Just to clarify:
- yes - you can have a cloud jumping manual but I'm 99% these guys don't because of the busy airspace they operate it.
- the cloud base was 6k or so by the MB and EN METARS (both indicating BKN or OVC at the time) so they would have been opening after exiting
- the PIC is responsible for not dropping over other aircraft in G, ATC gives a clearance to drop in C and traffic if available below C. I don't know that low level traffic transitting coastal (the tiger moth scenics for example) would even give a primary paint?
All parachute ops (except when covered by a cloud manual) require the landing point to be in view on exit - impossible this morning.
I too have flown for such mobs and the pressure to operate outside the rules is immense and so I no longer am involved.
UTR