Hippogriff

Hi All... I have looked over the stats on injuries and fatalities. A fatality is pretty clear, but an “injury” not so much so. Is there any way to examine the stats on serious injuries, like a jumper was paralyzed, broke their neck or something like that vs a sprained ankle? Or is it fair to assume that a minor injury is rarely reported?

Does it really matter if radar can see the jumper? First off, who is watching? I doubt ATC is going to track the jumper to the ground. Absent military radar watching the border I doubt anyone would notice. But let's say someone does notice. Now what? Is there a procedure for ATC, military or anyone else to notify the Border Patrol or anyone else? A friend of mine who works for the border patrol has a patrol area the size of Rhode Island. Let's say his sector was notified and they told him. If the jumper planned this carefully and had someone waiting to pick him up, then the jumper is long gone before anyone can respond. If it’s a HAHO jump, then the jumper could exit over Mexico and land 25 or more miles into the desert. All that said, wouldn’t it be easier to get in other ways? This seems like lot's more effort then is warranted for someone to sneak over to pick lettuce. So let's say a spy or a terrorist wants to get in. Wouldn’t it be easier to come in on a pleasure boat, or to drive in from Canada? Jumping will get a single person in but not with any substantial equipment. It seems to me that if our boarders are so secure that this is what’s needed to penetrate them, then the border patrol, customs and military must be doing one heck of a job! I hope we actually get to this point.

I doubt it, although I am going to try. It's tough to tell my wife and 11 year old daughter that I'm going to Florida and not taking them along. Maybe we can come down for a bit and I can break away for a day, but getting away from work is a challenge as well. What I think would be cool is some time in a tunnel. From what I have read that seems like it would be a good way ti improve my flying skills (once I actually learn some in AFF) quickly. I know I might forget something over the winter, but will it take long to get back to where I stop in October?

Hi Everyone... I just signed up here after two jumps. Well, maybe 1 fall and one jump. The first one was just a ride along pretty much. The second one was ground school and then a tandem jump. I’m hoping to get the rest of the AFF program jumps in before Oct 31st, when the school closes. I’m in Rhode Island and it gets chilly here in November. This site looks pretty cool and I’m sure I’ll learn quite a lot here. Hopefully I won’t be posting in the incident section!