obelixtim

A TM should be better than that, its way more serious because he's responsible for another persons life, and has been specifically trained and examined so as to not be in that position....there is NO excuse, and to my mind no second chance for him to do it again.....because he is made fully aware of his responsibilities when he goes thru his training.... Its exactly the same if a rigger leaves a temporary pin in a reserve...(I've found one...a certain total on the reserve).....bye bye riggers rating... For a solo jumper, on my DZ, he will get to reacquaint himself with a set of student equipment on the end of a static line, at 3000ft if he's a student, 2000 ft if he is an experienced jumper.....he will do one or more jumps like that, depending on his attitude...... If the jumper objects to that regime, he has another option involving sex and travel, but he will never jump at my DZ again till he's done his SL jumps, no matter how long it takes.... Low dumping thru loss of altitude awareness at my DZ is very rare....everyone remembers the last Static Liner, and they are talked about for many years, the culprits are never allowed to forget it by their mates...... I don't believe grounding is effective at all....it is always turned into a personal thing by the person who refuses to accept they've done wrong. Very few jumpers will accept a grounding as justified....so they will not regard it as a learning experience.... You can approach disciplinary proceedings in a positive way sometimes.....because everyone fucks up at least once in their skydiving career..... Thats the way I deal with it, and most people regard it as fair....... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

I agree...peer pressure works best.... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

If the TM lost altitude awareness, his rating should be pulled.....permanently.... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

I've never believed that grounding is an effective deterrent.....it just delays or removes the offender for a while but doesn't really address or "cure" the problem behaviour...... My way of dealing with low dumpers is not to ground them, rather they must do 1, or maybe more, static line jumps.....at 3 grand for students, 2 grand for "A" licence and above.....they get to jump, see the ground from a lower altitude, slowly and safely......and come to the notice of every other jumper on the DZ..... I tell you, students just love seeing someone with more jumps than them going out on SL.....and senior jumpers totally dread the thought of having to do so........but everyone agrees its a fairer and more effective solution than a grounding...... Even the jumpers who have had to do it say that they have learnt their lesson, and will usually later admit that doing a SL jump was actually quite fun.....a nostalgia trip, simple and easy and over with in 30 minutes or less......but the point is ingrained in their consciousness..... If people want extra freefall, I tell them to get out another 1000 feet higher.....do it at the top.... I can tell you that the embarrassment factor ensures no repeat behaviour.....and the point about the dangers of low dumping and its consequences is well made to everyone....its certainly well discussed at beer o'clock in the bar...... The one ego tripper who refused to comply and who flounced off the DZ in a huff, effectively grounded himself from the DZ anyway.....and found that when he tried to jump at another DZ that word of his actions and reaction had preceeded his arrival there.....and he'd acquired an addition to his reputation....now he's regarded as a tosser, as well as a low dumper............shot himself in the foot big time.... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Stupid student = stupider instructor...... End of story........ ("What story???"...."no story"...."straight to bed!!!").... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

I would have thought its a lot easier and cheaper just to learn to pack properly in the first place.... Oh....and to dump in a stable position as well.... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

I think it wasn't odd at all.....they didn't print it because it was too close to the bone.......but like all blind wankers round the world.....when the truth hurts, they think that if they ignore it....it'll just go away.... What they don't consider however, is that my opinion is permanent...and I won't hesitate to share it.......again......like now..... The BPA is the most incompetant bunch of tossers play acting as a national skydiving organisation in the world.....bar none.....they are 20 years behind the rest of the world in terms of professionalism, safety, and attitude....and the hierarchy are so far up their own arses they've got brown rings around their ankles....... One day the skydivers of Great Britain will realise that fact....toss the pricks out....and reorganise skydiving properly, as a professional aviation organisation should be ......or else someone will tell CAA how it really can be done.....properly....and cut them off at the knees...... I'd do it myself.....but I can't really be bothered.....but it would be easy if someone wanted to do it......and had a bit of time to waste..... I wouldn't give them the steam off my shit, let alone the time of day...... End of rant!!!...... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Throwing away handles is no big deal....the handles are unimportant in the big scheme of things....however, after opening.....look straight down and pick up a reference point on the ground directly below you.....and use that as a starting point for a ground search...most times you will find the handles again.... Of more concern are the stories of the riggers who cocked up here.....verifying a canopy is correctly hooked up is no more than a 5 second job....and particularly important when assembling gear....in fact if the rigger hasn't done this very simple and basic check then he should not have a riggers rating..... Sheer laziness or incompetance is clearly evident here.....and the issue should be taken further and definitly NOT ignored. These individuals are responsible for peoples lives, and they obviously do not take their responsibilities seriously. DO something about it...... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

