P A R A C H U T I N G ' S N E W S M A G A Z I N E
Ask the Editor
Contents of Batch 15:
Will my
altimeter work in Denver?
How much
weight should I wear?
USPA
licenses: Requirements and limitations
Can a
family sue for skydiving-related death?
Where can I
find a pattern to make my own jumpsuit?
Ear trouble
Any advice
for the first-time tandem student?
What in the
life span of a skydiver?
The following questions were submitted by visitors to our Web site and answered by the editor of Skydiving magazine. .
To ask a question of your own, click here.
Will my altimeter work in Denver?
Q. I'll soon be moving to Denver, the Mile Hi City. If I buy an altimeter here in Florida, will I "over-extend" its capabilities if I jump it in Denver, where the exit altitude is about 18,000 feet above sea level?
A. No. All skydiving altimeters (and automatic openers) can ascend to altitudes of at least 20,000 feet MSL without malfunctioning or suffering any damage whatsoever. When you arrive in Denver and remove the altimeter from your gear bag, it will read about 5,300 feet. But you'll be able to reset it to zero before jumping it.
How much weight should I wear?
Q. I'm a jumper from Costa Rica who weighs about 150 pounds and is 6 feet tall. When I went to the U.S. recently, they made me jump with weights, but I don't remember how much. What do you recommend?
A. Wearing a weight vest is an obvious way of increasing one's fall rate to better match the rate of others in the group.
Even a relatively small amount of weight (four to six pounds) will provide a noticeable fall-rate increase and still leave the jumper with enough "range" -- the ability to fall slowly when it's necessary.
Put on six pounds and see what happens. If you're comfortable on the following jumps -- meaning you don't have to arch hard to stay down with the formation or fly extra flat to stay up with it -- then it's the right amount.
If you jump with a variety of jumpers (rather than mostly with the same group, such as a team), you'll soon find yourself frequently adding and removing weight. When the group is small, you'll probably add it. As it gets larger, you'll take a few pounds out.
The amount of weight you'll wear will also depend on what type of dive it is and where your are in the formation. If you're in the base, for instance, you'll wear a lot of lead, but if you're a late diver on a large formation, you might not wear any.
Although wearing weights is a practical way to match fall rates, it has several disadvantages.
One is safety. If you jump near water, you'll want to wear weights that can be easily discarded under canopy in case of a bad spot.
Jumpers sometimes lose a weight packet or two while in freefall or under canopy. A lost packet could seriously hurt anyone it hit on the ground.
Wearing a lot of weight decreases a jumper's range so much that going low and staying low is too easy; you lose a lot of your "pop." It's better to first use other ways to increase fall rate -- body position, jumpsuit cut and rig design (narrow rigs fall faster) -- than to start piling the lead on.
Carrying 20 pounds of lead in one's gear bag is also inconvenient, especially if you travel a lot.
Finally, lead is toxic. The weight packets many jumpers use are made by filling a fabric pouch with lead shot, and these pouches get lead on a jumper's hands every time they're handled.
It's not uncommon to see more than half the jumpers on a 16-way team wearing lead. We wonder how many thousands of gallons of aviation fuel are burned each year hauling weight vests to altitude.
USPA licenses: Requirements and limitations
Q. I'll soon visit the U.S., complete an AFF course and get an A license. What different levels of license are there and how do you achieve them? Will an A license allow me to jump anywhere in the world?
A. The U.S. has four licenses, A through D. Requirements range from a minimum of 25 jumps (for the A license) to 200 freefalls (for the D). An applicant for any license must also meet certain proficiency and knowledge requirements.
Although we encourage jumpers to earn licenses, the fact remains that a skydiver doesn't really need a license to jump in this country. When a skydiver visits a DZ for the first time, the DZ is more likely to want to see a logbook rather than a license as proof of experience and currency.
Licenses are needed to earn most USPA ratings and awards, and they're needed to enter the U.S. Nationals. But that's about it.
