Canopy flying, just something to think about.

[LawnDart21 0]

I just thought I'd throw this out there as Safety Day approaches, something to think about before flying your canopy.

Before each day starts, I like to walk out into the landing area and visualize my landing patterns before I jump. I find that point in the sky (at around 1000ft) where I want to start my pattern with my big old SET 400 on tandems and then look I for the point in the sky that I want to start my pattern again under my 105 on fun jumps. (Usually the two points are are no where near each other as I fly different patterns with my different canopies.) Once I find those points, I look straight down for a ground reference for each point. Maybe it's over a marsh, or the end the drive way, and then when I go and jump, I use those points as my targets, and fly my canopy path to arrive at those points at 1000ft (approx) to start my final patterns. I've come to realize that alot of the messy/ugly landing patterns that I have seen resulted in pilots fixating on their landing target (say the peas), rather than their entry point into their landing patterns, and they dont think backwards to determine where they need to be in the air to start a safe pattern to get to that ground target. Once my 1000ft ground reference targets are ball parked, I then work backwards again, talking with the pilot to see where the spot will be, and then mentally visualize where my my opening point will be, and then my flight path to my 1000ft target point (entry point to final pattern.) Now all of this is theory, in that even knowing the ground winds and winds aloft, its not an exact science, but the point is, once I am open, say at 3000ft under my 105, I dont fly to my landing area, I fly to my 1000ft target (entry point of pattern) spot on the ground. I know I have 2000ft (3000ft opening - 1000ft pattern entry) to get to that spot. I then draw a straight line with my eyes between the two points (opening and entry to pattern point) and find the half way point between them (say I see a big red truck on the ground half way between the two points). In theory, I should now arrive over that truck by 2000ft, half the distance covered in half the altitude. If I see I will get there early, I can adjust my pattern with S-turns, no problem, but if I don't get to the truck at all by 2000ft, say I am still an eight of a mile back from the truck, chances are, I ain't making it to my 1000ft target point either. My whole trip from 3000ft to 2000ft, I am scanning left and right looking for suitable outs, so if I don't make it to the half way point, I already have my out picked out, and in theory, its already behind me as I flew over it, so I can use that last 2000ft to turn around and set up for my landing out with ample time and atlitude to set up a safe landing. Would I rather safely land out into the wind, under controlled canopy input, or push flying to the landing area knowing I wont have enough altitude to turn into the wind? Crosswind landings and downwinds are better than low turns, but not putting yourself in a position to have to have to make that choice is the best defense.

Basically, I just want to convey that canopy flying is alot like golf. Golfers plan their shots from Tee to green, so to, we can plan our flights from opening to landing, using the ground and our altitude to give us input along the way to tell us how we are doing on our preplanned flight paths. Adjustments are always needed, but if you take the time before jump #1 each day to think these things through, the adjustments you will end up making will be minimal, and you will be less apt to find yourself in a bad position low to the ground under your canopy.

Just something to think about as the "season" draws closer for us northern jumpers.

Blue skies, safe swoops,
Tom

[skyyhi 0]

Very interesting read. . .

As a point of reference, I am VERY NEW to this sport and still on student status, BUT, I do make it a point to walk the landing area before I jump. I get a better read on the wind direction and can plan for my pattern much easier. Although at Elsinore, the winds can change directions quite rapidly and there has to be preparation for that too. . .

________________________________________
Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ
FGF #6
Darcy

[gerrcoin 0]

Generally I like to turn into the wind at 2k for about 5 to 10 sec just to gauge the ground speed of the canopy. I've been surprised a few times when turning into wind for the landing only to find myself going straight down (usually when this happens I'm over a shed or fence or trees, why never a nice empty field).
Be aware that wind can change direction and strength on the DZ during the time taken on climb to alt and that both wind speed and direction can vary with altitude (uppers).
Turning into wind as above will enable you to judge your true ground speed and drift. Position yourself as mentioned it the top post and if you need to lose alt use spirals (watch that student Cypres) or s turns - remember to keep clear of other jumpers. Close to the ground keep an eye on the wind sock and whatever visual cues there are - flags,trees, etc.

[FrogNog 1]

Quote

As a point of reference, I am VERY NEW to this sport and still on student status, BUT, I do make it a point to walk the landing area before I jump.

I like to look at the landing area, too, so I make sure to do this on the first jump of the day, after I open.

Slightly more seriously, at my DZ students and x-jump wonders like myself land at a field a few miles away from the airport, so checking this out ahead of time would be a chore. However, doing chores is good for you.

And unlike the original poster, I don't have tandem Paxen trusting me with their well being, and I have twice as much sport canopy over me, and etc. etc.. other differences.

So mostly I just check the wind board on the ground as I gear up, ask the pilot what he thinks the wind is doing, check the ground wind as I walk to the plane and note whether it is different in direction from the alofts, then make one last check when the door is open ("Yup, I recognize this general landscape") and go! Everything after that is done on my feet, so to speak.

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Pull.