ON CARABINERS

(Tom Webster)

I'm not an expert on carabiners, but I have always felt uncomfortable

using aluminum carabiners for paragliding. Coming from a hang gliding

background I was always told that aluminum ones can develop hairline

cracks from being dropped, and eventually fail. There have been a

handful of failures over the years during preflight hang checks, luckily

none in the air. I have never heard of a steel biner breaking. HG pilots

always use steel biners or two aluminum ones.

One could argue that since we hang from two biners in a paraglider,

we're safe because the stress is half on each one. However, we use the

same ones for tandem flying and we always put more than a body weight on

one when we're weight shifting. Isn't that just as dangerous as hang

gliding with a single aluminum biner, which HG pilots swore off long

ago? Or is it stupid to bring this up, since thousands of tandem pilots

around the world can't be wrong?

We still need someone in the biner biz to step forward and sort us all out! -Chris

(Gordon Grice)

I have witnessed a situation where the push-button of the biner

was being pressed by some jammed webbing. In a no load situation (standing

on launch), this easily resulted in the gate opening allowing the spreader

loop to fall out. If you are operating with these push-button type biners

you should take a very good look at how the buttons are situated relative to

the harness webbing.

The Questions: Do you think the new "Push down - Quarter turn" biners from

Sup'Air are less likely to inadvertantly get opened? Has anyone launched

with the pilot not attached on one side and lived to tell about it? If you

could get an anonymous story, I would like to hear it.

ON LAUNCH MISHAPS

(Dale Covington)

I thought I might mention a recent incident where a fellow tandem pilot

had a brake line snag on his hooknife (In the Case) while launching at a

steep, windy launch. Could have just as easily been any of us, and made me

stop to think again about what I have on my harness that could potentially

snag lines. I would like to find a tandem harness, if you, or anyone on the

list knows of a used one that's reasonably priced, I'd like to hear about it.

ON RESERVES

(Dale Covington)

It seems that the industry wide problem of reserve comparisons seems to

gain more importance in this context. Reserve "A" may be similar size to

Reserve "B" but descent rates may be quite different, along with stability,

opening characteristics, etc. Anyone with Ideas on comparing apples to

oranges?

TANDEM MINDSET

(Ken Hudonjorgensen)

This is probably review for most of you, but interesting anyway...

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TANDEM AND SOLO MINDSET?

(compiled by a group of T2-T3 candidates taking a course with Ken)

1. Greater turn radius

2. Larger space needed for LZ

3. Passenger may need

4. More adrenaline

5. Another life in your hands: take less risks

6. May take longer to get down

7. Drag potential

8. More danger when landing in new LZ

9. Need more room: slower turning

10. Give off big wake

11. No speed systems

12. May be more distracted

13. Every flight changes weight

14. Preflight is more important: consequences are greater (another body & liability & site)

15. Flight plan must include passenger

16. Ability to move (kiting) is restricted

17. View is obstructed (flair and traffic)

18. With tall person may not control the run

19. Brake feel and input is different

20. Flare for passenger

21. Sex can be dangerous (distracting) be professional

22. Maneuvers are drastically different

23. Don't try to out-fly solo or other gliders

24. Weight shift is variable (wt. on the glider & is passenger helping?)

25. Run will not be as effective in light wind

26. Lay out is different (careful)

27. Inflations (passenger may not slide well)

28. Be aware of and educate your ground crew

29. Be pickier about care and age of equipment

30. Careful inflation check before flying

31. Check with passenger about medical condition

32. Passenger may get sick

33. Hook in process is different

34. Comfort for passenger (lavatory needs)

35. Notice passengers emotional state

36. More information to process

37. Emergencies are compounded (PLF etc)

38. Have appropriate mindset for tandem

39. Check yourself for bad habits (complacent)

KELLY KELLARS TANDEM HARNESS  and his Cheat Sheet