{"id":52189,"date":"2024-06-13T13:57:18","date_gmt":"2024-06-13T13:57:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=52189"},"modified":"2024-11-01T12:15:51","modified_gmt":"2024-11-01T12:15:51","slug":"how-to-land-out-safe-ish-ly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/how-to-land-out-safe-ish-ly\/","title":{"rendered":"How to land out \u2013 Safe-ish-ly"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Article by Kate Cooper-Jensen, with contributions from discipline experts<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

When I made my first jump in November of 1978, my jumpmaster told me that, whether I chose to make one jump or many hundreds, I had to be ready to accept that: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. I\u2019d have a malfunction<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. I\u2019d be injured. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    What he didn\u2019t mention is that I would without doubt land out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    Some day you will land out \u2013 be prepared
    Image by Roy Wimmer-Jaglom<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    What does \u201clanding out\u201d mean? <\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Landing out is the unintentional landing of a parachute, main or reserve, in an area other than what was intended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At many dropzones it is easy to determine the best place to land out but with the soaring popularity of \u201cexotic\u201d boogies, coupled with varied movement disciplines and multiple passes out of larger aircraft, out landings are more common than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Let\u2019s examine the best ways to stay safe while landing in an unfamiliar area. Whatever discipline you are partaking in there are some basic steps you can take to ensure the safest possible landings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Identify where the Landing Zone (LZ) is, if possible. Head towards it but remember that the safer and more accessible landing areas might easily be FARTHER from the LZ rather than closer. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Make your out landing area decision early \u2013 don\u2019t fall into the trap of trying to find a better or closer place and then finding out you have exhausted your options for safe landings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. DO NOT MAKE A LOW TURN. Make sure wherever you land you have decided on a landing direction and follow it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Identify wind direction if possible. Tips such as wind lines on water, smoke stacks, flags, and even the first people down can help you to identify the optimal landing direction. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Once you\u2019ve decided on a landing area and direction then start to identify potential hazards in the chosen landing area. These can include power lines, trees, shrubbery, fences, livestock, termites\u2019 nests (yup \u2013 seen them and they are HARD) and logs\/rocks etc. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    6. Be aware that if you\u2019ve chosen a landing area others could easily use it as well so be aware of possible converging landing patterns \u2013 keep your head on a swivel!<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    7. If wearing a full-face helmet, it’s advisable to put your visor down to land in any unknown vegetation or sand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    8. Know the emergency number for the country you are jumping in and know the phone number to manifest, or if there is a language gap, to a person at the DZ who can translate. Jumping with a phone can make pick-ups much easier. WhatsApp or similar type services can also work well if you have coverage. If the DZ you were supposed to be landing at uses Burble you can send messages through the system to let manifest know your whereabouts. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    9. Look for others under canopy \u2013 locals might know the best places to land and it\u2019s easier to find a group than solos scattered in different fields. If you are landing off to land by a reserve canopy, cutaway main, or free bag, be aware others might be chasing it as well. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Wherever you land, make your decision at a high enough altitude to be able to assess hazards and land using a predictable canopy pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"
      If landing on a slope, consider the relative merits of landing into wind versus across the slope (preferable to downhill or uphill), the choice depends on wind conditions and the slope
      <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Complications<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      But wait, there\u2019s more. Sometimes, making safe off-dropzone landings can be very tricky. Different disciplines can add to the difficulty. The following are probably the most vulnerable to landing out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n