Anyone ever fly jumpers?

[pianoman]

Friend of a friend was talking to me about possibly flying jumpers part-time. I don't think I'd be doing it for money but perhaps for some free airplane hours when not being used.

Most of me says this is way too big a can of worms to be opening after having made it this far. Small part says it could be fun.

Also I hate to take a job away from someone who needs it, especially with all the guys on the street.

Are most of these operations pretty hazardous to your certificates?

 

[Dart]

HEll yeah man! Still do to this day. I have been flying skydivers for a long time now and never have I had any problems with the faa. The money isnt great but it sure is a good time! As far as the aircraft go...it depends on the dz and how they take care of the bird. Skydivers really dont care what it looks like or how it runs...they just want to jump out of it. PM me and I will give you more details..Blue skies

P.S. The skydiving birds are better than some off the boeings I fly!! No B.S.

 

[another cfii]

If you see your CEO on board your plane, be sure to jump out before he does!

 

[KFpilot]

I flew jumpers starting out....I also used to jump. It was bad when you go to jump and they want you to fly. Great group of people. Look at the planes carefully and check the gas. Don't get violated.

 

[Junkflyer]

It can be fun, but also a pain in the butt working long days. Be familiar with far 105 and research the people you will work for. Many places take short-cuts etc on the airplanes. You are also responsible if the jumpers go through clouds and such. i flew a 402 and found it enjoyable most of the time.

 

[chuckthepilot]

http://www.diverdriver.com helped me out a bunch when I was flying jumpers. I can be a blast, but also easy to get violated. CYA.

 

[Dart]

the only way to get violated flying skydivers is to screw up...CYA! you will be fine...make sure you make a few skydives while your at it!!

 

[fly4ever]

Be sure and stick your tanks EVERYTIME and carry a spare key in a handy location. It's a game with a few to reach over the shoulder, turn the key off then take the key out the door laughing all the way.

 

[Bob_Sacamano]

I flew a lot of jumpers while I was building time. It was great fun at the time. But I wouldn't consider it now. Most, but certainly not all dropzones leave a lot to be desired with maintenance. My first engine failure was in a Cessna 182. I found out after the fact that the engine had 3800 hours SMOH. TBO on the O470 was 2000 hours. Also, you'll be pressured to fly in marginal weather. And you're responsible for what the jumpers do. Fun flying at the time, but for me, it's not worth the risk anymore.

Good Luck,
bs

 

[Dude]

Stay away from Paul Fayard (sp) and George Ireland. Paul owns, or did, Carolina Sky Sports and George runs a DZ in NH. He leases a couple of Twotters, BE99 and a King Air. I have only limited experience w/ Carolina Sky Sports and too much with Ireland. Neither will have much regard for you or their jumpers that pay for the lift ticket. Atlanta Skydive Center is run by equally repellent individuals. They have their own epuipment now and God be with those that fly it. They asked if I wanted to wear the rig when I flew. I asked them when it had been repacked and certified, and they said "5 years ago." I said, "no thanks, I'll take my chances on this POS King Air."

I had a good time flying jumpers, but would not do it again. Good luck.

 

[Bob_Sacamano]

I remember when Paul Fayard stalled a Casa and flipped it on its back at the Richmond Boogie 10 or 12 years ago. All of those idiotic jumpers kept running up and shaking his hand for saving the day. Morons had no idea that bloody fool damn near killed them all. When I explained that to a couple jumpers, they replied, "ut a Casa isn't used to having 12 jumpers on the tail at once." I said, "You're right. It was designed to drop tanks out the back in flight".

 

[Say Again Over]

Michael Hawkes from Las Vegas would fit in good with that bunch.

 

[JumpersAway]

I remember when Paul Fayard stalled a Casa and flipped it on its back at the Richmond Boogie 10 or 12 years ago. All of those idiotic jumpers kept running up and shaking his hand for saving the day. Morons had no idea that bloody fool damn near killed them all. When I explained that to a couple jumpers, they replied, "ut a Casa isn't used to having 12 jumpers on the tail at once." I said, "You're right. It was designed to drop tanks out the back in flight".

Paul Fayard wasn't a fool, and he wasn't the one that caused the stall. He's a sharp pilot, weather you like his personality or not- he's a good stick. There is a reason now why there are wide benches through the length of his Casas- so it spreads the jumpers out to keep them from gathering in one spot towards the back of the plane. There also isn't anywhere to grab now by the tailgate. It was the jumpers that stalled the airplane.

