Friday Freakout: Skydivers Avoid Head-On Collision On Opening

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WHAT HAPPENED
After punching through clouds and breaking off from a 3-way jump (without much of a track), this jumper sees a canopy deploying in front of him, which was another jumper from the group exiting after him. The other jumper appears to pull on his left toggle as the canopy was inflating, which may have helped avoid a head-on collision. Some jumpers might say "that's NOT a close call," but let's be honest, this should NOT be a normal proximity for canopy openings - this was pretty damn close, and fortunately there was no collision!
WHY DID IT HAPPEN
A whole different group!
Initially, we thought the jumper coming down was the third jumper from the original group. However, we don't think that was the case because that jumper had a lot of white on his suit, and this jumper did not. This was likely a jumper from the following exit group, who got out way too soon, busting through and almost nailing the folks who exited before him!
HOW COULD IT BE PREVENTED
Don't Rush the Exit!
Again, we have no video to prove this point, but it seems like another group chased this group out the door. To prevent that, you need to know how much time to give the group in front of you based on ground speed and then just make sure to take your time, and count slowly. What we think in our heads as “one------two------three------four------five------six” is actually “one!two!three!four!five!six!” There are a few ways to address that issue. One is to count out loud. By verbalizing one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, etc. and nodding your head to the rhythm of each syllable, you’ll force yourself to slow down. For newer jumpers, another method is to hold your fingers out in front of your face and count out loud while counting on them; combining verbalization with a physical action also tends to help jumpers slow down their count.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Loss of Spatial Orientation = Bad Tracking
As this cameraman hits the cloud layer, he should be tracking away from the rest of his group. However, it looks like he doesn't really track much at all. He appears to turn to his right, then turns back to his left, and doesn't seem to track. This is likely because, without any visible references, he didn't really know whether or not he had properly turned away from the rest of the group. When you can't see the ground nor the other jumpers, it's kind of hard to know what direction you're moving in.
Stop Jumping in Clouds!
We just talked about not jumping through clouds two weeks ago! In that video, there was a premature deployment which would have been impossible to see by jumpers above, creating an obviously dangerous situation. The clouds weren't the cause of that incident, but they were certainly a huge danger. In today's video, these jumpers hit break off altitude while in a cloud layer and had no references when they turned and track. If these jumpers had checked the spot and seen the cloud layer, they should have asked for a go-around or ridden the plane down. Also, as we've noted before, they wouldn't be violating Federal Aviation Regulations Part 105.17 and putting the pilot's license at risk!
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[@TEEMsky]

*WHAT HAPPENED* After punching through clouds and breaking off from a 3-way jump (without much of a track), this jumper sees a canopy deploying in front of him, which was another jumper from the group exiting after him. The other jumper appears to pull on his left toggle as the canopy was inflating, which may have helped avoid a head-on collision. Some jumpers might say "that's NOT a close call," but let's be honest, this should NOT be a normal proximity for canopy openings - this was pretty damn close, and fortunately there was no collision! *WHY DID IT HAPPEN* A whole different group! Initially, we thought the jumper coming down was the third jumper from the original group. However, we don't think that was the case because that jumper had a lot of white on his suit, and this jumper did not. This was likely a jumper from the following exit group, who got out way too soon, busting through and almost nailing the folks who exited before him! *HOW COULD IT BE PREVENTED* Don't Rush the Exit! Again, we have no video to prove this point, but it seems like another group chased this group out the door. To prevent that, you need to know how much time to give the group in front of you based on ground speed and then just make sure to take your time, and count slowly. What we think in our heads as “one------two------three------four------five------six” is actually “one!two!three!four!five!six!” There are a few ways to address that issue. One is to count out loud. By verbalizing one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, etc. and nodding your head to the rhythm of each syllable, you’ll force yourself to slow down. For newer jumpers, another method is to hold your fingers out in front of your face and count out loud while counting on them; combining verbalization with a physical action also tends to help jumpers slow down their count. *ADDITIONAL NOTES* Loss of Spatial Orientation = Bad Tracking As this cameraman hits the cloud layer, he should be tracking away from the rest of his group. However, it looks like he doesn't really track much at all. He appears to turn to his right, then turns back to his left, and doesn't seem to track. This is likely because, without any visible references, he didn't really know whether or not he had properly turned away from the rest of the group. When you can't see the ground nor the other jumpers, it's kind of hard to know what direction you're moving in. Stop Jumping in Clouds! We just talked about not jumping through clouds two weeks ago! In that video, there was a premature deployment which would have been impossible to see by jumpers above, creating an obviously dangerous situation. The clouds weren't the cause of that incident, but they were certainly a huge danger. In today's video, these jumpers hit break off altitude while in a cloud layer and had no references when they turned and track. If these jumpers had checked the spot and seen the cloud layer, they should have asked for a go-around or ridden the plane down. Also, as we've noted before, they wouldn't be violating Federal Aviation Regulations Part 105.17 and putting the pilot's license at risk!

