Plan B – not just for canopies

You turn to track in the second wave and see the first wave all too clearly in front of you, they have been slow to leave the formation. There is a third wave behind you. What do you do now?

When you are dirt diving, learning the plan is top of mind. Your exit slot, your radial on approach, who is in front of you and to your side, opposite, what grips you need to pick up, what angle you need to be on, your track off sequence and landing pattern.

There is a lot of information to consider for the perfect jump. It’s no wonder that, when things don’t go exactly to plan and time is short, the risk of mistakes being made is much higher.

Dan BC places a strong emphasis on gear awareness and expecting a hard pull, expecting a malfunction. Having confidence in your response helps you execute emergency procedures efficiently and with a calm mind.

Likewise, in your preparation for a jump, considering potential scenarios in advance puts you in greater control of the outcome, the success of the skydive, your safety and that of your team mates.

Start with some fundamental situations like being caught in the door on exit and leaving later than everyone else, falling off the aircraft before the exit count, being low on break off, being high on break off, someone opening below or very close to you, your audible battery failing on the ride to height, forgetting your visual altimeter, the track off scenario I mentioned earlier or landing very close to another canopy.

Your plan may vary depending on the specific jump so listen during the briefing. Your coach or organizer will often provide the direction for some of these scenarios. If you have a question, ask it. Avoid riding to height with uncertainty because, luck will be on your side and that scenario is just bound to happen, right?

As your experience and awareness deepens, so will your capacity to plan for the unexpected.

One scenario that I used to be nervous about was getting out ‘low’, below the planned altitude. I felt rushed and distracted in that situation and often performed badly.

At the 2015 Powerplay event in Perris, there was a thin layer of cloud that US rules would not allow us to go above. Our 60-way took off in 4 planes with the plan of landing if the cloud base was below 10,000 feet.

We ran in just below 9,000 feet. I looked to Josh Hall, our plane captain. He just shrugged and said, ‘there is no change to the track-off plan’. And there it was, the link I had been missing. Whilst the time available to build the formation was less, our safety plan didn’t change.

I lost the anxiety and focused on the challenge of doing my best knowing that, when working time was up, the track-off plan hadn’t changed. My job was to follow the plan and get to the formation. A completion was unlikely to happen and that was ok.

Between 9,000 feet and 6,000 feet we achieved a base build and everyone on radial, in slot, waiting to dock. The photo was taken just before track-off.

This was a team of highly experienced skydivers with sound flying skills and an understanding of sequential disciplines. We knew we would all be in the vicinity quickly and this made the jump plan safe. The time it will take to have everyone in slot and able to form the planned tracking teams will determine the exit altitude and ‘plan B’.

Understand scenarios, get information and perspective, have a plan – enjoy.

 

Melissa

Melissa is a member of the Aussie Bigways coaching team and the Australian Skydiving Team.  She is an experienced skydiving competitor and coach with a history of National and World level representation in 4-way, 8-way and Bigway Formation Skydiving.

Contact Melissa to discuss how her Supercharge coached programs can help you develop the flying skills you need to achieve your goals.

melissaharvie@gmail.com  0408 553 561