From: dbriggs@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Daniel Briggs)
Subject: Re: how often does this happen?
Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro NM
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 92 01:28:24 GMT

In article <59984@mimsy.umd.edu>
  jerrys@umiacs.umd.edu (Jerry Sobieski) writes:
>>Many DZs also use SOS systems for students.  I know my DZ does, though it
>>sounds like Tim's doesn't.  (Not necessarily a problem -- SOS systems are a
>>bit out of fashion now?)  
>
>Huh?!
>
>>There is a trend towards hip mounted ripcords for
>>students, to ease the transition to throw-out pilot chutes later.  Such
>>systems usually have separate cutaway and reserve handles in the normal
>>places.  Of course, in that system, handle confusion is less of a problem.
>
>You might think so, having some experience jumping.  But a student who
>sees a rig for the first time only a couple hours before they put it
>on and must be able to operate it in a high pressure situation with
>extremely short time tolerance and with NO previous experience, its
>a different story.

Well, OK.  I'll grant that an SOS system is probably better for the one
time thrill seeker, as Eric pointed out.  But I really don't see that
training "pull-pull" into the muscles from the very start is really that
much worse than "pull".  If you train them to always cut away, there's not
really much more thought involved than for a single handle.  As the student
matures, you can gradually introduce the idea that in some situations it
might be better to skip the cutaway part.  But you haven't moved the
position of the main and emergency handles on him, which could be just as
fatal to a transitioning student as what you're worried about for a first
timer.  And I do think that the main handle should be on the hip from the
start.

Take a look at your latest Paragear, btw, to see what the manufacturers
think.  The Trainer Elite has choice of ripcord positions, but pictured is
that on the hip.  Standard configuration is dual emergency handles.  (SOS
available as an option at extra cost.)  The Student Vector has hip mounted
ripcord, and dual emergency handles.  (It doesn't look like there is any
alternative, from the ad.)  The Student Hawk doesn't mention where the
ripcord goes, but it will let you buy the OHDA (One Handle Does All) option
for an extra 30 bucks.  The Telesis Student system seems to be hip mount
ripcord only.  Dual emergency handles are standard.  (SOS available as an
extra option, though.)  Thinking about what's involved, I don't see SOS
being more expensive to manufacture.  Heck, it's got one less handle
involved.  It just doesn't seem to be a standard feature anymore.

>>It's a trade off between adding to the student workload initially vs.
>>retraining later.  
>
>If the student fails to deal with the extra complexity, the retraining 
>issue becomes moot.  The overall objective for early level students
>should be *safety*, NOT transition convenience some 15 jumps down the road.

Well, actually I'd argue that the overall objective is to minimize total
deaths, period.  And it's not transitional convenience, it's transitional
*safety*.  You're not doing a jumper any favors by pounding it into his
head that the shiny handle is the one to pull when something goes wrong.
If our newly transitioned student dumps his reserve into a malfunctioning
main, that's all there is to it.  If a first jump student freezes up over
too many handles, that might all there is to it, but maybe it'll be an AAD
save.  The weight of the non-returning static line crowd might cause this
balance to favor SOS systems if it has to be one or the other, but surely
AFF students "should" be put in proper (student) gear from the beginning.

>>With an RSL making the cutaway handle functionally
>>equivalent to an SOS handle in many situations, I don't have much problem
>>with separate cutwaway & reserve handles for students.  
>
>An RSL only works if there is enough drag on the main risers to release
>them after a cutaway.  Cutting away a pilotchute in tow or a conatiner lock
>will NOT deploy the reserve.

Yup.  Did I say any different?

>Most hipmount ripcords (in my experience) are not the classic handles, 
>they are small segment of pvc pipe with the teflon coated cable attached.  
>This type of handle more
>closely resemble the gripper of a throwout pilot chute.  Also, 
>students wearing gloves will not immediately feel the difference.  
>Close colors (red and orange)can be confused if the student is not "all
>there".

Quite true.  It feels like a throw out handle.  I'd argue that it is an
advantage.  It makes transition natural, and reaching for it is a
fundamentally different action than reaching for the pud.  All to the good.

Blue Skies,

BTW, Jerry -- That was a nice article in _Parachutist_ this month.  I
watched a group break yesterday, while I was under canopy and close to
level with them.  (That is, I got a more or less profile view of their
track.)  Five out and flat, and one yahoo "tracking" almost straight down.
I don't think he even realized how steep he was tracking until I talked to
him about it later.  Maybe your article will help wise him up a little.

-- 
| Daniel Briggs  (dbriggs@nrao.edu)                      |        USPA B-14993
| New Mexico Tech / National Radio Astronomy Observatory |            DoD #387
| P.O. Box O / Socorro, NM 87801   (505) 835-7391        |
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