The BPA's Essential Guide to the Sport

2013/14 skydivethemag.com British Parachute Association

skyDIVEstarter

The BPA’s essential guide to the sport Fancy taking up skydiving?

INSIDE: TRY A TASTE OF FREEFALL HOW TO BECOME A STUDENT SKYDIVER GUIDE TO SKYDIVING DISCIPLINES LANGUAGE OF SKYDIVING EXPLAINED MENTAL PREPARATION COPING WITH FEAR HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DROPZONE ABOUT THE BPA

WELCOME

Congratulations on making your first jump! Whether it was a tandem, a static- line jump or maybe even your first AFF level, I bet you’re itching to get up in that plane again!

Skydive Starter magazine is here to help you understand skydiving as a sport. It’s exhilarating, empowering and great fun, not to mention scary! But it’s also a sport that can enhance your life.

The first half of this magazine looks at the options that are now open to you if you want to become a qualified skydiver. As you might have guessed, getting to this level will require mental strength, so we also have various articles that give you advice on how to become an awesome skydiver. Right in the centre, we have an A3 poster for you to pull out and put on your wall, either at home, work or somewhere else. You can record why you did your first jump and how it made you feel in order to shout about it to the rest of the world! If you want to get publicity for doing your jump, we have some advice on page 55. Finally, skydiving is a competitive worldwide sport with many aspects – we give you the low-down on each area, along with information on what the British Parachute Association is and where you can jump.

Welcome to the exhilarating world of skydiving! Liz Ashley

Cameraflyer Scott Mackenzie, by Tony Danbury

British Parachute Association Ltd The National Governing Body for Sport Parachuting. A company limited by guarantee. Registered in London no 875429. BPA Ltd, Wharf Way, Glen Parva, Leicester LE2 9TF Tel: 0116 278 5271 Fax: 0116 247 7662 [email protected] www.bpa.org.uk Patron His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales Vice Presidents Jim Crocker, John Lines, Chris Allen, John Smyth MVO

Council & Committee Chairs Representatives Martin Soulsby Chair [email protected] Debbie Carter Treasurer Craig Poxon Vice Chair [email protected] John Smyth MVO Royal Aero Club Delegate Paul Moore Competitions Chair [email protected] Jim Crocker RAeC Alternate Delegate Craig Poxon Development Chair [email protected] John Smyth MVO IPC Delegate Adrian Bond Communications Chair [email protected] John Hitchen IPC Alternate Delegate John Hitchen STC Chair [email protected] Paul Applegate Riggers Chair 01869 277469 [email protected] Staff Kieran Brady Pilots Chair [email protected] Tony Butler Technical Officer John Hitchen National Coach & Safety Officer Council Members Trudy Kemp PA to above officers Paul Applegate [email protected] Jon Gretton Financial Administrator Karen Bain [email protected] Martin Shuttleworth Secretary-General Kieran Brady [email protected] Karey Goodwin Membership Services Jackie Harper [email protected] Sue Allen Membership Services Ian Marshall [email protected] Helen Lucas Administration Secretary George McGuinness [email protected] David Lucas Stock Controller Pete McLaughlin [email protected] John Page [email protected] Archivists Mark Skarratts [email protected] Andrew Hilton and Graham Spicer [email protected] James Swallow [email protected] Thea Westley [email protected]

RECOGNISED BY

Approved GA/101/96

skyDIVE 2013/14 3 Why are you reading this? Go jumping!

Or you could take a few seconds to read about some of the great things happening at Bodyflight this year... Cover: Instructor Ruth Jordinson dispatches static CONTENTS line student Bethany Morgan, by Gary Wainwright

Contents: Darren Walsh, by Joggie Botma

Skydive Starter is published by: Archant Dialogue Ltd, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE Tel: +44 (0) 1603 664242 www.archantdialogue.co.uk

Liz Ashley EDITOR [email protected] Aisha Mason PRODUCTION EDITOR [email protected] Mike Waters ASSISTANT EDITOR Zoë Francis PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Richard Berry SENIOR ART EDITOR Nick Paul CREATIVE DIRECTOR Stuart Meadows ACCOUNT MANAGER Mick Hurrell MANAGING DIRECTOR

For advertising enquiries, please contact Kayleigh Penswick(MULTIMEDIA ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE) on +44 (0) 1603 772853 [email protected] or Andy Copland (ADVERT PRODUCTION) on +44 (0) 1603 772896 [email protected]

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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED . NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED , STORED IN A RETRIEVAL SYSTEM OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM ; ELECTRONIC , MECHANICAL , PHOTOCOPYING , RECORDING , WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION OF THE EDITOR .

