F.A.Q.

Where are you located?

Our Jump site is located on Mustang Island in Corpus Cristi, Texas. Use the google map to the right for directions.

How does one learn to skydive?

Beginning skydivers seeking training have a few different options available to them:

• Tandem skydiving
• Static line
• Instructor Assisted Deployment
• Accelerated Freefall

Tandem skydiving

refers to a type of skydiving where a student skydiver is connected via a harness to a tandem instructor. The instructor guides the student through the whole jump from exit through freefall, piloting the canopy, and landing. The student needs only minimal instruction before making a tandem jump.

A static line

is a fixed cord attached to a large, stable object. It is used for safety in construction and for low jumps and training in parachuting.

Instructor Assisted Deployment

or IAD, is a parachute deployment method most similar to static line. The main difference is that instead of being deployed by a static line, the student's jumpmaster (who is in the plane with them) deploys the student's parachute by throwing the pilot chute downward and clear of the the door as the student exits.

Accelerated Freefall

(AFF) is a method of skydiving training. This method of skydiving training is called "accelerated" because the progression is the fastest way to experience solo freefall, normally from 10,000 to 14,500 feet "Above Ground Level" (AGL). In static line progression, many more jumps are required to experience solo freefall, but the jumps are less expensive for the student as one instructor can dispatch multiple students per load, whereas under AFF, each student is assigned one or two instructors dedicated just to one student.

 

What are the age requirements?

18 and up in most cases, some places only require you to be 16.
On the other hand, there is no maximum age. See the following question to determine if skydiving is appropriate for you.

 

What are the physical requirements?

In general, the prospective student should be in reasonably good physical shape. You will be required to wear around 25 lbs of equipment, endure opening shock, maneuver the canopy, land, and possibly trudge great distances on foot.

Problems may arise where a prospect is too heavy (over ~250lbs/ 110kg, see below) or if they have medical conditions which may impair them during the activity. Someone who experiences fainting spells, blackouts, or has a weak heart should not be jumping. Someone with respiratory illness or sinus congestion may have a problem due to atmospheric changes at altitude. The better your physical condition, the more you will enjoy the experience. This being said, very few people have medical or physical conditions which actually preclude jumping.

Dropzones will try to work with you. If you have a question, ask them. As always, consult your physician. You may be surprised at the relatively few physical constraints involved!

Concerning Weight Restrictions, there are two primary concerns.

First, does the drop zone have a parachute system which you can both legally use and safely land?

Second, if you are going to be at the top-end of the safe weight range for a particular parachute, are you in relatively good shape? An imperfect landing will be much less likely to injure an athletic person. If this is unclear, consider the difference between a 5'10" linebacker who weighs 240lbs, and a 5'10" 240lb couch potato. If the linebacker has a bad landing, he'll probably brush himself off and get up. The couch potato may very well injure himself substantially, lacking both the strength to withstand landing and coordination to do a good Parachute Landing Fall(PLF). With this in mind, use the following table as a guide.

Less than 200 lbs
Almost every DZ should be willing to let you jump.

200+ lbs
Some DZ's will take you, but the risk involved becomes much higher after 200 lbs.

 

How fast do you fall?

When you leave the aircraft, you are moving horizontally at the same speed as the aircraft, typically 90-110MPH. During the first 10 seconds, a skydiver accelerates up to about 115-130MPH straight down. (A tandem jump pair uses a drogue chute to keep them from falling much faster than this). It is possible to change your body position to vary your rate of fall. In a standard face-to-earth position, you can change your fall rate up or down a few (10-20) miles per hour. However, by diving or "standing up" in freefall, an experienced skydiver can learn to reach speeds of over 160-180MPH. Speeds of over 200MPH require significant practice to achieve. The record freefall speed, done without any special equipment, is 321MPH. For obvious reason, it is desirable to slow back down to 110MPH before parachute opening.

Once under canopy, descent rates of 1000ft./min. are typical. A lighter student with a bigger canopy may come down much more slowly, and, obviously, a heavier person may have a faster descent. Experienced jumpers' canopies descend (in normal glide) at up to 1500ft./min. During radical turns, the descent rate can exceed 2000ft./min.

 

How hard is the landing?

The canopies used today bear little resemblance to the classic round canopies of years gone by. Today, nearly all jumpers and jump schools use "square" canopies for parachuting. These canopies are actually rectangular in shape, and when open, act like an airplane wing (or an airfoil). They are more like gliders than umbrellas.

The aerodynamics of the square canopy provide it with exceptional maneuverability, allowing the jumpers to land almost anywhere they wish. This wing shape also provides tip-toe soft landings for even the novice jumper. The days of landing like a sand bag are history. Most first jump students land standing up.

 

What if your parachute doesn't open?

Clearly, this is the most Frequently-Asked-Question posed by all prospective jumpers.

By law (FAA regulations), all intentional parachute jumps must be made with a single harness, dual parachute system with both a main canopy AND a reserve canopy. In other words, you have a second (or spare) canopy in case the first one fails to open properly.

Additionally, it must be noted that the technology utilized in today's sport parachuting equipment is light years ahead of the old military surplus gear used in the '60s and '70s. The canopies are drastically different from the classic "G.I. Joe" round parachutes. The materials are stronger, lighter and last longer. Modern packing procedures are simpler, and the deployment sequence is much more refined, providing smoother openings and softer landings.

The reserve canopies are even more carefully designed and packed. The reserve parachute must be inspected and repacked every 120 days by an FAA rated parachute Rigger - even if it has not been used during that time.

The student's main canopy is always packed either by a rigger or under a rigger's direct supervision by experienced packers.

There are also additional safety features employed to ensure canopy deployment such as Automatic Activation Devices (AAD) and Reserve Static Lines (RSL) which exponentially increase the level of safety.

