The higher risk of canopy collisions is a result of the lack of vigilance or the ignorance of canopy collision avoidance techniques by many skydivers.
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Activation Altitude 3,000 AGL: • On terminal freefall jumps, you are required to activate the main parachute no lower than 3,000’ due to the rising elevation of the hills around the drop zone.
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Always place your hands on your rear risers as the main chute is inflating so you are prepared to enact any avoidance techniques if required. |
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During the initial “turn and look” at the drop zone, to establish the wind and circuit pattern, find the location and relative height of all other canopies. |
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Always look for other canopies of possible conflict before commencing a turn. |
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Regularly look to the left, right, forward, below and above to identify the location of other canopy(s).
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If you have a light wing loading, apply brakes to your canopy to float above other canopies. Put your arms out perpendicular to your body to communicate what you are doing. If each jumper was landing at a different time, due to vertical separation, there would not be any risk of a canopy collision. |
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Use the proper circuit pattern which is a left hand circuit for winds from the north, north east and north west; and a right hand circuit when winds are from the south, south east and south west. |
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Fly a wider and higher circuit pattern so that there is more horizontal spacing between each canopy. This will allow each jumper more room to float, dive, or take evasive action.
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Turn on base leg at around 500 ft and final at around 200 - 300 ft, so as to establish a stable final approach.
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Avoid doing `S` turns or sashays on final approach as these take up considerable lateral air space in front of other canopies. Avoid doing 360 degree turns, on final approach, for the same reason.
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Land In The Area Designated For You: extreme canopy pilots in the “SWOOP lane”, regular jumpers and tandems further to the east in the “experienced jumper landing lane”, and students and novices way down in the “flat area”. After landing, as you are walking back, look up and give the right of way to descending canopies. In very high winds, videographers should also land in the “flat area” to induce the tandems to do the same, so as to avoid the turbulence from the ridge and hanger. |
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Canopy Control & Landing Area: I realize that it is important to touch down safely in the designated landing areas. I will: - Keep informed of the current spot. - Use the proper circuit pattern when steering my parachute. - Be aware of turbulence particularly when the winds are strong and blowing from the West, North West, and South West. - Avoid swooping or landing in the spectator area, the parking lot or aircraft movement areas, the taxiway, and the runway.
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Swooping/Canopy Piloting Policy: Extreme canopy piloting involving the use of 270° or greater turns onto final are limited to: • Skydivers with 500 skydives who have taken a course conducted by a recognized Canopy Piloting coach or under the supervision of a recognized Canopy Piloting coach. • These jumps are to be performed from a Cessna 182 or a low pass on the caravan. • No turns on landing, from the Caravan, greater than 100°.
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Extreme canopy pilots who want to do a 270° or greater turns prior to final approach, have special responsibilities. They should do extreme canopy piloting from a Cessna 182 or low pass from the caravan.
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Buy or design the most colourful main canopy for life. Red, yellow, orange and pink are easier to see in the air and also on the ground (to find a cutaway canopy) than green, blue, grey, black or brown. |
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Obstacles On & Off Site: Use avoidance techniques for all obstacles. Please be aware of ponds, forests, road, traffic, power lines, and surrounding hills
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Good Neighbour Policy: Whenever I am landing on any property other than Skydive Toronto Inc.'s, I will apologize to the property owner by saying, "I am very sorry, I'll do better next time. Please join us for a free airplane ride." |
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