07 Tandem jumps.
Description
This article is from the Skydiving FAQ, by Barry Brumitt with numerous contributions by others.
07 Tandem jumps.
Tandem jumps are meant to offer an introduction to the sport. They
allow the neophyte to take a ride with an experienced jumper. A
tandem jump requires from 15 to 45 minutes of ground preparation (it
is *not* a First Jump Course). It consists of an experienced jumper
called a "tandemmaster" and the passenger. The passenger and tandem
master each wear a harness, however only the master wears the
parachutes. The passengers's harness attaches to the front of the
master's harness and the two of them freefall *together* for 30
seconds, open together, and land together under one
Really_BIG_Parachute.
Tandem jumping provides an obvious advantage for the adventurous
spirit who cannot adequately meet the physical or proficiency
requirements for the S/L or AFF jumps. By relying on Tandem Master's
skills, they will still be able to experience the thrill of skydiving.
Because the tandem training is not a First Jump Course, if you decide
to pursue the sport, you will still have to attend a FJC in either the
AFF or Static Line curriculum.
It should be noted that, in the United States, tandem jumping is still
classed by the Federal Aviation Administration as an "experimental"
form of Parachuting, and as such operates under waiver to certain
Federal Aviation Regulations regarding required equipment. Currently
the USPA (see below) is not involved in the certification or training
of tandem Masters or in the setting of minimum tandem safety
standards. These functions are performed solely by, and at the
discretion of, the manufacturers of the tandem equipment. Among many
experienced jumpers, tandem jumping remains a very controversial
subject as to its safety and utility for novice training.
In all of these training methods, students are taught normal and
emergency procedures for all aspects of the jump - climb to altitude,
exit, opening, canopy control, and landing. They are also shown the
equipment and go over it so that they understand how it works.
Nearly all student training centers now utilize *sport* skydiving
gear. No more military surplus stuff. Students have light-weight
harness/container systems in aesthetic colors, high performance
canopies designed for students. No more paraboots-- students use
their own tennis shoes. No more heavy motorcycle helmets-- students
use lightweight sporting helmets. Ground-to-air radio for canopy
control assistance, air-to-air video, on and on...
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