Within the last seven months there have been two U.S.
tandem fatalities in which the student/passenger has fallen out of the
harness upon opening shock. Reportedly in one case the person went under
the back strap and in the other, over the back strap.
As circumstances of these two fatalities are being
examined by multiple parties, it is imperative that tandem instructors
and safety personnel examine and review tandem harness fitting and
adjustment procedures available from the manufacturers.
Schools and centers with tandem operations should review
tandem adjustments for varying body types while simulating opening
positions/sequences on the ground to ensure a full understanding of
potentially hazardous body shifting which can occur during freefall and
opening.
Tandem manufactures should examine their respective
systems to ensure that unusual opening attitudes, varying body
sizes/shapes, and recommended instructor procedures will provide
student/passenger security within the harness, particularly during the
opening sequence.
