Even though I have not jumped for the last two years I try to keep involved by attending the annual USPA Safety Day, keep current on jumper activities by reading the monthly Parachutist magazine, and visiting several drop zones in the area throughout the year. I enjoy taking jumper pictures, sharing them, rubbing elbows with current jumpers and getting in the occasional “jump run” as an observer.
For those interested in what goes on during a Safety Day Presentation the following are the highlight’s of what to expect when attending safety day.
The United State Parachute Association (USPA) Safety Day is scheduled each year in March for all jumpers to meet at their local drop zones:
- to review and practice Safety Procedures
- to inspect and discuss their equipment
- to socialize
An effective USPA Safety Day format includes
Equipment:
- Pre-jump inspection & checks; (2) maintenance and compatibility inspection; (3) update and service bulletin advisory.
After the standard gear check is covered, go over the wear points that need to be inspected thoroughly and frequently to include: Container and Harness material condition and stitching, high-wear areas of outer lines, steering lines, canopy line attachment points, and attachment at links, three-ring release system condition, harness condition, both webbing and stitching; leg strap and chest strap elastic keeper condition.
This is a “Jump Shack” Racer container with a BOC (bottom of container) pilot chute. The Yellow circle is the “pop top” of the reserve parachute, the area below the reserve is where the main parachute is contained.
This view shows the back of the container and the harness assembly and straps. The two metal rings on the l & R shoulders are part of the three ring system used to jettison the main if there is a malfunction. The Red handle or pillow is used to get rid of the main parachute and the Silver handle is to deploy the reserve parachute.
Freefall safety: (1) exit order; (2) group separation; (3) collision avoidance; (4) break-off and tracking procedures.
Hands-on practice sessions in a training harness for parachuting emergencies. (1) malfunction and reserve procedures; (2) obstacle landings.
Canopy flight: (1) training and review of canopy flight procedures: (2) local descent and landing pattern protocol.
Aircraft: (1) routine procedures; (2) review of aircraft emergency procedures; (3) discussion of spotting, including exit order and group separation
Packing review: When packing you must all ways pay attention to the details and avoid distractions.
FREEFALL SAFETY: Freefall safety is everyone’s responsibility.
- Exit order based on the type and size of groups, when the aircraft is flown into the wind for jump run.
- Adequate horizontal separation between each group
- Maintain visual contact with the other jumpers in the formation to reduce the chance of an inadvertent collision and use proper docking techniques to help reduce the chance of a hard collision from excessive horizontal speeds.
- Break-off and tracking procedures: plan for break-off, separation, deployment altitude and a canopy descent.
- Opening Procedures a. The pull should be preceded by a distinct wave-off, look down and to the sides to ensure that the area is clear. The low person has the right-of-way, both in freefall and under canopy.
PARACHUTING EMERGENCIES
- The cause of most emergency situations is improper packing or equipment maintenance.
- Discussion of the various types of malfunctions and the appropriate response for each.
Emergency parachute procedures that should be covered include: (Malfunction Pictures by Performance Designs)
(1) Total malfunction—nothing deployed ->pull the reserve. (2) Pilot chute in tow—>cut away and pull the reserve or just pull the reserve.
(Malfunction Pictures by Performance Designs)
(3) Bag lock—lines extend, but the bag remains around the canopy —>cut away and pull the reserve.
(4) Partial malfunction -canopy partially inflates —>cut away and pull the reserve.
(5) Spinning malfunction—due to twisted risers—>cut away and pull the reserve.
(6) Procedures for two parachutes out: (A) Side by side (B) one behind the other (C) Down plane. (A &B) Land if desired, do not flair, (C) Cut away the main by pulling the red handle immediately.
(7) Obstacle landing procedures (avoid trees, buildings, power lines, roads, water, & airplanes).
(AP Photo / Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Tim Telford)
(8) Deployment altitudes required according to license, decide-and-act altitudes, according to license, altitude at which to pull the reserve immediately, regardless of circumstances, recommendations for flotation devices near water, procedures for extraction from obstacle landings.
CANOPY CONTROL
- Discuss landing patterns, off field landing options, and other factors that are unique to that location. a. large bodies of water, forests and power lines
- Cover canopy controls and the effects of each: Rear-riser turns, flares and braked approaches.
Note that Front riser dives may reduce the effects of strong winds after a short spot or help a jumper descend to a less crowded area for a safer landing approach.
- Collision avoidance and procedures for a canopy entanglement
AIRCRAFT PROCEDURES: Cover loading procedures that are specific to your DZ and general rules that apply to every DZ, like approaching a fixed wing aircraft from the rear and prop avoidance.
Discuss weight and balance and aircraft overloading.
Review aircraft emergency procedures and each jumper should know the proper action for each aircraft emergency scenario.
Skydivers should be aware of their altitude during every plane ride to altitude, and keep in mind what they would do in the event of an emergency situation at any given moment.
Explain why jumpers should be taking a look outside before they exit the plane (aircraft, clouds, other groups, the landing area). Cover seat belt release altitude & seat belt stowage procedure
These are many of the topics available to be discussed and as always attendees are encouraged to ask questions on anything they are not sure of or have encountered.
Great site to visit: https://uspa.org and https://www.dropzone.com