SKYDIVE PALATKA
Student Information
Table of Contents
A. Category A General Information 2
1. USPA 2
2. Ready to jump? 2
3. Basic Safety Requirements 2
B. Equipment Orientation 3
1. Terminology 3
4. Three stages of a parachute opening 3
4. Personal Equipment 4
5. Equipment checks 4
C. Freefall 4
1. Altitude Awareness 4
2. Body position 4
2. Main Deployment/Pull Sequence 5
3. Pull Priorities 5
4. Loss of Instructors 5
5. Hand Signals 6
D. Canopy Piloting Skills 7
1. Steering the canopy 7
2. Canopy speed and wind 7
3. Landing patterns 7
4. Landing Priorities 9
F. Parachute Landing Fall (PLF) 9
G. Landing Hazards 9
1. Any Obstacle 9
2. Water 9
3. Trees 10
4. Buildings 10
5. Power Lines 10
6. Other 10
G. Equipment Problems 10
H. Emergency Procedures 11
I. Canopy Malfunctions 11
1. Canopy Fails the First Test; IS IT THERE? 11
2. Canopy Fails the Second Test; IS IT SQUARE? 12
3. Canopy Fails the Third Test; IS IT STEERABLE? 12
4. Two canopies out 12
5. Canopy Collision 13
J. Aircraft Procedures 13
K. Category A Dive Flow 13
L. Review information 14
A. Category A General Information
1. USPA
The United States Parachute Association is the official organization recognized by the FAA to oversee skydiving activities in the United States. The USPA has developed standardized instruction, safety standards, and gives licenses and ratings to those that earn them. Skydive Palatka is a USPA Dropzone so you must join USPA before making your first jump here. Membership gives you third party liability insurance and a monthly magazine.
2. Ready to jump?
Please disclose all medical conditions, such as asthma, night blindness, easily fractured bones, etc. You should not scuba diving, give a blood donation, or have been under the influence of any drugs within the past 24 hours. You must not consume any alcohol 8 hours prior to jumping.
3. Basic Safety Requirements
All student jumps must be completed by official sunset. In addition, students may not jump when the surface wind is in excess of 14 mph.
B. Equipment Orientation
1. Terminology
· Container (leg straps, chest strap)
· Reserve canopy
· Reserve closing pin
· Main Deployment handle/Pilot Chute
· Main closing pin
· Deployment bag
· Lines
· Slider
· Main canopy
· Risers
· Toggles/Brakes
· 3 ring release
· Cutaway handle (RED)
· Reserve handle (SILVER)
· RSL – reserve static line
· AAD – automatic activation device
4. Three stages of a parachute opening
1. Activation: Opening of the container begins with throwing out the pilot chute and pulling of the main closing pin
2. Deployment: The deployment bag leaves the container and the lines become unstowed
3. Inflation: The slider slides down the lines allowing for full inflation.
4. Personal Equipment
· Altimeter – Reads approximate altitudes in thousands of feet
· Helmet
· Jumpsuit
· Goggles
· Shoes – closed toe
· Radio – one-way
5. Equipment checks
In Category A, the USPA Instructor takes responsibility for putting your equipment on, adjusting
it correctly, and checking it three times. Ask if you do not receive them!
C. Freefall
1. Altitude Awareness
One of the most important tasks you have on every single jump is to remain altitude aware. In freefall you will fall through 1000 feet approximately every 5-6 seconds. You must check your altimeter after every maneuver, when having any difficulty during the skydive, when you don’t know your altitude, and at least every 5 seconds. If you do not know your altitude and cannot figure it out, then you must PULL!
2. Body position
You will learn to fall in a belly to earth position first because it is the most stable and is the best position for deploying the parachute. However, upon exiting the aircraft the relative wind is coming from the front of the plane before transitioning to coming from below. Therefore, after you exit the plane you should be quite vertical.
Arching lends more stability to the freefall body position – imagine a leaf fluttering down versus a badminton birdie.
· Pelvis forward
· Knees shoulder-width apart
· Legs extended to approximately 45o with toes pointed
· Upper arms should be 90˚ from your torso
· Elbows bent to approximately 90˚ with floppy hands
· Chin up
· Relaxed
2. Main Deployment/Pull Sequence
· As the right hand reaches for deployment handle the left hand stretches in front of your head to maintain balance.
· Deploy the pilot chute and return to neutral position
3. Pull Priorities
In order of importance:
1. Pull
2. Pull at the correct altitude
3. Pull at the correct altitude while stable
4. Loss of Instructors
At any point during freefall:
1. If you lose one instructor, then continue the dive as normal.
2. If neither instructor can physically touch you, then you need to execute your pull sequence.
5. Hand Signals
You cannot be easily understood in freefall because the wind is quite loud. We will use a number of hand signals to communicate with you. All responses should be smooth and controlled.
/ Arch! / / Extend legs until you receive a thumbs up/ Bring legs in until you receive a thumbs up / / Check arm position
/ Relax – show floppy hands in response / / Toe Taps/Bring your knees together
/ Perform circle of awareness / / Perform practice touches
/ Pull now!
D. Canopy Piloting Skills
Once open and inflated, the canopy will start gliding forward and down through the air. The airflow around the canopy creates lift. Once you have released the brakes the canopy will be at full flight when the brake toggles are all of the way up.
