Gear Check Your AAD

[G5fh84 0]

About my 20th jump I entered the aircraft with my Astra AAD turned off. In the plane I looked down and saw that it was off and without thinking I turned it on at about 3500ft. Jumped at 13,000 went to deploy at 4500 and boom I had two canopies out. Main was above me, reserve was below and coming up fast but I first had to get my foot out of the reserve lines then off my head. When the two seperated I cut the main away and still had 2200 to get back to the DZ for my lecture on GEAR CHECK now theres a sign at the gate made especially for me. NO GEAR CHECK NO PLANE RIDE!!

[USPA 0]

Why did you turn it on on 3500 ft????

I would have jumped without it, or if you don't find that comfortable, ride the plane down!

The trouble with skydiving; If you stink at it and continue to jump, you'll die. If you're good at it and continue to jump, you'll see a lot of friends die...

[G5fh84 0]

Just low experience. With the Astra AAD I had to turn it off every time I landed and then back on before the jump but I forgot and didn't think about what I was doing. Now I have a Cypress and turn it on as soon as I open my bag at the beginning of the day.

[SkydiveMonkey 0]

didn't anyone see you turning it on and stop you?

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Say no to subliminal messages

[G5fh84 0]

We were 20 in the plane and pretty scrunched in sitting on two benches my coach was on the other bench about two people in front of me and I was going to say something to him just before I turned it on but he was too far with all the noise of the twin engins so I thought "I better turn this on just in case" and like I said It didn't dawn on me what I was doing. The one good thing is that I found out that I wouldn't freeze and knew how to get out of it quick.

[SkydiveMonkey 0]

This is one thing I like about the BPA's rules - you MUST get a flightline check before you get in the plane. Even if it's not mandatory, I still think it's a good idea cos it's easy to overlook something that could cause major trouble later (like this)

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Say no to subliminal messages

[fudd 0]

Always check your gear is one lesson to be learned here, but there is an (IMO) equally important one to be learned here too: Always know your gear.
If you had known how the astra works and should be operated, you would not have turned it on.

Since this was your 20th jump or something I assume this was still on your student progression. Where was the instructor/jumpmaster that was supposed to check your gear before you boarded the plane?

This would probably not have happend with the cypres, but read the cypres manual. There is a couple of things to be aware of.

Happy to hear it ended well

There are only 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

[tb62871 0]

Where does the Astra mount on the rig? I have only jumped a CYPRESS and know that once i'm geared up I can't get near it. If it's not already on, I would pretty much have to gear down to even check it.

--TB
Welcome my friends to the show that never ends.

[SkydiveMonkey 0]

It mounts on the side of the mudflap, just below the 3 rings

____________________
Say no to subliminal messages

[nacmacfeegle 0]

Bear in mind that a flight line check of nonstudent skydivers will not pick up a Cypres that is switched off on most relatively modern gear, or poptops.
The Cypres controller is in the backpad. I suppose this is a relatively good thing as its position not only makes it difficult to check, it makes it even more difficult for those that are hard of learning to switch it on.

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He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson

[SkydiveMonkey 0]

Hence the B licence requirement to check it yourself

____________________
Say no to subliminal messages

[riggerrob 643]

This a reminder not to mess with AADs or altimeters during the plane ride.

Reminds me of a girl who had six reserve rides one summer. She never got grounded because she had big boobs and kept the chief instructor/DZO supplied with recreational drugs.
Hah! Hah!