NottsTom 0 #1 December 19, 2006 Hello, I recenty got my A Certificate in the UK and have only jumped there. Coming home to the States (Texas) for Christmas, I can't really go two weeks without jumping, esp. in a warmer cilmate. Are there any rules that I need to be aware of that apply to the States that don't exist in the UK and vice-versa? I know that some of it may be covered in a dz brief, but to cover all my bases. Thanks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #2 December 19, 2006 QuoteI recenty got my A Certificate in the UK... How many jumps is that? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StreetScooby 5 #3 December 19, 2006 US dropzones require a riggers seal on the reserve. UK dropzones won't allow US jumpers to keep the seal. If you're packing your own reserve (as they do in the UK), you'll need to get a rigger to pack it before jumping in the US. Typically, that costs about $50 USD.We are all engines of karma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pincheck 0 #4 December 19, 2006 have you completed your consols and actually have your "A" licence ?. Billy-Sonic Haggis Flickr-Fun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NottsTom 0 #5 December 19, 2006 Finished my consols and all and actually have the A-Certificate booklet thing. I don't really need to worry about rigs and reserves as I didn't bring one with me, everything but. Just want to double check as well, first jump at a new drop zone is a case of beer is it not? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougH 270 #6 December 19, 2006 First jump in the US... first jump @ a new drop zone... first landing in the us... Your going to owe a lot of beer. "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
jakee 1,489 #7 December 19, 2006 QuoteUS dropzones require a riggers seal on the reserve. UK dropzones won't allow US jumpers to keep the seal. If you're packing your own reserve (as they do in the UK), you'll need to get a rigger to pack it before jumping in the US. Typically, that costs about $50 USD. Huh? Has this happened to you? Depending on who its packed by my rig often has a seal on the reserve.Do you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeemax 0 #8 December 19, 2006 Not what i've encountered. I've jumped at a numbe of US dropzones as a UK jumper and not one has questioned why my rig doesn't have a seal on it (not required in the UK). The only thing i have had to comply with is US reserve repack cycles (different than the UK), because my gear is US made (Jav) and is therefore subject to the time cycle depicted by the USPA. Also, while i may not have been in the sport as long as you, i've never seen a rigger remove a seal in the UK, they just wont put one on a new repack as we dont really do that here, although some will on request.Phoenix Fly - High performance wingsuits for skydiving and BASE Performance Designs - Simply brilliant canopies Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #9 December 19, 2006 <> Say What? - That one is news to me. I pack my own Paraglider reserve but MUST get a rigger to pack my FF Rig... I could be wrong nut I think that's the Regs here in the UK (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yossarian 0 #10 December 20, 2006 we bought a rig in the US and it had a seal on it and no dzs (weve been to a few) had a problem with it. in fact, theres a rigger somewhere up north who uses a seal anyway i think (if u mean the red cotton with the little lead blob on it) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peterkn 17 #11 December 20, 2006 I guess this really belongs in the Gear & Rigging forum, but as the issue has been raised here then I'll respond here .... There was a period (about 15 years ago) when reserve seals were banned in the UK. This is because they were thought to add to the pull force required to deploy the reserve. Reserve seals are currently acceptable in the UK, provided they comply to the guidelines specified by the BPA in this document : http://bpa.org.uk/forms/docs/Form%20215%20-%20BPA%20Reserve%20Sealing%20Method.doc If you're having a reserve repack in the States then it's worth ensuring that the rigger applies the seal in this way, so it doesn't have to be removed when you return home. The last time I was at Perris the person doing the gear check was surprised that I had a seal on my reserve, so it's certainly not mandatory at all DZ's in the States. As I understand the rules, if any part of your parachute assembly (including your main canopy) contains equipment that's TSO'd in the States then you are governed by the American reserve repack cycle rules. Otherwise the reserve repack cycle of your own country applies. This may not be the way that every DZ interprets the rules, but if the person making the decision stands to make money out of a reserve repack then chances are that this is the way they'll go. Pete Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dazzle 0 #12 December 20, 2006 BPA don't require a seal but do say that if done it must be done in a specific way that cannot impede the pin. I can't say that I've ever seen a foreign seal removed however. We cannot pack our own reserves but there is a qualification of Advanced Packer who is allowed to pack reserves as well as the full Rigger qualification Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
