Rick and his staff run one of the smoothest operations I have had the pleasure of being a part of. You learn very quickly that safety is priority number one, followed very quickly by having fun and learning. I am consistently impressed at how little an impact our skydiving operations seem to have on the operations on the field, which is testament both to Rick and your owners and pilots who are based there. Every one of Rick's pilots I have interacted with are of the utmost professional grade and their airmanship is without reproach. Rick's crews expertly handle heavy jump loads, dense GA airspace, and maneuvering the flight in such a manner as to remain predictable to others, safe, and minimize their footprint on the airport's ramp. (Having not personally flown out of KOKH, I was surprised at the amount of traffic which does frequent the field making an already dynamic flight a busy one for Rick's pilots.)
Perhaps the biggest tenet which helps the Jet City operation run so smoothly is the safety factor. Taking brand new skydivers airborne (and introducing experienced ones to a new field and new community) is never easy. The policies and procedures Rick has put into place for jump operations speak to his years of experience and are designed for minimal impact with the normal traffic pattern at the field. As a pilot and new skydiver, I was very curious as to how our 'under canopy' pattern would affect the airfield's operations. Essentially being a 'human glider' I was concerned I would somehow accidentally influence a pilot's approach or pattern. However, the 'course rules' which are in effect for all jumpers have kept me clear of anywhere a reasonable pilot would be, both horizontally and vertically. This isn't necessarily always the case at larger airports with multiple runways or approaches. Our pre-determined landing area and pattern doesn't change much, really only shifting from a right to left hand pattern, and seems geographically anchored and predictably far away from the runway or any approach/departure corridor. These aren't necessarily things I would expect a new skydiver to be aware of, but from a pilot's perspective it's very comforting to know that a lot of thought went into keeping us safely away from anything with a spinning prop on it.
The fun factor of KOKH and Jet City can't be overlooked either. Rick and his staff are some of the most warm, welcoming, and fun people I have had the pleasure of working with. It's hard to find a place to go on the weekends where smiles are the norm and everyone is learning something new and sharing in new experiences. The facility and airfield itself are a big part of the draw as well. The view from altitude is something very few people get to experience and showcases the San Juans and Oak Harbor. The field's location is a very unique spot as well, I honestly don't think that there is another drop zone in the country where you can skydive and watch military jets fly around...that sort of thing is usually reserved for air shows. The pilots based at the field are friendly and there hasn't been a weekend I was there where one hasn't stopped by to talk aviation. Several of our active duty and contract parachute riggers are there which allows for great social interaction, which might not have normally occurred thanks in great part to the catalyzing affect of Jet City and it's being at the airport. I also have not seen a single person leave there without a smile on their face or admiration for what Rick and his staff or your airport has allowed them to experience. Due directly to this atmosphere I have personally brought no less than 3 more people with me over the past few weekends to introduce them to Jet City, Rick, and the airport and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon.
I think you'll agree it's rare to receive positive feedback sometimes. Most often, it's the caustic comments which garner most of our attention and time; I wanted that to be the exception to the rule here. Jet City, Rick and his team, and the airport are a winning combination of fun and excitement which I haven't stopped talking about since I began jumping here!
