~ SkyDiverDriver.com
Thursday, October 6, 2016
Monday, October 3, 2016
Site News: 10,000 Instagram Followers!
A cool day here at SkyDiverDriver.com! Today the 10,000th person started following us (@skydiver.driver) on Instagram! I think that it's extra special that 95% of those followers came organically, NOT from advertising.
I want to personally thank everyone for their continued interest and constant feedback! Your interest let's us know that we are doing something right and your feedback let's us know what you want added, so keep it coming! The more interest that there is, the more features and pages we will be adding. Within the next couple months the site will be redesigned, a newsletter and numerous pages added.
Instagram is just one of our many Social Media outlets. Some of them are used to deliver News, some are used to deliver Entertainment and ALL of them are to used maximize the reach of SkyDiverDriver.com
If you're interested here are the links to the others! Enjoy!
- Facebook Page
- Facebook Group
- Google+ Group
- Pinterest Page
- Sky Diver Driver Blog
- Instagram Page
Also, check out our affiliate site CaravanNation.com AND all of it's Social Media outlets! Thank you all again for your continued interest and support!
~ Chris Rosenfelt
For advertising inquiries or to post a job ad, email chris@caravannation.com
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Skydive airplane crashes into house in Gilbert Arizona
As first reported by ABC News - A pilot is being treated and four skydivers escaped uninjured after a small plane crashed into a Gilbert home Saturday night.
The crash happened around 7:30 p.m. Saturday night near Ray and Gilbert roads.
An FAA spokesperson says the Cessna 182 plane crashed in the neighborhood during parachute operations.
Gilbert police say the small plane was carrying skydivers for the annual Constitution Fair.
The pilot is hospitalized with burns after landing half a mile away from where the plane went down, Gilbert fire officials said. Four skydivers ejected from the plane and landed safely.
According to officials, the pilot noticed flames on the wing before the plane went down. An FAA spokesperson said circumstances surrounding the crash are unclear at this time.
Two people inside the Gilbert home were able to get out unhurt after the plane crashed toward the back of the house.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Monday, February 15, 2016
The USPA Safety Day is March 12th, good Jump Pilots speak at these meetings.
The United States Parachute Association (USPA) designates the second Saturday in March of every year to be its Safety Day and this year that happens to be on March 12th. Many of the skydivers are a little rusty from not jumping much (if at all) during the Winter months and is why it is held at this time of the year. Started in 1997, it is the day that all of the USPA drop zones around the country gather up their employees and skydivers to review safety issues in a group setting.
If this will be your first Safety Day at your DZ as a Jump Pilot, be sure and ask your DZO if it will be okay if you can speak at the general meeting. Be sure and write down at least an outline of items that you want to speak about. Things that you want your Skydivers, Manifest and Ground Crew to know or be reminded of.
As pilots we are taught that safety is priority #1, so do not simply stand up and say a couple words. Take advantage of the fact that you have everyone's attention on the topic of safety. Personally, the main topics that I always talk about are: Weight & Balance, Safety Belts, Emergency Procedures and Prop Awareness during hot fueling, just to name a few.
Remind the skydivers of the various emergencies than can happen IN an airplane. Explain what your actions as PIC will be in response to each emergency and what you want them to do (or not to do) ie. If there is an engine failure at 500ft AGL, they are not to be tapping you on the shoulder asking if they can jump out. Also, insure that the Aircraft Emergency Procedures are posted at your DZ so that all skydivers are aware of them.
The only problem with Safety Day is that it's only one day a year. If I owned a drop zone, we would have safety meetings once a month. Even if it was simply a 15 minute safety review on a Saturday morning. But I don't plan on owning a DZ.... I'm not a good babysitter.
My fellow Jump Pilots, please remember to review often and fly safe, so that you can continue to have fun!
As always, if you have any questions or comments please email me chris@caravannation.com and please visit our sites skydiverdriver.com and caravannation.com
~ Chris Rosenfelt
If this will be your first Safety Day at your DZ as a Jump Pilot, be sure and ask your DZO if it will be okay if you can speak at the general meeting. Be sure and write down at least an outline of items that you want to speak about. Things that you want your Skydivers, Manifest and Ground Crew to know or be reminded of.
