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For the second time in three years I had to pay $60 to fill out some paperwork and have a doctor take down my height and weight so I could get a second tandem rating. Oh, and he checked my reflexes by tapping my knee with his rubber hammer. The Class III FAA medical certificate is the most ridiculous requirement for tandem instructors. If the manufacturers, the FAA or the USPA is really concerned with our health, than the tests should be more in-depth. Otherwise, I’d like to see us follow what the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has in mind for its recreational pilots. According to AOPA’s web site at www.aopa.org, the organization “has petitioned the FAA to allow pilots to use a driver's license as a medical certificate, provided those pilots limit themselves to recreational pilot privileges. Recreational pilots can fly Normal-category, fixed-gear aircraft of up to 180 hp with no more than four seats in VFR day conditions, and may carry only one passenger.” This fits perfectly with the role of a tandem instructor who only flies in VFR conditions with one passenger. Furthermore, AOPA President Phil Boyer contends, "The FAA itself argues in its Sport Pilot proposal that a driver's license, which allows men and women to drive an automobile at high speeds just inches from other automobiles, provides an equivalent level of safety for recreational purposes.” Tandem student safety is the result of a skydiver passing a tandem certification course, staying current, following the Basic Safety Requirements and listening to the local safety and training advisor. The safety and security for a tandem student is in no way enhanced with a Class III FAA medical certificate. The only thing the Class III FAA medical certificate certifies is that you are alive and breathing. This is also accomplished with your driver’s license. Unless we want a more in-depth level of testing, we should scrap the Class III FAA physical and use the driver’s license.

Great customer service is hard to come by in the skydiving world as is in everyday life. In my experience in running the rigging loft, I have come across only a handful of companies with truly excellent customer service. These companies include Altico, Velocity Sports Equipment, Para-Gear and Performance Designs. Great customer service means answering the phone, having parts available, quick turnaround times, few ordering mistakes, quick problem resolutions and knowledgeable technical support. On Easter Day of this year, another company was added to my list: North American Aerodynamics, Inc. For the first time in four years I had a Centaurus container in my loft and I realized I didn’t have a manual. The customer wanted to jump his gear the next morning and I had no way of knowing if the container was closed properly when packed previously (I later discovered it wasn’t). So I took a shot in the dark and called the phone number for the manufacturer on the rig on Easter morning. Not only was someone there, but also they were more than willing to fax me the manual. Due to technical problems with our phone lines and fax, it took about 45 minutes to finally get the parts of the manual I needed to correctly close the reserve container. The person I spoke with at NAA was extremely patient and continued resending pages until I had what I needed to finish the job. And, on top of that, a few days later, I received a hard copy of the entire manual in the mail. This company, best known for its Parafoil accuracy and demo canopy, also makes a quality reserve (the Eagle) and container. And on top of that, the customer service rocks. In the skydiving world of 16-week ordering times for some helmets, spare freebags and pilot chutes of some manufacturers that take 2 weeks to receive or companies that don’t return phone calls for orders, North American Aerodynamics is a breath of fresh air.