If you have problems understanding CRW jumpers
and their jargon, don't worry. Study the terminology below and you'll fit in
before you get your first line burn. There are many CRW specific terms in the
glossary below. I have also attempted to define a CRW perspective on some
general skydiving terminology. If you want an explanation on materials and
rigging terminology, I strongly recommend "The Parachute Manual" by
Dan Poynter.
|
|
Term |
Definition |
Country |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Q |
QNH |
Pressure
Setting which indicates height above sea level. |
|
|
Quad |
When a group of four parachutists
are linked together. It is usually in a vertical (planed / stacked) formation. |
|
|
R |
RAC |
Rigging Advisory Circular.
APF &/or manufacturer rigging advisories. |
Australia |
|
Radio |
A
communication device usually used for student operations. |
|
|
Ram Air |
A
double surfaced & ribbed canopy which attains an aerofoil (wing) shape
by the action of the relative wind being forced through the holes at the
leading edge (nose). |
|
|
Rapide Links |
A
barrel style quick connector link developed by the Maillon-Rapide company
in France. They are the most commonly used in the world today due to being
light, cheap, small, with a lower propensity to rotate. See Connector
Links & L-Bar. |
|
|
Reefing System |
A
system whose function is to slow the inflation of a parachute. |
|
|
Reinforcements |
Strong
tape or webbing sewn into material at locations subjected to high stress. |
|
|
Relative
Altitude |
The
distance between two points in the vertical plane. Usually measured by an
altimeter. See Alti & Altitude. |
|
|
Relative
Humidity |
Ratio
of water vapour actually in the air compared what the air would hold at
saturation. |
|
|
Relative Wind |
A combination of wind and/or air
flow that an object is exposed to. A moving object creates its own
relative wind. A moving air mass imposes a relative wind onto an object. |
|
|
Reserve |
A secondary (auxiliary) parachute
in a dual parachute system. It is utilised whenever the main parachute
malfunctions. |
|
|
Retraction
System |
A
system that retracts the bridle and pilot chute hard up against the canopy
once the deployment sequence nears completion. It has two purposes. One is
to collapse the pilot chute to prevent in flight inflation &
corresponding decrease in performance of the parachute. The other is to
clear the space immediately around a canopy so that CRW jumpers can fly
immediately adjacent to other canopies and not have to worry about
entangling with bridles & pilot chutes. |
|
| |
Ribs |
The vertical pieces of material on the parachute that join the top skin of a
canopy to the bottom skin. See Load Bearing Ribs
and Non Load Bearing Ribs. |
|
|
Rig |
Colloquial
for a complete harness/container & parachute system. |
|
|
Rigger |
A person certified to pack, alter,
and/or maintain parachute systems. |
|
|
Rip Cord |
A deployment system where a spring
loaded pilot chute is released by a cord that opens the pack holding the
pilot chute. This method is not used in CRW. See Pilot
Chute. |
|
|
Riser Dock |
When a CRW parachutist docks the
canopy such that the risers are positioned at the body of the parachutist
above. A line dock is where the feet of the parachutist above are in the
lines. A canopy dock is where the fabric is positioned at the feet of the
parachutist above. |
|
|
Riser
Jockey |
Colloquial
for CRW parachutist. |
|
|
Risers |
Pieces of webbing that connect the
harness to the suspension lines via the connector links. |
|
|
Rotation |
When a parachutist disconnects
from the top of a vertical formation and then flies down to rejoin at the
bottom of the
formation. |
|
|
Rotations |
A competition CRW event involving
4 parachutists and a cameraperson. The objective is to build a quad and
then perform as many rotations as possible in a set time. |
|
|
Round |
A
single surface canopy. Also known as one jump completed by all teams in a
competition. |
|
|
RSL |
Reserve Static Line. A line or
material that links the riser of the main parachute to some component of
the reserve deployment system. Its function is to automatically initiate
reserve deployment once the main canopy is released. |
|
|
Rubber
Bands |
See
Bands, Rubber. |
|
|
Rubis |
A CRW specific canopy made by The
Parachute Shop, Bensancon, France. It was designed for use as a rotations
and 8 way speed canopy. |
|
|
Running |
Heading down wind to maximise
ground speed. If spotted correctly, this is the direction parachutists
head after the canopy is fully opened. |
|
|
RW |
Relative Work.
