A SKYDIVE PLT LETS SKYDIVERS JUMP WITHOUT THE REQUIRED CLOUD DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS.

Narrative

THE MARINE LAYER OF CLOUDS HAD BEEN MOVING IN AND OUT OVER THE ARPT ALL DAY. AT APPROX XA00 LCL TIME; A LOAD OF SKYDIVERS WERE RELEASED FROM THE ACFT. AFTER A 'BORDERLINE' DECISION TO ALLOW THEM TO JUMP (DUE TO CLOUD CLRNC REQUIREMENTS; SKYDIVERS MUST MAINTAIN 2000 FT HORIZ DISTANCE FROM CLOUDS). THE SKYDIVERS MEANDERED TOO CLOSE TO THE CLOUDS FOR SAFETY; EVEN THOUGH THEIR LNDG SITE WAS NOT CLOUDED OVER. THE PLT'S DECISION TO ALLOW THE SKYDIVERS TO JUMP SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED MORE CAREFULLY; AS WELL AS THE SKYDIVERS USING POOR JUDGEMENT TO CONTINUE WITH THE SKYDIVE. THE SKYDIVERS WERE ALSO FOUND TO HAVE NOT KNOWN THE REGS VERY WELL. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE INEXPERIENCE OF THE PLT IN SKYDIVING OPS; AND THE IGNORANCE OF THE PLT AND SKYDIVERS WITH REGARDS TO THE SIT AND CLOUD CLRNC REQUIREMENTS. THE MARINE LAYER'S RAPID MOVEMENTS WERE ALSO A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS SHOULD BE THE ABSOLUTE EDUCATION OF SKYDIVING PLTS AND SKYDIVERS ON CLOUD CLRNC REQUIREMENTS. THIS MAY BE BETTER ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH WRITTEN TESTING (A SHORT WRITTEN TEST ADMINISTERED TO THE PLTS AND SKYDIVERS BY THE OPERATOR OF THE JUMPING OP).