dmeyer@ti-csl (02/03/86)
/* ---------- "Way off" ---------- */ > This past weekend, on the occasion of my 4th static line, I had the > wonderful experience of landing about half a mile from the DZ. Seemed > to arise from a combination of the winds being in the opposite direction > at 4000' as they were on the ground, a slow exit, and my complete > inability to spot the DZ from the air (although I had a radio). Anyway, > I'm still really confused as to how I had so much difficulty orienting-- > after all, it WAS a pretty panoramic view and it isn't THAT hard to spot > an airport! Does anybody have some perspective into why this happens? > (I hope experience improves :-) ) Any anecdotes regarding major quality > misses would be appreciated. > Mark Papamarcos > ..hplabs!pesnta!valid!markp > /* End of text from ti-csl:net.rec.skydive */ So, is everyone tired of reading this message 4 times? Ok, so I'm still trying to figure out how to use this SOB. The last 3 copies were a result of me trying to compose a response to this, while being thrown into an unknow editor. I think I have it now. Sorry. Now, lets see ... what was I going to say ... oh yeah ... I think that you have experienced now what ALL of us have experienced from time to time -- a lousy spot. Skydiving just wouldn't be the fun that it is without those long walks back to the DZ. I have just recently had this happen on an EXPERIENCED load. I wasn't real familiar with the area and our spotter must have been sniffing glue. Since I was in the rear of the airplane, I didn't notice where we were until after openning. I could not see the airport because it was about a mile away. Luckily the other guys on the load saw the DZ and I was able to follow them -- we still were about a half mile away when we got down. But as a student, what can you do to minimize getting lost up there? 1) It is the responsibility of your Jumpmaster to give you a reasonable spot. The winds changing directions is not a valid excuse - he should know better. Tell him so. 2) You should look down and locate the landing area on jump run to see where you are before you jump. If you can't see it, ask your JM to point it out. The plane should be flying into the wind -- and the winds aloft usually are the same as those on the ground. If the winds are screwy, your JM should have told you about them. So, when you open your canopy and locate the airport, you should be flying DOWNWIND right toward the airport. 3) It is a very good idea to spend some of your time during the ride up to study the area. Find some unmistakable landmarks that will help you find the DZ. Don't restrict them to being closeby. You will need them most when you are far away. If you do this regularily, you will find yourself pretty knowledgable about your location, regardless of your openning point. 4) Learn to be a GOOD spotter yourself. If someone spotting YOUR load does a poor job, teach him how to spot too. These days, square canopies have made spotting a joke. Folks under a round canopy NEED those good spots (remember your reserve!). Maybe you ought to recommend that your JM make a few jumps under a round canopy to rediscover his spotting skills. ========================================================================= Dane Meyer Texas Instruments ARPA: ==> DMEYER%tilde%ti-csl CSNET: ==> DMEYER@ti-csl USENET: ==> {convex,ctvax,texsun,rice}ti-csl!dmeyer VOICE ==> (214) 995-5665