[@wheats89]

FAR regulations don't apply to countries outside the USA. Jumper did not sound like he was speaking English. One could easily assume this isn't USA, so your quoted FAR regulations are irrelevant. I don't disagree with the sentiment, but the quoted regulation seems to be wrong as I don't believe this to be USA.

[@PatrickSiefert]

As one of the jumpers who where involved (I am the guy with the red helmet who came in formation last) let me say: This was NOT the third jumper of our group but one of those who jumped after us, so the analysis is absolutely right, no separation mistake in the group but a clear mistake of a to fast exit of the jumper who came after us. And FYI, the jump was in Germany.

[@Kate_Short-For-Bob]

If we wait for zero cloud in the UK we'd get about 3 jumps a decade in.

[@stephanamente4332]

I dont like the spoilers in the intros.

[@mohammed_mubashir]

yes me too don't add that part from next week episodes

[@AMM278]

I have to close my eyes 🙈

[@abadialsharif8537]

Tracking is optional at their DZ.

[@kdup505]

Great tracking, fantastic cloud clearance, good solid front row seat of your buddies parachute opening. I hope you posted this perfect jump to Facebook and Instagram!

[@jaffacalling53]

Cloud clearance? What's that?

[@nwsmoat2674]

IMPRESSIVE break off separation

[@patrickswayze2596]

@@jaffacalling53 cloud clearance is the distance from the clouds itself. You’re always expected to have three miles of vision both skydivers and small private planes, so the golden rule is not to free fall through clouds if you can’t see through them as other skydivers could be under canopy which puts everyone at high risk, or even a small aircraft isn’t out of the realms of possibility. I’m in Australia so rules are often different from country to country, however I’ve jumped and worked camera and tandem around the world so it’s always good to know local procedures and rules to keep yourself and other jumpers safe. If I remember correctly, it’s something like keep 1000ft above the clouds, and 500ft under, and something in a horizontal away from clouds if can be avoided. I may be wrong on some of those details, but I haven’t had to think about this for ages also. Hope I explained it easy enough? Cheers bud, blue skies ✌🏽

[@jaffacalling53]

@@patrickswayze2596 I was being sarcastic but thanks for the detailed explanation

[@raypippin4061]

"Mind if I join your 3 way? On opening?"

[@maxiking8496]

My way to get the countdown right, when exiting after the jumper before, is to actually start counting at 0 instead of 1 (thats actually the proper way, as every clockwatch starts with 0). Most people start counting at 1 so each of them is missing at least a second.

[@adrianx8243]

The guy pulling his toggle during opening to avoid canopy had insane awareness and reaction, actually that avoided the crash holy shit

[@sharkair2839]

typically you would pull the right toggle however, in this instance the left toggle was a good call.

[@yogaFLIGHT]

My thoughts exactly. Someone I imagine however shat their pants 💩💩

[@sharkair2839]

@@yogaFLIGHT now that i think about it, the correct response would be to turn using the risers. that's where your hands should be as the chute is opening.

[@yogaFLIGHT]

@@sharkair2839 Yes, correct, that would be better written as risers. I read risers but saw now you spoke toggles. I don't ever really think about it but my arms shoot into the air to grab my risers on every opening. Habit from an often-turning canopy on opening. Yikes. Plus when I didn't video of tandems, I'd often be a long long way away. So I'd be pulling down my read risers to level out flight as quickly as possible, once open.

[@AMM278]

This is an instance of applying common sense

[@BurninatorTheTrogdor]

Good openings though!

[@GadMoto]

А вы когда наверх поднимаетесь, разве не замечаете на какой высоте облака висят? Тогда можно без высотометра понимать, когда открываться.

[@jptothetree]

Such an avoidable situation 🤦‍♂

[@MagninJonathan]

Approximative tracking but good canopy maneuver...