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN SKYDIVE STARTER ARE THOSE OF THE 12 CONTRIBUTORS AND NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE BPA . OPINIONS IN THE EDITORIAL ARE THOSE OF THE EDITOR , NOT OF THE BPA . THE EDITOR RETAINS THE RIGHT TO WITHDRAW ANY ADVERTISEMENT AT HER DISCRETION AND DOES NOT ACCEPT LIABILITY FOR DELAY IN PUBLICATION OR FOR ERRORS , ALTHOUGH EVERY EFFORT IS TAKEN TO AVOID MISTAKES .

SOME OF THE PHOTOS IN THIS MAGAZINE MAY SHOW SKYDIVERS WITHOUT HELMETS OR ALTIMETERS , OR OTHERWISE NOT OBEYING THE BPA OPERATIONS MANUAL , IN WHICH CASE THEY WERE TAKEN ABROAD . IN THE UK IT IS MANDATORY TO WEAR A HELMET AND ALTI FOR OBVIOUS SAFETY REASONS . STUDENTS WITHIN THE MAG ARE COMPLYING WITH BPA REGULATIONS .

SKYDIVING TRAINING AND SYSTEMS VARY IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES . IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING TAKING A SKYDIVING COURSE OR QUALIFICATION ABROAD , WE RECOMMEND YOU FIRST ESTABLISH ITS RELEVANCE IN THE 46 50 UK , THROUGH YOUR CCI . CONTENTS SUBSCRIBE

06Tandem 34Poster pullout February 2013 skydivethemag.com Try a taste of freefall Never forget your achievement! Skydiving disciplines: British Parachute Association 1 YEAR / skyDIVEthe mag 6 ISSUES: 09What next? Static line 39It’s all in the mind 42Formation skydiving UK £23.94 Become a skydiver step-by-step Mental preparation is the key Achieve your FS1, join a team OVERSEAS: and get jumping 12What next? AFF 55Tell the world! EU £28.94 The fastest route to become Don’t keep it to yourself – share 44Artistics WORLDWIDE a skydiver your experiences with the world! Imagination and innovation rule £29.94 23Skydiving changed 59Skydiving in this fast-growing discipline my life problem page It’s more than just a sport – The dive doctor answers some 46Wingsuiting skydiving can change your life! of your most common questions The flying phenomenon INSIDE: THE ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME DUBAI MONDIAL 2012 NEWS FROM THE BPA AGM 2013 BECOMING A TANDEM INSTRUCTOR HEAD DOWN BODY POSITION BRAND NEW EXIT ZONE MILESTONES FROM THE BPA ARCHIVES PLUS ALL THE LATEST NEWS, IDEAS AND EVENTS 25You don’t have 61BPA dropzones 48Style and Accuracy to be invincible How to contact your local DZ The classics of competition IF YOU TAKE OUT A MAGAZINE The realities of skydiving SUBSCRIPTION AND SUBSEQUENTLY 63About the BPA 50Canopy Formation JOIN THE BPA AS A FULL MEMBER, YOUR 29Coping with fear Representing the interests Performing ‘precision collisions’ MAGAZINE COST IS DEDUCTED FROM Overcoming the biggest of all UK skydivers with your canopies challenge of all YOUR BPA MEMBERSHIP FEE SO YOU 64Progression routes 52 Canopy Piloting DON’T PAY ANY EXTRA. 33Glossary How to progress in skydiving Perfectly in control – turn your A guide to the language of skydiving canopy into a flying machine Online subscriptions are now active; they are available via 66Advertisers’ index subscriptionsave.co.uk/skydivemag. If you prefer, you can alsosubscribe over the phone on +44 (0) 116 278 5271

skyDIVE 2013/14 5 TANDEM It takes two to tandem

IF YOU’VE JUST DONE A STATIC LINE JUMP, THEN WHY NOT TRY A TASTE OF FREEFALL? A TANDEM JUMP IS THE IDEAL WAY TO EXPERIENCE THE EXHILARATION OF A SKYDIVE

