Building Jumpers

[imported_Tom Aiello]

So, this morning I got an odd phone call from one of my best friends.

My friend works on the 68th floor of a highrise building (and no--I'm not going to endanger his job by asking for access). He called me asking how he could get a parachute (he'd seen the WTC footage of the people jumping to escape the flames).

Believe it or not, this was a serious inquiry. I remember someone saying here that a system had been worked on several years ago for this sort of evacuation.

At any rate, I found this an intriguing "legitimate" use of our skills and equipment. Perhaps a road to greater acceptance of our activities?

Does anyone know anything about either the previous attempts to design this kind of system, or anyone else who might be looking into this in the wake of yesterdays events?



--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@ucdavis.edu

[Dwain]

>Does anyone know anything about either the
>previous attempts to design this kind of system,
>or anyone else who might be looking into this in
>the wake of yesterdays events?


http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Tr...ahistoria.html

In the XV century, we find the famous genius of all times, LEONARDO DA VINCI, painter, sculptor, mathematician, scientist, engineer, designer and builder of many devices. He studied birds and flight for several years and got basic conclusions in aeronautics.

The parachute he designed was pyramidal-shaped, as can be appreciated in these drawings included in his notebooks.

His original idea was to build a device to rescue people from burning buildings. Although we don't know if he tried this parachute, many people consider LEONARDO DA VINCI the "Father of the Parachute".

[guest]

I was asked about this too. And start thinking about... Maybe something like a STATIC-LINE-BASE jump. One takes the equipment right next the window, and steps out ! I think one in wich windows would be great, for many would prefer to go downstairs...

Another idea was about a rescue capsule, for up to 100 people. In case of emergency, everybody goes to the capsule, and push " EJECT " button.
The capsule would be sent sidelong, with a parachute to guarantee safe landing...

Just ideas... I really would like to see the previous attempts .
:9

[guest]

Well, having seen the pictures of WTC jumpers and having heard of a freaking 5 way off of the above, I can't say I didn't think about it myself.

If I were to give a parachute to a whuffo who's never learned anything about skydiving and parachute, I would definitely go for a round:

1. Run-for-your-life jumpers don't know about exit positions and moves, and as the pictures indicated, fallers were anywhere from head-down, through back-to-earth, to stand-up. As most BD watchers know, eventually everything will open, but heading is an issue.

2. Whuffoes can't steer. They can't break either, and they really can't afford to be picky about the landing area (unlike us :-) ). Round canopies do nothing but take you relatively slowly towards the ground.

3. Rounds pack small and flat. Give them a rescue parachute, spring loaded, and you're done.

My two cents on an otherwise insane topic.

Inbar.

[Skypuppy]

There was something in one of the Baseline magazines about a system developed for window-washers that would work from their platforms. I think it was round and was static-line. Unfortunately I lent most of my mags to a guy trying to organize some jumps off the CN tower and never got them back...He's dead now.:+

[guest]

The most cogetn attempt at using parachute technology to evacuate buildings took place about ten years ago or so. It was centered around the idea of stringing a cable from the top of the building down to the ground at an angle, then the people would snap onto the cableand static line off.

The canopy would then open and act as a speed brake as they slid down the cable. It worked but for whatever reason, it never got used.

Robin

[guest]

The following is an email I sent. In reply I was reffered to this forum. I hope that this will add to your discussion and perhaps give a little insight into what a Non-B.A.S.E jumper is thinking:

>My name is Michael McClelland, I am an actor living in
>New York city. On Tuesday, September 9, I had the
>unfortunate experience of witnessing the second plane
>crashing into the World Trade Center, ultimately
>causing it to collapse. Like thousands of New Yorkers,
>I was covered from head to toe in dust, ash, and
>Debris as I fled the area. It is an event I shall not
>soon forget.
>
>I tell you this to give you a bit of background into
>my state of mind as I ask you a question. Watching the
>towers of the World Trade center collapse, I asked
>myself if there was any possible way a person might
>have survived such a horrific event.
>
>I have read your article on the blinc magazine web
>site on beginning B.A.S.E jumping. B.A.S.E jumping
>certainly seems like a very exciting sport and I can
>see and respect its attractiveness, however, I can
>tell you with 0 certainty that it is not for me.
>While I believe (and sincerely hope) that the World
>Trade Center disaster is something that we will only
>see once in a lifetime, there are more than a few
>other circumstances that could possible leave a person
>in a similar situation. Specifically, being trapped in
>tall building and in imminent danger.
>
>My question to you is this: Is it possible for a
>person with no interest in B.A.S.E jumping as a sport
>utilize it as a technique for escaping from a tall
>building?
>
>One of the interesting things I read in your article
>is that "Anyone can jump from a bridge and open a
>parachute". You also seem to think that one of the
>most important skills involved in B.A.S.E jumping is
>to successfully navigate and acurrately hit a landing
>zone. But, what if you are in a position where you are
>willing to accept a certain amount of injury on
>landing and not real picky about your landing Zone? In
>short, is it possible prepair yourself for a single
>B.A.S.E jump as an escape without actually pursuing
>B.A.S.E jumping as a sport?
>
>Thank you in advance for your time.
>
>-Michael McClelland
>http://www.michaelmcclelland.com

[imported_Tom Aiello]

OK, I'm going to start a flame-o-rama. Everybody get ready to tell me I'm a complete idiot.

I offer this proposition:

A non-jumper could be prepared for a "burning building" jump in a single day (eight hour) training course.

I do not believe that the escapees (let's not call them jumpers) would be uninjured. I anticipate an injury rate of around 25-50%. However, they'd have a survival rate of close to 95% (way better than the people who stayed in the building).

I would teach them stable exits into a pool, basic exit evaluation (if you drop a rock, does it get to the street), PLF's, and stability theory. Then, I'd evaluate their office to find the best exit point(s). Then I'd equip them with big rounds in small velcro rigs. I'm not sure if I'd want a spring loaded set-up or a hand deploy (probably the latter because the rig has to stay packed for years). I'd also probably change the PC pack job (no wrinkles allowed) for this reason.

OK, flame away. What do you think?


--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@ucdavis.edu

[imported_Tom Aiello]

--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@ucdavis.edu

Oh, yeah, and I'd make them sign the "Waiver-from-Hell", unless, like my friend who originally asked me, I know that they, their wife and family, their parents and siblings would never sue me (I've known the guy for years, I was the best man at his wedding, and he's a strong believer in personal responsibility).

[feral]

That would be a pretty money earner for a base company to get a contract to supply a system to thousands of companies with thousands of staff and if for your tax dept they can use the poostar from pa the HP base canopy.... ssshhhh don't tell rOBIN he will start to make a rig for this.... fishing fishing fishing . Will he bite?.

bsbd feral x(

[Skypuppy]

Wouldn't the smart idea be to attach a diving board with a wire on it - you clip your static line to the wire, like an airborne jumper - run off the board and voila. Have a board at each corner. Or you could just have big winches on the roof with cables - give every one a harness, they clip on and rappel down the back of the building. If you had strong enough cables you could attach several people to a loop every 10 or 15 feet - when they're down it power winds back up and you start again. You could even put landings on the outside of the building every ten stories so once they're below the problem they can get back in and run down the stairs again (that might allow more people to get down then if everyone goes all the way to the ground).:o

[base615]

This is a cool idea but it could backfire when people who take the course decide they are qualified enough to go down their local 300 ft cliff and all bounce.

Craig

[imported_Tom Aiello]

Agreed. I think the best solution would be to keep the rigs in a glass "break in case of fire--alarm sounds" case. I doubt one of these would get stolen too often. And, the people who would steal one would probably be determined enough to bounce anyhow.


--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@ucdavis.edu

[imported_Tom Aiello]

A building-wide solution like the cable winch would obviously be best. However, that requires a lot of approval. A simple rigs-in-the-office setup, however, would only require the buy-in of one tenant.


--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@ucdavis.edu

(Mostly, just playing Devil's Advocate to stir up discussion here...)

[Alabanana]

This is the most fun I have ever had reading a thread on this board. Thanks, Tom! You are always a thought-provoker.
Joe
P.S. Everyone, please continue this!:-)