Can I get my jump filmed or photographed?
YES. We highly recommend having your skydive filmed and photographed. A dedicated cameraman will film your experience, and create a DVD for you to take home. Photographs are also taken throughout the jump. We suggest that you book your DVD when you book the skydive, so that we may allocate a place in the aeroplane for your cameraman.
Gift vouchers are also available for the DVD and photographic package, on our web site.
Can I make a jump for Charity?
YES. Many people choose to raise money for charity whilst doing a jump. Individual charities have rules governing how much of your sponsorship money you can use, to contribute towards the cost of the Parachute jump. Send us an email for a list of local charities, happy for you to raise sponsorship for them.
How long does it take to make a jump?
The training for a Tandem jump can take approximately half an hour. This may be scheduled at 6PM the Sunday preceeding the day of your jump, or pre-arranged for convenience. You will be advised of the training options when you book your skydive. On the day, you should allow a minimum of 4 hours, from your booking in time, to complete the event.
Can I wear glasses or contact lenses?
YES this is not a problem. We can supply goggles which are designed to fit over glasses.
Can disabled people do a Tandem Skydive?
We would have to assess each case individually, but subject to a doctors certificate, and fitness, it may be possible.
Is making a Parachute jump Dangerous?
It should go without saying that making a parachute jump is not entirely without risk. However, the tight controls which are implemented to maintain safety at all UK BPA affiliated parachute centres do minimise this to a very small percentage of incidents. You are required to sign an indemnity waiver, accepting the possible risks before you make your skydive.
Do I need Insurance?
You are covered by BPA 3rd party insurance whilst making your parachute jump. This covers any damage that you may do to any other person or property during your skydive. Personal accident insurance is available at an additional cost, for an individual jump, or annual cover. One of the companies that can supply this cover in advance on-line, can be found via this link.
ExtremePlus Skydiving Insurance
Do I need to have a medical?
Up to the age of 40, a self declaration of fitness may be completed. The specific requirements to be met, and notes for doctors, are on the reverse of the relevant form F115.
If you are 40 years old and above, you must bring a medical fitness form completed with your GP's signature on the day you intend to jump.
Official Tandem Skydive Medical Form F115
Please note that a doctors letter is NOT sufficient, as Form F115, is an official document.
Is there an age limit?
You can take a tandem skydive or solo parachute jump at 16 years old with the consent of a parent or guardian. Please Download consent form F106 if between 16 and 18 years of age. There is no upper age limit for a Tandem Skydive.
For ages 16 to 18 download Form F106
Are there height and weight restrictions?
The equipment used does have operational load limitations for its safe operation. For men this is 16 stones or 100Kg, For women it is 15 Stones 95 Kg. There are no height restrictions, but pay particular attention to the body mass index chart on the reverse of the medical form. This indicates that statistically, those with a BMI greater than 27.5 are more susceptible to sustaining an injury.
What is BMI?
Body Mass Index is a value relating your weight to your height, and is a commonly used scale in sport and the general medical profession. Those with a higher BMI for the same height are heavier. The index helps us gauge how a persons physical build is likely to withstand any unusual forces which may act upon it. Statistics clearly show that the likely hood of sustaining injury increases with ones BMI.
What is the British Parachute Association?
The BPA govern UK sport parachuting, reporting to the CAA, they ensure that parachute centres operate with rules and regulations, and maintain a high standard of Safety. All UK parachute instructors have attended courses organised by the BPA to gain qualifications for the necessary skills.
What about the weather?
UK Parachuting is confined to certain weather restrictions, for reasons of safety. Wind speed must be less than 20 Knts for a Tandem Parachute Jump, and if there is complete cloud cover below our operating level, jumping may be suspended. Parachutes do still operate normally in wet weather, or unusually cold conditions, but for your own comfort this is avoided wherever possible. What happens if I don't complete the jump on the same day?
If your jump is delayed, you will be on standby for that day, where ever possible. If the jump cannot be completed, you will be re-scheduled for another day. Vouchers are valid for one year, following each attendance to jump.
How high is the jump from?
Your Tandem jump is made from up to 10,000 feet, This gives approximately 30 seconds of freefall time, before the parachute is deployed.
What happens if my instructor doesn't open the parachute?
All tandem parachute equipment is fitted with an automatic activation device, which would deploy the parachute if you get too close to the ground, and have not deployed the parachute manually.
What happens if the Main parachute doesn't work?
Modern parachute equipment is now extremely reliable, however In the unlikely event that the main parachute fails to operate correctly, all equipment is fitted with an emergency backup parachute, which can then be deployed.
Can I freefall on my own for the first jump?
An AFF training programme is available whereby you exit the aeroplane from 12,000 feet with 2 instructors to maintain your freefall stability and ensure that you deploy your parachute safely. This gives approximately 40 seconds of freefall per jump and is an accelerated method of becoming a qualified skydiver. Accelerated Free Fall is a world-wide recognised system, which is catered for in this country but has a high cost due to its relatively costly teaching methods. We do run courses, which are a week or ten days in length, to France, Spain, or the USA when we have enough interested candidates. A package is created with everything required to becoming a qualified skydiver. Contact Skydive Jersey for further details.