Online Articles
Fifty years of South Australian skydiving history in photos and stories, collected and edited by Steve Swann. A series of photo galleries is being developed to capture our history while we can.
http://skydivinghistory.blogspot.com/
Skydiving and Pregnancy by Leanne Critchley. Becoming a skydiver is a life changing event and a wonderful experience. So is having a baby! Although the two are not mutually exclusive, the decision to have a baby creates the need for some complex decision making for the skydiving parents-to-be. So here are some of the facts, some of the things to think about, some experiences of other women. Then it's up to each individual to make decisions according to what is right for her, her partner and her baby.
Baby on Board Article first published in Australian Skydiver Magazine Issue 33, Vol 5 2006. Includes feedback from first hand experience by a number of Aussie skydiving Mums.
Airspeed Skills Camp Notebook This program is the culmination of many years of work, originally started by the founding members of Arizona Airspeed. When this began, Jack Jefferies, Mark Kirkby, Kirk Verner, Dan BC originally wanted to pass on their vast knowledge of skydiving to improve the skydiving community as a whole. Many of the systems they have in place are from the work that that these 4 guys initiated. Then, just as now, the primary focus of the camp is PERSONAL BEST AND TEAM BEST.
Safety Checklist: Skydivers can benefit from more frequent and thorough equipment checks, emergency procedures practice, and enhanced canopy control awareness. This checklist was produced by the USPA as a result of one of their national Safety Days and is reproduced here with their permission. It has been modified by the APF Technical Officer to suit Australian Specifications.
Choosing a parachute: Once members have completed their student training one of their first questions is "What sort of parachute should I buy?"
Assessing your glide angle - the Accuracy Trick: Or "Can I make it back to the drop zone?"
Canopy collisions by Fiona McEachern: How to avoid them and what to do if you have one...
Human Factors Systems Safety - Australian Skydiving by Mike Flanagan, section Head Human Factors Systems Safety - CASA. (2006) This report is in response to a request received from the Sports & recreation section to consider Human Factors (HF) issues associated with recent accidents. To investigate whether HF principles can make a contribution to increasing the safety of the sport.
History
A History of Parachuting: From the 12th century ...
A History of Australian Parachuting since 1958 by Frank Mines (PDF)
"United We Fall" Early jump stories
A Short History Of Sport Parachuting and the Australian Parachute Federation
How High Can One Safely Parachute from?
Article from New Scientist 20 July 2006
Contribution to article by APF member Roger Clifton
The Long, Lonely Leap – The story of Joe Kittinger's jump from 102,800 ft
PIA Symposium 2007 Speakers Notes
Supplemental Oxygen Usage in Sport Skydiving, (PDF) by Bill Von Novak
Mastering the Mirage Reserve Container, (PDF) by Mike Gruwell
ZP Fabric Sunlight Exposure and Durability, (PPT) by Mirko Djordjevic
PIA-Sewing-WS.pdf Maintenance, Adjustment and Repair of Industrial Sewing Machines, (PDF) by Wayne Snyder
Member Theses
Below is a selection of Theses written by experienced Instructors as part of their Senior Instructor Application. It is important to note that although relevant at the time, some of these publications are over 20 years old, hence should be used as additional information and not be relied on solely for educational purposes.
HandyCam Thesis by Stephan Kleinlein (2009) An instructional Tandem-Handycam Tool
Exit Separation by Steven Geens (Nov 2003) How much time between exits? This paper will give you some understanding and answers to this common question.
Basic Body Flight for B-Rels and Beyond (2008 Thesis by Alan Moss) This thesis is targeted at “B rel” students and their instructors. It is intended to be used in conjunction with the “B” rel manual. The objective is to describe existing freefall positions and introduce new ideas to aid progression in flat flying techniques. It also includes information for students which is valuable after obtaining a “B” licence. The thesis encompasses freefall body positions, desired movement and instructional techniques.
Equipment and techniques in skydiving videography/photography – Steve Campbell, 2011
Critical incident stress debriefing – Neil Cheney, 1996
Single piston aircraft for Australian Parachuting industry in particular the Cessna 182 – Ray Curry, 2009
Communicating with Japanese tandem passengers – Adam Davies, 1997
Beach Display operations – Steve Fickling, 2003
AADs info guide / thesis – Stuart Gough, 2011
Physiological stresses – Scott Grist, 2007
FS 4 way inter handbook – Kim Hardwick, 1996
GPS and parachute Operations – Mick Honeyman, 2011
Meteorology for skydivers – Archie Jamieson, 2015
Still freefall photography – Andy Keech, 1963
Upgrading the Cessna 206 aircraft – Peter Knight, 2011
Tandem skydiving with wheelchair dependent persons – Paul Murphy, 1995
DZSO of non-training dropzones – Gavin Norsworthy, 2009
The effects of corrosion on metal parachute hardware due to exposure to marine environments – Rodney Norton, 2011
Sports parachuting and the law – Damian Parkinson, 2004
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Survey of first time skydivers in Australia in 1999 – Frank Smith, 2000
Interviewing for the purpose of accident investigation – Ash Smith, 2004
Physical training to improve performance – Deanne Watkins, 1996
Altitude Physiology
Educational
Below is a selection of Theses written by experienced Instructors as part of their Senior Instructor Application. It is important to note that although relevant at the time, some of these publications are over 20 years old, hence should be used as additional information and not be relied on solely for educational purposes.
Personal Responsibility - by Terry Wahlen Jan 2013
Wingsuit Flight Procedures (A Document for the APF and Australian Wingsuit Flyers by Neil Fergie)
The Red Zone Specific Risks in Sport Parachuting by Dave Wilkie
This document is comprised of a number of brief outlines of specific risks associated with sports parachuting. The scenarios outlined here have caused serious and often fatal injuries to skydivers either here in Australia or elsewhere in the world. These scenarios are presented here with the intention of increasing awareness of these specific risks, promoting discussion and hopefully reducing the incidence of adverse outcomes.
Canopy Control
Below is a selection of Theses written by experienced Instructors as part of their Senior Instructor Application. It is important to note that although relevant at the time, some of these publications are over 20 years old, hence should be used as additional information and not be relied on solely for educational purposes.
Canopy Collision Avoidance(by Jules McConnel) May 2011
Canopy collisions how to avoid them and what to do if you have one (by Fiona McEachern)
Elliptical Parachutes and Canopy Control (By John LeBlanc of Performance Designs)
Wing Loading & It's Effects A seminar by Performance Designs, Inc. Speaker: John LeBlanc
Fly or Fry by Rob McMillan. Student Handbook: This student manual contains 'food for thought' and practical ideas regarding how to better spend your time flying your wing. The notes will teach some basics about canopy flight. Though before attempting anything new or different, don't hesitate to as a canopy flight tutor to help plan the flight.
Tutor Handbook: This booklet contains information for the Canopy Tutor to help prepare for and run a canopy control course for the novice and intermediate skydiving pilot.
Team Canopy Training Exercises: by Tim Bates (VPC State Coach Aug 03 - Nov 05) Drop Zone landing areas are like the busiest airports in the country! We survive (busy) DZ landing areas using a combination of skill, communication and luck - which two would you rather rely upon? Some tips for teams to make the most out of their jumps by briefing canopy exercises into the jump from the start.