Malfunction Flowchart #EveryDayisSafetyDay
Julian Barthel, who brought us the Canopy Collision Cone, unveils his Malfunctions Flowchart…
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#EveryDayisSafetyDay
With the USPA Safety Day being held at US and foreign affiliate dropzones alike, one cannot help but come across the slogan #EveryDayisSafetyDay on social media…
This is a reminder of how we should stay on top of our procedures – not only once a year – but that it is a constant effort. Emergency procedures should be regularly reviewed, especially but not exclusively during the first couple of hundred jumps, to ensure currency and appropriate muscle memory when execution is required.
The sad reality is that some skydivers looked at malfunction procedures the last time when they completed their A-License required emergency reviews, or maybe last Safety Day. Every USPA instructor and instructional rating holder will remember from their coach course that in as short a period as 30 days without repetition after initial training, 90% or more of the information will be forgotten.
In 30 days without repetition, 90% of the information will be forgotten
Malfunction Flowchart
So maybe an easy-to-use, one-page flowchart that can be quickly consulted would make a regular review easier for students and experienced skydivers alike…
Aim
The purpose of this graphic is to give a compact overview of the most common malfunctions and their classifications, as well as the appropriate actions that should be taken in each case. It’s designed as a comprehensive, user-friendly checklist, for instructors in ground schools as well as a guide for novice and advanced jumpers for emergency reviews on a regular basis, after the ground school and A-license training. You can download below.
Notes
- Since this graphic is aimed especially towards lower experience skydivers, a conservative “decide and act” altitude of 2,500ft/800m was chosen. As experience increases, some skydivers may choose to lower that decision altitude.
- 2,500 feet is actually equal to 762m, but for practical purposes with analog altimeters that are common to use for students and novice skydivers, 800m was chosen.
- The emergency keywords are displayed for “one-hand-per-handle” procedures, executing an action with each syllable. If you have learnt different words or two-handed procedures, obviously stick with what works for you.
Practice your EPs!
Practice with proper visualization goes a long way, so I recommend you use this graphic in combination with this excellent set of malfunction pictures put online by Performance Designs: here. You can find the picture set all the way on the bottom with a PDF download option.
Download the Flowchart
We have put the Flowchart online as a free download in various sizes, see below. Please print a copy for your DZ or AFF School wall. I hope you find it useful. Stay Safe!
Downloads
Europe
USA
RELATED ARTICLES
By the same author, Julian Barthel, download the Canopy Collision Cone poster and assess your risk at key altitudes. Another great safety aid for the DZ wall.