Performing aerial manoeuvres whilst in freefall. |
|
|
S |
S&TA |
Safety & Training Advisor. A
USPA position based at local drop zones who is able to provide advice and
assistance. |
USA |
|
Sashay |
A
sashay is a movement to one side and then to another. Modern CRW Rotations
technique involves the pilot flying the canopy out & down the side of
the formation, and then sneaking back in under the bottom canopy. |
|
|
Seal |
A
seal (piece of lead with packers/riggers ID) is tied onto the reserve pin
after the inspection and packing is completed. Its function is to indicate
who packed the gear last. A missing seal may indicate that someone has
tampered with the gear or that an unqualified person may have repacked the
reserve. |
|
|
Seat Belts |
Restraints used during take off,
landing, and low altitude flight in all para-drop aircraft. They reduce
the amount of relative movement of bodies within an aircraft during high
impact landings and during excessive flight turbulence. |
|
|
Sentinel |
An AAD made by SSE
(Steve Snyder Enterprises) Inc. |
|
|
Sequential |
The
activity of building various formations and flying intermediate pieces
during a CF descent. Usually done for the purpose of competition and with
4 parachutists. |
* |
|
Sequential - 2 Way |
A
competitive discipline in canopy formation parachuting involving 2
parachutists
and a cameraperson who build a series of drawn
formations. |
* |
|
Sequential - 4 Way |
A
competitive discipline in canopy formation parachuting involving 4
parachutists
and a cameraperson who build a series of drawn
formations. |
* |
|
Sequential - 8 Way |
A
competitive discipline in canopy formation parachuting involving 8 persons
and a cameraperson who build a series of drawn
formations. |
* |
|
Shock
Loading |
The
maximum force exerted on a canopy during deployment. |
|
|
Side by Side |
When
two or more parachutists are flying in the same direction whilst they are
linked at the body and the end cells of their parachutes are in contact. |
|
|
Sink Rate |
The
rate of descent of an object through a fluid medium. |
|
|
Skydiver |
A parachutist who includes a
freefall component during the descent. See Parachutist. |
|
|
Skydiving |
The freefall
part of a
parachute descent. |
|
|
Skygod |
A
parachutist well respected for his/her skills and achievements in the
sport. |
|
|
S/L |
See
Static Line. |
|
|
Sleeve |
A
deployment device that the canopy is packed into. It is usually long and
tapered in shape. |
|
|
Slider |
A rectangular piece of material
& grommets which the suspension lines of the canopy run through. It
controls the speed of inflation (opening force) by inhibiting the spread of the canopy
during horizontal expansion (inflation). As the canopy expands, the slider
is forced from the top of the suspension lines down to the risers, thereby
allowing full pressurisation (inflation) in a controlled manner. |
|
|
Slot |
A
predefined position in a planned formation. Each parachutist must fly to
their slot and maintain their position until keyed to move onto the next
formation and possibly a new slot. |
|
|
Snatch
Force |
The
force exerted by the deployment system on the parachutist, when a canopy
extracted from the container accelerates to the same speed as the
parachutist. |
|
|
Snivel |
The
canopy is said to snivel if the time between line stretch and commencement
of horizontal expansion is greater than normal. It is a delayed
pressurisation of the canopy. |
|
|
SOS |
Single Operating System. A system
designed such that pulling any handle will release the main risers and
initiate reserve deployment. Used mainly in student operations. It is
dangerous to use for CRW as you want to be clear of your emergency prior
to commencing reserve activation. |
|
|
Span |
The distance from one wing tip of
a canopy to the opposite wing tip (side to side). |
|
|
Spectra |
A
high strength, lighter, poly-fibre replacing other lines (Kevlar, Dacron,
nylon). |
|
|
Spider Slider |
A
slider that is made up of two diagonal pieces of webbing joined in the
centre. This slider gives faster openings (due to less air resistance) and
better views for the parachutist using it. |
|
|
Spilling |
Air
escaping from a canopy leading to pressurisation fluctuations. |
