Swiss fatality revisited, The new trend in how to die?

[space]

LAST EDITED ON Apr-08-01 AT 10:32 AM (PST)[p]I´ve been offline for a while, but still up to date on things, sorry for this late to the matter post, and bringing the subject back on top, but I feel it needed to be brought up.
3 experienced BASErs have died after videoing other jumpers in freefall from a back to earth position on big walls and initiating deployment sequence too late. Wazzup? is the video cameraman prioritizing his video as opposed to safety, Is there a common bug in the programming of the human mind that allows this priority substitution? Could they have thought in FF."(Wow! What a
great video I am making! I´ve got them centered, and this is my priority now as opposed to Opening before impact"?) I think not. The closest parallel I know of is from the movie; "The Gypsy Moths" (in which Carl Boenish filmed the FF in some of the scenes). When asked about flying the wingsuit and the dangers involved, by a whuffo, the reply was that "Everything can go so good that you don´t want to end it [by opening the parachute]"....Or something to that effect. Check it out and you can gain an insight. Contact the USPA and see what you can find out about "Temporal Distortion studies done by the US Military". Don Y. had some pretty interesting reports, actual time elapsed vs perceived time elapsed in high stress situations. Or does anyone else have any ideas why 3 have fallen under this scenario?
Take care,
space

[Tom B]

What's Up????

lack of HEIGHT AWARENESS!!!! I know this is obvious but as Tracy puts it, it was not obvious to three dead (experienced??) people.

Priorities are

1 - Dump
2 - Dump Stable
3 - Dump Stable and High Enough
4 -
5 -
.
.
.
N - Get good Video

I think this situation may be worsened by freeflyers getting into BASE jumping with the attitude that, "it's just like doing a jump from 3000ft". Referring to your comment on "Temporal Distortion", a freeflyer may use his/her skydiving mind clock on a BASE jump whilst thinking "this is awesome video, I've got to keep shooting". There is usually limited height at the bottom end of a jump, especially if you are planning to deploy after your subject.

I overcome this by:

- Using my full direct and peripheral vision on all jumps. NO SHORT FOCUSED TUNNEL VISION.

- Sometimes focusing on the background and "blurring the subject" for higher jumps.

- Using a combination of counting and vision for lower jumps.

- Planning the dive and diving the plan.

- NOT relying on others to wave me off!!!! A cameraperson must take responsibility for their own lives. No excuses.

There is also the issue of altered body position whilst filming due to differential fall rates between subject and cameraperson. The cameraperson should be totally aware of their body position and adjust accordingly. Ths further implies that a good camera person needs to know some aerobatics (or body position recovery techniques).

Love Your Work

Stay Safe
Have Fun
Good Luck

Tom

[guest]

This problem reminds me of team "NRG" at Perris about ten years back.

They came outta nowhere and made a thousand jumps together and they would burn your ass in any competition they entered and by God they were the KINGS.

Until they finally made a jump other than one out of the Otter from 12.5 over Perris.

Low clouds and a four way in Texas revealed they didn't know the difference between AGL and MSL and three out of their four gizmos (Cypres) fired.

(Too busy preening to really learn anything)?

In some cases the Emperor surely has no clothes.

Nick :-) (Old School)
BASE 194

[guest]

I definitely agree with Space, and especially with Tom.

Losing altitude awareness is especially dangerous on a BASE jump.

However, anyone can lose awareness. Some of us losers can even do it without a camera, just because we're watching something really awesome (like some long haired pretty boy convict doing flips and twists).

So, if you are reading this and thinking "I never jump a camera, that won't happen to me," please reconsider. I know from painful personal experience that you can get distracted on any jump, especially on multi-way jumps (i.e. some other cool folks in free fall to watch), and especially especially on camera jumps.

So, please, be careful. Remember, the rapidly approaching earth is your first and last priority. If you need more convincing, drop me a line and I'll send you an xray of my spinal column.

You may be willing to accept injury, but are you willing to accept 9 months off from jumping? It sucks. Avoid layoffs by retaining ground awareness.

--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@ucdavis.edu

[guest]

guys,

just a few details about the last accident in switzerland.

The guy was experienced.
did his backtrack exit,BUT never did in freefall or maybe just a few times, so he was NOT experienced at that point so he's just like a newbie when experiencing new thing so risks are much bigger. Please if you try some new exit or stuff PLEASE make sure to have a good briefing from somebody who already done a LOT of times. try to learn as much as you can from eachother even if you THINK " ican handlle it..."

Keep safe

steve braff

[guest]

I had jumped with that group on two different trips.All the time I spent with them were fun and great times.I thought highly of the entire team.Can somebody please tell me the name of the jumper. Andy West.

[guest]

hey andy!

my name is steve, last time we meet with the belgian crew was in november, remember i was the one who had to leave after one day by train...

don't worry it's not one of our group, it was a base jumper we were not jumping with at all, so u never saw him. everybody here is alive and kicking and enjoying the fun of freefall every day ..and night!!

c ya at the edge soon i hope!

ps:johan and myself started with wings after watching you...damn what a toy!