[@SEILLC]

Been there, done that.

[@LucidUnderworld]

I don’t see any clouds. Looks like industrial haze to me.

[@jackfrost3573]

Hmmmm, I would have had to have a word with that guy. Pleasant but c'mon dude?

[@TwilightSun32]

maybe they're opening so close cause modern cameras have too wide view angle so they need to be close to make all that spectacular videos like this one

[@johnwaynewas]

No mid air high-five?

[@alexanderpetrow8668]

Would someone actually just make tracking part of belly progression because it doesn't seem like they ever know how to do it

[@natural9743]

How did this even make it. In my day that was just standard C.R.W

[@DUKEisALIVE]

Pure luck

[@aerosol_]

I'm a beginner jumper. Can someone give me any tips on how to figure out if I need to count before exiting or not. And also, how does ground speed work in relation to that. Appreciated in advance!

[@akimikalis8243]

Have your instructor tell you all about it. It’ll be easier for someone to explain in person rather than in a KZbin comment.

[@yogaFLIGHT]

@@akimikalis8243 @Aerosol: Yes, it is excellent advice to have an instructor advise you on: spotting and Dropzone exit procedures (this depends on type of aircraft, airspeed, groundspeed, which kind of individual/group is exiting -- solo, freefly, wingsuit, tandem, student, RW, video, pilot expulsion LOL etc). Every Dropzone has their own policies. But in general, you should see separation between groups -- meaning an angular trajectory separation -- maybe 45 degrees? Again this depends on the above factors. However, there are other additionally important determining factors: airspeed vs groundspeed in conjunction with whether the pilot is throttling back, facing into the wind for the skydivers to exit (99% of the time, they are :) ), etc. FYI: This is super important to understand if you are spotting, and EVERY skydiver should learn and get to know how to spot. In my learning days, it was VITAL I knew how to spot. I was jumping rounds!!! We used a WIDI {Wind Drift Indicators} in those times -- ages before GPS and digital instruments. "Ground speed is how fast an airplane is traveling, relative to a fixed point on the ground. Think of it this way: Ground speed is how fast an airplane's shadow would move across the land. If there's a strong wind pushing an aircraft, that's reflected in the ground speed. Airspeed, in contrast, is how fast an airplane is really flying strictly under its own power, which is calculated by subtracting the wind speed from the ground speed." Dirt dive ON THE GROUND, not on jump run. Dirt diving with your crew and communicating with your load is so important. Find out whose doing what, how high they're pulling, experience level, etc. This could help to avoid scary shit such as this near collision. While you're at it, scan other people's gear, and ask for safety checks. At 1800+ jumps, I still ask for a gear check before entry to the plane and before exit. And don't forget to PLF and practice your emergency procedures -- not in that order. Because no matter how good / experienced / current you are, shit happens to the best of us. These jumpers were less than a second from collision. And that's NEVER a good situation to be in. Hope this helps a bit more. Blue skies, Black Death. Sky

[@alexanderpetrow8668]

Learn how to really track. Not from a belly jumper. This is a typical belly formation breakoff. No one goes anywhere, and they all open next to or in front of each other.

[@yogaFLIGHT]

@Aerosol: See my answer above/below. I've been jumping since 1991 and have seen some scary doodoo (except for a canopy opening this close to me, thank fuck). Plus I'm a FAA Pilot. Hopefully this will help you out a bit. Blue Skies, Sky.

[@yogaFLIGHT]

And if you think airspeed vs groundspeed can't be much of a factor, try jumping from a jet / C130 vs a balloon / helicopter. BIG difference.

[@jonathanjuanola8054]

All the stuff, but they’ve forgotten their skill in the plane.

[@wheats89]

Jumper does not sound like he was speaking English. This means they likely aren't in the USA, which consequently means the FAR regulation TEEM quoted is irrelevant. Not going through clouds is very much USA thing, although not explicitly.

[@winni1992]

judging from the landscape and the guy speaking it was most likely in germany. The dz looks familiar to me but I can't pinpoint where exactly that was. In Germany, not jumping through clouds is also a thing

[@pauljonas5578]

In Germany we jump through clouds on a daily 😅

[@Skyomen]

Oh hell, they had plenty of room.😂😂😂

[@Mathy_Base]

Worth separation ever...

[@peterhalloids2821]

FIRST!

[@yogaFLIGHT]

BEEEEEER!