What a year! We all made a ton of jumps in 2002 and had mega fun. The Ranch hosted a impressive package of special programs, training camps, competitions, and super parties. We can even look back at some great facility improvements including an interior upgrade to the historical Great Hall. Guy Wright, the architect of that rebuild and our former DZ manager, has decided to move on, and he will be missed. In addition to the obvious facility and scheduling improvements, Guy also brought a new focus on safety that allowed us to grow from a tiny local drop zone, into one of the most active seasonal DZ's in the United States.
Many of you know that I spent a good part of the past summer writing a book for McGraw-Hill called " Jump! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy ." Jump! is targeted at beginners who haven't made their first skydive yet and wonder where to go, and how to evaluate a drop zone. It is scheduled for publication in January, 2003. While most of the information in Jump! is directed at beginners, the basic concept expressed by the text is to be a good consumer when evaluating or selecting drop zones. An approach of self-education and educated-action applies to experienced skydivers too. The marketplace offers each of us many choices. We should constantly be thinking about the safety of the skydiving center we are jumping at, and looking for ways to make improvements.
Now that winter is here, a few hearty soles will remain at The Ranch for some cold jumps and warm vibes, but many Ranch Hands will be traveling to other drop zones. As we travel, let's be aware of safety. Let's make sure the drop zones we visit care about keeping us alive, and let's look for improvements that we can bring back to The Ranch. There are a few areas that you can easily look at when traveling to other DZ… think about the following:
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Aircraft Appearance: A good skydiving business will usually care about the appearance of their airplanes. Each of us is a passenger before we become a skydiver, and we should be carried in well maintained airplanes. A great paint job by itself isn't an assurance that an operator is properly maintaining the aircraft, but at least it does tell you the owners and drop zone management have pride in their equipment, and that pride probably extends to maintenance. As you visit other drop zones this winter look at the appearance and general condition of their aircraft, and favor the drop zone with a well maintained fleet. |
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Aircraft Seatbelts: Each occupant of the plane should have his/her own seatbelt, and those belts should be in good condition. As you visit other drop zones take a look at the condition of their belts, and if you find problems, mention it to manifest. Likewise, make sure there are really seatbelts available for each occupant. If you find yourself in a seating position without a belt (near the door, for example), mention it to manifest or drop zone management and expect a quick repair. Some drop zones have a special form available so aircraft or facility problems can be easily reported, and the repairs tracked. |
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Aircraft Operations: Watch how the local pilots handle their aircraft. Good pilots will be smooth with the controls, and demonstrate standard and consistent flight performance. Be very cautious if you see pilots hot dogging the planes with fast or slow takeoffs, steep turns, buzz jobs, or unusual flight of any kind. Likewise, watch how the boarding area is secured and managed. A good drop zone will have a defined loading area and well organized loading procedures that keep jumpers away from the props. Good DZ's will also help groups board in the best order for safe exits. |
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Cloud Jumps: Many of us like to jump through clouds, but most of us also know it is dangerous and illegal. As you travel, be cautious of drop zones that encourage skydivers to jump through clouds. Keep in mind a drop zone that doesn't object to obviously illegal cloud jumps may be violating other regulations and safety concerns that you aren't even aware of. Think about using cloud and visibility restrictions listed in FAR 105.17 as an indicator of regulatory compliance, and the overall safety of a drop zone. |
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Wind Indicators: Look around for wind blades, wind socks and streamers, and check to be sure they are well placed and in good condition. Be especially pleased with drop zones that provide visible wind meters that actually show the current wind speed and direction. These great electronic devices can be mounted in the landing area with a remote display in the packing, manifest, and/or boarding areas. A few drop zones have added these outstanding devices with multiple displays at a cost of less than $1,000.00. |
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Landing Patterns: Many drop zones have established basic landing patterns and directions. When you visit a new DZ ask about landing rules. Watch other skydivers fly their parachutes and land. Evaluate their performance and figure out if they are well trained and supervised. Good canopy traffic begins with good training, and your life depends on the training other jumpers receive. As you visit DZ's over the winter you will probably encounter skydivers from all kinds of drop zones and training programs. Think about the training and experience they bring to the sky, how they fly their parachutes, and how their performance affects your safety. |
