tstar

Found this in the SIM… https://uspa.org/SIM/2-1#1G5 Crossover training [E] 1. Students may transfer after the first or subsequent jumps to another training method after demonstrating sufficient knowledge and skill in the areas of equipment, aircraft, exits, freefall maneuvers, deployment, emergency procedures, canopy control, and rules and recommendations to enter into that program at a comparable level of proficiency and training. 2. Students previously trained in a tandem program may continue in a harness-hold program or must demonstrate a solo exit and practice deployment with stability in the IAD or static-line program prior to advancing to freefall. 3. Students who have completed at least two tandem jumps and demonstrated the ability to reliably pull the drogue release at the correct altitude, maintain heading and a stable body position, without requiring any control or altitude prompts from the tandem instructor, may progress to single instructor AFF jumps after completion of solo ground training. 4. Students previously trained in a harness-hold program must have exited stable without assistance or performed a stable IAD or static-line jump with a practice deployment supervised by a USPA IAD or Static-Line Instructor prior to performing freefall jumps with any non-AFF-rated USPA Instructor. 5. Students previously trained in Categories A-C in SL, IAD and tandem programs may jump with one AFF instructor after demonstrating the AFF wind tunnel requirements. Tim

LOL That's crazy! How the hell did he deploy it in there??? Tim

Thank you for your insight! I understand the building blocks of each style and would be OK if I had to take ONE AFF "remedial" jump to bring me up to speed in that training discipline... If nothing else to make the instructors more comfortable. My learning style is an interesting point I hadn't considered. Like SCUBA diving I was very much a "just do it" and jump right in person (pun intended)... In other areas I prefer to really study and learn all I can before attempting something, like stained glass or repairing something on one of our vehicles. I think canopy flight and free fall are definitely going to have to be a "Just Do It!, it seems to me to be an experience based "get a feel for it" type of thing. There are no wind tunnels anywhere near me so that's out, Not that you can learn to fly a canopy in a wind tunnel! lol Tim

Late this fall I did an intro Tandem (Yikes!!) jump at the closest DZ to me and couldn't stop thinking about it! I went on a training tandem jump a week later to make sure it was something I wanted to pursue after looking at the costs of everything... Gawd!!! The training jump went really well!! I was surprised at how hard it was to pull the main ripcord on that tandem rig, took more umph then I expected I guess. Anyway, I have two DZs I'm looking at for training in the spring. One is a little less then an hour away (DZ1), the other a little over two hours away (DZ2). DZ1 only does AFF while DZ2 only offers IAD. After a lot of research, I think the optimum training scenario for me would be to start training at DZ2 completing category B (IAD 4 or 5??) then transition to AFF at DZ1 to finish up. I really think that canopy flight and landing is crucial in the beginning, from what I see in the statistics most accidents occur then. Another concern I have is DZ1's small landing zone which ends in a chain link fence (assuming the predominate easterly wind), So my thought process is to gain some canopy experience before I work on stable free fall. Being ignorant of skydiving’s etiquette or unwritten laws, is it taboo to plan on switching schools like that?? I certainly do NOT want to offend a DZO!! I would be upfront with both DZOs about my plan... What do you think?? Tim

Oh I see what you're getting at... the inherent accuracy of a digital readout vs the vague location of a needle on a scale that's not very... what's the word? Granular, or not finite enough?? Yeah the dial would have to be eight inches across! Same difference between a digital watch or an analog one I suppose...

Well... That sucks! I've been wearing it around the house getting used to it, looking like a 60 year old idiot! lol I'm not sure I understand your accuracy versus display comment, the display is merely paint and a needle or an LCD screen. I'm admittedly new and ignorant but I assume mechanical altimeters use mechanical pressure sensing, gearing and a mechanical connection to the spinning needle on the display versus digital pressure sensing (multiple sensors for redundancy/comparisons?) and all the fancy computing and algorithms to generate the jump profile. I don't know how the needle is physically moved on the altitrack/stella, mechanical or magnetic... That sucks about the dive data being unreliable, makes you wonder how accurate the altitude sensing and display is!! Thank you for taking the time to warn me... Merry Christmas!!! Tim

Thanx for responding! This is my first thread I have started so I wasn't sure... Appreciate the info!! Tim

Did I post this in the wrong Forum?? Tim

Hi Everyone! I’m new to the sport, very new! I have two tandems in so far… It’s tough waiting till spring to start AFF! My wife gave me an early Christmas present, an Altitrack altimeter. Black face, 21,000 linear dial with a nearly dead battery (LB is sending a new one). I have a few questions for you Altitrack users; 1. Which software do you recommend I get for it? From research, I gather that JumpTrack 3 and Paralog are the two most widely used programs… I’ve seen wide ranging reviews on both. 2. Any recommendations for lens protection? I was thinking of a TPU film or that Liquid Glass Nano stuff… Tim

Absolutely!!! I'm hoping it can be resurrected but if it's deemed not air worthy and can not be repaired by my rigger then I'll spend all winter practicing packing parachutes and pulling handles till I can do it in my sleep... I appreciate the advice and you get Karma points for looking out for a new guy!!! Tim

Just getting started in the sport and I'm interested in your offer Tom. PM sent Tim