Just done a tandem? Then you know how exhilarating it is to freefall through the sky. If you want to try it again, turn to page nine

6 skyDIVE 2013/14 TANDEM

1By Blair Stent 2 2By Gary Wainwright

3By Gary Wainwright

4By Martin Rhodes

5By Sam Bailey

A TANDEM IS… IF YOU’RE WONDERING the best way to experience the ABOUT AFF… exhilaration of a skydive without any a tandem jump is a fantastic way to try worry, as you will be securely attached freefall and see if this sport is for you. to an experienced instructor. You can leave the plane from altitude (around AS A ONE-OFF EXPERIENCE… 10-12,000 feet) in a dual harness. it’s unique.

YOU’LL HAVE ABOUT 30 ASK AT YOUR CENTRE… SECONDS OF FREEFALL… for prices and details. You can probably an indescribable feeling, where you can get your whole skydive videoed and check out the view, feel the rush of air photographed as a lasting reminder and savour the excitement. and entertainment for your friends. ●

A PARACHUTE MADE FOR TWO… Just done a tandem? Then you will then be opened by your instructor know how exhilarating it is to 5 at 5,000 feet, about a mile high. This has freefall through the sky and dual control toggles you can both use to maybe you want to try it again. fly your way to the ground. If so, turn to page nine where you can find out what to do next. A SOFT LANDING… will put you safely back on terra firma.

skyDIVE 2013/14 7

STATICLINE

1 The Progression System will take you step by step through student status to Category 8, when you qualify as a certified parachutist

What next? Static line

SO YOU WANT TO LEARN TO SKYDIVE. THE TANDEM JUMP WAS GREAT, YOU LOVED IT AND NOW YOU WANT TO TAKE UP SKYDIVING

WHICH ROUTE DO YOU CHOOSE? STATIC LINE JUMP gradually through five, 10 and 15, up to 1The static line is attached to the You have two options: the Progression The Progression System will start around 40 seconds or more. Initially, the aircraft so that System or AFF (Accelerated Free Fall). The you on a static line jump, where the challenge is to adopt a good stable body when you jump good news is that both courses can get you parachute is opened automatically and position in freefall and on deployment. out, your parachute to BPA Category 8 in the same minimum almost instantly as you leave the plane – After two good 15-second delays, you is deployed automatically. number of jumps. Providing you are the generally from around 3,500 feet. This is move on to turns, backloops and tracking By Tony Danbury perfect textbook student who passes each the first step in the BPA’s well-established (moving fast horizontally in the sky) – jump first time and stays current by Progression System for learning to not forgetting the unstable exit where jumping regularly, you can become a skydive. See the box on page 10. you leave in a little ball and bang on fully-fledged skydiver in just 18 jumps. a big arch to recover a stable position Both courses involve a full day of training DUMMY PULL in the air. before the first jump and progression on After two good jumps, you will do both courses is directly proportional to the a ‘dummy ripcord pull’ where your COST amount of time you can commit. The first parachute is still opened by a static You will learn all of the skills that an option is Static Line Progression: line but you pull a handle in freefall AFF student will, but without the in-air to demonstrate that you could indeed coaching. A student who starts on the STATIC LINE operate your own parachute. static line system will initially pay less (PROGRESSION SYSTEM) for their training and jumps. The overall The Progression System will take you FREEFALL cost by the time you have completed your step by step through student status A minimum of five perfect static line course is probably similar, but is spread to Category 8, when you qualify as a jumps later and you can progress onto over a period of months. This course best certified parachutist and are cleared to freefall. This starts with a short delay suits those students who would rather pay jump on your own or with a coach. of three to five seconds and progresses for their jumping in smaller chunks. ➔

skyDIVE 2013/14 9 STATIC LINE

At the end of your time as a student parachutist, you will be equipped to go out into the world and skydive