1. Steering the canopy
a. With both toggles all the way up, the canopy should glide straight ahead at full speed.
b. The canopy turns right when you pull the right toggle (steering control line handle) down and turns left when you pull the left toggle down.
c. The canopy will turn as long as one toggle is held down and stops turning when it is let up.
d. Pulling one toggle down a small amount produces a slow turn with a relatively small amount of dive.
e. Small toggle inputs can be used to make minor heading corrections at any point in the
canopy flight.
f. Pulling one toggle down farther will produce a faster turn and causes the canopy to dive, which can have serious consequences near the ground.
g. To prevent a collision with another jumper, always LOOK first in the direction of the intended turn.
h. Pulling both toggles down (flaring) decreases the rate of descent by converting your forward speed to lift.
2. Canopy speed and wind
The speed you travel across the ground is a function of the speed of the canopy and the wind speed.
Travelling against the wind: speed across the ground = canopy speed – wind speed
Travelling with the wind: speed across the ground = canopy speed + wind speed
3. Landing patterns
Landing patterns are a very important part of piloting a canopy; by following a landing pattern your movements become more predictable to everyone else in the air. Landing patterns are made up of three legs: the downwind leg, the base leg (crosswind), and final leg (ideally, into the wind). At this dropzone, we employ both left and right-hand landing patterns, but while you are a student we will do our best to limit your landing patterns to left-hand patterns (all turns in the pattern are to the left).
Each jumper is responsible for landing safely in a clear area. Before each jump you should review the current wind conditions and, with the help of the aerial map, you should plan out a tentative landing pattern. It is best not to cross an active runway below 1000 feet.
How to devise a landing pattern by working backwards:
1. Determine the current wind speed and direction.
2. Locate your target landing area.
3. Ideally you should turn left into the wind on your final leg at approximately 300 feet.
4. Around 600 feet you turn left onto your base/crosswind leg.
5. Around 1000 feet you begin your landing pattern with the downwind leg.
6. Determine a suitable holding area that is upwind of the target.
Once you have begun your landing pattern, then you should not make any turns greater than 90 degrees. On your final approach you may only make minor corrections to stay on the wind line and avoid obstacles (no turns); otherwise, your hands should be all of the way up to allow for full canopy flight.
On your final approach you should look out at a 45 degree angle to obtain the best perception of speed and height. At approximately 12-15 feet above the ground you should initiate your flare and finish it within 2-3 seconds. If you have flared too high, then you must hold your flare and prepare for a hard landing.
4. Landing Priorities
In order of importance:
1. Wings level (no low turns)
2. Land in a clear, open area
3. Flare to at least half brakes
4. Prepare to PLF
Landing into the wind is NEVER a priority.
F. Parachute Landing Fall (PLF)
As you are coming in for landing you must be prepared to PLF in the event that you do have a hard landing. It is imperative that you keep your arms close to your body and your feet and knees together (no reaching for the ground).
Upon contact with the ground you should do the following:
1. Lay onto the side of one calf
2. Roll onto your thigh
3. Roll onto your hip (side of butt)
4. Roll diagonally across your back to the opposite shoulder (throw legs overhead if necessary)
G. Landing Hazards
1. Any Obstacle
AVOID! You should not fly over anything that you do not want to land on when you are 1000 feet and below. If you see an obstacle that you did not previously notice then you should gently correct around it. Only look at an obstacle to identify it and then identify an alternate area to land-do not keep staring at the obstacle.
When it is clear that you will hit an obstacle, remember your landing priorities: do not make any low turns, flare to at least half brakes, and be prepared for a hard landing. Always wait for competent help to arrive.
2. Water
· Loosen your chest strap as much as possible.
· Release your leg straps and swim away from the canopy if the water is deep.
3. Trees
· Aim for a tree trunk.
· Protect your face and chest with your hands and upper arms.
4. Buildings
· For landing on top of a building:
o Disconnect your RSL and cut away your canopy if high winds are dragging you off the building
· For landing into the side of a building:
o Protect your face and chest with your hands and upper arms.
5. Power Lines
Power lines typically appear along roads, between buildings, and along straight-line paths through wooded areas. They may be invisible, except for their poles.
· Try to land parallel to the lines and drop anything metal from your hands.
· Touch no more than one wire at a time.
· If suspended in the wires: the parachute can conduct electricity, so the power needs to be off before making contact with anyone or anything on the ground.
6. Other
· Landing off field
1. Steer for a clear area
2. Transfer the planned landing pattern to the new, clear area.
3. Wait for assistance or further instructions.
4. Be polite to property owners.
· Recovering the canopy in higher winds
1. Land using a PLF.
2. Pull one toggle hand over hand to collapse the canopy.
3. Walk behind the canopy if possible.
4. Disconnect the RSL and cut away the canopy as a last resort or if injured.
G. Equipment Problems
H. Emergency Procedures
Decision altitude to cutaway = 2500 feet.
**If you find yourself below 1000 feet then you should immediately pull silver (your reserve handle).
Do not waste time trying to cut away.
I. Canopy Malfunctions
1. Canopy Fails the First Test; IS IT THERE?
· Hard Pull/No pull: If you cannot locate your pilot chute handle or you cannot pull your pilot chute handle, then you may make two more attempts (roughly 2 seconds) to do so. If you still cannot deploy your pilot chute, then initiate emergency procedures.
· Pilot chute hesitation: If your pilot chute has become stuck in your burble (you deployed your pilot chute, but cannot see it), then you need to check over each shoulder to change the airflow and allow for activation to proceed.
· Pilot chute in tow: If you can see an inflated pilot chute, but no canopy, then you need to initiate your emergency procedures.
· Bag lock: If you can see the deployment bag and pilot chute, but no canopy, then you need to initiate your emergency procedures.
· Horseshoe/Premature deployment: If you see your deployment bag, but have not initiated deployment, then you need to try to locate the deployment handle (two tries in two seconds). If you cannot locate your pilot chute handle, then you need to initiate emergency procedures.