Friday September 18, 2015
AFF Category C Jump

In the Cat C jump, they let go of you. You still jump with two instructors, but after one pull test and a C.O.A, they undock and see if you can stay stable. Some liken this to removing the training wheels when you are learning to ride a bike. It's hard. But I did not know that at this point. I was feeling confident! Too confident.

Dive Flow

1. Climb out, count and Exit (same as before)
2. Relax
3. C.O.A. (checking with both instructors.
4. One Pull Tests
5. C.O.A.
6. Toe Taps
   
7. Instructors undock.
   
8. Maintain heading and altitude awareness.
   
9. Lock on at 6,000 ft.
10. Pull at 5,500 ft.

We practiced this on the free fall trainer. They said that just as in Cat B I learned to turn, that I would use that method to stop any turns that started after the undock. The idea was to stay pointing in the same direction. Then as always, pull on time.

They told me to do toe taps. I thought that was my signal to them that I was ready for them to undock.

FAA Rules

During the training, they talk about the FAA rules as they apply to skydiving. We talk about airplane emergency procedures. We are to wear helmets when entering the plane. Don't walk in front of the plane! wear a seat belt for the first 1000 ft. If there is an airplane emergency, don't get out below 1000 ft. If its between 1000 and 2500, get out and pull reserve. If its above 2500, use the main.

At some point, someone mentioned that the airplanes at this airport have rules too because of the sky diving activities. For one, when they take off, they are suppose to turn to the west to avoid the skydiving activities to the east of the runway.

Winds

We were ready to try this, but the winds picked up at this point and I had to wait while they calmed down again. They did finally calm down after a while. A young lady showed up about that time. Someone who seemed to know Tom. I did not catch her name, but Tom did wish her a happy birthday. I said, "Hey! My birthday was yesterday!" She managed a smile, but must have been thinking, "Who is this strange bearded old man?" I found out later that her name is Calli and she would be my next AFF instructor. :-)

Gear Call

Taxiway Call

Take Off

Seat belts on. Lift off. Lots of hoots! At 1000 ft, seat belts off, door open. Same routine. Wait, did I just say 'routine'? I was still nervous as we gained elevation. I asked Nic and Daniel, "Does this ever get old?" They said, "Nope! Every jump is different!"

Daniel gave me the circle signal. I assumed he wanted me to look at that fine altimeter I was wearing. I did. It was 2500. "Hard Deck" I said. That is where you are suppose to have made a decision about needing a reserve or not. I'm starting to check my handles by myself now all the way up.

I forgot to mention before, but in every jump, the instructor checks you rig before you put it on. Then they check again when you are walking to the plane. And now on the way up in the plane, Daniel is asking me to lean this way and that as he checks out the rig that I am wearing. He is checking the 3 3s and the 2 2s.

• 3 ring system
• 3 straps
• 3 handles
  
• 2 pins
• 2 safety devices (AAD and RSL)

1. Climb out and exit - Not bad.
2. Arch and got stable.
   
3. First C.O.A. - got "Legs Out" signal
4. 1 pull test. OK.
5. C.O.A. - thumbs up.
   
6. I completely forgot toes taps.
7. They undock anyway.
8. I start to rotate and I can't seem to correct for it.
9. I get "Legs Out" signal from both instructors which I completely ignore because I stopped thinking.
10. Rotation is slowly increasing.
11. Both instructors redock and stop me from spinning.
12. I check altimeter. We are at 6500. I lock on early.
13. At 5,500, I attempt to pull but can not find the handle.
14. I "reset" to the normal arm position thinking that is what I am suppose to do if I can't find the handle.
15. I start to reach back again for the handle and as I do, Daniel deploys for me.
16. I remember seeing this look on Daniel's face that seemed to say, "I'm sorry. I had to."
17. The chute opens.
    

Although I should have been very happy that the cute opened normally, I uttered the F word instead. I knew I did not pass the Cat C. Oh well, I better figure out where I am and land this sucker.

Under Canopy

Canopy test went well. I expected wind from the north, but I can't see any evidence of this on the ground. The wind sock looks like its drooping. I opened up right over the gun club, so I turn and head towards the holding area just north of checkpoint 1. Again, I hear Daniel on the radio, but I can't understand him. I am pretty sure I am OK anyway. I got to my checkpoint 1 a little high, like 1100. I figure that is close enough. I travel down to check point 2, but turn early because I'm scared of the power lines. I look at the altimeter. 800 feet. Oops! Too high. Oh well, check point #3, turn... What is Dan saying? It sounds like "Left Turn! Left Turn!" Why is he saying left turn? That would take me into the road! I'm not doing that. He keeps repeating, "Left Turn!" What the hell? If I go left, I'll go towards the airport. "Bad advice. Ignore!", my brain says. Keep steering north. Looks like I'm going long... I'm way over the ditch into the main landing area. Well, that's safe, right? Clear and open. I'll just put it down there. I flare good. I forget the PLF again. Sheesh! On my butt. Damn. Now I'm discouraged.

Aftermath

So, I'm carrying my chute to the hanger and listening to Daniel tell me what he was saying in the radio was "S Turns! S Turn!", not "Left Turn! Left Turn!"  Of Course! Why did I not think of that myself! I had just done that for Cat B! And while I was kicking myself for that and not passing Cat C and not pulling for myself, I meet Greg on the lawn...

"What the F*&% kind of F$%#ed up landing was that!? You must LAND in the STUDENT FIELD! Skydivers landing in the main field are landing to the south. If you come in there landing north, you can really F@#$ things up. This is the way catastrophes happen! Follow your instructors directions and DO NOT LAND in the main landing area and DO NOT LAND contrary to the pattern! What you did there was go over the student beer line. Now, there really is no such thing as a student beer line, but if there was, you would be over it. You would have to bring a case of beer for that. Were talking 24 bottles, OK. But since you are a student, you don't have to."

That was pretty much the whole speech. So, after that, Dan looks kind of dejected and says, "Put your chute down in the hanger, get some water in ya and we will debrief." About then, I realized that I had a rock in my parachute. :-(

Debrif

Matthew showed up just then with an In-And-Out burger. Bless his heart! He gave me a hug which I needed just about as much as the burger. Daniel and Nic debriefed me and explained what happened to me. After they undocked, my feet came in almost to my butt. That caused me to tip back and start sliding backwards. Have you ever tried to steer a bicycle backwards? It turns the wrong way. So, that is why I could not stop turning. If I had stuck my legs out more, then that would have stopped the backward motion and I would have been fine. Also, when you are landing and you see that you are going to go long, do S turns. He said he had to pull for me because they were at 5500. That is where students need to be deployed. He was not allowed to let me try anymore.

The End

After that, I ate my burger and fries and waited for Matthew to get done with the first part of his coaching course. That night, I was struggling with whether or not I should pursue this sport. I was having a heck of a time falling asleep. I found a book from Matthew's bookshelf to read.

It made matters worse! So at midnight, I took a shower. I tried reading Secret Water instead. Then I slept.