Parachute Flight
Traffic Avoidance
Lower canopies have the right of way.
It only takes one person to avoid a collision (turn to the right).
If jumpers collide then they should check their altitude:
Below 1000’: both jumpers immediately deploy their reserves
Above 1000’: jumpers should communicate with each other the altitude, the problem, and their intentions
Emergency Review: Two Canopies Out
There are three configurations: biplane, side-by-side and downplane
Biplane: Leave the brakes stowed on both canopies and gently steer the front canopy with the rear risers. Do not flare and be prepared to perform a PLF on landing.
Side-by-side: Cut away the main canopy if it is not entangled with the reserve. Release the brakes on your reserve canopy and steer as usual.
Downplane: Cut away the main canopy, even if below 1000’ (since your reserve is already out and inflated, you have a landable parachute)
Preventing two parachutes out:
Deploy the main parachute at the correct altitude to avoid AAD activation.
Initiate malfunction procedures high enough to cut away safely and avoid AAD activation.
Maintain and correctly operate hand-deployed pilot chutes.
Protect your equipment before exit to prevent pins or handles being knocked loose.
AADs may activate under a fully open parachute when controlled too aggressively at lower altitudes. Below 2000’ you should refrain from performing more than one 360° turn at a time.
Image is taken from the USPA Skydiver Information Manual
Equipment
Please watch all three videos for open parachute orientation.
Spotting and Aircraft
Calculating freefall drift is an important concept to master. When you are “checking the spot” you need to know where you want to exit the airplane in order to have your canopy open in an appropriate area. More importantly, you want to know where you do NOT want to exit the plane. Read our series of posts on how to read the winds aloft forecast and calculate the day’s freefall drift.