rendezvous 0 #1 January 16, 2002 If I wan't to jump with a friend who's doing a tandem is there a regulation against that or is it the tandem instructor's call. Have people ever done this. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #2 January 16, 2002 Usually it is up to the Tandem Instructor, the amount of jumps you have and if he/she knows you. If the instructor knows you and is comfortable with your skill level, then it might happen.I've seen it go both ways before. Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.-General George Patton- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #3 January 16, 2002 I've seen TM's that let people with 100 jumps go with them....I've seen others that wanted 2,000 cause they don't know the person. Some DZ's have a 500 jump policy.....it's mainly up to the TM it's most likely his ass that will be killed if you do something wrong......along with his student....."I got some beers....Let's Drink em!!!"Clay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #4 January 16, 2002 Not sure about regs in the US, but yup, talk it thru with the the tandem master and DZO /ST&A, another good idea would be to get a regular tandem camera person to brief you on things to watch out for.The way a tandem deploys can give you surprises if you ain't ready for it, and there are some definite no-nos, such as docking on the TM, getting on their burble, snagging the drogue, etc....If you are low time experience and you've never jumped with a tandem before, definitely do a few practice jumps with other tandems (prior to jumping with your friends, it can be a bytch matching fall rates etc....At the end of the day, its only marginally more complex than swooping and docking on an RW load.Be sure to get cool photos and video.....D Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #5 January 16, 2002 "At the end of the day, its only marginally more complex than swooping and docking on an RW load."Yeah but the consequences may be far worse than "just" funneling the formation."I got some beers....Let's Drink em!!!"Clay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #6 January 16, 2002 Oh yeah, agreed, but the skills required are roughly equivalent.Then again, funnelling a big way close to break off can be pretty serious.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #7 January 16, 2002 I've been on both sides of that one - as the TI and as the "swooper". Seven years ago anyway RWS required that anyone planning to jump with a tandem be either a TI or AFF rated and have a certain number of RW jumps within the last year (I forget the numbers). Really, it's up to the DZO and the instructor you'd be jumping with to make the call.It is loads of fun for all involved if it's done safely. Best one I did was with a girl who was doing her 6th (!) tandem (she was afraid of jumping alone). She was so stoked to see and touch another female in freefall; that was all it took, she did level 1 the next weekend. Anyway, the instructor will give you a briefing if he/she will let you fly with them; listen up and obey!pull and flare,lisa-- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kelly 0 #8 January 16, 2002 2nd tandem- an old friend/tandem instructor came along. it was awesome. the video is sweet.4th tandem- 9 instructors/tandem masters/cameramen/ experienced, on staff friends came along. We definitally should have dirtdived it more, but the important issues were covered: one person was to dock, nobody else get close. pay attention to the drouge and where the tandem is going (in this case, all over the sky). watch out for each other. at 6grand back the hell up, cause the tandem student is pulling @ 5k on the dot (i was given objectives, including turns and deploying). The skydive was a bit crazy, but everybody remembered the important parts, and it went safe.another idea.. i had an old high school friend come out to the dz to do a tandem (to my surprise). Since im nowhere near experienced to jump with him the plan was for me to leave right before him. (i got hurt the jump before, so i didnt make that load). this way, even though you cant jump with them your friend still gets the awesome sight of seeing his sooo coollll (whuffos view) friend being all happy and relaxed as they dive out and wave to him.Remember, ultimately, youre doing this for your friend. YOure already a skydiver, the oportunity for you to jump along w/ a friend will prolly be there in the future. this may be his only skydive. And just having you in the airplane, seeing you leave (very happy and relaxed!), maybe having his instructor pointing out which canopy is yours while under canopy, then having you there when he lands would still be enough to make him very happy.keep it safe. and let us know what you decide to dohttp://kel197.tripod.com/skydivefriendsTRIPOD/html Updated!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sebazz1 2 #9 January 16, 2002 For the most part it is up to the JM. But I do know that the tandem rig manufacturer has restrictions too which are meant to be for video jumpers but aply to anyone jumping with a Tandem.Sebazz............... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Keith 0 #10 January 16, 2002 If they're getting video you'll also need the vidographers OK too.Keith Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,989 #11 January 17, 2002 >At the end of the day, its only marginally more complex than swooping and docking on an RW load.Except that - The drouge is going to be coming out in a direction you don't expect, at a time you may not expect. If you jump with a tandem, you must have both the vision to see where "upwind" always is (it's not right above the TM right after exit) and the flying skill to avoid that space.There's a "prohibited zone" right above the tandem for obvious reasons.They may be leaving the skydive at any time, and they won't be tracking.My only concerns when someone jumps with me and I'm doing a tandem is that they don't dock on me and they keep the air above me clear. If I don't know someone at all I'm usually pretty hesitant - not because I doubt their flying ability, but because I don't know if they have good judgement and can anticipate the drouge.-bill von Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
prost 0 #12 January 17, 2002 Definately talk to the camera man. And if you are a tandem master, do not let anyone get on the skydive without asking the camera man. When I am shooting a video, I can not look around for other people. Aslo, on the bottom end I need a lot of room as do most camera fliers. I will ususally float up just a bit to get the chute coming off the back and the as I fall past them I transition to my knees and then into sort of a head down slide and do one orbit. Makes for a good video, but no one had better be near me. On top of all this, the tandems normally have a bad spot, so I need to pull as high as possible. This does not give me a lot of time to look around as I have to go into massive deceleration for deployment. If someone comes along I just go on my knees, unless I really know them.William Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildblue 7 #13 January 17, 2002 QuoteThere's a "prohibited zone" right above the tandem for obvious reasons.A lot of TMs get grumpy if you get right below them too.I ain't happy, I'm feeling gladI got sunshine, in a bag Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #14 January 17, 2002 ">At the end of the day, its only marginally more complex than swooping and docking on an RW load.Except that - "Bill, points taken, however I meant to imply that this would be the expected skill level required to fly with a tandem.Of course there are other safety considerations, which is why I also suggested speaking with the TM, and camera flier...sorry if this wasn't clear... Believe it or not, when I first started filming tandems, as a 200 jump wonder, I got very little in the way of a pre-brief or advice from the resident camera flier, or the tandem master around at that time. Both these guys knew my experience level at the time, so they should have known better.In retrospect this was very bad, but I was ignorant, young, and enthusiastic, nowadays, I'm not so young, still learning heaps, and fortunately still as enthusiastic..And we didn't have forums like this one way back then..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