justinhawxhurst 0 #13 December 20, 2006 I just went through the same thing you are I am from California but got my A licence in Sweden. I had no problems jumping in California with my own rig. I just had to get a temperary USPA license for the month and my resurve had to meet the USPA requirments for packing. Have fun in the sun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Travman 6 #14 December 20, 2006 Thats interesting about reserves. A bit off topic, but the Australian repack cycle is 6 months. I have been told the repack cycle depends on where it was packed, so if its packed in Australia and you travel to the US you get a 6 month pack job, but if you get it packed in the US and come back to Australia you have to get it repacked in 3 months. Can anyone confirm this? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StreetScooby 5 #15 December 20, 2006 Quote UK dropzones won't allow US jumpers to keep the seal. Huh? Has this happened to you? Yes, at Skydive Strathallan in Auchterarder. Edit - I just read the other posts here. This happened to me in 1988. I see things have changed since then.We are all engines of karma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #16 December 20, 2006 QuoteAs I understand the rules, if any part of your parachute assembly (including your main canopy) contains equipment that's TSO'd in the States then you are governed by the American reserve repack cycle rules. Otherwise the reserve repack cycle of your own country applies. This may not be the way that every DZ interprets the rules, The large DZ's interpret the rules diferently: if the jumper is a foreign resident, regardless of the type of gear, they will honnor the foreigm rules (ie 180 cycles). Its been my experience in Eloy, Peris, Elsinore as a canadian with US TSO gear.Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mark 107 #17 December 20, 2006 QuoteThe large DZ's interpret the rules differently: if the jumper is a foreign resident, regardless of the type of gear, they will honor the foreigm rules (ie 180 cycles). Its been my experience in Eloy, Peris, Elsinore as a canadian with US TSO gear. The folks who check gear at the large DZs you mention may have different interpretations of the FARs, but they should not be relied upon. The next time you are there, ask them to cite the regulation they think applies. FAR 105.49 Foreign Parachutists and Equipment applies to visitors (not including resident aliens) who use unapproved (non-TSO) equipment. If you are a resident alien, it does not apply. And if you use approved (TSO) equipment, it does not apply. If your harness/container is TSO'd and your reserve is TSO'd, you are jumping approved equipment. The exceptions in FAR 105.49 do not apply, and your rig must have been packed by an FAA rigger within 120 days. Mark Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wonder2006 0 #18 December 20, 2006 Best bet then is to mail them directly asking! I am planning a trip to Eloy next year, and have had a response from them saying that if it has been packed in the UK, they will honour the UK repack cycle. Just like when my rig arrived from the US the UK dropzone honoured the US repack cycle and the repack cycle was only 120 days. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
icevideot 0 #19 December 20, 2006 I would print out a copy of that response just in case a different person checks in your gear. Might avoid a little hassle and confusion."... this ain't a Nerf world." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RandomLemming 0 #20 December 20, 2006 Make sure you get travel insurance that covers skydiving in the US. Check the small print and make sure that it covers you for more than x jumps a day as well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #21 December 21, 2006 QuoteThe folks who check gear at the large DZs you mention I am talking about contactint the DZ man agement on the issue.Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 1 #22 December 21, 2006 QuoteCan anyone confirm this? It's more complicated than that. The definitive word. However, it's worth noting that many US DZs don't appear to enforce the letter of the law... technically Aussie jumpers visiting the USA that jump TSO'd gear must have their reserves repacked by an FAA-rated rigger. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 1 #23 December 21, 2006 QuoteIf your harness/container is TSO'd and your reserve is TSO'd, you are jumping approved equipment. The exceptions in FAR 105.49 do not apply, and your rig must have been packed by an FAA rigger within 120 days. While that's the letter of the law (as cited in Tombuch's article), it's simply not enforced at major US dropzones. If it was, it'd royally piss off a large number of visiting jumpers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darrenspooner 0 #24 December 21, 2006 Think you need advanced packer certificate before you are allowed to pack your own reserve. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #25 December 21, 2006 QuoteQuoteIf your harness/container is TSO'd and your reserve is TSO'd, you are jumping approved equipment. The exceptions in FAR 105.49 do not apply, and your rig must have been packed by an FAA rigger within 120 days. While that's the letter of the law (as cited in Tombuch's article), it's simply not enforced at major US dropzones. If it was, it'd royally piss off a large number of visiting jumpers. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Agreed! If you folks are wise, you will stop rocking the boat on this issue. Some American DZs cut foreigners more slack than the Federal Air Regulations allow. If you are wise, you will leave it alone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
