andy2 0 #1 May 7, 2003 how hard is it to open up a drop zone? I live not even 100 yards from an airstrip where cessnas regularly take off, land, do air maneuveurs and tricks. Is it as simple as getting a pilot to agree to take you up to altitude and let you jump out? Or is there red tape to wade through? This would be a non-profit type thing, if that makes any difference. I'm wondering the legal logistics of this... --------------------------------------------- let my inspiration flow, in token rhyme suggesting rhythm... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #2 May 7, 2003 Within the last couple of years there was a series of articles in Parachutist that outlined how to start up your own DZ. Depending on where the airport is located, who actually owns the airport & where you'd be able to land, it could be an almost trivial thing or nearly impossible.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andy2 0 #3 May 7, 2003 I know the people that own the land, they are neighbors. The only thing I would be worried about, is that there is a major airport about 30 miles away and planes fly over my house everyday, granted they are very high in the sky, I wonder if they are getting as low as 10k or so... --------------------------------------------- let my inspiration flow, in token rhyme suggesting rhythm... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
katiebear21 0 #4 May 7, 2003 Where are you talking about??? Katie Get your PMS glass necklace here Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpervali 2 #5 May 8, 2003 Get a uspa group membership. I strongly advise you to incorporate. Get the wavers for jumpers. File a notem. jump. There are all kinds of things to work out pertaining to leasing land/building and aircraft. jumpervali Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazerq3 0 #6 May 8, 2003 All I know is that I've heard it take 2mill$ to make million $ DZ!!...coarse I dont think thats true..my DZO started his with a 182 and a BIG shade tree!! 10 yrs (or so) later he has the 182, 206, and a Caravan in the nicest hanger with all facilites in the state!! So just go for it!! jason Freedom of speech includes volume Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
calphoto 0 #7 May 8, 2003 The old joke is, "How do you make a small FORTUNE in skydiving? Start with a BIG one..." No one ever got rich in skydiving, except for those people who have lots of lucrative government contracts. Opening a drop zone is a great way to lose your shirt (rig/house/friends/dog/wife) The DZO's who are surviving after 10/20/30 years must be doing something right. Do it for fun. Do it because you love the sport and the people. Do it because you are good at it. And remember the DZ's you loved, and the DZO's who created them. Here's to you, Harry.Hartwood Paracenter - The closest DZ to DC! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andy2 0 #8 May 8, 2003 I think maybe people have missed the point of my post. I definitely wouldnt be doing this to make money!!! This is kind of a long term dream of mine, that one day, I can get my sorry ass up out of bed, walk 100 yards to the airstrip, pay my neighbor to take up his cessna with a couple other people and jump! Just crunch the numbers yourself, I think you could get away with CHEAP jump tickets this way, IF there was a pilot wishing to take you up. I know multiple 18 year old pilots in my neighborhood that fly for fun, I know they would welcome 250 bucks for a saturday afternoon of 10-15 take offs and landings. Split that money with 2-3 other people and you've got cheap jump tickets! I hope at least. --------------------------------------------- let my inspiration flow, in token rhyme suggesting rhythm... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #9 May 8, 2003 Big thing is the pilot has to be commercially rated.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andy2 0 #10 May 8, 2003 commercially rated to load skydivers or commercially rated i.e. to fly and get paid? I know theres been people pay pilots to fly them down to the beach and back (a 45 min flight compared to a 3.5 hour drive). Is that technically illegal? --------------------------------------------- let my inspiration flow, in token rhyme suggesting rhythm... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ERICCONNELLY 0 #11 May 8, 2003 If they do not have a commercial rating? Yes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,026 #12 May 8, 2003 Quotecommercially rated to load skydivers or commercially rated i.e. to fly and get paid? I know theres been people pay pilots to fly them down to the beach and back (a 45 min flight compared to a 3.5 hour drive). Is that technically illegal? It's not whether or not the pilot is paid, it's whether or not the skydivers pay for the lift to altitude that makes it a commercial operation. If anyone collects money, the pilot needs a commercial certificate. If the pilot holds a private certificate, he could do it legally IF and ONLY IF he pays his share of the gas. Otherwise even the free flight hours are considered compensation.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betzilla 56 #13 May 8, 2003 Quote I think maybe people have missed the point of my post. I definitely wouldnt be doing this to make money!!! This is kind of a long term dream of mine, that one day, I can get my sorry ass up out of bed, walk 100 yards to the airstrip, pay my neighbor to take up his cessna with a couple other people and jump! Just crunch the numbers yourself, I think you could get away with CHEAP jump tickets this way, IF there was a pilot wishing to take you up. I know multiple 18 year old pilots in my neighborhood that fly for fun, I know they would welcome 250 bucks for a saturday afternoon of 10-15 take offs and landings. Split that money with 2-3 other people and you've got cheap jump tickets! I hope at least. First off, if you're going to be "paying" the guy, he need a commercial license. You'll need permission from the airport to land a parachute there too. Consider how ell your green pilot will fly with the door off or open. You don't want to make smoebody crash just because you want a cheap jump, right? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #14 May 8, 2003 And don't forget the modifications they'd have to make to the plane. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #15 May 8, 2003 Visit the nearby controlled airport and have a long chat with the air traffic controllers. Ask them how many different blocks of airspace you will have to fly through to reach 10,000'. Ask the controllers how many of them your pilot will have to talk with on his way up. Ask the controllers how they like to route heavy traffic past your neighborhood airport. etc. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dgskydive 0 #16 May 8, 2003 If you want to live 100 yards from a DZ pack up and mive to Perris. Live in the "Ghetto" and wake up every morning to the sweet sound of a Twin Otter taking off. no matter what you hear the ghetto isn't that bad. I moved in about two months ago and am having a blast. Plus it's cool to be able to walk home after getting shitty drunk at the Bombshelter and not have to get a DUI. It's just sometimes I forget how to get home because I'm so drunk! Dom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masher 1 #17 May 9, 2003 Open your DZ in Oz. Pilots only need their private licence, and you're not allowed to pay them (by law)-- Arching is overrated - Marlies Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimbo 0 #18 May 9, 2003 QuotePilots only need their private licence, and you're not allowed to pay them (by law) You're not allowed to pay jump pilots or you're not allowed to pay private pilots? If you're not allowed to pay private pilots how do you manage to keep them flying as jump pilots? - Jim"Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #19 May 9, 2003 QuoteYou're not allowed to pay jump pilots or you're not allowed to pay private pilots? If you're not allowed to pay private pilots how do you manage to keep them flying as jump pilots? It's a well known fact that a pilot must be commercial rated to receive payment for flying. You'll find that just about all jump pilots are indeed commercial rated. ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masher 1 #20 May 9, 2003 Quote QuotePilots only need their private licence, and you're not allowed to pay them (by law) You're not allowed to pay jump pilots or you're not allowed to pay private pilots? If you're not allowed to pay private pilots how do you manage to keep them flying as jump pilots? You're not allowed to pay private pilots. You keep them flying by giving them free hours.-- Arching is overrated - Marlies Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimbo 0 #21 May 9, 2003 QuoteIt's a well known fact that a pilot must be commercial rated to receive payment for flying. You'll find that just about all jump pilots are indeed commercial rated. That's a well known fact in the USA. I was responding to a poster from Australia and was curious about the rules down under. - Jim"Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masher 1 #22 May 9, 2003 QuoteIt's a well known fact that a pilot must be commercial rated to receive payment for flying. You'll find that just about all jump pilots are indeed commercial rated. Yes you have to have you CPL to be paid, but also the company for whom you are working need to have an approved maintainance schedule and a whole lot of other stuff to be able to pay you to fly. I can't comment on your last statement, but of the 5 or 6 pilots that fly at my DZ, only one has his CPL, and he's only flown about 3 times for us (he's new).-- Arching is overrated - Marlies Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gatorbait 1 #23 May 9, 2003 Our home DZ is 30 minutes from Indianapolis International Airport. All of our pilots fly on the same channel as the commercial planes & obey the same rules. We have to wait our turn & so do they. There have been times when we couldn't go any hight than 11,000 b/c there are so many commercial jets in holding patterns at 13,000 & higher. I think if it was thought out completely by everypne who would be involved, it wouldnt be that big of deal. My grandma owns a quit a bit of land & we are planning on opening a DZ on her land in the future. Hope you got something useful out of my ramble... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #24 May 9, 2003 QuoteOur home DZ is 30 minutes from Indianapolis International Airport. All of our pilots fly on the same channel as the commercial planes & obey the same rules. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hee! Hee! Since Air Canada has not been paying their bills to Nav Canada lately, air traffic controllers have been routing Air Canada AROUND Pitt Meadows for the past week. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites rmsmith 1 #25 May 10, 2003 According to George Dubya, you live in a free country. However...reality will cost you since the trial lawyer's association says that you should indemnify even your best friends from your greedy "inner-self" who will demand compensation if you bring injury upon yourself. And pilot compensation is also a gray area. For example, you can barter with your date for sex, say a nice dinner and a movie, and everything will be fine, but if you're in a hurry, and simply slip your date the money you will have broken the law. To sum things up, life just ain't that simple! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
rmsmith 1 #25 May 10, 2003 According to George Dubya, you live in a free country. However...reality will cost you since the trial lawyer's association says that you should indemnify even your best friends from your greedy "inner-self" who will demand compensation if you bring injury upon yourself. And pilot compensation is also a gray area. For example, you can barter with your date for sex, say a nice dinner and a movie, and everything will be fine, but if you're in a hurry, and simply slip your date the money you will have broken the law. To sum things up, life just ain't that simple! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
