I safely landed this week for jump number 39 & 40. I performed jumpmaster duties on the 39th jump (1st jumper out, responsible for spotting the drop zone and checking all equipment). I jumped from a small commercial plane out in Shelton, WA on a sunny day. I was a bit nervous since the last time I jumped there the winds gusted and carried me off the drop zone and across a highway to a sapling forrest. Luckily I made it unscathed. But these two jumps were good, the 40th jump I could have landed while standing up it was so soft. Last September I only had 19 static-line parachute jumps, so I am getting closer to my goal of 65. After 65 jumps I will be rated as a Master Parachutist (one of my careergoals). 25 more to go!
This week I will be performing my first duties as a Safety on a C-17 jump (controls static lines as all jumpers exit). Wish me luck, Safeties do not have to jump, but I will wear a parachute with no static line in case I was to fall out while jumpers are exiting the plane.
See this older blog for some more info on what I am talking about.