Flying jumpers was one of the best experiences of my life. The work was fun, the experience was fantastic, and there is something to be said for pulling up, shutting down the plane, and having someone come up and pass you a cold beer through the airplane window at the end of the day before the props wind down.

I enjoyed it while I did it, but it's time to move on and stay away. It was far too easy to get violated. The problem is, if you did everything you were supposed to do in order to be legal, you'd never get a load up. I was lucky enough to have never been on the radar with the FAA. Some of my friends at other DZ's knew the entire FSDO.

If you are seriously considering flying jumpers, PM me the drop zone and I'd be more than happy to pass along anything I know. It's a lot of fun, but a little on the grey side sometimes. Best of luck!

-JumpersAway

 

[Bob_Sacamano]

You sir, are just as stupid as Fayard is. Can you tell me how in the hella few jumpers weigh more than an armored fighting vehicle? The Casa was designed to drop those IN FLIGHT. Fayard let that airplane get away from him, pure and simple. Your hero worship of your former boss is admirable. But he screwed the pooch. Unless when you said the jumpers stalled the plane, that one of them ran up into the cockpit, got the Casa too damn slow to fly, and honked back on the yoke. Then I guess you're right...

Paul Fayard wasn't a fool, and he wasn't the one that caused the stall...It was the jumpers that stalled the airplane.


-JumpersAway

 

[JumpersAway]

You sir, are just as stupid as Fayard is. Can you tell me how in the hella few jumpers weigh more than an armored fighting vehicle? The Casa was designed to drop those IN FLIGHT. Fayard let that airplane get away from him, pure and simple. Your hero worship of your former boss is admirable. But he screwed the pooch. Unless when you said the jumpers stalled the plane, that one of them ran up into the cockpit, got the Casa too damn slow to fly, and honked back on the yoke. Then I guess you're right...

It's pretty obvious you are oblivious to the incident, or that you have no clear understanding of what happened. It is also apparent that you have some sort of personal grudge against the man. I don't worship PF, but I call it like I see it- the man can fly. No doubt, he is difficult (at best) to deal with, but it's a shame that you can't respect someone that has far more experience, doing a job far longer, than you. It is also pretty weak that you choose to rant on a message board with personal attacks without the integrity or manhood to advertise your criticism in person- he isn't exactly hard to track down in the community.

Oh, and while I'm on it, the jumpers just hung there on the aft end of the aircraft, in such a mass that the jumpers were holding on to jumpers. Not sure if you've noticed, or even dropped one yourself, but an Armoured Fighting Vehicle:

A.) Won't fit in the back of a Casa 212. (an ATV is about the biggest)

B.) From my experience dropping them, they usually keep moving and don't just park on the ramp.

 

[Contract]

What ever you do dont let them overload you especially off a grass strip with trees at the end. It could get alittle dicey! Have Fun........Jumpers have unique characters. Definately worth the experience!

Just be careful....

 

[Bob_Sacamano]

No, I'm not oblivious. I was flying jumpers at that boogie. Actually, I kind of liked Paul. I've heard he can be "opinionated", but I never dealt with him business-wise, so none of that came up. I just saw a glaring case of pilot error, and think it's hysterical that so many people who don't have a clue are edifying this guy. And he may be the greatest jump pilot in history. But he sure didn't show it to me. And just because he's more experienced than you, don't assume he's better than everyone else. But please, since you're such an experienced guy, please tell me about your vast experience...

It's pretty obvious you are oblivious to the incident, or that you have no clear understanding of what happened. It is also apparent that you have some sort of personal grudge against the man. I don't worship PF, but I call it like I see it- the man can fly. No doubt, he is difficult (at best) to deal with, but it's a shame that you can't respect someone that has far more experience, doing a job far longer, than you. It is also pretty weak that you choose to rant on a message board with personal attacks without the integrity or manhood to advertise your criticism in person- he isn't exactly hard to track down in the community.

Oh, and while I'm on it, the jumpers just hung there on the aft end of the aircraft, in such a mass that the jumpers were holding on to jumpers. Not sure if you've noticed, or even dropped one yourself, but an Armoured Fighting Vehicle:

A.) Won't fit in the back of a Casa 212. (an ATV is about the biggest)

B.) From my experience dropping them, they usually keep moving and don't just park on the ramp.