{"id":46620,"date":"2023-09-13T09:02:54","date_gmt":"2023-09-13T09:02:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=46620"},"modified":"2023-09-28T12:23:03","modified_gmt":"2023-09-28T12:23:03","slug":"getting-by","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/getting-by\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting By\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u2026With A Little Help From Our Friends<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Far too many gear issues are being picked up on the flightline<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Skydivers, I have good news and bad news. Let\u2019s start with the good news\u2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The Good News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A lot of skydivers are doing a really great job of checking their friends\u2019 gear in the loading area and helping them correct issues before getting on the airplane. Kudos, way to watch out for all of us!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bad News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These highly vigilant humans are catching way too many gear problems on people who think they are ready to skydive.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skydive Spaceland\u2019s policy is that jumpers do not enter the loading area until they are geared up and ready to skydive. Even team jumpers doing back-to-back jumps are not exempt; they won\u2019t be there on the 5-minute call, but they must still be fully geared up with all straps tightened and stowed when they arrive at the loading area. In other words, all<\/strong> gear problems should be caught before the jumper enters the boarding area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Skydive Spaceland San Marcos Gear Check Issues Board <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Safety Shout-out<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For several months now, Skydive Spaceland San Marcos has had a dry erase board posted in the loading area for listing gear\/safety problems found there, with a shoutout to the person who caught the issue. The person who catches the most often gets a free jump for being awesome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a single busy weekend day, the gear\/safety board filled up with 11 issues found, from minor to potentially major. A couple of these may have been a choice made in ignorance of\/resistance to the policy, such as two jumpers with loose leg straps. However, most were not <\/strong>in that category:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • Open reserve flap: 3 instances<\/li>
  • No color showing in collapsible pilot chute bridle window: 1 instance<\/li>
  • Trying to jump a camera with less than 200 jumps: 1 instance<\/li>
  • Dangerously loose closing loop: 1 instance<\/li>
  • No reserve tag: ): 1 instance (Spaceland requires a reserve tag on the lateral to show when the reserve goes out of date, for loaders to check easily)<\/li>
  • Cutaway handle tucked behind main lift web: 1 instance<\/li>
  • Reserve cable end\/ball stuck in handle velcro: 1 instance<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Each one of these jumpers thought they were ready to skydive. However, they obviously were not. Any of these issues would have been caught with a good self gear check (except perhaps the choice to fly a camera when not ready \u2013 that\u2019s a whole different article).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We can do better. For the sake of our own safety and that of others on the load with us, we MUST<\/strong> do better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Gear Check Issues<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    • \"\"
      Hackey too far out and main flap open<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
    • \"\"
      Hackey too far in<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Above and throughout this article are photos of life-threatening issues. These images were taken specifically for the article but each of these problems has actually been picked up in the loading area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

      \u201cI can almost always find something of fault in the loading area on most loads,\u201d <\/p>Thomas Hughes, Spaceland San Marcos operations manager<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      • \"\"
        Cutaway pillow tucked under lift web<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
      • \"\"
        Reserve side flap not under tuck tab<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        Gear Check Problems <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Gear problems that should have been caught tend to stem from four issues (sometimes in combination):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        1. No gear check<\/li>
        2. Poor gear check<\/li>
        3. Distractions<\/li>
        4. Rushing<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          1. No gear check (shame on you!)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

          People will never admit to doing no gear check at all, but it absolutely happens. When you show up in the loading area with the rigger\u2019s inspection report still sticking out of your reserve flap, for example, that\u2019s a dead giveaway. (Pun most definitely intended.) We really shouldn\u2019t have to say it, but every skydiver must do a gear check! Every jump!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

          • \"\"
            RSL connected incorrectly<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
          • \"\"
            RSL not connected<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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            2. Poor\/overly casual gear check<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

            Occasionally a jumper doesn\u2019t quite understand what they\u2019re checking, especially if they are less experienced and\/or jumping an unfamiliar rig. For example, maybe it has an RSL and they aren\u2019t used to having one? Or the rig may have an alternate cutaway hardware system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            A jumper could be lazy and only check the bare minimum rather than really looking at the condition of the gear (which may be important if they recently surfed in a landing and abraded a leg strap, perhaps).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            We may look at our gear and see what we expect to see rather than what is actually there, going through the motions without really looking hard. Sometimes the more experienced among us fall prey to this one, because we\u2019ve checked gear so many times without finding issues. Challenge yourself to really see what you\u2019re looking at, every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Currency can be a factor here as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            If you have a question about how your gear looks, DON\u2019T JUMP IT! Ask someone to double check you first! (Preferably a rigger, packer, instructor, or coach.) Better to ask and risk looking clueless \u2013 but careful, which is good \u2013 than to look WAY more clueless because you jump or try to jump gear with a visible problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            • \"\"
              Chest strap not done up<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
            • \"\"
              Chest strap buckle not fastened<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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              3. Distractions<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

              It may be more common that as we\u2019re checking our gear and putting it on, someone is talking with and distracting us. Maybe they\u2019re chattering away about the plan for the dive and what it should be, or maybe the topic is whatever DZ drama is going on or where everyone\u2019s going for dinner later. That distraction can lead us to skip steps in our gear check and miss important things. Whatever the conversation is, it\u2019s less important than your life.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Your gear check only takes a minute, so give it the full attention your life deserves.<\/strong> Don\u2019t feel at all bad about asking the person talking to you to give you that minute of quiet and focus to do your gear check right. If you\u2019re the person talking to someone trying to do a gear check, and especially if you\u2019re still checking or putting on your own gear \u2013 maybe stop that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              • \"\"
                Ripcord handle back to front (large end of D should be between the lift webs<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
              • \"\"
                Loose bridle<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
                <\/div>\n\n\n\n

                4. Rushing<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

                Whether we\u2019re brushing your teeth, writing a term paper, or doing any task, we all know we will do a worse job when we are rushing. We\u2019ll skip steps (often without meaning to) and we won\u2019t check our work because we don\u2019t have enough time! Why, then, do we think it\u2019s okay to rush to get on an airplane? Because it\u2019s fun and we don\u2019t want to miss out\u2026 duurr! Every one of us totally gets it and we\u2019ve all done it. But think of all the jumps you\u2019ll miss out on if your rushed gear check results in easily preventable injury, or worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                TAKE THE TIME TO DO IT RIGHT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Or maybe don\u2019t get on that load when you arrive at the dropzone with the next load on a 7-minute call. Wait for the next one. Your life is worth it, and if you\u2019re rushing that much, your poorly-planned jump is likely to be a waste of a jump ticket anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                • \"\"
                  Vector reserve flap not properly seated under both side flaps<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
                • \"\"
                  Reserve flap not tucked under the keeper<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
                  <\/div>\n\n\n\n

                  Gear check issue?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                  If you show up in the loading area and someone calls out an issue with your gear, they\u2019re not just trying to bust your butt. They\u2019re trying to keep you alive. Say thank you and figure out how to change your gear check process to make sure that can\u2019t \u2013 ever \u2013 happen again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  If you\u2019re wondering if your gear check might be a little too casual, it probably is. Take a look at Dan BC\u2019s gear check video for a great example of a thorough check: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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