Given the recent weather changes here in the North, my typical “weekend happenings” post on Fridays is becoming less relevant. So, in this pseudo down time that is known as winter, I’ve decided to implement a new column.
Each week, I’ll interview an expert in the skydiving world and post the Q&A here for y’all to read, learn from, and hopefully be mildly entertained in the process. I’m calling it “Hear it from the expert.” Original, I know.
For the first installment of the column, I have interviewed someone from my home DZ, Canton Air Sports. He is someone we trust our lives with every time we board the airplane and prepare for our jumps – and honestly, he holds a position that doesn’t get nearly enough recognition in the skydiving world.
Today, we’re talking to our pilot, Ken Daidone.
SDC: So Ken, how long have you been a pilot?
Ken: All my adult life.
SDC: What types of aircraft have you flow over the years?
Ken: Most of the four seat piston single engine aircraft, Cessna Caravans, Super Twin Otters, King Airs, Twin Bonanzas, and a couple of hundred hours in aBoeing 707.
SDC: What got you into flying jump runs for skydivers?
Ken: Initially, it was a time builder for me, then it progressed into a much higher level of trying to be a jump pilot a jumper would love to have flying them with extreme precision focused on never missing the drop zone and in the event of a cutaway, their main and freebag to land on the dropzone. Not a perfect record there, but close.
SDC: Well I’ll definitely agree that you’re one of my favorite pilots! So on the rare occasion that the spot is off, do you hang out in the sky to see where the jumpers landed?
Ken: It’s been such a long time since that has happened. What I do look and spot for are mains and freebags that don’t make the airport. To answer your question, yes I do watch where they land if I am in a piston aircraft. If I am in a turbine, I will get a good location of where they were heading.
SDC: So we’ve gotta know, how cool is it to watch skydivers in freefall and under canopy from the air?
Ken: I love it! I always count the canopies to make sure they all opened and spot the cutaways to direct ground crew where to look. Especially in the turbines, landing before the tandems.
SDC: What’s the biggest challenge when it comes to flying a plane that skydivers are jumping from?
Ken: Coordinating with Air Traffic Control and at the same time calming the nervous first time jumper who is sitting next to me all the while making it look like any monkey could fly the airplane.
SDC: I bet you’ve seen your fair share of nervous students. Any one in particular stand out? What’s your strategy for helping calm nerves?
Ken: I can’t really think of any that particularly stand out, they all act about the same. Eventually they look at all the gages and dials and I usually tell the student that I have no idea what all that stuff does but I am supposed to look at the gages once in a while to make my job look difficult.
SDC: What’s your biggest pet peeve as a pilot for skydivers?
Ken: ARROGANCE, I despise it!
SDC: I’m with you on that one. What’s your strategy for putting the sky gods in their place?
Ken: I completely ignore them and avoid talking to them, because as you know, anything they say is only said to boost their already enormous ego.
SDC: What is the most rewarding part of piloting jump planes?
Ken: Landing with a load of jumpers and getting an applause.
SDC: What’s your favorite part of flying for Canton Air Sports?
Ken: Landing on the short runway and using less than half of it. I also really enjoy taking exit shots with my camera from the pilot’s seat.
(One of Ken’s shots before takeoff – Rick and I loading up for a freefly jump.)
SDC: This is definitely something us jumpers love too! What made you think to start photographing exits?
Ken: I used to shoot video for 4 way teams and have always been into photography so I thought that it would be nice to see a pilot’s view of the exits. I don’t know any pilots doing this but I’m sure they are out there somewhere.
SDC: What’s the scariest thing you witnessed, either as a pilot or just in your time in the skydiving community?
Ken: Death.
SDC: What’s one of the funniest things you’ve seen when flying skydivers?
Ken: The clothes of 23 jumpers landing between the pilot and copilot seat in a Super Twin Otter as they all left the aircraft “NAKED.”
Thanks Ken, for taking the time to talk about your experiences as a pilot. Next time you’re at the DZ, be sure to thank your pilot – they deserve it, after all.
Blue skies!
Ashley
Ken was the pilot on my first jump. Seems like a really cool and funny guy. Thanks again Ken!
Oh, yeah. I really dig the interview idea! Keep it up. Can’t wait for next weeks
I dig it too:)
HEY John, did you say your “1st” jump? a case of Christmas Ale may be in order…LOL:)
I’ve had a swift look at your site, it looks totally interesting. Maybe you’d like to send a synopsis totally for us to publish by reason of you? Please manufacture it as precise as conceivable and embrace a short bio of yourself and a interdependence couple to your install at the end.
Thanks guys! Glad you like it. And John, you can feel free to bring that Christmas Ale directly to me, I’ll make sure it gets to the DZ