EQUIPMENT SURVIVAL SKILLS 2You will progress You use the same equipment as AFF Both systems will teach you the survival to longer periods of time in freefall in Progression System students: a piggyback system with both skills you need, as well as basic control order to show that Category Requirements main and reserve parachutes on the back of your body and movement in freefall. you can stay stable. By Jim Stevenson 1 Completed ground training in a neat harness. Your main canopy is At the end of your time as a student for first jump a fun and manoeuvrable ram-air type, parachutist, you will be equipped to 3This student is 2 First jump and one further similar in design and construction to go out into the world and skydive, about two seconds static line descent that used by more experienced skydivers. both on your own and with others. into his jump. The parachute 3 Three dummy ripcord-pull is deploying, and descents FREEFALL SKILLS WHAT NOW? he has just pulled 4 First freefall (three-five seconds) The complete Progression System is So how do you go about booking a his ‘dummy pull’ and five-second delay designed to take you safely to skydiver course? There is a map and list of all handle while maintaining 5 Two 10-second delays status by building up freefall skills with British parachute centres on page 61, a good body 6 Two 15-second delays each level. The number of jumps shown or go to bpa.org.uk. Most people go to position. By 7 Two 360° turns with precision at each stage is the minimum required, the dropzone (DZ) that is closest. If you Rob Spour assuming they all go perfectly. It may be are lucky enough to have more than one 8 Dive exit Unstable exit necessary to repeat some jumps, as you nearby, then shop around. Get the best Backloops will only progress to the next level when value for your money. If possible, visit Tracking and track turns you have passed the previous one. Once the DZ in person to book the course. Qualifying jump for Category 8 you achieve Category 8, you have more You wouldn’t buy a car without looking (including turns, a backloop, track, wave off and pull) freedom to jump independently and the in the showroom first! Most clubs have many avenues of skydiving are open. a brochure that explains the different Congratulations! After gaining your CH1, you will be eligible for your BPA A Licence ● Check out the various disciplines from courses available. and can start learning how to develop your page 42 onwards. skills in a chosen area, such as formation Stuart Albon skydiving or freeflying. BPA Instructor and Examiner Note: The above is the minimum number of jumps required.

10 skyDIVE 2013/14

ACCELERATED FREE FALL

1 AFWhat next?F

Accelerated Free Fall

AFF IS THE FASTEST ROUTE TO BECOMING A SKYDIVER, WITH PROFESSIONAL ONE-ON-ONE INSTRUCTION. IF YOU HAVE DECIDED THIS ROUTE IS FOR YOU, IT PAYS TO RESEARCH PRICES AND PLACES WHERE YOU CAN DO THE COURSE. HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHERE TO DO THIS? WITH WHOM SHOULD YOU PLACE YOUR HARD-EARNED MONEY?

12 skyDIVE 2013/14 ACCELERATEDFREE FALL

he answer depends on you day’s hardcore training will be followed by The final step to Category 8 is to 1On Levels 1-3, you’ll jump with and your circumstances. But, a series of jumps from altitude. The full complete 10 consolidation jumps, which two instructors and as a newcomer to the sport, course is described in the box on page 20. are done on your own but your AFF practise essential it can be a potential minefield! The first three levels will be with two Instructor should guide and advise you skills such as T opening your This article should help you instructors, from around 12,000 feet. Once through this stage. The important thing parachute. By make an informed choice of whether and you have demonstrated your ability to fall to bear in mind, as someone who knows Gary Wainwright where to become a skydiver through AFF. stable and pull on your own awareness, little about the sport, is that AFF is far When you are potentially parting with you are progressed to Level 4 and will more than a week’s jumping or a jolly around £1,500 of your hard-earned cash, jump with one instructor. Your freefall holiday. It is a course to do if you want it is worth spending wisely. The problem skills are increased at each level with a to take up skydiving. As such, think it is that many pitfalls only present course that follows the skeleton shown through. Be clear you do want to take up themselves after the course. It’s too on page 20 but which is fleshed out by the sport. If you are not sure, find out if late for a refund then! Here’s an honest your AFF Instructors, who add additional your chosen centre offers a Level 1 jump answer to the questions usually asked... exercises to suit your own skills (or lack of!). only, so you can try before you commit As your jumps progress, you will also to the entire course. Research places and WHAT IS AFF? receive comprehensive ground-school prices following the guidelines here. But AFF is a personalised intensive course with training in vital areas such as canopy also think about what you want to do one-to-one instruction to teach you all the control. After completing AFF Level 7, after your course; where you want to skills you will need as a fully you do a low-altitude jump on your own. jump and, if possible, plan to purchase qualified skydiver. A full If successful, you qualify for AFF Level 8. equipment soon after your course. ➔