|
|
Split Slider |
A
modified slider that can be split from side to side after deployment is
completed. This allows unobstructed views for the cameraperson when
filming canopy formations. |
|
|
Sport Parachuting |
Where the objective for
parachuting is recreational, it is considered sport parachuting. This
includes most civilian parachuting operations, regardless of whether a
financial gain is involved. Military parachuting is one example that does
not fit into this category. |
|
|
Spot |
The exit point related to a ground
reference. Many factors influence where the correct spot is including,
wind speeds at various altitudes, exit/opening heights, type of equipment,
type of jumps, and number of parachutists. See Spotting. |
|
|
Spotting |
Actively controlling the flight
path of an aircraft such that parachutists may exit at the correct ground
reference point. This gives the best opportunity to reach the target
landing area. |
|
|
Square |
Most reserve & earlier main
ram air canopies were rectangular in shape. They were referred to as
square, probably due to the fact that there predecessors were referred to
as rounds. |
|
|
Stabiliser |
Piece
of material connected to the outside bottom of the end cells whose
function is to promote stability (reduced oscillations) by controlling air
flow around the canopy. |
|
|
Stability |
A measure of how stable a body is
when interacting with a fluid. When disturbed, the body tends to find a
new equilibrium by use of movement and force. Incorrect responses may
create greater instability. |
|
|
Stable |
Where a parachutist is in control
of positioning, movements, and their relationship with air flow. A stable
parachutist is said to be in equilibrium (forces are balanced). |
|
|
Stack |
A vertical CRW formation where the
parachutist above is positioned at the centre cell leading edge or A-line attachments of the parachutist below.
This is most commonly achieved by the parachutist below flying the leading
edge of his canopy into contact with the body of the parachutist above.
See Open-Close. |
|
|
Stairstep |
A CRW formation where the feet of
the top parachutist are linked to the end cell outer A-line of the bottom
parachutist. It is the basis (technique) of all offset formations. |
|
|
Stall |
A
wing stalls when the angle of attack becomes so great that it disturbs the
relative air flow over the top of the wing hereby inducing a vacuum and
losing the force of lift. A parachutist will experience loss of forward
speed, temporary reduction in wind noise, and an increase in descent rate
whilst at the same time losing control of the flight characteristics of
their canopy. |
* |
|
Static Line |
A line is attached from the object
from which the parachutist is jumping from to the deployment system of the
canopy. Deployment of the canopy is initiated by the parachutist falling
away from the object to which the S/L is attached to. |
|
|
Steering Lines |
See
brake lines. |
|
|
Stevens Lanyard |
Invented by Perry Stevens. See
RSL. |
|
|
Stow |
Suspension
lines neatly locked by rubber bands into a tail pocket. |
|
|
Streamer |
A
high speed malfunction where line stretch is not followed by horizontal
expansion and the canopy fails to inflate. |
|
|
Student |
A parachutist who has not yet
attained the first recognised license and is still under the full guidance
of a certified instructor. |
|
|
Suspension Lines |
Material (usually made of Dacron,
nylon, or Kevlar) that connects the canopy material (at line attachment
points) to the connector links on the risers. |
|
|
Swage |
Joining
pieces of metal by using pressure. |
|
|
Swoop |
Generating
maximum glide, flare, and distance from a canopy during final approach.
Usually achieved by generating maximum air speed prior to the approach and
then adjusting the control inputs of the canopy to create the most
efficient wing possible. |
|
|
T |
Tail |
See
Trailing Edge. |
|
|
Tail
Pocket |
A
pocket sewn onto the top surface of a canopy at the trailing edge. The
suspension lines are stowed into the tail pocket. |
|
|
Tandem Jump |
A parachute jump involving two
people (instructor & student) suspended under the same canopy. |
|
|
Target |
The planned/intended landing area.
