50,000+ defending yourself in court. The liability coverage on your home owner's or renters policy will do you more good. Quote 3)you get the parachutist magazine Also included with membership, no license required. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougH 270 #12 February 12, 2007 I thought it was a USPA rule that only coaches and ratings holders could jump with students? I just don't understand why you wouldn't want to finish up and get your license? If they already let you jump with people that aren't coaches simply get some one to videotape your swoop and docks, and your check dive."The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pilotdave 0 #13 February 12, 2007 If you travel more (to boogies or just other DZs), you'll find more hassles. For example not being able to jump with non-instructors/coaches, and having to get an AFF instructor to check your card before you can jump. The things you still have to learn will also make you a better, safer skydiver. Those coach jumps are extremely valuable. I think it used to be pretty common to skip the A-license and move straight to a B or C, but with the ISP that's a bit more pointless... you still have to do all the coach jumps and you pretty much get your A automatically. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pilotdave 0 #14 February 12, 2007 QuoteI thought it was a USPA rule that only coaches and ratings holders could jump with students? They backed off on that last year and changed it to allow D-license holders too. But individual DZs can still require students to only jump with ratings holders. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrewEckhardt 0 #15 February 12, 2007 QuoteI'm curious what people see as the main benefit to holding a jump license. I've made 62 jumps in 13 months, at 4 different dropzones, haven't finished my A, and never been told I can't jump when I go some place new. All DZ's seem to really care about is: 1.Most recent logged jumps 2.Current reserve 3.Current USPA membership (sometimes) Having a license will mean you won't have to worry about some one making a big deal when you travel or get uncurrent. let you compete if you want, and let you land at the experienced landing area. I didn't have any real problems not having a license for 10 years, although I didn't travel too much outside the state and had never gone more than a month without jumping. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #16 February 12, 2007 Getting your name, in REALLY small print, in a national magazine! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darkwing 5 #17 February 12, 2007 sooner or later you will run into a hassle over it. Just get your license(s). USPA does far more good than harm to the sport. -- Jeff My Skydiving History Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrewEckhardt 0 #18 February 12, 2007 QuoteI thought it was a USPA rule that only coaches and ratings holders could jump with students? Enforcement varies. If you show up at a DZ and can point at people there who've been jumping with you for years it's not going to be enforced. Show up at a boogie with a few hundred signed jumps in your logbook, a rig with your name on it, and a half dozen friends and it probably won't be a problem. Going to a DZ where no one knows you and trying to rent gear may get messy. Quote I just don't understand why you wouldn't want to finish up and get your license? Now that we have turbine DZs it doesn't take much over a month to go from A-qualified to B-qualified except you need to find live water training, and it didn't used to be a big step to get from B to C (50 additional jumps) or C to D (100 jumps more). Why spend the extra $25 when you don't have to? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougH 270 #19 February 12, 2007 QuoteWhy spend the extra $25 when you don't have to? Because you don't need to spend 25 dollars. You can get a stamped A license application that proves that you have the necessary training without ever needing to send it to the USPA. I never sent in for an A license number, but I still had an A license."The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #20 February 12, 2007 QuoteYou can get a stamped A license application that proves that you have the necessary training without ever needing to send it to the USPA. I never sent in for an A license number, but I still had an A license. but you did pay for the B license. Why? (I actually did the same thing) When you go to a new DZ, it's much more straightforward giving them a license number. When I instead provided the A card, they nearly always wanted to see the log book and to question me a bit about my history. In the OP's case, he's not even A qualified. A USPA DZ isn't supposed to let him do a lot of things. The wind restriction would be a killer for me - too many bad memories. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FallingDuck 0 #21 February 13, 2007 I have friends that went overseas and one had a license and the other just had his card. The one that only had his card wasn't allowed to jump at half the DZs they went to. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougH 270 #22 February 13, 2007 Quote but you did pay for the B license. Why? (I actually did the same thing) Personal choice. My thought was that my B license carried greater privileges like the ability to do night jumps, a lower minimum pack opening, and at most boogies the ability to get on helicopter and other special jumps. Since I my license carried more privileges I felt that I also had a greater responsibility to help others verify my credentials. It also makes it easier for me to sign peoples log books now. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pulse 0 #23 February 14, 2007 I was involved in a bandit-jump once. A big issue was that two of the jumpers had "...broken USPA BSR's..." concerning their landing proximity to a hazard. (The hazard being water.) Though the jumpers were far over-qualified for the D-license, they did not hold the license. This was just a nit-picking point for non-jumpers who were upset. It's really meaningless. But in a world that's impressed with print on paper, it seems to mean everything to the idiots out there."Any language where the unassuming word fly signifies an annoying insect, a means of travel, and a critical part of a gentleman's apparel is clearly asking to be mangled." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #24 February 14, 2007 Good question. At one time I had no intention of ever getting a license. That changed when some demo I wanted to go on required a C-license so I got that. Then years later I wanted to do pro demos so I got a D and a PRO. If you look at USPA's Skydiver Information Manual (SIM) and the privileges granted each license level, just decide whether you want to do any of those things. Keep in mind that those things apply at USPA member DZs and events (like demos) that are scrutinized by the FAA. Skydiving is largely a self-regulating sport and USPA is the sport's regulating body in the US. Additionally, you might want to consider that some boogies require a minimum license. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #25 February 14, 2007 Quote My thought was that my B license carried greater privileges like the ability to do night jumps, a lower minimum pack opening, and at most boogies the ability to get on helicopter and other special jumps. Since I my license carried more privileges I felt that I also had a greater responsibility to help others verify my credentials. It also makes it easier for me to sign peoples log books now. I used my uspa number as it took considerably longer than I expected to get the B reqs done (waiting months in the winter for the rig parts to arrive) You don't need to the B license number to do those things (and the lower opening is overrated in my mind). But at a DZ that doesn't know you, it simplifies matters for everyone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