Each level, on the way to altitude, I would convince myself that the fear wasn’t worth it and I’d quit as soon as I got to the ground in one piece – and each time I’d spend an hour after I landed babbling like an idiot about how fantastic it had been Vicki Priest, AFF student

skyDIVE 2013/14 13

ACCELERATEDFREE FALL

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS WHAT ARE THE 2From Level 4, Overseas dropzones do not have to be OF AFF? DISADVANTAGES OF AFF? you’ll jump with affiliated to the USPA; this also includes just one instructor. If you know you want to take up There aren’t really any disadvantages, By Gary Wainwright dropzones that are based in the USA. skydiving, AFF is the quickest, easiest other than that it makes sense to be sure The USPA’s version of the BPA Operations and most motivating way. It is a true you want to take up skydiving before you Manual is only advisory and wouldn’t taste of real skydiving from the start part with the cash. Financially, it seems necessarily be accepted as evidence in with professional, personalised more expensive than the static-line a court of law. DZs in foreign countries instruction. It gives you time in freefall progression system as you will pay the work to their own governmental rules. to get used to the surroundings and to money in one lump. However, in the long overcome the ‘sensory overload’ you feel run, the cost is probably similar. Even if WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES on first entering freefall, where all your you pay as you go, the cost may hit you OF DOING A COURSE ABROAD? senses are overwhelmed and it is difficult harder as you are very likely to finish in If you enquire about doing a course to think. The ethos of AFF is continuous a far shorter amount of time. Be aware abroad, you will probably be told it will exposure to freefall and the ability to that, when you have completed your have better weather, shorter courses and correct problems through in-air instruction. course, you will need to buy a rig and cost less. Sounds great – but is it true? canopies in order to continue jumping Here are some factors worth taking An excellent experience (without having to wait for hired into account… – best of my life so far equipment). In the static-line system Ivan Betts, AFF student you have more time to prepare for this. COST It might sound cheaper but remember WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DO WHERE CAN I DO AN AFF COURSE? to add on air fare and medical insurance AFF INSTRUCTORS HAVE? Most UK dropzones (DZs) run AFF which covers you for skydiving. This is In the UK, the AFF Instructor must courses of their own; there are also an absolute ‘must’ if going to the USA. If have at least 1,000 jumps and 10 hours British instructors who either take or you are going to a European country, the in freefall. In countries that operate to send students to DZs abroad. Many European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) the United States Parachute Association overseas DZs also run courses. (available online or from the Post Office) (USPA) standards (that’s pretty much the will cover you for a visit to a state-run rest of the world), the AFF Instructor WHAT RULES GOVERN SAFETY hospital but will not cover repatriation must have six hours in freefall. There are ON A DROPZONE? to the UK or loss of earnings on return. other requirements, but these are similar. DZs in the UK have to be affiliated to Also consider the cost of accommodation, Both systems require the budding AFF the BPA. The BPA is, in turn, allowed to car hire, BPA membership and having Instructor to pass a course including govern parachuting under an exemption a check-out skydive at the dropzone a series of jumps, with an examiner, given by the Civil Aviation Authority you choose to jump at on your return to prove their ability to fly relative (CAA), which is audited on a regular to the UK. ➔ to a student (who may be spinning basis. The CAA is governed through the on their back at the time) and provide statutory powers of the Civil Aviation If you go abroad you in-air instruction. Act. The BPA makes use of an Operations will, unless you are incredibly Manual to list all the procedures that are disciplined, spend more than AFF is only a start but, in to be used for parachute operations in you would here on things my opinion, it is the best start this country. This document must be other than skydiving you can get abided by for legal reasons as it could Andrew Parker, AFF student Kevin McCarthy, AFF Instructor be used in a court of law.

