WATCH OUT FOR FALLING BODIES Created by Harry

WATCH OUT FOR FALLING BODIES Created by Harry Leicher, ATP, CFII (in memoriam) USPA PRO Rated Skydiver 2004 Western Pacific CFI of the Year The original Harry Leicher presentation has been condensed for use on the SCAUWG Web Site

Nature of Skydiving Activities • Exits from Planes 2, 000 to 13, 500 AGL (Above Ground Level) • Jump heights are reported to ATC in “MSL” (Mean Sea Level) • Most jumps in the area of Perris and Elsinore, are between 4, 000 and 15, 000 MSL 2

Nature of Skydiving Activities • Parachutes will open parachutes at any altitude from exit altitude down to as low as 2, 000 AGL • This means anywhere from 15, 000 MSL to 3, 500 MSL in the Perris & Elsinore areas. 3

Nature of Skydiving Activities Typically, the “Jump Aircraft” will want to get back down as quickly as possible to pick up the next load 4

Nature of Skydiving Activities • Jump Aircraft MUST communicate with both ATC and CTAF’s. It is required by CFR/FAR 105. 15! • Jump operations must ALSO have a Letter of Authorization which includes climb and descent corridors, call signs, and transponder codes. 5

Nature of Skydiving Activities • Distance around the Drop Zone – Usually exit upwind of the target – Sometimes many groups drop on a single pass, and are spread over a wide area • Large groups may spread out over a mile in diameter before opening parachutes • 24 Hours a Day 6

See and Be Seen Limitations • Visibility and clearance from cloud requirements – Basically same as for aircraft under VFR • Oblique view from above or below can be misleading • Transient pilot limitations – Probably not looking up – Difficulty in seeing drop plane 2 miles above – Almost impossible to see jumpers in freefall 7

See and Be Seen Limitations • Jumper Limitations – Difficult to see under plane due to side door or tailgate – Delay between “climb out” and exit – Up to 70 seconds in free fall – Course changes after jump made by transient aircraft – Possible Emergency Exits 8

Airport Operations 9

Locating Skydiving Activities Note the symbols just right of the “R” south of Lake Elsinore and to the east of the runway at Perris; as well as the magenta warning boxes with advisory frequencies. • Symbol may not be over the exact parachute landing area • Difficult to see on cluttered chart • Drop zones may open between chart cycles 10 • Check Airport/Facility Directory / NOTAMS

Locating Skydiving Activities Although there is a project in progress, until 5 character IDs can be developed, drop zones are NOT included in most GPS Databases 11

Locating Skydiving Activities • NOTAM’s – Exhibition Jumps – Temporary Drop Zones !LAX 04/002 LAX PJE 3 NMR LAX 035013/DODGER STADIUM 2500/BLW WEF 0204022015_0204022115 !POC 03/005 POM PJE 5 NMR POM 118003. 5 13500/BLW WEF 0203212100 -0203212230 !POC 03/005 POM PJE 5 NMR POM 080004 13500/BLW WEF 0203211700 -0203211830 !RAL 03/048 PDZ PJE 5 NMR PDZ 064007 13500/BLW WEF 0203202100 -203202230 !RAL 03/048 PDZ PJE 5 NMR PDZ 088003 13500/BLW WEF 0203201800 -203201830 !RAL 08/001 ELB PJE 1 NMR ELB 078004. 5 4000/BLW WEF 0208020245_0208020315 RAL 09/068 HDF PJE 2 NMR HDF 220001/L 65 14500/BLW 1345 -0125 DLY WEF 0409301345 -0410170125 12

Summary and Recommendations • Plan Your Flight – Be aware of jump activities along your route – Determine ATC facility from which advisories may be received – Specifically ask “Are any jump planes in the air? ” – Listen for “ 2 minutes to jump, ” “Jumpers away and descending. ” • If unable to establish communication with ATC, at least monitor the frequency and/or monitor Unicom or CTAF for airport with skydiving activities • Avoid skydiving activities by 5 miles and don’t fly over the Drop Zone trying to locate it • If planning to land at an airport with skydiving activities, 13 call in advance to learn recommended arrival procedures

Last Words • If you call sitting in an airplane “Flying, ” do you call sitting in a boat “Swimming? ” • So, if you really want to “Fly…” GET OUT OF THE PLANE!