As pilots we are taught that safety is priority #1, so do not simply stand up and say a couple words. Take advantage of the fact that you have everyone's attention on the topic of safety. Personally, the main topics that I always talk about are: Weight & Balance, Safety Belts, Emergency Procedures and Prop Awareness during hot fueling, just to name a few.
Remind the skydivers of the various emergencies than can happen IN an airplane. Explain what your actions as PIC will be in response to each emergency and what you want them to do (or not to do) ie. If there is an engine failure at 500ft AGL, they are not to be tapping you on the shoulder asking if they can jump out. Also, insure that the Aircraft Emergency Procedures are posted at your DZ so that all skydivers are aware of them.
The only problem with Safety Day is that it's only one day a year. If I owned a drop zone, we would have safety meetings once a month. Even if it was simply a 15 minute safety review on a Saturday morning. But I don't plan on owning a DZ.... I'm not a good babysitter.
My fellow Jump Pilots, please remember to review often and fly safe, so that you can continue to have fun!
As always, if you have any questions or comments please email me chris@caravannation.com and please visit our sites skydiverdriver.com and caravannation.com
~ Chris Rosenfelt
Monday, February 1, 2016
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Review - AIM 3-5-4 Parachute Jump Aircraft Operations
A good Jump Pilot is always reviewing and never gets complacent. I've flown at drop zones that are located at public airports and at some that are located at private airports. Although there may be less air traffic at private airports, that does not mean that there isn't any. At private airport DZs I always had more enroute aircraft nearby, most of which are not talking to ATC. Always look and listen for any traffic that might be in the area. When you do see or hear any traffic, expect them to not pay attention and to make a mistake. The day that you don't expect them to make a mistake, they will!
It is also a good idea to inform FBOs at nearby airports with a phone call or visit that you are conducting skydiving operations, your location and your normal operating hours. Anytime that I have done this it was much appreciated and even led to a few tandems being sold. Now let's review AIM Chapter 3, Section 5, Paragraph 4, Sub-Chapter C.
3−5−4. Parachute Jump Aircraft Operations
c. Parachute operations in the vicinity of an airport without an operating control tower − there is no substitute for alertness while in the vicinity of an airport. It is essential that pilots conducting parachute operations be alert, look for other traffic, and exchange traffic information as recommended in paragraph 4−1−9, Traffic Advisory Practices at Airports Without Operating Control Towers. In addition, pilots should avoid releasing parachutes while in an airport traffic pattern when there are other aircraft in that pattern. Pilots should make appropriate broadcasts on the designated Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF), and monitor that CTAF until all parachute activity has terminated or the aircraft has left the area. Prior to commencing a jump operation, the pilot should broadcast the aircraft’s altitude and position in relation to the airport, the approximate relative time when the jump will commence and terminate, and listen to the position reports of other aircraft in the area.
My fellow Jump Pilots, please remember to review often and fly safe so that you can continue to have fun!
- SkydiverDriver.com
Friday, January 15, 2016
Review (with video) - Less Altitude, Less Options
In the video below a fellow Jump Pilot on short final correctly executes a go-around after a skydiver lands on the runway. Humans landing right in front of us while we're on short final is not something that they teach us pilots at flight schools.
Based on the windsock that you can see in the video it is obvious that the pilot had a strong wind coming from his left. That same strong wind is one reason why the skydiver landed near his runway and is also why that skydiver might have been dragged onto the runway after he landed.
This video should serve as a reminder to us Jump Pilots to:
- Always scan the skies for aircraft and skydivers, especially while on short final (Less altitude, less options).
- Always try to leave yourself an out.
- Do not feel pressured to land the aircraft if you're not comfortable with the landing environment.
My fellow Jump Pilots, please remember to review often and fly safe so that you can continue to have fun!
- SkyDiverDriver.com