Safety Awareness Day - 2012

Be Safe

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To be safe jumpers, it should be stressed that all participants should review all aspects of their skydiving following a safe progression rate to their goals and jumping within their limits. Safety Awareness Day is a time for all of us to step back and look at where we are, where we are going, and how each of us and those around us are going to safely get there.

Equipment

Packing, Maintenance & Checks

Packing

1. Lines straight with no twists
2. All lines centred
3. Brakes properly stowed
4. Slider against the stops & in correct position
5. Line stows proper length
6. Stow bands correct size & condition
7. Enough line length between risers & bag
8. Closing loop proper length and in good condition
9. Washer at closing loop knot
10. Pilot chute bridle routed correctly
11. Pilot chute cocked (collapsible)
12. Pilot chute folded and stowed as per owner's manual

Maintenance

Harness / Container Checks

1. Broken or frayed stitching & fabric
2. Velcro in good condition
3. Clean release cables
4. Un-frayed closing loops
5. Pilot chute pouch (elastic)
6. Ripcord pocket (Velcro)

Main Parachute Checks

1. Pilot chute handle (secure)
2. Rips or tears (pilot chute)
3. Pin secure (on bridle)
4. Cocking cord in good shape (collapsible pilot chute)
5. Bag grommets secure and undamaged
6. Bridle attachment point secure
7. Rips, tears or broken stitching (canopy)
8. Broken stitching or damage (all lines)
9. Slider grommets not worn, broken or unseated
10. Slider material in good shape
11. Connecter links & bumpers in good condition
12. Soft links not worn - correctly assembled

Steering System Checks

1. Toggles secure (knotted or finger trapped)
2. Velcro in good condition (if used)
3. Keeper ring not corroded
4. Wear on stitching and fabric
5. Excess line keepers secure (elastic or fabric)

Pre-Boarding

Gear Checks

3-Ring System

1. Only one ring through another
2. Riser loop through smallest ring only
3. Loop in good condition
4. Loop through riser, then through grommet on housing
5. Cables through housing & loop -- stowed in channel
6. No corrosion on rings

Harness

1. No twists in webbing
2. Correctly routed webbing through hardware
3. Snaps correctly closed
4. Excess webbing retained in keepers
5. Handles secure

Reserve

1. Closing loop in good shape
2. Reserve pin in correct position
3. Seal in place (thread not broken)
4. Ripcord cable free in housing
5. RSL attached and routed correctly
6. AAD turned on

Main

1. Closing loop in good shape
2. Pin seated correctly
3. Pilot chute secure
4. Handle accessible
5. Bridle routed correctly
6. Pilot chute cocked (check window)

Accessories

1. Altimeter set to zero
2. Audible altimeter turned on
3. Goggles in place (unbroken)
4. Gloves (if worn)
5. Headwear (shock absorbing)

The Flight - Boarding, In-flight & Exit

Your Pilot

1. Will check for adequate fuel
2. Should conduct a thorough daily pre-flight inspection
3. Will ask you to fasten your restraining device
4. Should know current weather conditions & forecast
5. Will check for weight & balance limitations

Boarding

1. Approach aircraft from behind
2. Approach helicopters from the front
3. Don equipment and get checks prior to boarding
4. Protect handles when boarding
5. Protect handles when others board
6. Board in opposite order of exit

Takeoff

1. Don headwear and fasten strap
2. Fasten restraining device

Aircraft Emergencies

1. Follow the pilots instructions
2. Don't panic
3. Don headwear
4. Don't move around unless pilot instructs you to do so
5. If landing, ensure restraining device is securely fastened
6. Assume crash position
7. Once landed, move away from aircraft if able

The Exit

1. Plan the spot and exit order prior to boarding aircraft
2. If in groups, exit aircraft so all can make it to the dropzone
3. Leave adequate separation between groups

Freefall, Deployment & Canopy Control

Break-off

1. Plan break-off prior to boarding aircraft
2. If circumstances dictate, add to break-off altitude

Tracking

1. At break-off, turn and track from the centre of the formation
2. If below formation, track when others do
3. Track in a straight line
4. Wave off and check above before throwing pilot chute

Deployment

1. Look for others close by during deployment
2. Place hands on rear risers during deployment
3. Once open, check for other canopies
4. If any conflict arises, steer with rear risers
5. If head-on collision imminent, steer right

Under Canopy

1. On inflation, use rear risers to steer clear of canopies
2. Once open & clear of traffic, do a control check
3. Collapse slider and release brakes
4. Look before turning
5. Don't spiral down through other canopies
6. Yield to lower canopies
7. Follow landing pattern

On Landing

1. Avoid obstacles on the ground, fixed or moving
2. Ensure lots of free space in front of where you want to land
3. Keep an eye on the right and left for converging canopies for the entire landing

Emergencies

Total Malfunctions

1. Arch
2. Look at reserve ripcord handle
3. Reach for reserve ripcord handle
4. Pull reserve ripcord handle (clear cable of housing)
5. Check canopy

Partial Malfunctions

1. Arch
2. Look at release handle
3. Reach for release handle
4. Look at reserve ripcord handle
5. Pull release handle (throw away) while still looking at reserve ripcord handle
6. Reach for reserve ripcord handle
7. Pull reserve ripcord handle (clear cable housing)
8. Check canopy

2 Canopies Out

1. Downplane or side-by-side -- if time, disconnect RSL -- release main canopy
2. Biplane -- steer with dominant canopy in front -- don't release brakes on other canopy
3. If entangled, try to clear & control
4. Don't flare if landing two canopies
5. Do a PLF

Canopy Collisions

1. If collision unavoidable, try to avoid body contact
2. Spread arms and legs to avoid going between lines
3. Protect handles
4. Consider using hook knife, if accessible
5. Communicate with other jumper before cutting lines or activating release system
6. If altitude allows, consider disconnecting RSL