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· Skydiving Makes The New York Times (updated 05/09/08) Skydiving Makes The New York Times (updated 05/05/08) After months of USPA working with The New York Times, an article featuring swooping hit page one of the sports section today, and the video coverage made page one of the newspaper’s online version. Matt Higgins from the Times reported on the discipline after spending a weekend with competitors during the Florida Canopy Pilot’s Association League meet in Palatka. He and Times videographer Diana Oliva Cave fully immersed themselves in the sport by each making a first-time jump of their own and then providing great coverage for the discipline of swooping and overall for the sport of skydiving. With a print circulation of more than one million readers, the coverage can only help get the word out there about the exciting world of swooping to the general public. IPC Announces CF Web Challenge (updated 05/05/08) The FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale) Parachuting Commission (IPC) has announced the launch of the FAI/IPC Canopy Formation Web Challenge in partnership with Performance Designs. The challenge is an international CF competition, where jumpers will compete on their own schedule and at their own DZ before submitting video via the Internet to be judged. The challenge is open to both novices and those experienced in canopy formation and is ideal for introducing inexperienced competitors from all parts of the world to the exciting discipline, the rigors of competition and the wealth of experience to be gained from the best judges in the world without unnecessary travel and expense. More information appears at www.fai.org/parachuting/CF_web_challenge. Airtec Bulletin Grounds Certain Cypres 2s (updated 04/22/08) Airtec, manufacturer of the Cypres and Cypres 2 automatic activation devices, has issued a service bulletin for 790 different Cypres 2 units manufactured between August and December 2006. The Expert Cypres 2 serial numbers for affected units range from 26798 to 30121. Student model Cypres 2 units range from serial numbers 27180 to 28919. Tandem Cypres 2 units range from serial numbers 27212 to 29218. Lastly, one Speed Cypres 2, with the serial number 29172, is also included in the bulletin. The affected units may have a defective sensor that can lead to the unit misfiring. The service bulletin states that each affected Cypres 2 must be returned for repair before its next jump. Airtec in Germany and SSK Industries in Ohio are both authorized to perform the necessary changes. Each affected unit will be returned to the owner at no charge, along with a check for $70 to help each owner with the cost of shipping and a reserve repack. More information appears in the company’s service bulletin. The user’s guide includes instructions on how to check the unit’s serial number using its display. In most cases, the serial number is also listed on the packing data card of the harness and container system the unit is installed in. Sunrise Issues Service Bulletin (updated 04/03/08) Sunrise Manufacturing has issued a service bulletin for certain models of its Wings containers. Affected models of the container include the W1-1EXT, W5-1EXT and W4. The service bulletin comes as a response to two separate incidents that occurred to the same jumper where a small-diameter line on his main canopy caught under his container’s mid-flap plastic stiffener. In each instance, the jumper experienced a subsequent malfunction on his main canopy, and a line on his main did not release from the container. Both times, the jumper landed without injury under his reserve while trailing his main by the snagged line. To prevent a chance of a similar incident, the company recommends a rigger update the mid-flap pin protector with a modification to increase its flexion, as well as proper packing methods by the person packing the system. The service bulletin, which details how a rigger can remove the tip of the plastic stiffener contained in the mid-flap and explains proper packing instructions for the container, is available here. Further information is available at www.skydivewings.com. World Games Test Event to be Held in Taipei (updated 04/01/08) The IPC is searching for three 2-way sequential canopy formation teams, three 4-way formation skydiving teams (each team with their own cameraman) and 15 accuracy jumpers to be part of a World Games test event held in Kaohsiung, Taipei. Competitors are responsible for transportation costs to Kaohsiung. All jumps, board, accommodation and related expenses will be covered except practice jumps on July 18. Practice jumps will cost the following: accuracy, $10; CF, $15; and FS, $20. The competition will include six rounds, beginning July 19 and finishing by 11 a.m. on July 21. The medal ceremony will be held around 1 p.m. on the last day. Competitors may leave that evening or the next day. It is a first-come, first-serve basis, and all applications must be received no later than the end of April. For more information, contact Marylou Laughlin at uspalou@mac.com. Women Set Head-Down Record (updated 03/24/08) Once again, the artistic events world record organizers, Melissa Nelson and Amy Chmelecki, brought together some of the most gifted female skydivers in the community to set a new world record—20 women in a head-down large formation. “It was incredible,” said chief judge Scott Smith.
