Your Skydiving Questions Answered!
We fully understand that even the most adventurous daredevil will have some apprehensions about making a jump, but there really is nothing to worry about. As this may be your first jump we aim to reduce your fear by answering some frequently asked questions below. If you cannot find the answer to a question you have about skydiving, please do not hesitate to contact us.
I have been shopping around on the internet and come across Tandem skydives that are much more expensive than your company. How can you be so cheap?
That is simple. Many of the Tandem jumps we do are made with the company owner, Dave Luke. This helps to reduce our overheads and allows us to pass those savings on to you. There are many skydiving companies that simply mark up the price and retail the jumps to the public. Remember, if you book with a more expensive company, and go to one of our centres, you will jump with the same instructors, from the same plane, using the same equipment as you would if you paid the other companies higher price!
What is BPA membership and why do we have to have it?
All centres in the UK have to conform to the British Parachute Association rules (BPA). One of the rules they set is the legal requirement for you to be third party insured when jumping from a plane. By becoming a Temporary Member of the BPA you are covered for up to £2 million third party cover. This membership/insurance costs £30 per person and is included in all the prices we display.
Why do some centres cost more than others?
The centres that operate on a full-time basis, i.e. 5-7 days per week, and run turbine aircraft, are able to charge less due to the number of people they can accommodate at any one time. This means they can charge a lower cost per head for their jumps than smaller centres that only open two days a week.
Another important factor in getting value for money, is the Exit Altitude from a plane. Most small centres normally drop from 10,000 ft with a 30 seconds free-fall, whereas the larger centres drop from 12,000 to 15,000 ft with a 40-45 seconds free-fall. Ultimately, this means you will get 30+% more time for your money if you drop from a larger centre. This saving only applies to Tandem skydives and AFF courses which happen to be more popular at the moment. There is no difference in free-fall time to Static Line / RAPS courses. Also weight limits are differ between centres due to the type of equipment and aircraft used at that particular centre all details for each centre can be found on the locations pages.
Can anyone skydive?
Most people can skydive. However, the weight limit for AFF and Static Line jumps is 15 stone. Depending on the jump centre, the weight limit for Tandem jumps is between 14 and 18 stone. The weights indicated must be in proportion to the overall height of the person jumping.
The person carrying out an AFF or Static Line jump needs to be in good health with average fitness. This does not apply so much when doing a Tandem Jump. For example, we have carried out Tandem jumps with many people who blind or a wheel-chair user.
If you are over 40, you will be asked to complete a British Parachute Association (BPA) Medical Form 114a for Static Line and AFF and 115A and 115B for Tandem Skydivies which your doctor will need to stamp before being able to jump. This form can be downloaded here or it can be sent to you with the information pack.
If you are under 18, you will be required to complete a British Parachute Association (BPA) Consent Form 106 that will need to be signed by a parent/guardian. To download a copy of this form, please click here. If you have a medical condition then your parent/guardian will also need to sign Form 114a 115A 115B .
Where can I fly from in the UK?
We offer 17 centres to Skydive from. Please go to the Locations link at the top of this page or click here for details of the areas in the UK that you can fly from, as well as detailed directions.
What type of jump do you recommend?
We personally recommend the Tandem Skydive to everyone except those who would like to take up the sport of skydiving. The reason being, you will still experience free-fall with a Tandem Skydive, but without the need for the same amount of training. You will normally exit the aircraft from between 10,000 to 13,000 ft depending on the centre and aircraft used. The parachute will open at 5,000 ft after which you will then float down the last mile with your instructor - normally to a soft landing!
How fast will I be falling when in free-fall?
Approximately 120 miles per hour (if you are flat and stable).
Can you breath in free fall?
Yes you can! It is very rare that a first time skydiver will have difficulty catching their breath. After a few jumps, breathing will happen naturally and you won't give it any more thought than you are now!
What happens if my parachute fails to open?
All parachutists wear two parachutes when making a jump. If you are a Tandem student the instructor will carry out the reserve drills and use the 'spare' if required. If you are a Static Line Student, then as part of the course, you are taught how to deal with this situation and what action to take. This is one of the reasons the Static Line Course takes so much longer to learn.
In the event that I need to, what happens if I don't or can't use the reserve parachute?
All student parachute equipment has a device to open the reserve parachute automatically if required.
What happens if the weather is bad and I cannot jump on the day I am booked in?
British weather being what it is you can never guarantee that a skydive will take place on the day you booked it.
For Tandem Skydives, we will give you the option to call early on the day of your jump for an accurate weather check. If the weather is very poor we will re-book the jump on a day to suit you.
For AFF or RAPS courses, the weather will make no difference as you will need to attend and undergo the ground school tuition regardless of cloud cover. Do not pay too much attention to the weather forecast on TV as it can be very unreliable!
