Topcat

Your love of instruction makes it sound like you would make an excellent AFF instructor. I hope you do persue it; I have found it to exciting and humbling (and I have a bunch of interesting campfire stories) I had about 650 jumps the first time I took the course; about 800 when I took it the 2nd time and passed. Reason I failed the first time: I wasn't really prepared. However, taking that course is what showed me exactly what I needed to work on. I aced it the 2nd time. Learn how to fall with a variety of fall rates. Learn to give signals to someone without holding on. Anticipate what people are going to do (fast spins usually start as slow spins) Learn how to stop spins and how to flip people over. Pre-courses and private instruction are worth the price. Practice the bottom end! -Sandy

Any time you are confused about information you receive at a drop zone, ASK YOUR INSTRUCTORS. -Sandy

Have you ever had a student bitch to you about everybody who is jumping ahead of him? He took me aside and complained, and I explained there were only a few students and he would jump shortly. He turned purple and said he had seen *dozens" jump all ready. I had to think about it for a bit, then I gently explained to him that they were experienced skydivers, not students, and he would be up shortly. At least he shut up after that. -Sandy (Not really an asshat, but I bet he felt like one)

I'm the de facto head of the coaching program at Skydive Alabama. What type of coaching are you looking for? We just graduated a passle of coaches just itching for victims - er, students. We also have RW coaches and I know a bunch of freefliers who love to work with new people. -Sandy

Try collapsing the slider before unstowing the toggles. I have that problem on one of my rigs; sometimes I'll have to grab a rear riser and climb up a little to get ahold of the slider. Obviously if you do this make sure your airspace is clear first. -Sandy

I don't think there is one in Montgomery. There's one in Pell City (east of Birmingham) and one in Cullman (Skydive Alabama; north of Birmingham). There's also Skydive Opeleika, which I think is closest to you (north of Montgomery). You also might want to check out Skydive Atlanta, which is in Thomaston, Georgia. As for info, you'll find plenty on their respective entries in the dropzone database. -Sandy

Since he flies, he shouldn't have a problem with skydiving. My husband is blind in one eye and he has 3000+ jumps, pilot's license, is a videographer, tandem master and AFF instructor. He weighs about 180 and flies a 149 and 139 canopy respectively and has never had problems w/ landing. I won't talk about his ability to hit the side of the garage when pulling in. But in all reality, your brother should give it a try. He'll be able to judge how it limits him better than any one. -Sandy

If I'm reading right, you do have your commercial. Good, that's required. Drop zones will have minimum hours based on their insurance requirements. Make a resume and get it out to every drop zone you can and follow them up with phone calls and/or personal visits - be prepared to be very flexible if you really want a jump pilot job. -Sandy

Yikes! *sigh* He was a hell of a hard worker, but after some higher $$ property went missing he was questioned with the police present and he admitted taking said property. We intend to nail his carcass to the wall if the law will permit it. As far as we know he swiped Drop Zone property only (no jumpers have come forward about anything missing). Email me if you wish more info (like names). -Sandy

Maybe not stupid but definitely 'student from hell': Older gent, spent extra time with him in Ground School going over AFF1 dive. The dive itself was bad but nothing I have not seen before in my huge, grand total of 4 months as an AFF instructor. I'm on main side, so I track away as soon as I see the pilot chute clear the BOC pouch. I open, look around for the student, can't see him for a bit then I see him FALL BELOW ME. He has a partially inflated main; looks like maybe a stuck slider. I turn to get closer and by that time, I see main take off/reserve open. Then, to my horror, I realize he has line twists and is flying backwards! He doesn't do anything about the twists; I try to get his attention but he serenely flies backwards towards a gully where the train tracks are. Even though he opened below me I am quickly getting lower than him; he is flying calmly and stately towards a really crappy section of land (hills trees and teeny tiny fields with big bales of hay in them). I decide to turn and land in a field I know I can land in. For 3 minutes I am cursing up a storm, fearful I just witnessed my first skydiving death. A bunch of friendly locals (bless 'em) help me locate my student: he was fine - scraped nose was it. Extra twist to the tale - his cutaway handle wasn't pulled. Said he couldn't find it; just pulled his reserve. There is something to be said for SOS systems. -Sandy (Billy told me there would be students like this)

Come on out, Mark! It was good to see you again.

Feh. They are all just little wusses!

Look at it this way... dig through the incident reports and count how many of them involve students. They are not the ones who are smacking into the ground at high rates of speed! -Sandy (being a conservative fuddy-duddy in the context of skydiving is not a bad thing)

Have you asked your rigger what he would think of you getting a second opinion? -Sandy

Got another one: Jumper who has done thousands of video; AFF and Tandem rated; and is two hours within acquiring his commercial pilot's license. He lost his vision in one eye because his mom had toxoplasmosis when she was pregnant with him. -Sandy (I won't discuss the prop strike, though. I'm trying to encourage you! )

2 things: When I first started jumping I lost 18 pounds. I didn't realize it until I stepped on a scale one day at work and thought it was broken. I was going through AFF at the time and did a maximum of one jump a week. For some reason my metabolism went through the roof; I had not changed my eating habits at all. Tell that to the group and I bet you get a bunch of them to come out to the DZ with you. Second: When I first started jumping my Sabre 135, I was told to start experimenting with my front risers. I couldn't budge them. Not much later I started weight training. It improved my stamina and I could jump more each weekend because I could pack more each weekend. Then one day I remembered to try the front risers and easily pulled them to my chest! -Sandy (gained it back, though, once I learned to sleep on the plane)

Google rules: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/PS/leslie.html -Sandy

Keep your medication close, but don't sweat it. I have had asthma forever; not only do I skydive, I scuba dive. Scuba diving for a long time did not allow asthmatics to participate. However I had a doctor (one who is trained in diving medicine) evaluate me and have never had a problem in either sport. -Sandy

Anecdote: Wuffo was walking across the packing area. Not only does he snag some lines, he catches some lines on his feet and literally yanks the dbag out of a skydiver's hands. Needless to say, she had to start all over. He just SMIRKS, and says 'Glad I'm not jumping that one!' Personally, I think that is legitimate grounds for murder. -Sandy

If you do, don't buy anything from that company again. I agree, by the way. -Sandy

I have heard this TWICE: [PILOT]: Uh, what was that? -Sandy

Haven't in a while - this thread is making me think about hauling out the equipment again... When I was brewing it was strictly extract brewing. I love the results but I just didn't have much time. I prefer brewing ales (esp Irish Reds) although I do have the setup to brew lagers, if I wanted to. I also keg to save time. Despite the fact that my home dz is full of Coors Light freaks, I have never had a problem getting rid of a keg there if I brought one... -Sandy (A.K.A Zippy AppleChunks)

Compressed my T5 when I was 15 (too long ago to admit to) in a car accident. Jumping/packing just fine. No loss of height, that I'm aware of. -Sandy (You damn betcha I wear my seatbelt now!!)

Yep! Going to a dz with nothing to do but pack and get on a load... woo-hoo! -Sandy

It's morally reprehensible if he drinks other's beer. Otherwise, he's just a party pooper. I found out this weekend: Never ever tell the pilot he owes beer. He will drop the load 3 miles downwind from the dz. -Sandy