Aloha,

On Sunday February 6, 2005, Petty Officer Second Class Jeremy M. Barrett of Winfield, Iowa, died after his main parachute failed. The Navy says the 24-year-old was a hull technician and a diver assigned to the Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One at Pearl Harbor. 

Jeremy was on the first load of the day on Skydive Hawaii’s Cessna Caravan. He packed his own main parachute and was using his own equipment. Skydive Hawaii regrets the loss to our skydiving community and extends our condolences to all those who morn with us. A memorial service for Jeremy was held on February 12, 2005.

This tragedy is the second at Skydive Hawaii, the first being in 1991. Around 30,000 people jump out of Skydive Hawaii aircraft every year.

A new ruling from the IRS is preventing the delivery of Jet A to Dillingham Airfield. A considerable tax would have to paid by all the users of Jet A at Honolulu International Airport if Jet A were trucked off to consumers at Dillingham Airfield. As a result our aircraft must refuel in Honolulu, which is a good 1½-hour round trip and an equal delay to Caravan operations. Skydive Hawaii intends to operate their Cessna 206 when the Caravan is refueling.

The FAA has recently authorized the installation of our Caravan bench seats. The addition of the bench seats greatly improves an already wonderful jump plane. In addition to great views out of the Caravan, the seat installation makes the exit process easier.