skyDIVE 2013/14 15 ACCELERATED FREE FALL

3 WEATHER The weather probably will be better at foreign dropzones during the winter period. However, and contrary to popular AFF is a true taste belief, it is not always better during the of real skydiving from the summer season. Most suffer then from extremes of weather such as hurricanes, start with professional, tornadoes, seasonal high winds and tropical storms. The trouble is that going personalised instruction on a holiday commits you to a time limit. If the weather is bad during your stay or you are ill, your investment has been lost and will lead to either taking another trip out or paying extra trying to complete the course back in the UK. Many UK dropzones will not accept partly trained students for understandable reasons.

AFF is meant to be intensive in order to accelerate the learning process. Waiting days or weeks between jumps makes it more likely that you will need to repeat a level, which can be expensive. This needs to be balanced with enough time between jumps for you to take in the instruction needed for each level, without putting yourself under excessive pressure Stuart Albon, BPA Instructor and Examiner

5 4

3Your instructors 6 stay by your side until you have safely opened your parachute. By Gary Wainwright 4AFF Consol SHORTER COURSE DURATION student Eliza Many American dropzones are not that Ratsnuick. On Consolidation busy during the summer period due to jumps, or Consols, extremes of weather. This may sound like you jump solo to an advantage but, if there aren’t enough practise the skills you learned during people to fill the aircraft, you will not get your course. By to jump. Ask the dropzone how many Paul Dorward AFF students they graduated in the same 5Tracking is an month you intend to travel from the essential skill that previous year. you’ll learn on Levels 6 and 7; using WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES your arms and legs to move forward OF DOING A COURSE ABROAD? through the sky. By Most disadvantages of doing your course Gary Wainwright abroad only appear on your return to the 6The key to UK. This is particularly highlighted when a successful a student returns to the UK having not jump is plenty completed at least 10 consolidation jumps of preparation on the ground. after the AFF course or, even worse, not By Mike McNulty completing the course at all. ➔

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ACCELERATED FREE FALL

DIFFERENT SYSTEMS 7 If you are doing your course abroad, you are being trained under a foreign regime and it is not the same as doing your course in this country – regardless of what advertisements say. Some adverts state that you will be doing the British course abroad and others go as far as to say that they adhere to the BPA Operations Manual. British instructors operating abroad are not covered by BPA instructor Liability Insurance, and will not be covered by USPA insurance if you have not joined the USPA or the instructor is not USPA rated. It is almost impossible for a dropzone that is not ‘affiliated’ to the BPA to operate to the BPA Operations Manual; they are legally bound to operate to their own governmental procedures. Page 61 lists all BPA Affiliated dropzones in the world; there are 26 in the UK and two abroad.

