Being told NOT to check the spot!

[diverdriver 6]

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It wouldn't have mattered on that jump. The pilots weren't exactly experienced in flying formation loads. Nobody could even see the lead plane itself.

Well that is a scary statement.

Chris Schindler
www.diverdriver.com
ATP/D-19012
FB #4125

[CSpenceFLY 1]

Yep,lost a friend because of that.

[godfrog 2]

I've been flying jump planes for years as a side line job, when I give the door to the jumpers it doesnt mean that its time to get out, it means its time to take a look and see if I'm tracking right over the ground, or what ever. I dont mind corrections! I want everyone to have a good safe and fun jump! I do all I can to be aware of other airtraffic, scans, radio announcements, contact with atc for area traffic. and whatever it takes, my job ends when I see your smiling face on the ground!

Experience is a difficult teacher, she gives you the test first and the lesson afterward

[BillyVance 34]

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It wouldn't have mattered on that jump. The pilots weren't exactly experienced in flying formation loads. Nobody could even see the lead plane itself.

Well that is a scary statement.

I remember now that Charlie Mullins was in the plane with me. We were doing a 20 way, 10 in each plane. He was right behind the cockpit and he could see the lead plane if he leaned over far enough between the pilot seats. All the floaters were positioned but no one was moving for what seemed like forever, then I see Charlie screaming his head off "GOOOO GOOOO!!!" Finally the floaters let go and we all scrambled out. When I got stable, I saw Charlie in a vertical head down track, and using him as the guide, I located the base, some 4000 feet below. Turns out the two planes were almost level with each other.

Oh yeah, Charlie was the only person from the trail plane to make it in.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[diverdriver 6]

What kind of planes?

Chris Schindler
www.diverdriver.com
ATP/D-19012
FB #4125

[BillyVance 34]

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What kind of planes?

Cargo Cessna Caravans. Guy by the name of Cactus Butt owns them. They were from Illinois I think. We had them come to my old home dz every month one year too.

I remember everyone on that jump was so pissed when they came back into the packing area... oh well...

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[diverdriver 6]

If the planes aren't in the right position before exit then no one should climb out. It takes both planes looking at each other to make it happen. The people in the lead plane should be able to see if the trail is in the right place. The people in the trail, if they can't see the lead, should not climb out and make a determined effort to communicate to the pilot that he is not in the right place. Position should be determined and stabilized at least 2 minutes before drop. If it isn't then there needs to be a go around. The potential hazard is obvious as people have gone through props of trailing aircraft because of out of position planes.

I'd like to hear more about what people saw and when they saw it and what they tried to do about it.

Chris Schindler
www.diverdriver.com
ATP/D-19012
FB #4125

[tbrown 26]

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Haha, everyone seems so much more confrontational than me. I guess im still in the camp of I only have a little over 200 jumps and this guy probably has 1000s so what do I know, so I didnt think to tell him off right there. I still looked, and im alive . Everyone has made me feel so much better though about the whole incident.

Hate to say it, but we have our share of assholes in this sport, just like anybody else.

The DZs in So. Cal have light systems and typically give the "door" signal with a red or yellow light early enough to take a look around, then the green light comes on to get out of de plane. If I'm at the door I always take a look, partly to make sure we're over the right Zip Code, but mostly to look for other planes that might be in the area. It's the other planes you really have to look out for, you could have anything from a Cessna to a C-17 below and I guarantee that hotshot pilot wouldn't have a clue.

Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

[BillyVance 34]

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If I'm at the door I always take a look, partly to make sure we're over the right Zip Code, but mostly to look for other planes that might be in the area. It's the other planes you really have to look out for, you could have anything from a Cessna to a C-17 below and I guarantee that hotshot pilot wouldn't have a clue.

Yep, and you can use that accident in Massachusetts as a great example. Skydiver jumped from a C182 and a few seconds later slammed through the horizontal stabilizer of a private plane that was flying probably with the radio off and probably lost too. In the wreckage of the plane, an aviation map was found unfolded across the lap of the pilot's body. This happened several years ago, I don't remember much detail other than what I said here.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

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[riggerrob 643]

That was one of the few times that a skydiver got off light (broken leg) while everyone in the Cherokee died after he kicked the tail off.
The NTSB found the Cherokee pilot at fault for wandering through an active DZ.

[riggerrob 643]

There is an amusing story from when that policy changed.

Under the old (pre-GPS) policy, "green light" meant: we have permission from ATC to drop, so you may open the door and start looking."
Pilot Skip ... (the guy who owns a pair of DC-3s and the shiniest Beech 18 in California, a Cessna 400 -series twin, etc.) had gotten un-current at flying jumpers, so he hopped into the pilot's seat of one of Perris' Twin Otters.
No-one told Skip about the change in policy.
Skip turned on the green light and an entire load of lemmings exited over Quail Valley!
Hah!
Hah!