 

What does the training consist of?

The FJC teaches the student every thing they need to know to safely make their first jump. There are several different programs available for first time jumpers; the one you choose will depend on your personal preferences and circumstances. The differences of each are summarized below:

This method has evolved over the last ~30 years from its military origins into a successful method for training sport parachutists. The student gets hours of ground training and is then taken to an altitude of about 3000 feet for the jump. The jump itself consists of a simple "poised" exit from the strut of a small single engine Cessna aircraft. As the student falls away from the plane, the main canopy is deployed by a "static line" attached to the aircraft. The student will experience about two to three seconds of falling as the parachute opens.

Subsequent S/L jumps require about 15 minutes of preparation. After 2 good static line jumps, the student will be trained to pull their ripcord for themselves. The student is then cleared to do their first actual freefall.

The first freefall may be a "clear & pull", where the student initiates the pull sequence immediately upon leaving the aircraft. Next is a 10 second delay jump. Subsequent jumps go to progressively higher altitudes with longer delays. After 20 freefalls, and meeting certain other basic requirements, the student receives their A license and is cleared off student status.

Accelerated Free Fall (AFF)

The AFF program was instituted in 1982 as an "accelerated" learning process as compared to the traditional static line progression. The AFF program will give you a true taste of modern sport skydiving.

The ground training is a bit more extensive than S/L (~5 hours) because the student will be doing a 50 second freefall (that's right!) on his/her very first jump. The student will exit the aircraft at 10,000-12,000 feet along with two AFF Jumpmasters (JM) who will assist the student during freefall. The jumpmasters maintain grips on the student from the moment they leave the aircraft until opening, assisting the student as necessary to fall stable, perform practice ripcord pulls, monitor altitude, etc. The student then pulls his/her own ripcord at about 4500 ft.

The AFF program is a 7 level program. Levels 1, 2, & 3 require two freefall Jumpmasters to accompany the student. These dives concentrate on teaching basic safety skills such as altitude awareness, body position, stability during freefall and during the pull sequence, and most importantly- successful ripcord pull. On level 3, the JMs will release the student in freefall for the first time, to fly completely on their own.

Levels 4, 5, 6, & 7 require only one freefall JM (less $$) and teach the student air skills such as turns, forward movement and docking on other people, frontloops, backloops, "superman" exits from the plane, etc.

Each AFF level is designed to take one jump, and requires about 45 minutes of training. After successfully performing the objectives of each level, the student moves on to the next level.

After graduating Level 7, the student enters a more free format stage called "Level 8" where they practice and hone their skills by themselves and in small groups until they qualify for a license.

Tandem Freefall

Tandem jumps are meant to offer an introduction to the sport. A tandem jump requires from 15 to 45 minutes of ground preparation (it is not a First Jump Course). It consists of an experienced jumper called a "tandemmaster" and the passenger. The passenger and tandem master each wear a harness, however only the master wears the parachutes. The passengers's harness attaches to the front of the master's harness and the two of them freefall together for 30 seconds, open together, and land together under one large parachute.

Tandem jumping provides an obvious advantage for the adventurous spirit who cannot adequately meet the physical or proficiency requirements for the Static Line or AFF jumps. By relying on Tandem Master's skills, they will still be able to experience the thrill of skydiving.

Because the tandem training is not a First Jump Course, if you decide to pursue the sport, you will still have to attend a Jump Course in either the AFF or Static Line curriculum, or do several "working tandem jumps" to learn solo jumping skills.

In all of these training methods, students are taught normal and emergency procedures for all aspects of the jump - climb to altitude, exit, opening, canopy control, and landing. They are also shown the equipment and go over it so that they understand how it works.

 

How do I tell a good Drop Zone from poor one?

Most dropzones that provide regular student training are "USPA Affiliated". The United States Parachute Association (USPA) is the representative body for sport parachuting within the US, and a member of the FAI (the international equivalent). The USPA defends the sport's interests before the FAA and other regulating/lawmaking bodies at all levels of government. It also develops and monitors safety and training doctrine for the sport. Other benefits include liability insurance for students and DZs in the case of damage to property, the monthly magazine Parachutist, etc.

The USPA has had tremendous success instituting rating programs for Jumpmasters, Instructors, and Instructor-Examiners to ensure that only properly trained and qualified personnel work with students. You should insist on USPA Instructors and Jumpmasters.

Some USPA-affiliated DZ's have not been diligent in using only Currently-rated Instructors and Jumpmasters. Do not be afraid to ask to see your Instructor or Jumpmaster's rating card. It should show the appropriate rating and expiration date. Also note that currently, Tandem Jumpmasters are certified by the equipment manufacturer, not USPA.

USPA affiliation is not required, and does not guarantee a DZ to be a "good" DZ, and non-affiliation does not mean the DZ is "bad". However, the USPA, through their diligence and caution, has compiled an excellent safety record over the years. Other affiliating organizations include Skydive University and Parachute Industry Assn.

These are just guidelines. You should always check it out before you jump.

 

Movie Myths

Myth #1: Freefall conversation.
Talking in Freefall is virtually impossible. The wind is too loud.

Myth #2: 4 minute freefalls.
Without taking Oxygen on the plane with you, freefall time is limited to about 80 seconds on a single jump.

Myth #3: First-jump freefall acrobatics
Learning to fall stable and to fly while in freefall takes practice -- it's not realistic to do this on your first jump.

Myth #4: Low-pull contests
This virtually never happens. Everyone tends to deploy around 2000-2500. Skydivers fall at about 5.5 sec/thousand feet.

Myth #5: Diving out and catching someone without a parachute
Stunts similar to this have been done, however, it's almost impossible to hold onto someone during the opening shock of the parachute when at terminal velocity... would you trust your buddy?