General Information

 

·         Stick with the plan.  If a change is necessary, work it out with your plane captain before you do it.

·         Drink lots of water.  It will be hot.

·         Make sure to keep you energy levels up.

·         Help each other, cooperate as a team.

·         Keep up the good vibes.  Share positive comments often.  Don’t be shy about speaking up, but be professional, i.e. don’t whine.

·        Be prepare with extra “accessories” such as goggles, gloves, rubber bands, pull-up cords, weights, closing loops, etc.

 

Safety

 

·         Turn on your Cypres each day. 

·         Complete your own and ask for a gear check before exiting.

·         Helmets / frappe hats are strongly recommended.

·         Keep peripheral vision open in freefall and under canopy.

·         Follow your leader to the formation.  Getting there early only hurts the team.

·         Follow the designated breakoff routine.  You should leave when the appropriate pull occurs and flat track to pull altitude.

·         Rule #7.  Know when to say no.  If you do not feel you can skydive safely because of any reason, do not hesitate to tell you plane captain.  Do not jeopardize yourself or your teammates because of peer pressure.

·         If something happens, let any plane captain know immediately.  Refer all press personnel to Skydive Spaceland.

 

Dress for Success

 

·         Select the appropriate jumpsuit for your slot and the formation.  Have all you jumpsuits available and let your plane captain know if you make a change.

·         Select the appropriate weights for your slot and the formation.

·         Rule #3. Leave room for error.  We have plenty of time so do not rush.

 

Courtesy

 

·         Be on time, whether on the buses, in the aircraft or in the beer line.

·         Pay attention.  We are not talking to everyone but you.  We are talking to you.

·         Come prepared to fully participate to the end of the event.

·         Use the exit frame run outs to your advantage. Look for the possible traffic problems.  Look for your visual keys and their backups.

·        Everyone has a good joke, or a funny comment.  In the dirt dive your fellow jumpers are a captive audience and don’t be the one who causes your teammate to miss the vital information that they needed.

 

Aircraft Etiquette

 

·         Follow the instructions from your plane captain.  Follow the check in procedures after landing.

·         Maintain constant seating whenever possible.

·         Do not change your exit order until you have an OK from your plane captain.

·         Wear your seat belts for takeoff and until 1,000’.

·         Provide cooperation on door jams.

·         Follow the communication plan presented by your plane captain. On jump run only the Plane Captain and their assistant be talking.

·        Do gear checks quietly and safely.

 

Exit

 

·         Do not push, go with the exit.  Floaters may be out for a while.  Plan for it.

·         Know who you are following and which quadrant you are going to. Plan on the base being on heading.

·        Rule #4; Stay ahead of the jump. Anticipate disaster and deal with it calmly.  Be prepared.

 

Docking & Flying

 

·         Approach the formation from on level and smoothly dock level with the formation.

·         Don’t go low.

·        Keep flying!  If you feel tension, stick you legs out, feel your toes in the air & your chest into the rate of fall.

 

Breakoff

 

·         Don’t lolly-gag.  Do the fastest turn you can; get out of there.   When it’s time to track - TRACK!   Flat track is not an option, it’s a necessity.  Track like your life depends on it, which it does.

·        Rule #6; Know thy altitude.  Pull at the proper altitude for your slot.  Look around and wave off before deploying.

 

Canopy Flying

 

·         Rule #1; Land safely under an open canopy.

·         Forget stowing sliders, pulling off booties, etc.  Flying the canopy and avoiding collisions is much more important.

·         Be extremely aware of various canopy speeds.

·         Follow the designated landing pattern.  Land in the areas designated for your aircraft. Left turns only under canopy.  No spirals.  No hook turns more than 90 deg.

·        Rule #2; Land safe, not close.

 

Landing out

 

·         Rule #5; Always have a plan.  When landing out, watch out for obstacles and plan early.  Assume there will be wires along every road and fences along every hedge.

·         Be considerate of other people’s property.

·        Rule #8; Never give up.  PLF!  Get your jumpsuit dirty instead of hurting yourself.

 

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

 

Below is our schedule for each day. 

·       We will start at 8 am each day.

·       We will be making a dive every 1.5 to 2 hours. We intend to make 5 dives on Friday, 6 on Saturday and 4 on Sunday. This is weather dependent, but you will be released by 6 pm Sunday.

·       When you land, get packed 1st. If you have a packer, make sure they know where your rig is located. You are responsible for your rig being packed, not your packer.

·       Approximately 20 minutes after landing, the aircraft captains will conduct their debriefs. As necessary, there may be a general debrief next.

·       We will go to an exit frame and walk to the 1st point in the main landing area. We will repeat as necessary.

·       From the walk out we are going through the hanger and to the aircraft, don’t get lost.

 

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The Golden Rules of Skydiving

 

Rule #1    Land safely under an open canopy.

Rule #2    Land safe, not close.

Rule #3    Leave room for error.

Rule #4    Stay ahead of the jump.

Rule #5    Always have a plan.

Rule #6    Know thy altitude.

Rule #7    Know when to say no.

Rule #8    Never give up.

 

(Note: The Golden Rules are taken from the World Skydiving Association’s Student Instruction Manual)