it's been a crappy month so..

[Guest ozzie]

With the weather becoming warmer and more enticing for aviating and the NSW long weekend coming up, i'll just ask everyone here to please, please, think about what you are doing and PLAY SAFE. It has been a crappy month with the loss of three friends, two in the Fox Glacier accident and one last weekend in Tully. Lets have a great fun and safe season for aviating.

 

Ozzie

 

 

[farri]

Ozzie, I`ll support your call for safety,it`s just tragic that anyone should be injured or killed trying to enjoy themselves, I`d change it in an instant if I could.

 

Tully is only 100 klm south from here,know it real well, I`ve flown into the aerodrome there several times,lived there as a kid.

 

I heard about the accident on the local TV news but they didn`t say much other than it was a woman,have you any facts on it.

 

Frank.

 

 

[Tomo]

Thanks Ozzie, I'm flying this weekend also, so It is good for the reminder - thanks.

 

What type of accident happened at Tully?

 

 

[Guest ozzie]

Fiona was a highly experienced Skydiver who i have known since she started in 1980. She was the competition director for the APF and held several positions on the international sporting bodies as well.. During the North Queensland championships she was involved in a low altitude canopy collision with a less experienced jumper. The altitude was too low to execute a reserve opening. The other jumper landed successfully. Fiona was pronounced DOA. The irony of it is that she had just had a paper published on the danger of canopy collisions and how to lesson the risks. seems you can't cover every angle. Everyone involved in the sport knew Fiona and her death has rocked the sport. On Saturday at sunset every dropzone in Australia will participate in a memorial skydive and her husband will release her ashes above her home drop zone at Picton NSW.

 

To add futher injury to this and the NZ Fox Glacier accident we have learnt today of yet the loss of another 'Sky Sister', "Buffy". Also from Picton who died during a BASE jump in Malaysia.

 

It does not matter what branch of aviation we participate in, we are all bound by the same unchangable rules.

 

Lest we forget. We are not playing chess!

 

Play safe

 

 

[motzartmerv]

terrible terrible stuff. Fiona's passing has alot of people at wollongong quite rattled. My heart goes out to Dr John and other members of her family. As ozzie said she was one of the most experienced jumpers around and did a lot to further the sport. and will be missed by many.

 

Let this strengthen our resolve to do all we can to minimise the risk's in what ever aviation hobby or jobs we partake in.

 

 

[Ballpoint 246niner]

Fiona was a regular at Toogoolawah when I jumped and besides her passion and skill- she was incredibly safety focussed. Fi did a lot to support many female jumpers and the APF s well. Ozzie you obviously knew her well and my condolscences to all thse close to her and that share the passion to accelerate through the air. I 'll never forget her beaming face accross the formation on a sunset 12 way in '97.

 

Endless Free fall to her

 

Blue skies & blood shot eyes.

 

 

[Guest ozzie]

Mozart, you know the good Dr John as well, i have known him since i first started jumping in 75. What a true gentleman he is. Saturday on sunset we will carry and scatter pink roses on a memorial jump for Fiona at drop zones across the country.

 

 

[Tomo]

Terrible news, was up at Tully the other day - may have even met her there, as there were quite a few female jumpers about.

 

Terrible.

 

 

[motzartmerv]

Yea ozzie.. He is a champion of a bloke.. Doesn't it suck that the worst things seem to happen to the nicest people.. While the "wallys" of the world seem to be able to cut away.

 

 

[Guest ozzie]

Oh so true.