Jumping at a new DZ

[Pammi 0]

I made my pre-second jump at a new DZ last Friday and have to admit, I was scared shitless! I actually was quite comfortable to begin with..they were great there about showing us a good place to land, telling us how things should look from the air and so forth. I even walked out to the landing area just so I could check it out closer. Don't get me wrong, it was a blast! 12,500' is not a common thing for me, and it seemed to last sssoo long!! :) Okay, back to the subject tho. I opened high because I knew I'd need to have some 'room' to find the DZ under canopy. Merrick pulled a little lower, so I looked for him once open, but his canopy is fairly difficult for me to see from above. I started looking around and thinking "Where the hell am I?!" I knew what to look for but for some reason had a heck of a time actually finding it. I actually was a little freaked because I thought "Okay, if I can't find the damn thing how do I know which direction I should be flying BACK to it, because if I choose wrong, I'm gonna end up in Timbuktu!" I finally did find it, however, and managed to make it back okay, although a little further out then intended.
I was amazed at how much I've apparently gotten used to where everything is at my DZ, and how it's not so easy to 'find' at a new one. Any tips?
Thanks!
Pammi
Some newpics.

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

This can be especially troublesome at single-runway DZ's. Places that fly large turbines, but only make one pass at altitude make for even tougher conditions. The hot ticket is to stay in the back of the plane and look out during the whole ride to altitude. Also, prior to exit you should locate the DZ before you let go of the plane. Jumping out blind and dumping low at an unfamiliar DZ is definitely not the ticket. Hell, even at my home DZ I have taken it so long and low that I had a hard time getting my bearings! Situational awareness is key.
Chuck

[wildblue 7]

Hehe.. try a DZ with a grass runway. Makes night jumps interesting too.
Get a hold of aerial photos, pick out landmarks (roads, building, railroad tracks, groups of trees, parking lots, etc)
If there's wind, feel which way it's pushing you, you should be upwind of the dz.
Look out the window! I use the sun a lot, it's usually there when skydiving operations are going on. Besides using the sun to take note of direction of wind in case of off DZ landing, use it to figure out direction of dz - is the plane flying into the sun on jump run? Assuming an upwind jump run (can always ask the pilot!) then the sun should be at your back when you're flying back.
If you're not doing much on the first jump, try to spot the dz in freefall.
Once you do spot the dz, get a good overall picture and find your "outs" for future reference.

[mattb 0]

Assuming the runway is paved i find that it helps to look for that first. If there are multiple runways / buildings around hopefully the dz has an aerial photo.
-mob

[weid14 0]

The hardest DZ to find for a newcomer has got to be The Ranch in NY. Even after hundreds of jumps there, I've found myself going, where IS the DZ!?!?!? small sliver of a runway (just wide enough for the otter's tires to fit - those pilots are excellent!), green all around. Best to find a landmark that points to the dz (there it's a break in the river and the stripped field) that you can refer to under canopy.

[Kris 0]

Glad to hear that everything worked out all right, Pam and that you got a little altitude to boot!
Always remember to find out what the winds are doing on the ground and then use the sun as a bearing when you have to land off. It didn't help us on the one jump me, you and Merrick went on because of the evil wind-shifts we were getting but it does help the rest of the time!
BTW, I got my Stiletto today :) Next weekend is going to be a fun one!
Kris

[Merrick 0]

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"the evil wind-shifts we were getting"

Yeah, this was pretty much the same situation, Jump run was supposed to be straight south of the DZ when we took off, but by the time we hit 12,500 the winds had shifted a good 90 degrees or more & were cookin at about 30mph (at altitude... there was nothing on the ground), so they took the jump run straight west. Also, the 2-way that launched before us took a little extra time to get set up because this was literally the 2nd load that pilot had flown (the first being right before ours) & he didn't give a cut at all (really makes me appreciate jumping when even Mike is flying LOL).
Long story short, there were a number of factors that changed on the ride to altitude that neither of us really accounted for (lessons learned)... However, we both landed safely at the DZ, NOT putting ourselves in any danger to do so, and we had a BLAST on our skydive.... What more can ya ask for!?!? It was just different jumping at another DZ is all, and I've always wondered how complacent I've become on OSC (landmarks, wind indicators, runways, etc...), now we know.... it's a whole different experience, but a fun one!
Merrick
"OMG there I was, thought I was going to die.. she walks in with a can of motoroil & jumpercables.."

[wingnut 0]

i've jumped at 6 diffent dz's and i have never had a major problem finding the dz. i have had "where the heck is the dz" come out of my moth on several ocasions though, ya just got to do a nice slow 360 and look for it. (that is, if ya saw an areal picture of it.) i think the hardest dz to find was in southern germany at a dz named saulgau. it was all grass all around the dz, only landmark i had to go on was a tree line by the hanger.

"if dreams are like movies, then memories are like films about ghosts"-counting crows

[lazerq3 0]

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i have had "where the heck is the dz" come out of my moth on several ocasions though,

We'ev also heard things like "sh#t....motherf@cker....that f#ckin hurt like a b*tch!!!!"come outta your mouth......(tee-he)
jason

[wingnut 0]

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We'ev also heard things like "sh#t....motherf@cker....that f#ckin hurt like a b*tch!!!!"come outta your mouth......(tee-he)

yup, but it was then folowed not by "where is the dz", but "where is my freebag and main".......

"if dreams are like movies, then memories are like films about ghosts"-counting crows

[chronistin 0]

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i have had "where the heck is the dz"

Most embarassing moment for my navigational skills: the jump when I made two 360° turns, getting nervous because I couldn't see the DZ... and then noticed that it was right there - I just never looked straight down

Have fun, stay safe!
Andrea || Chronistin

[PhillyKev 0]

"Locate the target to determine direction and path of descent. This is sometimes a problem on the first jump. Always start by looking straight down directly under you. Your search pattern starts from there and goes out. Do not start by looking out to the horizon and moving in; this will take forever. Other references should be identified before exiting the aircraft. you can also follow your instructors."
-Freefall Adventures Skydiving School, AFF Student Manual

[chronistin 0]

They didn't tell me that ... guess it's a case of "bloody obvious"...

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http://www.wortwerkstatt.at/skydiving

[Cacophony 0]

Just remember that the DZ is most likely to be under you. Of course this won't be the case if you are out after several groups but remember to always look down first. I have very little DZ experience. I have only been to two different DZs. I'm looking forward to trying out a few but I figure, if I have a great DZ to jump at then why should I go anywhere else?
Safe landings,
Alex D-23912