In the event of an aircraft emergency with no students or instructors aboard, who coordinates procedures?

In the context of an aircraft emergency with no students or instructors aboard, the coordination of procedures typically falls to the jumpmaster or spotter. This is because the jumpmaster or spotter has specific training related to skydiving operations and is familiar with emergency procedures relevant to parachuting activities. Their role includes ensuring that the jump operation runs smoothly and safely, and in the case of an emergency, they are equipped to handle communications and decisions that need to be made quickly to maintain safety.

The pilot’s primary responsibility is to operate the aircraft and manage in-flight operations, which could limit their ability to coordinate jump-specific emergency procedures effectively. The ground crew is generally focused on supporting jump operations from the ground and may not have the authority or training to coordinate emergency responses in-flight. Flight attendants are trained for commercial airline operations and are not involved in skydiving activities, making them unsuitable for this scenario.

Thus, the jumpmaster or spotter's experience and role in skydiving make them the most qualified individual to coordinate emergency procedures in the absence of students and instructors.