Look, a Round Reserve

by Jan Meyer

(1) Make sure a truck gets out to the jumper. Inform manifest, an instructor, a jumpmaster, other DZ workers or take a DZ truck yourself(provided the DZ owner approves). Always check for air traffic when crossing runways.

(2) Land before reserve jumper at his approximate landing site. Jettison your gear and prevent the reserve jumper from being dragged after landing. Remember, he can't cut-a-way his reserve parachute.

(3) Follow the cut-a-way canopy to the ground. Never attempt to retrieve a cut-a-way canopy in midair; the results can be disastrous.

(4) Don't hurt yourself by landing downwind or doing a low hook turn trying to beat a person under a reserve or his cut-a-way canopy to the ground. You can only help when you are able to walk away from your landing.

Originally published in Sport Parachutist's Safety Journal V1, #1 May/June 1988.
©Copyright 1988, 1996 by Jan Meyer. Republished with permission.