JohnMitchell

Is that you, John Wayne? Is it me? :D

Reserves ARE more docile, low-aspect 7 cells of low porosity material, not ZP. Reserves are optimized for reliability, and that means lower performance and more stability. It also means a less powerful flare, so they usually need to be flared more and a bit earlier than most mains.

I've been in that situation twice, with Stiletto load 1.4. Each time I left the tied off steering line in place. I did not cut it with a hook knife. It was easy for me to fly the canopy in a straight line on final, either low toggle pressure or I'm just in really good shape ( ) . The first time I used the good toggle and the rear riser on the tied off side to flare. I did a PLF after a <<firm>> landing. No injuries. I told my wife about it later and she told me what I should have done . . . . because yes, she is smarter than me. SECOND time I was dumb enough to end up in this predicament, I tried my wife's advice and grabbed the tied-off steering line ABOVE the knot on the keeper ring. When flaring, I used the toggle on the good side and the steering line itself on the bad side and had a nice standup landing. As far as cutting away at 9500', no, I wouldn't do that. I actually had a malfunction at 12,500 once, after a premature deployment, pilot chute caught in the steering lines, spinning and loaded at 1.5. I planned to chop at 2K, so I rode the malfunction, doing my best to keep in under control with opposite toggle. Somewhere around 9K the pilot chute cleared out of the steering lines and I had a good canopy and a normal landing. IF you had wanted to work on your canopy, hold the released steering toggle in your teeth while you work on the bad one. That should keep you flying level. As always, watch your altitude. For anyone with less than a C license, ignore that last sentence. Your mileage may vary.

Why do you want that?

Because the pilot thought he was doing a great job, and he wasn't.

All aircraft altimeters are adjusted to read MSL. Pilots should adjust their altimeters to read the field elevation before take off, not zeroing them like skydivers do. Pilots are supposed to be able to do the math in their head. It's not confusing to an experienced jump pilot. Jump altitude + Field elevation = MSL altitude for jump run. Sounds like you had a very new or very stupid jump pilot. If you were planning 5000' and you only got 2500', I would guess your field elevation to be 2500', not the 1223' you posted. Overall just a total screwup. IDK the range of adjustment on aircraft altimeters, but 1" of Hg = 1,000' of altitude. I used to jump at 5000' above sea level (Utah) and I doubt if the plane's altimeter could have been adjusted to barometer setting of 24.92. (std. being 29.92" Hg).

Coaches are not allowed to do harness hold exits or pull for the student.

On ALL AFF jumps the instructors are prepared to pull if the student does not, and long before the student pulls the reserve. I've done it plenty of times, but never had to past a Level 4. And from the first jump they are trained "2 extra tries to find the handle, if not, pull the reserve".

Your shoulders looked level. I don't brake at all after tracking, just wave and pull (did you not wave off?).

I would love to teach a 2 stage flare in the FJC. It's easy to teach "Ready - Set - Half Brakes - Flare" instead of just "Ready - Set - Flare". But it has to become FJC doctrine, and that means overcoming resistance from multiple instructors and management. Hell, I work with instructors that can't be bothered to say "Ready" or "Set" before "FLARE!" At any DZ it's important for procedures to be consistent among the instructors.

Wouldn't he have to jump from 25,001 feet to break Luke Aikins' record?

Good to see you, if only on DZ.com.

right now my biggest problem is my goddamned left knee which is getting replaced next week, then IDK how many months rehabbing it to jump again. I went to LP this summer and didn't make a single jump because of this damn thing. Anyway, that's my world.

I have seen tandems track up the jumprun line when the student's legs were pointing straight out. IDK the seconds of separation or jumprun speed in this incident. I have more questions than answers at this point. Perhaps the cameraman could tell us more. My wife had a similar incident when videoing one of my tandems. A new sit flyer backslid up the jumprun line, to a point underneath us. She barely missed his open canopy, yet we had left with plenty of separation.

I pretty much ignored my family and got all new friends. Worked well for me.