From: bob@pta.pyramid.com.au (Robert Vernon)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: Re: how often does this happen?
Date: 31 Aug 92 11:00:18 GMT
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corporation, Sydney

In article <1992Aug26.012523.26351@mercury.cair.du.edu> tjreynol@zephyr.cair.du.edu (The Jumpin Dude) writes:
>a round reserve was out the other day, and i couldn't find a main
>in the air for awhile. i finally saw _something_ falling and figgered
>someone had a bag-lock. turns out a student on his first 10 second delay
>looked-reached-pulled his cutaway. predictably, he then looked-reached
>and pulled his ripcord. THANKFULLY he then proceeded to look-reach-pull
>his reserve handle :-))) he claimed there was no RSL installed, which 
>i tend to doubt, i thought maybe it didn't occur to him that it left
>with his main, but i don't know. the BSRs of course require an RSL on
>all student jumps, and i was going to argue that our DZ has always been
>(to my knowledge) compliant, but i realize now that my 3 PRCPs were not
>successive, so blow that. still, i would be quite surprised if the 
>student was in fact jumping without an RSL.

I suspect that the student pulled his cutaway handle thinking it was
his main ripcord.  Nothing happened, so he went for his reserve handle
(which is a damn good idea).  After his reserve was open, the main
ripcord was pulled or dislodged.  You described it as looking like a
bag-lock, which tends to indicate that wasn't much pressure on the main
when it left (assuming it really wasn't locked).  If he had pulled the
main ripcord after cutaway but before reserve pull, the main would tend
be starting its normal opening sequence (ie out of the bag) when it
goes, pulling the RSL at the same time.

>ANYWAY - i was wondering how often students pull the wrong handle.
>i was actually a bit impressed that this fellow did, and realized it 
>as quickly as he did.

Being an ignorant Australian, I've also often wondered how frequently
this happens in the US and Europe.  As I understand your systems, the
main ripcord and the cutaway handle are both on the right side.  I
would have thought that this was easily confused by low jump students.
In my experience as a JM,  quite a few 1st jump AFF students will not
look at what they pulling and often start groping around all over their
harness.  If they do it slowly, I can assist their hand into place or
give up and pull for them.  But some of them are damn quick.  I'd hate
to try and beat a student to the draw when he's determined to pull the
wrong handle.

FYI, (in case anyones actually interested in anything outside the US),
in Australia, we use a different system for students.  The reserve
deployment system is called SOS for Single Operation System.  Its a
combined cutaway handle and reserve handle.  Makes it easier to train
emergency procedures.  If anything's wrong, then pull the big yellow
handle.  It also means that the main ripcord is on the right side, SOS
handle is on the left.  Very hard to confuse the two.  Although an
occasional student still attempts it.

So how do you foreigners train the students to pick the correct
handle.

>as quickly as he did. i was also impressed that he made another jump 
>the same day. i was REALLY impressed that he stood up te landing, 
>and thought the round was easy to control, but then i've lever landed 
>one, so what do i know. (i hope i never have to land my 22'!)

So buy a square reserve.  Yes, yes I know.  Money.  But in this case
its not a good enough reason.  You can skimp on altimeters, footwear,
helmet, jumpsuit, the container and even your main and reserve.  But
after you've paid all you want to pay, never ever say "i hope i never
have to land my 22'", because one day you may.  If you don't want to
land it then don't put it on your back.  And trying to work out how to
steer a round canopy, when the first time you get under one is after a
low cutaway somewhere over tiger country, is just plain silly.



Bob V!
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving