happythoughts 0 #26 January 8, 2003 Every single time. I have a good reason also. On a load one time, I started giving gear checks. Found one friend had a partially-seated pin. Turned on anothers Cypres. Visual check of the chest straps, closing pins, leg straps, cutaway and reserve handles, hackey/bridle for everyone in my group. I do this every time. No one checked mine. If I had not done my on-the-plane checks, I would not have found my chest strap problem, and I would have died. Skydiving is a very simple sport, but immensely unforgiving. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DYEVOUT 0 #27 January 8, 2003 That was part of our AFF training. Makes good sense to my rookie ass. I touch 'em all when I put on the gear, and again when I board. ----------------=8^)---------------------- "I think that was the wrong tennis court." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eeneR 3 #28 January 8, 2003 One thing....some women (and men with manboob's ) will not be able to see their handles.. I do not look, I check them on the ground and I check them under canopy to feel where they are...In almost all cases they handles will be directly below your chest strap attached to the main liftweb. On my reserve ride I never looked I knew right were they were. She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway." eeneR TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #29 January 8, 2003 Before every jump and usually a few times. ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sebazz1 2 #30 January 8, 2003 I don't do handle checks... Sunshine does them for me Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Luminous 0 #31 January 8, 2003 Ok, I polled "Every Jump" but I'm sure on occasion I miss it because I'm talking or somthing and all of a sudden the doors coming open. You didn't have a 99.99% of the time.BSBD 'In an insane society a sane person seems insane.' Mr. Spock Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
djjazz 0 #32 January 8, 2003 I touch 'em all the time. I like the way the handles feel. Mmmmm Soft, firm, supple handles. You can bet I won't drop my cutaway and reserve handles after I use 'em. Sparky --------------------- Feel the Sparky from the Slogan Gnerator: http://www.thesurrealist.co.uk/slogan.cgi?word=sparky --------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DJL 235 #33 January 8, 2003 Before my first jump of the day I sit and go through the entire jump twice, from take off to daisychaining and go through every scenario and thing that I should think of. Then on the rest of the jumps I touch my handles and chest strap and practice pull a couple of times on the way up and one last time before climbout after I get my pin/PC/bridle checked. -Doug"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eyeinthesky 0 #34 January 9, 2003 i do it several times once suited up. im new to this, still a student, and the nervousness hasnt faded yet, if it ever will. i make sure everything is there, accesible, and functional once i suit up, when im lading the plane, and before i get out. when the plane is packed full of people, i ask someone just before i head for the door to look at my container and make sure a pin hasnt been pulled accidentally form being crammed next to another jumper on the ride up. call it paranoid, but i wont go out anymore without first having someone do a quicky check for something like that. but for me, at least 3 times i check things before a jump doughey, i was stupid before stupid was cool! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dumpster 0 #35 January 9, 2003 I touch my handles all the time- For all the above reasons- and it sets a good example for the newbies, too- I like touching my handles- It's really fun to walk up behind a skychick and ask- "May I touch your handles? I'll let you touch mine If I can touch yours! Easy Does It Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DZBone 0 #36 January 9, 2003 QuoteIt's part of "the three threes, three times" Is this a common thing taught to students these days? Someone turned me onto it when I did some recurrency training. Three threes: 1. leg straps (2) and chest straps/buckles secure 2. 3-rings properly rigged and secure, moving freely 3. 3 handles accessible (touch them all) and properly stowed Do this three times every jump (not sure when, I usually just get one in on jump run, probably a little late...) Sorry if this is repetitively redundant and boring, but I found it a useful thing... _________________________________________________ If you hadn't read this, would it have made a sound? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bps 0 #37 January 9, 2003 Funny that I read this post, because I was thinking about this exact question while I was jump run earlier today. I touch handles prior to boarding the plane while thinking about various EPs and I touch them on jump run every single time I jump. At any rate, after touching my handles, I opened the door to the Otter and as I was spotting, I pondered on how many people go through the sequence every time. (and then I read your post/poll a few hours later) Blue Skies, Bryan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skypilot 0 #38 January 9, 2003 Atleast once when I gear up ! Once at the mock up and on jump run plus whenever else I get the urge ! Lots !Go big! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cgross 1 #39 January 9, 2003 as far as pratice touches go... it is better to find out at 13K your handle is missing than at 3K Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happythoughts 0 #40 January 9, 2003 Quoteas far as pratice touches go... it is better to find out at 13K your handle is missing than at 3K The cutaway handle can get tucked under the harness webbing very easily. Hard to find it at the proper moment. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smiles 0 #41 January 9, 2003 handle touches??? "practice" pulls....A RITUAL. The brain has "lower memory" and "higher memory" In an emergency situation the brain can only access "higher memory". Repetitive training is great but repetitive training under stress stores emergency procedures in the brains "higher memory" ..so.. reviewing emergency procedures after your canopy is open- sky cleared around you from other canopies- perfect time to dirt dive malfunctions and look- reach- grab handles- pretend to execute pull. Also great time to look and reach (pretend to execute pull) is in freefall. Re: LOOK- not only to SEE handles...(your eyes are your strongest sense)....LOOK and keep your eyes on your handles even once you've grabbed them- then follow through procedures of pulling (in emergecy situation.) If you look, reach...grab...then start looking at your canopy, the ground...whatever, thought process of your procedures and training shifts. (thought destroys the flow) Just as I dirt dive prior to jumping, I dirt dive malfunctions, thinking through my reaction. Whenever and however a jumper goes over emergency procedures isn't nearly important as taking the time to do it. Smiles eustress. : a positive form of stress having a beneficial effect on health, motivation, performance, and emotional well-being. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mouth 0 #42 January 9, 2003 I was taught the Three Threes done Three times 1. when I start to put my rig on 2. after I get everything on 3. at 9-10k I also tend to look at others rigs alot -- Hot Mama At least you know where you stand even if it is in a pile of shit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflyerno 0 #43 January 9, 2003 QuoteQuoteIt's part of "the three threes, three times" Is this a common thing taught to students these days? It's not something we teach our students, but I tell licensed skydivers that it's a nice way to remember to check their gear. Quote Three threes: 1. leg straps (2) and chest straps/buckles secure 2. 3-rings properly rigged and secure, moving freely 3. 3 handles accessible (touch them all) and properly stowed Do this three times every jump Like I said; "the three threes, three times" Quote (not sure when, I usually just get one in on jump run, probably a little late...) I usually do it once after donning my gear, once after take-off, and once before the the door opens. I may do it more often, but try never to do it less than that.--- Unanswered questions are far less dangerous than unquestioned answers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
