FallinWoman 1 #1 November 4, 2001 Just out of curiousity, what is yours?Do you have a hard and fast altitude? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #2 November 4, 2001 1500...MarcBecause I fly, I envy no man on earth Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #3 November 4, 2001 USPA says that decision altitude should be 1700 or 1800'.My decision altitude varies between 5,000 and 1400 depending upon how high I am when I recognize a malfunction. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mountainman 0 #5 November 4, 2001 2000'.....usually higher.....i like to open high and have PLENTY of time to figure out what the hell is going on if something is going wrong. also, i like to fly canopy a LOT.--------------Brandon Wren Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lummy 4 #6 November 5, 2001 Theoreically, Mine would be 2000. Considering I haven't had a Mal yet, it's hard to say (not counting line twists, BUT if I were at 2, I'd chop) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FallingMarc 0 #7 November 5, 2001 I've had 1800 drilled into my head from student status and still keep that as my decision point...Here's another one though... in-plane emergency--where do you go for your main, where do you go straight for the reserve? I think if I'm under 1500', I'm going reserve, because for one, that's already not much time to deal with a potential malfunction, and also I don't want to have a snivelly opening and have to hope that the cypres didn't arm a little early. Above 1500, I'd go for my main(unless I didn't pack it), because I pack it to open pretty fast.Marc Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aviatrr 0 #8 November 5, 2001 Well, my decision altitude changes based on the canopy I'm jumping and where I'm pulling.. Normally, on elliptical canopies, my decision altitude is 1500', and I pull at 2500 to 3500.. On some other canopies, I'll pull as low as 2000 - and then my decision altitude is more like 1200'.. I don't pull at 2000 on a regular basis - just if there is a need for it, such as a large group with staged breakoff/pull altitudes..If I'm in freefall when my last dytter warning goes of at 1800', I'm going silver if I'm jumping any elliptical or snivelly canopy.. If I'm jumping a fast opener, that is not a sketchy opening canopy, I have 2 seconds after that warning to pull main - after that, it's silver.. I know, seems like a lot to think about.....but I plan my dive and dive my plan every jump..Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpervali 2 #9 November 5, 2001 I'll be under a inflated canopy (main or reserve) by 1000 ft.unless it's a base jump.jumpervali Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #10 November 5, 2001 Hmmmm.......I'll put it this way. I always dump at 2000 or higher. (Record low dump to date is 2200) My normal deployment altitude is 3000. My canopy opens in 500-700 ft (from the time I pitch) and if it isn't right I'm not fighting it...I'll just chop it! I know my canopy and I can tell if it's going to be good or not almost as soon as it comes out of the bag. Now twists, I may play with a little but not any lower than 1500 and that's only if it isn't spinning hard."There once was a man named Enis....."-Krusty the ClownClay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FallinWoman 1 #11 November 5, 2001 mine is 1800. Of course i'll chop higher if I can tell there is something seriously wrong, I was just wondering about fighting twists or something not majorly spinning. I'll fight till 1800, then go for silver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shark 0 #12 November 5, 2001 Well, I'll put it this way.... my ProTrack flat-line goes off at 1600.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazerq3 0 #13 November 5, 2001 2000ft for me, decision that is, and if I had to bail at 1500 ft its reserve all the way. I have a bungee kill line in my pilot so I'm not taking any chances that low!!!jason Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aviatrr 0 #14 November 5, 2001 Quote I have a bungee kill line in my pilot so I'm not taking any chances that low!!! Good call.. One day, we had to either ride the plane down or get out at 2,000ft due to some low clouds that had moved in during climb.. I was jumping a friends rig.. I had jumped it many times.. This time I forgot about the fact that it had a bungee PC.. It was a very tense few seconds while I was falling with a PC behind me, not pulling the pin.. Luckily, I knew what was happening since I realized it as soon as I pitched.. Canopy was open at 1200.. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fonz 0 #15 November 6, 2001 FallinWoman> what is yours?The instructors at Perris drilled 2,500 ft. into my head.But then again, that was of course with the relatively high main activation altitudes (4,500ft. - 5,000 ft.) of AFF dives in mind. I currently use 1,500 ft. I don't adjust the decision altitude when opening higher. I just allow myself more time to assess and remedy the situation.Alphonshttp://www.liacs.nl/~avwerven Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cobaltdan 0 #16 November 7, 2001 i would like to reinforce a great point mike made.many newbies are jumping soft opening canopies which require 800' or more to open.given their awareness and response time are less than experienced jumpers, i believe it is important to remind them:set your last ditter warning for your hard deck.if you miss your hard deck, go for your reserve.no one will give you crap. you paid $50 buck for that pack job, that is what it's for.sincerely,danatair Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
