{"id":35752,"date":"2021-08-05T08:17:49","date_gmt":"2021-08-05T08:17:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=35752"},"modified":"2021-08-09T12:52:16","modified_gmt":"2021-08-09T12:52:16","slug":"mind-the-gap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/mind-the-gap\/","title":{"rendered":"Mind the GAP!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NFTO cameraflyer Simon Brentford shares a moment of shame, what he learned and how to avoid it happening to you…<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
NFTO team training at Skydive Algarve<\/a>
Photo by Simon Brentford<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Bug Splat<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019d like to recall that time I piled into my 4-way team when videoing a few years back at a training camp at Skydive Hibaldstow<\/a><\/strong>. The day had started well and we had just completed our first quad of back-to-back jumps and I was feeling confident and in the zone. We\u2019re at 10,500ft and I\u2019m as usual hanging on the camera step, but this time, I can’t see the key. It’s that unlucky combo of Tail slot blocking the view and a weak key from the rest of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This put me late on my exit timing, but I also made a big mistake. As I launched, I did something I don\u2019t normally do, I pushed off sideways and the moment it happened, I knew that instant I was going to be buying the beers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within a few moments, a massive \u2018Nooooo!!; <\/em> in slow-motion verbalised inside my helmet as I realised I had no air and the team was rapidly approaching. Moments later, I impacted! It wasn\u2019t particularly hard, but they all looked very surprised to see me doing a beached-whale impression!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately for me, the team (Dynamite Wolf Squadron) was built of strong stuff and my impact was akin to that of a bug hitting a windscreen. Had this been a competition jump, I would never have lived it down. I think I would have retired to Tai Chi classes on a Saturday morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a saying in the world of camera flying, \u201cThere are those that have hit their team and there are those that will!\u201d. For many years, I had resolutely refused to believe it could happen to me. Then it did and I realised no one is immune to cocking it up<\/strong>.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
NFTO exit over Skydive Hibaldstow<\/a>
Photo by Simon Brentford<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

What Happened?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, there\u2019s some basic theory to the Lead<\/strong> and Peel<\/strong> exits for formation skydiving teams. The idea is everyone has their own airspace, both the performers and the camera. This airspace should be distinct and separate in 3 dimensions. The burble behind the team spreads out behind them vertically like a funnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If I\u2019m honest over thousands of jumps, I\u2019ve had a handful of incidents. But on this one, I had entered the edge of their burble zone with too hard a push off from the camera step and they had equally not presented strongly from the aircraft. Once I hit the burble, it was a certainty I would hit the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once I hit the burble, it was a certainty I would hit the team<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Red and Green Zones in the exit, by Simon Brentford<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Red and Green Zones<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Take a look at the photos of exits above and below. The green zone is where you want to be, it extends from the edge of the team to the side of the fuselage. It doesn\u2019t really matter if there are legs or arms intruding, it\u2019s when there are whole bodies in your way that the probability increases of hitting dead air. It\u2019s usually rotated a bit as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the first two seconds, the burble is by far its strongest. After that, its force quickly fades, but also expands in size. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
8-way \u2013 stay in the Green Zone, by Simon Brentford<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Dealing With the Inevitable<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you know the worst is about to happen, there are a few things you can do:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Reach both your arms downwards to the centre of the nearest rig to absorb the impact. As you strike, try to deflect them to one side. Be strong about it.
    <\/li>
  2. The important bit is to keep your arm wings extended to gain every spare bit of wind. Your harness should feel taught when doing this.

    You\u2019ll need it to get back above them as quickly as you can. Depending on who you are filming, will depend on what you do next. If it\u2019s a low-experienced team, you can afford to keep your head down and increase the power of your slow fall. If it\u2019s a high-level AAA team, you may elect to keep them in view. There\u2019s been plenty of cases where teams have scored a point from underneath! However, this will slow the time it takes to get back on top. <\/li>
  3. Probably the most important thing to do is to look embarrassed, apologise profusely and buy a round of drinks at the end of the day!<\/li>
  4. If the very worst has happened, you need to check you still have a camera helmet on and it\u2019s recording. If you think your head was part of the collision, a quick reach up to check your cameras are still pointing in the right place is also a good idea.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Whatever happens, never tuck yourself into a ball. A foetal position is actually very dangerous here and you are not doing to fit through a gap or protect yourself. You want to dissipate as much energy as you can<\/strong>“.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    One last thing to say is to pitch yourself forwards as well as going into slow fall, that reduces the shallowness of the angle sooner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Flying the Gap video<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    \n