{"id":34103,"date":"2021-05-18T14:52:08","date_gmt":"2021-05-18T14:52:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=34103"},"modified":"2021-05-20T10:05:17","modified_gmt":"2021-05-20T10:05:17","slug":"lets-talk-canopy-collisions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/lets-talk-canopy-collisions\/","title":{"rendered":"Let\u2019s talk Canopy COLLISIONS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dan BC explains his process to avoid colliding with another canopy\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Big-way jumps have an extra risk of canopy collisions \u2013 but this can be minimized by following Dan’s checklist
Photo by Dennis Sattler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s talk Canopy COLLISIONS  \u2026 <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u2026As in how not to have one.  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

I was trying to count how many jumps I\u2019ve made with a hundred or more skydivers. My rough estimate is 500. That\u2019s a lot of \u201cbig-ways\u201d. Only once did I have a canopy collision. But that wasn\u2019t on a large formation. It was when I was jumping as an AFF evaluator out of a Cessna with one solo jumper I forgot was on the plane with us. Four canopies total in the entire sky and the solo jumper and I ran head on into each other at 1,500 feet. Didn\u2019t even see him coming. The only reason we both walked away was pure luck.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At that time, I had several thousand jumps, was a Nationals Medalist, DZO, STA, AFFI, TI and fancied myself a pretty squared away skydiver who was always safety conscious and heads up. Head up my ass apparently. How many other close calls had I escaped and not even seen happen? It was at that moment I had a very important realization.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite what I previously thought, in reality I had regularly underestimated the potential risk of any given situation and overestimated my skill and readiness to deal with that risk. I figured if I was going to live skydiving, I\u2019d better get it together and not make a mistake like that again.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had regularly underestimated the potential risk of any given situation and overestimated my skill and readiness to deal with that risk<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
On deployment, know where the closest person is \u2013 and expect your canopies to turn towards each other on a collision course, because that’s what canopies do!
Photo by Emanuele Bielli<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Lesson learned<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When I break off from a skydive now, whether it\u2019s a 2-way or a 200-way, I do the same thing every time:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. No matter how small a group I\u2019m with, or how hard and fast I\u2019m tracking, I expect other skydivers to be close to me on break-off and deployment and I\u2019m looking everywhere for them.  <\/li>
  2. When I\u2019m getting ready to deploy, I recognize who is the closest person to me.<\/li>
  3. I expect that closest canopy and my canopy to turn right at each other after opening. Because that\u2019s exactly what they do way too often.<\/li>
  4. I\u2019m on my back risers before the slider is even all the way down turning away from that closest canopy.<\/li>
  5. Before looking down to see where I am I check all the airspace around me for other canopies.<\/li>
  6. I set myself up in the pattern to minimize traffic and try to create both vertical and horizontal separation with others in the pattern. While still on my downwind leg I choose the lane I expect to be the least crowded where I plan to fly my final.<\/li>
  7. The closer I get to the ground the more I\u2019m watching for traffic, we are all converging into the same area. When I’m on downwind I look for people I’m converging with on a long base. When I’m on base I look for people I’m converging with who may be on a long final and people I may be converging with on the opposite base leg.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Just sharing.  Thought it might be useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"
    Nothing makes Dan BC happier than everyone landing safely after a jump
    Photo by Dennis Sattler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n
    <\/div>
    <\/a><\/div><\/div>
    <\/a><\/div><\/div>
    Visit Us<\/a><\/div><\/div>
    <\/a>
    <\/span>
    <\/a><\/div>
    <\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
    <\/div >