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The School: As long as we are talking about training, when you visit other drop zones take a moment to visit their school operation. The local attitude toward safety is often established by the school, so feel free to wander around and evaluate their program. Watch the activity level on windy days. Some schools will keep their students jumping, while others will hold off on skydiving and use the time for supervised ground training. A school that halts jumping when the winds are too high or gusty will build a behavioral pattern beginning with the very first jump, and students will carry it with them for the rest of their skydiving careers. Some schools even provide reading or study material, or training videos for students to use on bad weather days. A school that encourages their students to read, study, and talk with instructors when the weather is poor will be encouraging a lifetime commitment to knowledge and safety. |
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Training Aids: While you are at the school, check the condition of their classrooms and training aids. Some schools have multiple hanging harnesses that are even available to visiting jumpers. Some have quick "stand-up" harnesses, and a few have a cutting edge computerized canopy control simulator called the Sport ParaSim. Ask if you can try these training devices, and then spend a few minutes improving your own skills. You can also look at the other training aids available including horizontal trainers and posters or photographs hanging in the classroom area. A good school will assist their students in becoming solid and skillful skydivers who will then be fun to share the sky with. A good school will also welcome you as you visit their facilities. |
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Accidents: If there is an accident while you are visiting you will have a chance to evaluate how the local drop zone handles the problem. Is there a standard procedure that arranges for rescue contact, and gets the required people and equipment to the accident scene? A good drop zone will have a well thought out emergency response plan. As a visitor, you should feel free to ask about the plan in case you or your friends need help. Likewise, a good operation will carefully track problems to identify accident trends. Feel free to ask the school or drop zone staff if they know how many people have been hurt at that DZ, and what caused the accidents. You can also ask what the DZ has done to prevent similar accidents. A good drop zone will have a well defined program that responds to accidents when they happen, and then identifies the causes and trends so the occurrence of future accidents can be reduced. |
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General Comfort and Welcome: A quality drop zone will welcome visitors and help newcomers learn and adjust to the local system. When visiting other drop zones you should be greeted and quickly quizzed about your experience level and previous travel history. If it is your first trip to the drop zone you should expect a very thorough briefing that covers boarding, canopy flight, and landing procedures. You should be presented with clear aerial photos that show hazards and "outs" in all directions, and ideally, these photos will be posted in a central location for review later in your visit. Most drop zones have at least a few rules to help maintain order and safety, and this is especially important at larger DZ's with lots of visitors. If your briefing includes the basic rules presented in a methodological manner, you can be comfortable knowing that the same information is probably being presented to every visiting jumper. Some drop zones have even put the local policies in writing and provide each new jumper with a copy as part of the DZ welcome kit. |
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Landing Off The DZ: Landing off the field is something that can happen at any drop zone. Injuries are more common in off field landings as skydivers try to maneuver into small, obstacle filled, and unfamiliar fields. A good drop zone will watch for off field landings and quickly send support to make sure the jumpers are not injured. The potential for problems is especially great at large drop zones with a transient group of jumpers, and individual visiting skydivers that might not be missed by a group. Ask drop zone management if somebody is designated to watch for bad spots and off field landings, and if there is a formal response plan. |
Visiting other drop zones is a fun way to enhance your skydiving career. There are some great drop zones that welcome new customers with a solid safety program, and there are a few that have no concern for your safety at all. Keep in mind that when visiting a new DZ your life and safety are dependent on the training and supervision of many other people who you have never met. Be attentive to the overall level of safety at the drop zones you visit this winter. If you find programs or procedures that can make The Ranch a better place to jump, please share your experiences with management here.