I admire your resilience and will to succeed in the face of such obstacles.....its sad to think of the number of students this wanker has driven away from the sport..... Wouldn't happen to be a tosser who trains in the London area by any chance...who jumps out near Oxford......???. I visited a DZ near London with a workmate who was doing her first jump training...went along as her "taxi driver" and sat thru her training without letting anyone know who I was........ I couldn't believe the incompetence I witnessed, and was even abused in front of the class when the instructor invited me to jump......I said I was "too scared"....and he really opened up on me...... This twat didn't even turn up till 2 pm on the day of the jump...his students had been at the DZ since 8 a.m. I actually completed the harness training for the class because I felt so sorry for them, and because their training was way below the standard they needed..... He finally arrived (hung over), and realising that I wasn't what he thought, he then proceeded to try to ingratiate himself (I think he thought I was a CAA inspector) with me.........my response to him isn't printable!!!.... He was damn lucky I didn't punch him....and had I the same powers I have in my own country I would have pulled all his ratings on the spot... Interestingly the military instructors at the airbase where we jumped seemed to have the same opinion of him....he was ex military himself, and I believe, a member of the BPA safety and training committee....unbelievable...... Needless to say my opinion of the BPA isn't very high at all......but perhaps people like this need to be publicly exposed and embarrassed......he is obviously responsible for untold damage to the parachute community......I could have been a potential sponsor or anybody....I've never seen such an arrogant, incompetant slimeball in all my years of skydiving...... Why don't you write an article for the BPA magazine....I did....but guess what???...it wasn't printed....the excuse was that I wasn't a BPA member.....incredible..... Good luck with your jumping....there is plenty of time....and good things will happen......luckily there are a lot more good people out there than there are twats.......stick with it...... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

There is no way you should be jumping unless you are certain that you can do anything/everything necessary to save your life in any emergency situation....... Sort it out before your next jump......its easy for a rigger to arrange a real reserve pull on the ground..... Why have you neglected to mention this problem to your instructor before now???....Ask for gods sake, thats what instructors are for.....but no instructor can read your mind..... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

All my students get a written manual with information that outlines their training up to A licence...... and they have access to books, video's and magazines.......the more information they get, the better......... If your instructor is giving you your training on the way to altitude he needs a kick in the arse.....you should know exactly what to do and how to do it before you even kit up......Your instructor should be giving you a thorough and comprehensive briefing and debriefing for every jump....and there is no excuse for not doing so..... Don't be afraid to ask....... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Fast ones are easy to make a decision about....because you have no choice but to deal with it instantly......the consequences of indecision are severe....... Slow ones are more insidious......making a decision is a little harder....even though the consequences are usually not as severe..... I had a fast horseshoe on my first freefall.....there was instant recognition of the problem and instant reaction to it... At about 400 jumps I had a slow mal which I stupidly messed with until I was too low to chop it....rode it in.....but got caught by unanticipated turbulence at 50 ft which collapsed the canopy and smashed me into the deck.....I walked away but it hurt..... The point to be reiterated is to make a decision and act on it instantly.......always trust your reserve......when in doubt, whip it out.......student training stuff is always valid....... I found that a little experience can be a dangerous thing............ My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Anyone who believes themselves to be a "skygod" is most definitly a wanker, and proves it daily with their attitude, behaviour and desperate efforts to proclaim it loud and long.....big egos and big mouths to match......and there are quite a lot of them about in the skydiving world........ Always male.....easily recognised by the way they puff up when a pretty girl shows up at the DZ......or by their snotty attitude towards those they perceive to be below them in ability and experience...... Hands up if you've come across one of those types........ On the flip side, there are lots of people who have achieved an awful lot......but don't need to make a big deal about it............nothing to prove........and they are willing to talk to anyone......but quietly and without fuss....... Being full of adrenalin after a jump, is a bit different from being full of shit full time..... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

This conversation is getting a bit deep....... I'm a little bit out of my depth here......in over my head so to speak.......... Can a chocolate fish swim????..... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Yeah, well the reason you won't be aware of hypoxia developing is because it sneaks up on you.....you can be at 18 grand for 10 minutes and not feel much different at all....but go to 26 grand for 2 minutes and the effects get you quickly..... By the time you are being affected, you are already within the trap, so to speak, and this is where you can get caught out.....because you feel OK..... An increase in altitude will also lead to a decrease in temperature....and without adequate insulation you can start to get the effects of low temperature....some of the symptoms being similar to the symptoms of hypoxia/hyperventilation...so in effect you can have 2 or 3 different things contributing to your condition......exposure also sneaks up on you with little warning... The key to this is to be aware of the symptoms and to anticipate them when events conspire to put you within the risk bracket......so watch out for them in others as well..... Availability of accessible oxygen is the solution....whether on board the aircraft or at lower altitudes..... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

If you steal a pair of nylon pantyhose/stocking from your girlfriend/granny or whoever, then run it round the inside of grommets or other metal bits, it'll pick up the tiny burrs that you can't see or feel....then its easy enough to give it a rub with a piece of wet & dry (fine sandpaper) to smooth out the burr.... Slider grommets and closing grommets on your rig are the ones to check..and should be done before you assemble new gear, because some of these come straight from the manufacturer.... Having lines or closing loops break at the wrong time is not healthy, but evidence is usually there for a while before the break happens....look for furry bits on your closing loops, and lines as you pack..... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Yeah....thats what I said....I was just too lazy to explain it in detail.... I knew someone would...... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