Although their goal was a 24-way, the training camp conducted the few days leading up to the actual attempts indicated a 20-way was more practical. The international group from five countries—Hungary, Italy, Russia, the United Kingdom and the U.S.—made several practice jumps building up to the record. “We had a great time and knew a record was ours from the first jump,” beamed Chmelecki. They knew they could beat the 18-way record set at Skydive Chicago in 2005. Watch for a complete article on the record in the May issue of Parachutist. Cook Receives Star of Courage (updated 03/24/08) On July 29, 2006, a Twin Otter belonging to Quantum Leap Skydiving Center in Missouri crashed on takeoff from the Sullivan Regional Airport. The pilot and five skydivers aboard were killed, and two skydivers were seriously injured. One of the injured was Kimberly Dear, a native Australian who was on board making her first tandem jump. She credits her tandem instructor, Robert Cook, with actions that saved her life. On March 17 of this year, almost two years after the accident, the Australian government issued the Star of Courage bravery award to Cook posthumously for his noble and miraculous actions. The Star of Courage, Australia’s second highest bravery honor, has been awarded to 132 individuals since 1976 and recognizes acts of bravery in which members of the community selflessly put themselves in jeopardy to protect the lives of others. Cook’s family will accept the award on his behalf within the next several weeks. USPA Comments on Future Air Traffic Control (updated 03/13/08) USPA has submitted comments to the FAA concerning the agency’s proposal to move to a new system of air traffic control called NextGen. A component of that system is known as ADS-B, for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast. The ADS-B system combines the GPS system, aircraft avionics and ground stations to enable more accurate transmission of position and trajectory information between aircraft and ATC, and between aircraft. The FAA is proposing that by 2020 all aircraft be equipped for ADS-B when operating in Class A, B or C airspace, and Class E airspace areas at or above 10,000 feet mean sea level (MSL). Because most skydiving jump planes fly above 10,000 feet MSL, USPA took the opportunity to advise FAA’s planners of the impact on jump operations. Though there may be safety benefits (still to be determined), there could also be huge costs. For instance, the FAA noted that the costs for a piston aircraft could range from $6,578 to $22,283; the costs for a turbine aircraft could range from $12,906 to $486,000. Stay tuned to the USPA website and Parachutist for updates. USPA Meets with AOPA (updated 03/05/08) Randy Ottinger, USPA’s Director of Government Relations, briefed 20 staff members of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association this week at AOPA headquarters in Frederick, Maryland. The AOPA staff comprises the Pilot Information Center, which receives phone queries from among AOPA’s 415,000 member pilots. AOPA requested the briefing to ensure that its members receive current information about the nature of skydiving operations and the compatibility of skydiving with other air traffic at airports.
Skydiving Legend Lowell Bachman Passes Away (updated 02/28/08)
With deep regret and sadness, USPA learned of the passing of skydiving legend and USPA best friend, Lowell Bachman, on Tuesday, February 26, from natural causes. He has been a mentor, natural leader, international judge, USPA Board member, museum trustee and all-around good guy since he first picked up the sport over 50 years ago. He will be missed on more fronts than some can imagine. At the Bachman family’s wishes, a party celebrating and honoring Lowell’s life will be held on a date yet to be determined, but they request, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the National Skydiving Museum. USPA Accepting Awards Nominations (updated 02/25/08) USPA is accepting nominations for USPA achievement awards until May 18. At its next board meeting July 18-20 in Virginia, USPA will consider nominations received for the USPA Lifetime Achievement Award, the USPA Gold Medal for Meritorious Service, and for awards managed by the National Aeronautic Association and the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Descriptions of the awards and procedures for nominating individuals appear in the Skydiver's Information Manual. More information is available from USPA Headquarters. Use USPA's New Address (updated 09/20/07) Now that USPA has been in the new building in Fredericksburg for 16 months, our forwarding request with the U.S. Postal Service has expired. Any applications or correspondence mailed to the old address in Alexandria, Virginia, are now being returned to sender, rather than forwarded to USPA in Fredericksburg. Please be sure anything you mail to USPA has our new address: USPA
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