DIFFERENT EQUIPMENT It was an eye-opener coming Some foreign dropzones use equipment back to the UK... the process here known as the SOS system. This is different is much tighter. You are assigned an to standard types of equipment used at instructor who works very closely UK dropzones and requires a different with you, whereas in Australia I was technique to operate if you have a jumping with a variety of people – malfunction. This can lead to an expensive which meant that the briefings bout of retraining on return to the UK. were a little inconsistent In addition, for safety reasons, you may Kim Fossey, AFF student prefer not to change your equipment and emergency procedures at an early stage WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES in skydiving. Some UK dropzones will not OF DOING THE COURSE IN accept students who have been trained THE UK? on non-standard parachute equipment. TIME Be aware that reserve drills You aren’t on any time limitation if going may differ – I had to change mine to a UK dropzone either on a weekend or when I returned to Britain. Be fully midweek basis. If the weather is bad for familiar with the type of rig you were the weekend or you are ill, you can just WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU 7Your instructor using, where all the handles were. stay at home and try again the next GET BACK TO THE UK? will never be far Be very confident in the skills you weekend. It is possible to complete an from your side. “If you do a course with us, you will By Joanne Dawson have learned because, if you are not AFF course in the same time frame as be fine to jump in the UK afterwards.” confident in what you have learned, a foreign dropzone without having the If this statement is made, you should 8Skydive The Mag I really don’t expect an instructor pressure of a return flight date looming. Editor Liz Ashley ask the salesperson or instructor to tell takes her sister would be either you which dropzones in the UK will Rose on AFF Level Ben Moreton, AFF student COST accept you. You should then call the 1. By Ash Hollick Although at first glance the course may UK dropzone to find out: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE appear to be more expensive, there are • if the dropzone will accept you after AFF COURSE? no hidden extras. Many centres run your AFF course In the UK, you must perform 10 courses on a pay-by-the-jump system • if they will, that they will do so at consolidation jumps before being awarded or an interest-free credit scheme; either any stage of training (just in case you your Category 8 and BPA A Licence. of these will allow you to spread the cost don’t finish the course while on holiday) During these jumps, you have to be of the course over a longer time frame. • if they will charge for a check-out jump dispatched from the aircraft by an and how much instructor, watched from the ground (or VALUE FOR MONEY • how much consolidation jumps cost in air) from exit to full canopy deployment Because there is no time constraint on at that UK centre (ranges from about by an instructor and have your logbook getting the jumps done, there is more £25 to £85 a jump) critiqued and signed by an instructor. The opportunity to receive tuition. Your consolidation jumps are an important part instructors will continue to look after DIFFERENT TRAINING of your transition from jumping with an you during the 10 consolidation jumps. British AFF courses contain eight levels; instructor to jumping on your own. This is most foreign courses only contain seven a critical part of your training and safety TRAINING levels. The foreign Level 7 is normally that should not be taken lightly. Ask your Having been coached by the same missing performance criteria that are intended foreign DZ if they conduct the school throughout the AFF course, 10 required to pass a British Level 7. 10 consolidation jumps, what form of consolidation jumps and beyond, you will coaching they provide during this phase and find that your instructors become friends Be very aware: AFF training if there will be an instructor set aside to for your skydiving life! They are always in Britain is absolutely second either jump with you or watch from the there to give advice at whatever stage to none ground through telemeters/binoculars for years to come and not just a couple Andrew Parker, AFF student (they may charge extra for this service). of weeks while you are on holiday.