If you are nervous, there is a tendency to hyperventilate as well.....this can produce similar symptoms of lightheadedness, drowsiness etc etc....mix this up with a lower level of oxygen pressure in the atmosphere....and you could very well be affected quite badly..... Its a misconception to say there is less oxygen at higher levels...... the lower atmospheric pressure just means that the oxygen is not available to you...which is why supplementary oxygen is carried if you stay above a certain level for a certain time....not usually a problem in a turbine a/c, as long as you don't get caught out by a hold for other air traffic.... Interestingly....in the chamber, the heaviest smokers lasted the longest...possibly their bodies had developed a tolerance for operating with lower oxygen levels.....same as distance runners who do training at altitude...or people who live at high altitudes develop a greater tolerance for living without higher oxygen levels....at lower levels their bodies are "supercharged"...... 100% oxygen will also cause you to stop breathing for a while as well...but I'll let some other expert tell you exactly why...... If you ever get a chance to do a chamber trip....take it....you learn lots....and its an interesting way to spend a day.....often not available to civilians these days though.... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Qualifying that statement for lintern.....not designed to open at freefly speeds.......doesn't mean they won't open at those speeds ......it just means it'll hurt on opening......and may damage the reserve....same as if you dumped your main at freefly speed.....thats why someone broke bones...... If you are out of altitude at the time.....not pulling is the other option!!!!!!!!...........what do you think about that???.... ghbnghhghhthghhhh My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Looking at your posts....alarm bells are going off in my head right now.... I'd like to talk seriously to whoever it was who half trained you........ And whoever it was who told you a terminal reserve opening is going to smash you up..... Would you consider some other course of action????.... You need to talk to an experienced instructor to straighten out a few things.......dispel a few myths and develop a bit of confidence in your equipment and procedures.... This isn't your fault.... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

"Direct supervision" means exactly that...I am there at all times with them.... I am not limiting my scenario to AFF only though.....SL certainly offers more control over supervision...... My "Potential Instructors" would also have to have had plenty of practise with intermediate level jumpers and proved to me their credentials over quite a period of time..... With AFF you stick to the requirements totally.....just as you wouldn't allow an unrated person to do a tandem jump as a TI. No way would I let a non rated person deal with my students independantly. If the student was basically already through the programme and reasonably independant........then I think if I was happy with things I wouldn't have a problem....... I've seen a number of people with ratings that they've held for years who are total dolts......sad to say they are out there still doing damage, so a rating doesn't always equate with competance.......... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

Sorry mate...It IS a golden rule.....the advice you've been given contrary to that is bad advice.... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

A total mal... nothing out....pull the reserve....partial mal...something out....cutaway then pull the reserve.....golden rules of skydiving...valid since jumping began.....just like gravity..... If you are out of control or have a total.....first rule is: STOP the freefall....in this scenario stability is secondary... Plenty of fatals have occurred because people got fixated on stability and forgot about the planet coming up fast to meet them.....do NOT sacrifice altitude for stability...especially at or below opening altitude.... But its easy to put your hands on the handles without going unstable....just don't de arch as you do so....keep your shoulders, head and legs back as you do so....after you've looked and located your handles first.....of course..... Practise it on the ground.....then try it at an altitude that you know you can recover stability from if you roll over...... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

As an Instructor/examiner, one of my jobs is to train new instructors.....these individuals are what I would call "potential instructors". If I have knowledge of this "Potential Instructor", his ability, experience, in depth knowledge..etc...etc....and he has been properly briefed by me...then I have no problem with them working with my students...usually one to one at first...with a more experienced student and then with fairly simple stuff to start with...... Of course I will be keeping a pretty close eye on him until I have confidence in him to do the right thing......then I will allow him to get more involved as his experience and confidence grows....under my direct supervision of course..... The best way for someone to learn is to have hands on experience.....and I find these candidates evolve into much better instructors...... I have seen new instructors get their rating..then go straight in at the deep end and make many mistakes as they gain experience...not a good idea if they don't have a mentor keeping an eye on them.....and not a good idea with students who are relying on the instructor for their lives.... So I have no problem with people who are non rated helping out...but they need to be under supervision..... The students of today are the instructors of tomorrow.......and every student is a potential instructor of the future....Todays generation of instructor arn't gonna be around for ever......and need to pass their experience on...... Simple common sense, I'd say...... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

If you go to the "Incidents" forum, page 7, there is a thread which discussed the 2 out scenario in a lot of detail, with some timely advice from some very experienced jumpers.....check it out, it'll save a lot of repetition, and also dispel a few myths I see coming up again, especially about "action to take with 2 out"...... Maybe that thread needs reactivating......it'll answer a lot of questions, especially for newbies..... My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....