Raining parachutes

[jcarleto]

I have often argued that I love landing an airplane. That is the singular factor in my decision in not jumping out of a "perfectly good airplane that isn't even on fire or anything." Like Gary, I agree that many, if not most, jump planes are not operated in a condition I would call "perfectly good."

My home airport has an infestation of jumpers. It is not at all uncommon to see a bunch of them packed into a Cessna to the point the tires show the weight and, weight and balance be damned, muddle down the runway in the hope of gaining enough air to dump them out. The pilots who would do that scare me.

*JC*

 

[All_In]

I have often argued that I love landing an airplane. That is the singular factor in my decision in not jumping out of a "perfectly good airplane that isn't even on fire or anything." Like Gary, I agree that many, if not most, jump planes are not operated in a condition I would call "perfectly good."

My home airport has an infestation of jumpers. It is not at all uncommon to see a bunch of them packed into a Cessna to the point the tires show the weight and, weight and balance be damned, muddle down the runway in the hope of gaining enough air to dump them out. The pilots who would do that scare me.

*JC*

Here, Here!
That's what has been my observations for 30+ years as well, and don't even get my brother started on their maintenance, or lack there of!
John

 

[CLS447]

Are skydivers considered to be aircraft ?

 

[Scary Gary]

They are doing thing's with skydiving that was not even close to going on 12 years ago when I last jumped . They now have flying suit's that you can fly laterally like nothing before .
So good question Chris .

 

[CLS447]

Gary, that wasn't my question.

Does the FAA consider them registered aircraft? If not I wished that they would jump anywhere but over the airport !

They actually "X" off the grass strip as though they own it at my airport.

 

[Vance]

The ceiling was 1,000 feet so no flying on Tuesday morning.

There was construction on the 101 so I went over Harris Grade to Lompoc to get to my acquired brain injury group in Solvang. I stopped at KLPC and the airport manager was not in his office. The person who administers the parachutists was there but I could not imagine how to approach him so I drove on. I feel this was a mistake.

What are the rules for parachutists? Is the jump plane required to caution traffic? Is a NOTAM required? Are they allowed to jump directly into the pattern?

I find this exasperating. I would be grateful for guidance. As a student pilot of an experimental gyroplane I don’t have much authority or credibility. It would help to know what the guidelines and rules are so I could sound less ignorant. I don’t want to make enemies and I would like to have the effort produce some positive results.

When I came back to KSMX at 4:00 the sky was clear and winds were gusting to 16kts so no afternoon flying either.

Thank you, Vance

 

[Hognose]

FAA lightly regulates skydiving under 14 CFR Part 105. But most rulemaking is devolved onto the US Parachute Association. USPA is a safety-conscious outfit, but skydiving does attract free spirits with all the pros and cons that go with that.

There are some operations, many operations, that are NOT rogue and I hope I didn't give the idea that ALL skydiving operators are a menace in the sky.

Jumpers are not regulated as aircraft or airmen. They are licensed by USPA. Aircraft are responsible for seeing and avoiding, and steering clear, of them, as they are less maneuverable in the grand scheme of things than we are.

Jump planes & their pilots are regulated by the FAA. They should be announcing on either Center freq or on the airfield freq. FAA can file a violation against jump plane pilots, including for violations committed by skydivers after leaving the airplane. (This is unfair, in my opinion: what control has the pilot once his jumpers are away?)

cheers

-=K=-

 

[Vance]

Thank you Kevin,

That is a very helpful site.

It appears to me that section 105-5 applies.

“No person may conduct a parachute operation and no pilot in command of an aircraft may allow a parachute operation to be conducted from an aircraft, if that operation creates a hazard to air traffic or to persons or property on the surface.”

I feel that a drop zone centered on the downwind leg of the rotorcraft flight pattern creates a hazard to rotorcraft.

I do not know what to do with this information. I don’t want to make enemies and as far as I know they haven’t killed a parachutist at KLPC. Perhaps I will ask the airport manager what pattern he would like me to use. He may not be aware of the hazards or he may have some better suggestion as to where I should be. I am not sure how open to my input the person who administers the parachutists would be.

It appears to me that because a parachutist doesn’t have an engine they have the right of way over my powered autogiro so if I hit someone it is my fault.

It is Wednesday and we had fog and a 1,200 foot ceiling until the wind came up at 1:00 pm. The wind is now gusting to 21kts so I have another day to study for my test. I am making progress. I am about to try the whole thing slowly.

Thank you, Vance

 

[Vance]

I talked to the pilot of the Caravan that drops the skydivers over Lompoc and the results were much more than I had hoped for. He had been announcing one minute, Jumpers away and canopies open. I could not understand him because he was saying it so fast and in a way that had little impact.

I shared my fears about hitting someone with him. I told him I was a student pilot and I was not able to understand his radio calls. I asked for his help.

He now is slow and clear. Four different pilots mentioned the change to me. He even took the time to ask if understood.

A small request went a long way. I don’t know how long it will last. It certainly made my weekend flying more enjoyable.

Thank you, Vance

 

[Scary Gary]

Now that was a very impressive outcome .
Now that I'm older , my eye's have been open to the art of diplomacy .
I may not be good at it , but I can appreciate it .
Good job Vance .

 

[Hognose]

Vance,

That was a good course of action, and it produced a good result. It is probably better than my policy of flying the hell away from DZs and never coming back, because the pilot you spoke to is now doing something that makes everybody safer, not just yourself.

That's a real positive outcome in my book. Maybe I'll buzz up to Orange and have a talk with the divers and jump pilots, when I get a chance.