Choosing an AAD (Automatic Activation Device)

[@peacesalamonlyone]

A Cypres saved my life (and the rigger who packed my reserve!) . AAD is an absolute MUST have .

[@woox200sx]

What happened?

[@thynnus2422]

I just found your channel think your skydiving videos very helpful and informative. Thank you for taking the time to make them. I look forward to seeing what else you have to teach us. Edit: Loved the Monty Python reference!

[@danforster6525]

I started AFF in 1985 and the rig I was given had an FXC (old model AAD) in it. On my 2nd jump the AAD fired off my main canopy just after exiting a Cessna with two instructors. I had a long ride down from about 10k. The instructor ran over to me at landing thinking that I had pulled my ripcord but I showed him it was still seated in it's pocket on the harness. Turns out the FXC was incorrectly set to the wrong altitude on the ground by the manifest lady. She was supposed to turn a setting with a $0.25 cent piece to 'zero' and then set it to the desired opening altitude. Instead she just turned it to the opening altitude and the device got confused. I remember when Cypres 1's appeared at DZs in the late '80s and early '90s but there was a LOT of scepticism about the reliability as they were new tech that had no real track record. This was understandable coming of the back of FXC type AADs. It wasn't until 4-5 years later that I bought my first Cypres. I jump a Cypres 2 now.

[@sivonparansun]

Could you list the firing altitudes =) really good vid

[@thescruffy1]

What about firing altitudes ?

[@shadeland]

A good question. Generally speaking, the firing altitudes for all three of the recommended vendors is appropriate for licensed skydivers (when in "expert/experienced mode). There is a bit of variation, and also factors that can affect the actual deployment altitude (being belly to Earth means the sensor is in your burble, which makes the air pressure lower typically, but the AADs have this taken into account in various ways). Some people do raise their default altitudes but that should be done very carefully and in consultation with experts, as it could lead to a two-out scenario. It's one of the reasons why USPA raised the minimum deployment altitude to 2,500 feet for all license levels, as there's a risk that deploying too low can have your AAD fire because you snivel past the firing altitude. For that reason, if I ever find myself below 1,900 feet without having initiated main deployment, I deploy the reserve instead of the main. Better a repack than a two-out. (You may be aware of this, I'm answering for anyone reading this who may not know).

[@BrazBlue]

@@shadeland I have seen videos where people cut their main loose before deploying the reserve. if you do reserve first, can this be cut to then back up with the main?

[@shadeland]

@@BrazBlue Well, first of all, for questions like this, if you're actually skydiving, should be answered by your local instructor. If you're a skydiver I would recommend talking with a local instructor before you do your next jump about emergency procedures. The reserve cannot be cut away. Only the main can.

[@johneperkin]

I remember looking at a saves list some years ago and could only seem to find examples that the saves were due to lost of altitude awareness, including one jumper who's batteries in the audible had died and didn't have a visual altimeter - bad practice at best, illegal in many places.. Is this still the reality (assuming it always has been) of all AAD saves being from altitude awareness or do you or anyone you know of have any examples where someone has been otherwise incapacitated rather than being unaware? There is/was a blind skydiver in the US somewhere whose got a unique setup with something like 3 AADs 2 audibles and two radios, in an interview I think he said he's had some fires but I don't think that really counts. ;-) I'm not anti-AAD, but from what I've seen and heard I feel the "in case you knock yourself out on the tail" seems to be a myth. Surely someone must have a few examples of taking a knee to the head during RW/FS and being saved after that?

[@shadeland]

I just took a look at the Vigil save list, and literally on the first page there were 4 incidents of physical injury or similar inability to deploy. A couple of knocked unconscious, one was hung up on the step and arms were too weak to deploy. There was also a wingsuit deployment problem (which I didn't count in the 4, but still a save). Just about every AAD fire *could* have been avoided. But the thing is, they weren't. Whether it was your fault (altitude awareness) or someone else's fault (they hit you in a wingsuit jump, RW, tracking jump, etc.), it really doesn't matter. We all make mistakes. Is the mistake fatal, though, is the question.

[@johneperkin]

@@shadeland I don't think that was the list I'd looked at, at least not recently. It feels shocking to read so many reports of people being unable to find or reach handles, which on the face of seem to be on page one of avoidable mistakes. I hate to be pessimistic about it, but AAD's do seem to stop people from paying for avoidable bad practices or procedures with their lives, which is a good thing since fewer dead skydivers = More Better!

[@shadeland]

@@johneperkin I get the sentiment, there are so many avoidable issues. Some are easy to avoid (altitude awareness), some aren't as avoidable (being hit by another jumper). We can take steps to reduce them, and by and large these things are rare. If someone is truly just not a safe person, they usually wash out pretty quick. But even if we have a good mindset, good awareness, and an eye for safety, we are all still capable of mistakes. Or underestimating how a larger wingsuit can make. Or just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. No one intends to find themselves in a situation where an AAD will save them, but yet we have the save lists.

[@johneperkin]

@@shadeland What are the issues concerning wingsuits? Poor pulls and getting caught in the burble?

[@shadeland]

@@johneperkin Good question. There's a couple of them. Collision risk is higher for wingsuiting. It's like a tracking dive or freeflying, the closing speed can go from slow to very fast, very quick. So collisions can cause knock outs. This can be reduced by choosing your sizes carefully and choosing you flock carefully, but shit still happens. Wingsuits can sometimes suck in reserve handles. Such as a cutaway (more common with wingsuits in general), cutting away but being unable to pull the reserve. It's rare, but it can happen even when people are careful about their gear. And finally the large the wingsuit, the more pressurized the wings are. This can make it difficult to reach back and deploy, or go to reserve. Or the fabric of the wingsuit can cover the deployment handle, and the pressurization makes it difficult to go directly to reserve. This isn't bad safety practices, it's just something that can happen when you're new to wingsuiting (or upsize your wingsuit too fast, which is not a great idea). There may be some others, but that's what I can think of now.

[@piotrstanczak8319]

"Skydiving is dangerous sport..." probability of death driving a car is much bigger. Actually even being hit by lightning is more likely than death because of skydiving

[@sivonparansun]

Injuries and accidents are very real, even if it doesn't kill you

[@woox200sx]

I've been at the dropzone twice when someone has died. Never known anyone that has died by lightning.

[@piotrstanczak8319]

@@woox200sx and from statistical point of view it means nothing even if you were at the dropzone 10 times when someone died.