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As a newcomer to the sport, (skydive pilot for some time) I was a bit spooked and maybe a little disappointed when a guy with about twenty to twenty five jumps was still trying to get stable and went low (no pull). Thanks to Cypress this scout is still alive to talk about it. I made my third jump right after this fiasco but I was a little pissed at this guy because it kind of broke my confidence. My question for the experienced jumpers...does this happen very often? (Cypress firing) "With the best equipment in the world the man with poor judgment is in mortal danger". Royal Robbins

Lets not get our hopes to high but this was just released and it looks good! From AOPA... The map reveals most sports venues and airspace around military bases remains a no go - but overall it looks as though VFR flying is about to resume :) FAA to issue notam permitting some VFR operations today 9/19/01 1:30:03 PM, ET — AOPA has learned that FAA will issue a notam today between 4 and 6 p.m. ET that will permit the resumption of some VFR operations. AOPA President Phil Boyer has talked at length with FAA Administrator Jane Garvey and the head of FAA's Air Traffic Services. They had just come from a meeting with Department of Defense and national security officials.

As a flight instructor and skydive pilot I am about to go nuts the last week! This is a proposal for those who must do something skydiving related: We get an old Ford Pinto (about the same year as the Cessna's we fly) convert the door to a flying door, cut the muffler off so it sounds like a Cessna, Tear out all the seats, put some sharp objects on the floor so they can poke up thru the carpet into your knees. To simulate the swerving take-off roll of a young inexperienced pilot we will hire a young child to command the Pinto. Right at the rotation speed we will have someone blow a kazoo to simulate the STALL warning buzzer to warn us of our impending doom. As we all know, must young pilots judge rotation or lift off point not by looking at the end of the runway but by the expression of the experienced jumpers...if you don't give the scared look, you don't lift off! To maximize the effect, turn on the heater as you taxi and make sure all the windows are in the UP position. I know this isn't much but it is all we have right now!

I try to keep an open mind but one reason I would not recommend this with a two year old is they may lose their fear of heights before they develop reasoning skills. This could be very dangerous around second story ledges, bla,bla,bla. We also don't know the long term effects on such an experiance ( it kind of rewired MY mind and I am an adult,well I'm old enough to be one)

Lets see who tops the list for the spookiest drop zone! If you had less training than the guy in the Fandango movie please raise your hand. "What sort of man lives where there is no daring? Is life itself so dear that we should blame one for dying in adventure? Is there a better way to die?" Charles Lindbergh

I know this sounds like a dumb question but are student rigs as "safe" as the other rigs worn by the more experienced jumpers? I do know they have a lower wing loading. Do they open as consistent as the gear worn by the experienced jumpers? Thanks for your reply. (2 jumps) "Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." Helen Keller

I know this sounds like a dumb question but are student rigs as"safe" as the other rigs worn by the more experienced jumpers? I do know they have a lower wing loading. Do they open as fast and as consistant? Thanks for your reply. (2 jumps) "Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." Helen Keller

Got my first jump off last week.As a pilot for about nine years, to say this is a different type of flying is an understatement! If it is slow and they can work me in, I will do my second jump this weekend. My question is ...do you have any tips to ease the butterflys and tips in general to get me to freefall? I was really calm on the first jump..until about 3 seconds after release,it seemed to take about 7 or 8 seconds for the chute to open(I.A.D). They said my arch was good with a small snivel before opening. I thought these guys where crazy, now I'm sure of it! Thanks for your response!