See Accuracy. |
|
|
Tension
Bar |
A
leverage device used to gain mechanical advantage over closing loops,
especially when closing reserve parachutes. |
|
|
Terminal Velocity |
This is attained when an
equilibrium is attained between drag (a body's resistance to air) and
weight (the force
of gravitational attraction). The acceleration equals zero. A typical person in a box-man position will
reach approximately 200 km/hr after about 9 seconds of
freefall. |
|
|
Three Ring Release |
Invented by Bill Booth. It is a
series of 3 interlocking rings which keep the harness attached to the
risers until the cutaway handle is pulled. |
|
|
Throw Out |
A hand deployed pilot chute system.
The pilot chute is pulled out of a pocket (see BOC), thrown into the
relative air flow at the side of the parachutist. It then induces drag by
inflating, opens the container, and extracts the parachute.
See Pull Out. |
|
|
Toggles |
Grips
of various descriptions (usually a loop of webbing material) connected to
the brake lines. They improve the grip a parachutist has on the brake
lines, which in turn, control the flight of a canopy. |
|
|
Toggle
Turkey |
Colloquial
for CRW parachutist. |
|
|
Tracking |
|
|
|
Trailing Edge |
The
rear most part of the canopy where the top & bottom skin are attached
and the brake lines are connected to. |
|
|
Triathlon |
A
CRW specific canopy made by Aerodyne International
from the USA. There is
also a hybrid version of the Triathlon which can be used for general
skydiving and CRW. |
|
|
Trim Tabs |
A method of altering the angle of
attack of a canopy by using a front riser pulley system. Especially used
by CRW videographers and sometimes by people in large CRW formations. |
|
|
TSO |
Technical Standard Order. USA
- FAA regulations applied to standards of manufacture for various
products. See TSO-C23c. |
USA |
|
TSO-C23c |
The TSO that specifically relates
to parachuting products. See TSO & AS-8015A &
Mil Spec. |
USA |
|
Tube
Stows |
Tubular
rubber bands. See Bands, Rubber. |
|
|
Turbulence |
Disturbed
airflow resulting in variations in localised pressure and relative air
velocity. It occurs either when either the path of a moving air mass is
obstructed by an object, or an object is propelled through an air mass.
Relative air flow on the lee / aft side of the object is turbulent.
Parachutists should avoid turbulence. |
|
|
Turn Around |
An
aborted jump run, usually when the aircraft has passed too far beyond the
established exit point. |
|
|
Turns |
Changes
in heading or direction caused by the parachutist applying force any of
his control inputs. |
|
|
Tutor |
A parachutist who is qualified and
capable of teaching parachutists specific skills related to a particular
area of parachuting. For example, a CRW tutor. There is not always a
formal qualification requirement to act as a tutor although it is
recommended. See Instructor. |
|
|
U |
Uppers |
Wind
characteristics at higher altitudes. When discussing uppers, CRW jumpers
normally consider winds from exit height until break off height. |
|
|
USPA |
United States Parachute
Association. Governs sport parachuting activities in the USA and is a
member of the NAA & FAI. |
USA |
|
V |
Velcro |
Commercial
name for hook and pile nylon tape fastener. It must be maintained/replaced
on a regular basis. The hook material tends to quickly wear out materials
that it comes into contact with. |
|
|
Velocity |
A
vector quantity that includes a magnitude, and a relative direction. See
Speed. |
|
|
Vents |
Mesh
covered holes on the bottom skin of some accuracy and BASE jumping
canopies. There function is to reduce the time required for pressurisation
and to allow air flow into the cells when flying with minimal forward
speed (i.e. in a deep brake configuration). Also, commonly found on
several panels of advanced round canopies. They assist in steering. |
|
|
Vigil |
An
AAD made by ?????. |
|
| W |
WADA |
World
Anti Doping Agency. |
|
|
WAG |
World
Air Games. An international sporting event involving several FAI air
sports at the same time. |
|
|
Waiver |
Permission granted by qualified
parachuting authorities to deviate from regulations. Something that may be
useful to CRW jumpers, especially when considering equipment configuration
requirements. |
|
|
Warping |
Achieved
by flying with front riser and opposite toggle inputs. The aim is to
reduce forward speed and control descent rate. Often used by the base
to make himself an easier target, or by parachutists flying a wing
slot on an offset formation. |
|
|
Water Jump |
Intentionally landing a parachute
into water. |
|
|
Wave Off |
A
key or signal given by a parachutist to indicate the cessation of activity
and commencement of formation break down. |
|
|
WDI |
Wind Drift Indicator. A device
that is supposed to approximate the flight characteristics of flying
parachute. It is used to indicate wind patterns. |
|
|
Weather |
A
description of meteorological activity. Wind direction & speed,
visibility (cloud & fog), humidity, etc. All these must be considered
for CRW jump as they impact safety & flight performance. |
|
|
Weight |
The
force of gravitational attraction. It is one of three main forces acting
on the wing. Insufficient weight may mean poor pressurisation of a canopy.
