Profit vs. Safety/Rules/Right Thing To Do

[Hooknswoop 19]

Derek

[mjosparky 4]

I think you left out the choice that most people would pick.

“I don’t know if my home DZ puts profit above safety”.

Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[livenletfly 0]

i can honestly state from everyday occurences that my dzo nevers put a price tag on the saftey and lives of our students, staff,or fun jumpers period!
skydive oregon may have alot of rules, but its the safest dz ive ever jumped at. the rules are very clear, very fair, and very much enforced. the dz gear and aircraft are maticulously maintained and cared for. as a matter of fact things like drouges and line sets are replaced even sooner than the manufacturer's recomendations. Imo, things like this are very honorable and exellent examples of not putting money before saftey.

>

[Designer 0]

Overall I think our DZ has a pretty good handle on things,safety,etc.Yeah,sometimes the plane has to come down with students.Sometimes it is too windy.Us older been around folks look at each go "What do you think"?Usually,the right,proper choice is made.Profit!I don't make no "Stinking Profit"(lol)

[Hooknswoop 19]

Quote

I think you left out the choice that most people would pick.

“I don’t know if my home DZ puts profit above safety”.

I think most people would pick the first option if they didn't know.

Derek

[lisamariewillbe 1]

If in life profit is put over safety it is wrong, and I fully believe that anyone or anything that would risk someones life for money will get there due

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[tso-d_chris 0]

A few things I consider before deciding on a DZ's safety level:

Are jumpers refused second passes (assuming no second jump plane below)?

Are current winds displayed so that each skydiver on the load can determine the proper spot before boarding the plane?

Do conditions warranting a weather hold vary, depending on whether or not there are students on the load? (ie. putting tandems out in clouds, rain)

Does the jump plane stay clear of the airspace in which the skydivers are flying their canopies?

Are students encouraged to pack for themselves?

Are students taught to spotfor themselves?

Are multiple student programs available to new jumpers?

Is free/ low cost coaching / organizing readily available for new jumpers?

Are landing directions enforced?

Are AFF landings radio assisted by an instructor?

Will the pilot adjust the spot at jumpers' request?

Do the students have a large, unobstucted landing area?

Are packers actually supervised by riggers?

Are hook turns prohibited? (IMO education is nearly always better than prohibition.)

When cool jumpers do unsafe things, are they grounded?

How well is the plane maintained?

Is the pilot qualified to fly skydivers?

Is there a rigger readily available during most jump operations at the DZ?

For Great Deals on Gear

[Hooknswoop 19]

Good list.

Derek

[bob.dino 1]

Quote

Are packers actually supervised by riggers?

In Australia, licenced jumpers can only pack their own main parachutes, or with CI (~=DZO) approval, that of another licenced jumper. If you wish to pack a student or tandem main parachute, you must hold a Packer B rating. To obtain this rating, you must pass both a written and practical test.

Is there any equivalent rating in the USA?

For completeness, Packer A is the rating for packing reserves, and a Rigger is the person that can make repairs & modifications to gear.

[billvon 3,079]

Any drop zone that does not put profit as a top goal becomes an ex drop zone. But it is possible to put profit first and also be anal about safety. Indeed, a wise DZO might decide that the most profitable course in the long run is to put safety first to avoid expensive (for them) injuries and even more expensive aircraft incidents/crashes.

[tdog 0]

Quote

Good list.

Derek

Hook,

Not only is it a good list, but most, if not all, ring true at the DZ(s) I jump at (more than the one listed in my profile, work takes me all over the country so I have jumped at a few DZs).

Lets not get confused here... Skipping a $30,000 plane phase inspection is putting profit above safety. Upselling services, like video to tandems, is focusing on sales and revenue, something every business owner must do to be sucessful... (and to pay for those phase inspections.) I think sometimes jumpers get frustrated at the "upsells" and mistake this "profit motivation" to be negative. Just my opinion.

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

Nice response, Chris.

[Hooknswoop 19]

I suppose I should have worded it better, something more along the lines of; "How often is safety compromised in the name of profit?"

Derek

[bob.dino 1]

Quote

When cool jumpers do unsafe things, are they grounded?

We have a DZ T-Shirt. Plain white, with black writing:

     I'm a Loser 

with poor canopy control.

If you do something stupid under canopy, you have to wear it whenever you're on the DZ. Someone had to wear it for nigh on three months once .