Licensing standards vary widely from one country to the next. The variation is so great that the international licensing "system" is nearly worthless, at least from a practical standpoint.
Can a family sue for a skydiving-related death?
Q. If there is an accident at a drop zone that resulted in a death could the family sue the drop zone?
A. Yes. It's relatively easy to file such a suit, and they're fairly common. Winning the suit, or forcing the DZ to settle, isn't as easy. Jumpers in the U.S. typically sign "hold-harmless" agreements in which they acknowledge skydiving's inherent risks and promise not to sue if they're hurt or killed. These documents have proven to be upheld by courts in several states; judges have dismissed lawsuits because the jumpers had signed these legally binding "waivers" (as they're commonly called).
While we feel sorry for the friends and families of jumpers who died skydiving, we've always wondered how suing a DZ makes them feel better. How much do you have to stuff in your wallet to fill the empty place in your heart?
Where can I find patterns to make my own jumpsuit?
Q. Where can I find sewing patterns for jumpsuits? I live in Sweden.
A. Although we know of no source of jumpsuit patterns, it would be relatively easy to "reverse engineer" a jumpsuit: take an old one apart and use it to make patterns.
It will take more than patterns to build a good jumpsuit, however. You'll need a sewing machine that can handle thicker fabrics and heavier thread. Procuring suitable fabric, tape, zippers, etc., might not be that easy.
We're not discouraging you from making your own jumpsuit; it might be fun. But if you count your time, it might be cheaper and easier to buy one.
Q. I'm new to the sport. Two weeks ago I jumped with a head cold. By the time I reached the ground I had some pain in both ears and they wouldn't pop. After a day or so the pain went away and my ears cleared up. The next week I jumped again; no pain, but I had a little trouble clearing my left ear. I can hear fine, but I still feel or hear a minor popping when I yawn. Have you ever had this problem?
A. What you experienced is common with skydivers who jump with a head cold (or similar malady).
Usually the results aren't as bad as you experienced at first (your ears wouldn't clear for a couple of days), but sometimes it happens.
Should you jump with a cold? It's up to you. Doing so can wreak havoc with your ears and sinuses, to the extent of causing infections and ultimately ear damage. Nonetheless, a lot of skydivers do it.
Sometimes, when jumping with a cold, it takes a real effort to clear one's ears. That's not good, and it's a legitimate reason for staying on the ground.
One bright note: Those who jump frequently tend to have less trouble clearing their ears. Apparently frequent jumping helps keep them clear.
Some over-the-counter medications help, although many of them have side effects that aren't good for skydivers (drowsiness, increased susceptibility to hypoxia). Sudafed seems to be effective without obvious complications.
If you simply can't stay on the ground, consider jumping from lower altitudes. And if your ears continue to cause problems, then see a doctor; it's tough to use an audible altimeter if you're wearing a hearing aid.
Any Advice for the First-Time Tandem Jumper?
Q. I've just purchased two vouchers for a sky jump for myself and my girlfriend as a birthday present. Now I'm very nervous about the whole thing. Any advice for a first-time jumper on staying cool? Is 20 minutes of training enough even if it is a tandem jump?
A. Yes, 20 minutes is enough training. The instructor does all the work; you can hang there like a sack of potatoes and the jump will proceed normally.
Knowledge dispels fear, as the saying goes. The more you know about skydiving, the less nervous you'll be because you'll learn it's not quite as harebrained as the popular media wants you to believe.
Go to the drop zone early and spend some time watching both experienced jumpers and students. Get a book -- "Parachuting, The Skydiver's Handbook" by Dan Poynter is widely available -- and learn even more. There is a method to this madness.
Most importantly, remember this: If you wimp out in front of your girlfriend, there's a good chance she'll have an affair with her tandem instructor. It happens "all the time".
What is the life span of a skydiver?
Q. What's the average life span of a skydiver?
A. You might not believe this, but most skydivers feel they'll stop living if they stop skydiving. Go figure.
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