Hence the wing will not be shaped properly and will fly inefficiently. It
will also be more prone to pressurisation fluctuations (even total
shutdown). An excessively loaded canopy may have a weight force which
exceeds the lift force by such an amount that the parachutist is unable to
flare upon landing. See Lift & Drag. |
|
|
Weights |
Used
to equalise the exit weight (or wing loading) of parachutists in
formations. See Wing Loading. |
|
|
Weight
Shift |
Another
steering technique. Altering the relative loading on each side of the
canopy by shifting the your weight in the harness. For example, loading
the left side will steer the canopy left. This can be achieved by lifting
the right buttock or lowering the leaning to the left. |
|
|
Whuffo |
A person who does not jump.
"Why fo dey jump out of dem perfekly gud airplanes"? Extended
to include ignorant parachutists who have the same attitude towards other
disciplines in the sport. See Meatie. |
|
|
Wind Line |
A
line parallel to the wind velocity vector. |
|
|
Wind Sock |
A cloth tube mounted on a freely
rotating pole. It is used to indicate ground wind direction and velocity. |
|
|
Wing |
A
position in offset formations where a parachutist makes a stair-step dock
on another parachutist (one side of his canopy is caught by another
parachutists), and the other side of his canopy is not connected to
anyone. See Lock Off Slot. |
|
|
Wing
Dock |
This
is a stair-step dock made where the parachutist being docked upon already
has another parachutist connected on the opposite leg. |
|
|
Wing Loading |
Ratio of overall exit weight (lbs)
to the planform area of the canopy (square feet). The units are hence, lbs per
square feet. Technically, it is the average force per unit area exerted on a
canopy. In CRW, it is extremely important to balance wing loadings such
that all parachutes have similar flying characteristics. This makes it
easier to fly in formation together. |
|
|
Wingsuit |
A
flying suit integrated into a jumpsuit. There are 3 wings: one between the
legs, and two that run between the arms and torso. The wings are follow
the ram air design philosophy (two surfaces connected by vertical ribs).
Wingsuits allow increased forward speeds and reduced descent rates. These
mean that a parachutist can travel a greater distance for a given height. |
|
|
Woomera |
A harness/container system
developed by Roochutes Australia. It is unique in that the reserve is hand
deployed. Most modern systems are ripcord deployed. |
|
|
WPC |
World Parachuting Championships.
The highest level of parachuting competition. Overseen by the FAI. |
|
|
X |
- |
- |
|
|
Y |
- |
- |
|
|
Z |
ZP (Zero-P) |
Zero Porosity. This material is
relatively impermeable to air. The less air that passes through canopy
material, the more efficiently it flies. |
* |
|
|
|
|
This list is derived from Tom Begic with reference to the
APF, USPA, BPA, The Skydivers Handbook, The Parachute Manual, and various internet sites.
