high freaking winds

[crzjp20 0]

hey guys so heres the deal. Today i got up to go get some jumps in. Nice preaty day that looked great. Well jump went good, but while we were climbing the winds aparently picked up preatty good.... so when i was under my big student rental rig i was getting pushed backwards. i landed in a clear area at the end of the run way while being pushed backwards.

So here is the question, since i was going backwards and all that i didnt get a good flare. Cause i had a hard time judging cause of high grass, and well going the wrong way. So i stuck me feet and knees together and flared as best as i could and got a good PLF no problem no pain nothing hurt. but is there any trick to judgin the ground in this situation.

So anywasy we got put on a wind hold, and waited it out and still got 2 more jumps in after that.

comments suggestions for next time??

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Fear is not a confession of weakness, it is an oportunity for courage.

[tattoojeff 0]

pj you may want to consider not jumping in high winds. you still very green and those giant rental canopys dont penetrate the winds very well. that being said theres ways to get more penetration using other controls on your canopy namley front risers. i dont want to get to detailed because you should learn this from an instructor at your dz for saftey reasons. but ill say again if your going backwards that a big ole neon sign telling you to stay ground side and live to jump another day.

[crzjp20 0]

the wind were not high when we lef t the ground, they picked up once we were in the air.... aka in freefal land canopy.

so as far as we know they were fine.

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Fear is not a confession of weakness, it is an oportunity for courage.

[parachutist 2]

Quote

but is there any trick to judgin the ground in this situation.

No. It's always best to assume that you have no clue what's beneath some deep grass, and to do a PLF anywhere that you are unsure about the landing surface. I always assume that there will be a log, a hole, or something else that could break one of my legs underneath thick vegetation. So I think you made a good call and I'd say do the same thing next time.

Judging when to flare, and how much to flare can seem confusing in such situations, especially when the vegetation is tall (such as landing in a corn field with 8 foot high stalks). If you mistakenly flare a bit too high and find that the grass is taller than you thought, it's ok... just hold the flare and PLF.

Chris W

[billvon 2,998]

> Well jump went good, but while we were climbing the winds aparently
>picked up preatty good....

At most places I jump, someone on the ground monitors winds so that a sudden increase can be communicated to the plane. I've landed with the plane more than once because of sudden increases in winds.

[Cacophony 0]

One other consideration to keep in mind when jumping in high winds and jumping a docile canopy is turbulence. "Ram Air" parachutes require air being forced into the nose to keep pressurization and the person hanging below it is what pulls it forward to keep air forced in there. When you jump student gear your suspended weight might not be enough to keep the canopy fully inflated in high winds or turbulence. Always be ready for that PLF!! Sounds like you did a good job in that area.

Realistically you should not have jumped if the winds changed to an unsuitable condition while you were on the airplane. That should have been taken care of by someone on the ground.

[yoink 321]

Quote

It's always best to assume that you have no clue what's beneath some deep grass, and to do a PLF anywhere that you are unsure about the landing surface. I always assume that there will be a log, a hole, or something else that could break one of my legs underneath thick vegetation.

Chris W

That's a nice piece of advice that I've never thought about - simple common sense, but somehow overlooked. I'll remember that from now on...

Thanks

Will

[JohnMitchell 16]

***At most places I jump, someone on the ground monitors winds so that a sudden increase can be communicated to the plane. I've landed with the plane more than once because of sudden increases in winds.

[Frenchy68 0]

True, jumping in high winds is not a good idea, especially for newbies. However, in some locations, in my case Perris, winds can pick up in a hurry (and/or change direction). Two weeks ago, I boarded the plane while winds were minimal, and landed without having to flare (still did when my feet touched the ground to help control the canopy), as I went pretty much vertical on the last 50 feet, straight into the wind. The pilot never said anything (he may not have been informed of the situation) while going up.
But being the last one out before a fly over made for a nice straight line cross country ride into the wind! Time to learn how to flick that switch next to the door back and forth I guess

"For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return."