A new way to fly

[Boss_BlueAngels]

Actually, there is a LOT more that goes in to using a parachute.  In fact, at least 2.5 hours of speaking worth! haha  I was quite shocked.

The seminar, put on by Allen Silver of Silver Parachutes, was quite informative and I highly recommend you check out these articles published by Allen:  http://www.silverparachutes.com/articles.html

There is a LOT more to using these parachutes than just tightning some straps and pulling a ring.  

I'm quite glad to say that my instructors safety briefing(s) included a lot of what Allen said at our seminar.  Allen told us of many different accidents and how they happened.  Parachutes are a lot like airplanes.... all it takes is one simple incorrect decision to break the entire chain.  

[Mobius]

Anyone care to share what I seem to be missing then?  

Our steps for egress:

1. Instructor decides it's time to let the airplane fly itself and makes me aware of this decision.
2. Pull the D-ring on the door post to release the door.
3. Unlock and take-off the belts.
4. Roll out of the aircraft (or get out however you can).
5. Once clear of the aircraft, pull the D-ring to release the chute.
6. Leisurely descend.
7. Roll on landing so both legs are not broken.
8. Take parachute off.
9. If one or both legs broken, crawl to nearest help or wait if help is coming.  Otherwise, walk to nearest help.  If deceased, skip this step and all following steps.
10.  Tell help what happened and if instructor is close and in good health, wait until the FAA comes to decide our fate.
11.  Go home.
12.  Rinse and repeat.

I don't see what other secret parachute tricks there are, so anyone who knows, please feel free to share them as it seems it would be the prudent thing to do.

And thanks for the link Boss, those articles are quite helpful.

[Boss_BlueAngels]

You cannot step 13!!!  
Give a case of the drink of choice to whoever packed your parachute last!  :D

Also be aware that some doors even with their hinge releases still need an additional kick or nudge or latch undone.  In the Decathlon I fly I need to remember to unlatch the top before pulling the hinges.

This guy had horror stores of people who got torn away from their chute as soon as it opened because they had the straps a little loose, and several incidents that involved pilots who got into the habit of putting on and removing their parachute INSIDE the aircraft.  When something finally went wrong the person quickly found out they never actually put any body parts through the straps and left the 'chute in the aircraft!  
And people who got drug through barbed wire fences, rocks, etc. because they failed to properly collapse the canopy after landing.  

I know they're completely different kinds of parachutes and experiences, but after attending this it makes me want to take my friend up on his offer of a %50 off tandem skydive jump from 14,000 feet!  


BTW, did you have your flight last Friday?

[Mobius]

Thanks Boss, I definitely forgot step 13.  Although I think that should go before step 12.

I think if I pulled the door release and nothing happened, I would put all my 6'5" and 215 lbs into getting that door disconnected from the airplane instead of enjoying the ride down.

My next flight is this upcoming Friday, weather permitting (snow showers predicted, we'll see ).  My last flight was the Friday before last Friday, the 7th, and it's the flight I posted about HERE.  Too much fun. 8-)

[pepper_airborne]

He is definately right, i had a complete day of ground training with an exam before i could make my first jump, i basicly new every little thing i could expect.