Brento Legality Update

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I have just returned from a meeting with the Italian government official (Iva Berasi) responsible for invoking the Brento BASE prohibition. Though the meeting was tense at times, our (BrentoBASErs) concerns were aired and Ms. Berasi had agreement with our concerns. Ms. Berasi had no requirement to meet with us. Not only did she meet with us, But she has added us (Bepi Hoffer, Marco Rossi, Tracy Walker) as members of the commission to study the Brento situation to create solutions. I salute Ms. Berasi for this. Unfortunately, the prohibition bill has reached reached the point of becoming a law on July 12. The prohibitionery bill that was introduced by Ms. Berasi was for an initial 6 month research period to determine the viability of BASEing in Provincia di Trentino. Ms. Berasi has agreed to shorten this time if we can show accountability. She also stated that we should submit regulations ourselves to maintain the legality of Brento (like in Norway) to the commision for review/approval.
My concepts of the meeting with Ms.Berasi are as follows.

A. We must put in an instructional/jumpmaster program for the beginners
We have been given the go ahead to open a school of base, Work permits (aka Greencards) could be granted for foreigners who were approved by the commision.
And a program that only allows high experienced or properly licensed (BASE) jumpers to bring no BASE experienced jumpers. This is part of the the problem there ( Feb. 2000, a low experienced Brento jumper brought no-experienced skydivers and put the first beginner off in Foehn winds(a dynamic, adiabatic wave form wind that commonly can reach over one hundred miles per hr, that is absolutely irresponsible to jump in.) and in the ensuing turbulences ended up hanging on the wall after striking it and was rescued by the Alpen rescue Heli team and hospitalized with broken arms and legs. The others did not jump and the Low experienced jumper initailly denied having any part of the incident until confronted with the facts).

B. Have an info packet available to explain the charcteristics of the site, Most certainly the winds, this place is one of the longest valleys system in the Alps and has been used in several scientific studies as an Alpen model for oragraphic wind flow of anabatic winds (Valley and Mountain winds/Day and night flows over terrain)

C. A list of approved equipment for BASE in Provincia di Trentino

D. Have a check-in-out procedure to account for the jumpers in case of missing jumpers.

E. Have the possibility to purchase insurance for any possible rescues like is available in Switzerland.


The Legality issue.
The area has not the manpower or the desire to pursue basejumpers, or to impose hefty fines/penalties according to Ms. Berasi. The jumping of BASErs Illegally would mean that in the event of a rescue, the jumper would be held responsible for the cost´s incurred as opposed to the state paying for it as per norm for other sports.

Ms. Berasi stated that "we" must regulate ourselves, or she will.
So what do we want to do?

I will add a disclaimer to this and my interpretations from Ms. Berasi. I had a translator and it´s possible that I have made some misunderstandings. And also I am open to any/all suggestions as per regulations to be suggested to the commision.
If no-one has any input, the site will stay Illegal. I cannot do this alone.
It´s not the sport that is dangerous, but how and with whom you do it with.
I wish to Thank Ms. Berasi, Bepi, Marco and all of the others that have helped define our goals to maintain legal and safe jumping in Provincia di Trentino.
Please contact me with any response and/or post them. I will fwd them thru the correct channels so that you will be heard.
Respectfully yours,
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aka tracy walker
base283@yahoo.com

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This would be a good starting block to make insurance a MANDATORY piece of equipment.I have looked into it for myself and a few other jumpers in the UK,if there is going to be a well run site with the whole "jumpmaster" thing then why not show the authorities that people are carrying the cost of any possible cas-evac situation...the policies are out there,you can get HELI vac assistance from the base of an object for about $350 for a years policy.

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This is a perfect time to start implementing the Licensing and site rating outlines that the CJAA is about to start to finalize.
I hope to get a final approaved version by September 1st. If you like, you can go to http://www.baselogic.com/ibf/ and start looking at it.

I think that the Italian jumpers would have their own licenses just as Norway, but a common framework that can be globally recognized is essential.

Mick...

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Hi Mick and 621, Thanks for your responses, your recommendations will be heard. Mick, I had some problems accessing the supporting documents (404-file not found), but how to implement this program is a problem. Any ideas? I found that all but one thing sounded great, to wait until the jumper reached an advanced level to do his own gear check is quite lame. Good rigging can get you out of bad situations, bad rigging can nullify a good situation. The educational lag is too much . The way is clear on this issue IMHO.
My students that take my full course have to rig/pack my one canopy rig under my supervision, but without any questions, before I even consider bringing them BASEing, I jump my students pack job. Some may consider me eccentric on this, whatever, but consider this, with the popularity of one canopy base rigs, combined with the configurational skills required for differing delays, one should be practically a rigger.
The German licensing system for base has this already as an endorsement (rigger). GermanyBASEAssn (VDO) has so far the most advances in dealing with government. Have you checked them out?
Back to Brento, here is the response I got from Marco Rossi concerning my doubts about my understanding of the translation which led me to make the original post..

M Rossi wrote;
Hi Tracy,

I can state that you have exactly understood what Berasi said. You have no misunderstandings.
Your interpretation of discussion is precise and your proposals are good and necessary.
endXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

So... It seems that we must have an approval rating, based on known Brento knowledgeable jumpers that can bring no-experienced jumpers there, and a way of certifying gear or prohibiting gear unworthy of base.
Have an insurance possibility based on the above criteria.

I wish to start certificating jumpers for Brento for the government. I really feel bad about this as I didn´t open this site (I think I was Brento # 9). Ms Berasi wants accountability.
The problem is I have to go to Kjerag and help manage things up there for July and August and I think my Internet access is severely remote.
So to all of the jumpers I have based with, Please send me your name, age, and experience level and I will start issuing certifications if you meet the standards, along with info packets if desired, which may be recognized by the Government. Or give me a better plan to follow. Stress abounds, your help is needed. My sincere apologies to the openers of the site.
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Hey hey...I will post details of the insurance policy tomorrow or Tuesday...covering limitations of use etc.I will also cover the details of the carrier as well as payments,blah,blah,blah.....I think it could be a good starting block for recognition of BASE....slowly slowly catchy monkey.Even if the site is closed 12 months then that is fine...so long as we have the infrastructure in place when it does re-open then respect from the outside will follow.Having just lost a friend in Norway I now think that the organisation is available and not too far away we just have to think about it before we make a half hearted attempt at implementation.