A DZ Philosophy
by Jen Sharp
12 Sep 2005
by Jen Sharp
12 Sep 2005
Developing a mission statement can clarify goals and put staff on "the
same page." Last year, we published our mission statement &
philosophy in our SOP.
Mission: To provide a safe, educational and fun environment
for skydivers and spectators to enjoy the sport and its related activities.
The philosophy of our priorities are interlocked, one depending on the other, but there is an order of importance…
Our number one priority is SAFETY. This most important aspect takes precedence over all other when making decisions. “Safety is no accident.” That means you think about safety when you are not in the immediacy of a decision that requires good judgment. As a first step, I encourage all participants to give much thought to this aspect and set specific limits for themselves. Write in the front of your logbook what exactly your wind limit and conditions are for stepping down from a jump. Write what altitude you would be willing to get out of the aircraft in an emergency, when you would use your reserve, when you would use your main, and if it were different if you were acting as an instructor or coach. Risk management in a sport full of risks requires that we have layers of protection, redundancy. I do not want to lose a friend, so I will always focus on safety first. I also don’t want to get sued, and I want to protect my staff from lawsuit. How do you keep from getting sued? Don’t have any incidents! And that requires safety.
Our second priority is EDUCATION. The skydiving student is the future of our sport, much like our children are our future. We must care for students as if they are children, teaching them what they don’t know, setting goals, living as a good example, caring about all aspects of their life, not just their performance in the air. An instructor or coach is a motivator as well as teacher. And just as I would teach my kids, the Golden Rule is the most important one. Treat students as you would like to be treated… remember what it was like, and add your personal touch! In the next section is a publication by the Federal Aviation Administration, modified by United States Parachute Association, entitled Fundamentals of Instruction. It is the backbone of instructing; there is no other course or publication that comes close to boiling down the essence of education. But education doesn’t mean you are always the teacher… You must forever be a student of skydiving yourself, no matter how many jumps or ratings you have. Continual self improvement adds also to the safety and fun!
Our third priority is FUN. “Why would anyone jump out of a perfectly good airplane?” Despite our top ten reasons, I can’t come up with a better answer than, “For fun!” Skydiving is a sport where you can relieve the stress from your life while still enjoying goal setting and challenges. Renew or add to your skills and keep the sport fresh for yourself. It’s important not only to have fun ourselves, but also to create an environment of acceptance and family, so that fun can spill over to those spectating. Perhaps then they will eventually join us in our inalienable right to pursuit of happiness! No, the customer is not always right, but our first jumpers MUST walk away with the feeling they had the time of their LIFE! In addition, this aspect of service can help in our first priority of safety. Good customer service, personal attention, a fun attitude will give our students a feeling of belonging, and they will be more likely to continue in the sport, more likely to take on our philosophy of safety, and less likely to sue if injured.
Mission: To provide a safe, educational and fun environment
for skydivers and spectators to enjoy the sport and its related activities.
The philosophy of our priorities are interlocked, one depending on the other, but there is an order of importance…
Our number one priority is SAFETY. This most important aspect takes precedence over all other when making decisions. “Safety is no accident.” That means you think about safety when you are not in the immediacy of a decision that requires good judgment. As a first step, I encourage all participants to give much thought to this aspect and set specific limits for themselves. Write in the front of your logbook what exactly your wind limit and conditions are for stepping down from a jump. Write what altitude you would be willing to get out of the aircraft in an emergency, when you would use your reserve, when you would use your main, and if it were different if you were acting as an instructor or coach. Risk management in a sport full of risks requires that we have layers of protection, redundancy. I do not want to lose a friend, so I will always focus on safety first. I also don’t want to get sued, and I want to protect my staff from lawsuit. How do you keep from getting sued? Don’t have any incidents! And that requires safety.
Our second priority is EDUCATION. The skydiving student is the future of our sport, much like our children are our future. We must care for students as if they are children, teaching them what they don’t know, setting goals, living as a good example, caring about all aspects of their life, not just their performance in the air. An instructor or coach is a motivator as well as teacher. And just as I would teach my kids, the Golden Rule is the most important one. Treat students as you would like to be treated… remember what it was like, and add your personal touch! In the next section is a publication by the Federal Aviation Administration, modified by United States Parachute Association, entitled Fundamentals of Instruction. It is the backbone of instructing; there is no other course or publication that comes close to boiling down the essence of education. But education doesn’t mean you are always the teacher… You must forever be a student of skydiving yourself, no matter how many jumps or ratings you have. Continual self improvement adds also to the safety and fun!
Our third priority is FUN. “Why would anyone jump out of a perfectly good airplane?” Despite our top ten reasons, I can’t come up with a better answer than, “For fun!” Skydiving is a sport where you can relieve the stress from your life while still enjoying goal setting and challenges. Renew or add to your skills and keep the sport fresh for yourself. It’s important not only to have fun ourselves, but also to create an environment of acceptance and family, so that fun can spill over to those spectating. Perhaps then they will eventually join us in our inalienable right to pursuit of happiness! No, the customer is not always right, but our first jumpers MUST walk away with the feeling they had the time of their LIFE! In addition, this aspect of service can help in our first priority of safety. Good customer service, personal attention, a fun attitude will give our students a feeling of belonging, and they will be more likely to continue in the sport, more likely to take on our philosophy of safety, and less likely to sue if injured.
