SAFETY DAY 2010
Posted March 1, 2010

This coming Saturday March 13, 2010 8am till 6pm. The skydiving season is upon us! It's time to make some jumps, get current and review your safety procedures for the 2010 season.

9:30 Heart Saver class with Emily Cano H.I.

10:30 "How to Fly in Turbulence"  with JC Brown.

11:00 Check Your Altimeter's accuracy in Rich Greenwood's Altimeter Testing Chamber

12:00  Free BBQ Hot Dog and Bratwurst lunch for all Safety Day participants with Michael Hotchkiss and Kat Crawford at the grill

All Day - Review your Emergency Procedures in the Hanging Harness with Rudi Krenz and the SDNM Instructional Staff

Riggers on duty to answer your gear and rigging questions

Pilots available to explain Spotting and GPS, jump run flight parameters and operations.

Stressed? Hard Opening? There will be a licensed Massage Therapist on duty offering head and neck massage for $1/minute.

 Evening Party and BBQ pot luck, please feel free to bring something to eat or drink. 

All members are strongly encouraged to attend. All instructors are EXPECTED to attend.

This coming Saturday, March 6th there will be a Skydive New Mexico Board Meeting.  Lee will be providing updated financials and a status of what is going on with the new building.  All SDNM members are encouraged to attend.  The meeting will be held after jump operations at the dropzone.

LANDING NOTICE FROM YOUR S&TA
Posted March 1, 2010

Hi Everyone,

    As most of you are aware there are many changes happening at the Belen Alexander airport and some of these changes are opening new and exciting doors for Skydive New Mexico.  However these changes can cause uncertainty and some confusion for the General Aviation community that also currently enjoys the use of the Belen Alexander airport.

Skydive New Mexico has long considered it's self to be a leader in drop zone safety and a friendly partner and consultant to the General Aviation community and as such is working to clear any uncertainty for  our aviation partners . With this partnership in mind we are working on a process to keep the General Aviation community informed on current and upcoming changes in our daily aviation operations including new and alternate landing areas. This process requires planning by members of our club who have expert knowledge in General Aviation, Airport Operations Management and Experimental Aircraft Operations as well as the Board of Directors, the Drop Zone Manager, Plane Owners, and the Belen airport Manager. There are also liability issues and Federal Aviation Regulations involved.

    Considering the progress we are making and my desire to see efforts by our Board of Directors, the drop zone manager, the plane owners and the airport manager continue to be successful I am requesting the following;

•           All  parachute landings during the week or weekends should be made at the two publicly designated landing areas know as the "Corrals or experienced area" located near the southwest end of the runway and the student area that is located three miles south of the airport.

•           Landings near our current hanger are restricted to those experienced members with permission from myself and the Belen airport manager.  These landing must be made in conjunction with current USPA license requirements with additional attention to  landing distances from buildings. Also as the plane owners have exposure to liability in the event a jumpers landing damages someones personal property they should be consulted before making the jump.

•           All jumpers planning on making a "cross country" canopy flight or other activities that would place their free fall and canopy flight beyond our normal operations area need to make their intention clear to manifest and the pilot flying their load prior to boarding the aircraft. This allows our pilots to communicate our position in free fall and canopy flight to other aircraft in the area. Good communication helps keep us safe.