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SOCIAL SCENE 9AFF Instructors SUMMARY WHATEVER AFF COURSE have a minimum YOU CHOOSE Skydivers have very close-knit social of 1,000 skydives. There is a major difference in ethos groups. It can take a long time to get into By Paul Dorward between teaching attitudes in different Shop around. Go and visit a couple of the social scene of a new club. Doing the countries. On the whole, the foreign centres, talk to the instructors and other 10 course at your home dropzone will allow PLF training ethos is that you are responsible for students that are on the course. If the during ground you to meet and make friends with the school. By Paul your own skydives. In the UK, it is instructors are too busy to talk to you, people who you will be jumping and Dorward more along the lines of the instructor then this attitude is unlikely to change partying with in the future. There will being responsible for your skydives. once you have started the course. Are also be jumpers on the dropzone who For someone who has done a course the students happy or do they wish have recently been through the same abroad, it can often appear that British they had gone somewhere else? course as you with the same instructors dropzones are stuffy and bound by lots Paying for an AFF course is making and have experienced the same feelings of rules. The rules are in place and an investment in your future skydiving of anxiety and elation. As with most adhered to for your safety and the safety career. It is well worth spending time things in life, it is easiest to communicate of others. The consequences of breaking researching all the options available with those who have had similar life the rules in the UK bear higher penalties before parting with your cash. In short, experiences; indeed, it is the basis for for instructors and clubs in general. skydiving is a service industry; cheapest a fulfilling and real friendship. is not always best. Avoid gambling on an If you learn to jump outside unknown quantity; ensure you are happy There is no substitute for the UK, then always get qualified. about where you are going before you get establishing and maintaining a At least get your A Licence and do there. There is much more to an AFF relationship with a DZ, AFF school as many jumps as you can before course than eight jumps! ● and instructors... this makes the you come home. Returning to the whole nerve-wracking process a lot UK as a partially trained, unqualified Chris Allen easier and, let’s face it, it may be jumper is always a problem. You’ll BPA Instructor and Examiner beyond bliss as an experience, but have to face jumping at a new DZ it is also THE most challenging with different equipment, aircraft, Kim Fossey, AFF student instructors and rules. All this with 10 only a few jumps’ experience means much more risk of a problem or injury. Any UK dropzone will want Level requirements to give you a thorough check and 1 Has completed ground school and retrain; this, of course, means more achieved the following: expense. Learning to skydive at the Heading awareness centre you plan to continue jumping Awareness of altimeter and instructors at is the safest way. At the end of Reasonably co-ordinated practice pulls Pull on instructor’s signal the day, you’re statistically safer Additional exercises may be introduced in the UK both during and after at the instructor’s discretion at any your course subsequent level Richard Wheatley, BPA AFF Instructor 2 Free arm time Practice pulls 9 Reasonable body position Solo pull on own altitude awareness 3 Leg and arm awareness Heading maintenance (while totally released) 4 Start and stop turn(s) 5 Turns left and right 6 Solo exit Sub-terminal control Attempt backloop(s) Tracking Wave off 7 Dive exit Alternate 360° turns Backloop(s) Track and track turns Wave off 8 Solo exit and pull stable within 10 seconds Congratulations, you have now graduated. A further 10 solo consolidation jumps, plus CH1, and you will be eligible for your BPA A Licence.

You will find that your instructors become friends for your skydiving life!

skyDIVE 2013/14 19

SKYDIVINGCHANGED MY LIFE

As you make more jumps, the nerves disappear and are replaced with pure excitement Sky diving changed my life

earning to skydive has been the excitement and adrenaline was the greatest decision of my almost too much to handle. Standing life. Very few people realise in the door, I performed my count and Lthat the sky becomes jumped. At that point, my mind just shut a playground for hundreds down – I was completely overwhelmed. of jumpers around the country every I was told this could happen during weekend, and now I can join them. my initial training, but those first few I have always wanted to learn to seconds after leaving the plane were a skydive and, while I was at school, haze – it seems completely surreal. There I decided it was going to be one of is so much adrenaline, nerves and doubt my main goals in life. I didn’t want that your mind just goes into overload. my only experience to be as a tandem This was the first leap I took in student and I knew I wanted it to be a becoming a qualified skydiver. As you part of my life, so last year I booked an make more jumps, the nerves disappear Accelerated Free Fall course at my local and are replaced with pure excitement. parachute centre. I arrived for my day Over the next few months, I managed of ground school to help prepare me for to complete my AFF course and get my my first jump. I met with my instructor formation skydiving qualification (FS1). and began learning about the basics of This is only the start of your progression a parachute system, how to control my in skydiving – there are so many different body in freefall and how to fly a canopy. disciplines and achievements to be made. I didn’t sleep at all that night, I was too You can start to jump with friends, join excited and nervous. teams and compete at any level you want. The time had come for my first Skydiving now dominates my life. jump. I kitted up and was checked by It is all I can think about and I am at my instructors. I climbed into the plane my local dropzone every weekend. and tried to visualise everything I was I feel completely lost if I don’t jump. supposed to do on my first jump. This In the eight months since qualifying, was my first time in a plane, and soon I have made close to 200 jumps and I was going to be jumping out of it! won New Skydiver of the Year at the Once we were at 15,000 feet we waited BPA AGM. I have made a whole new for the experienced skydivers to leave. group of friends and they all feel the Now it was my turn. I shuffled down and same way. Skydiving isn’t a hobby, it is tried to steady myself in the door. Both something that will take over your life. ● my instructors had a firm grip on me. Every part of my body was tingling, Joe Newrick

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You don’t have to be invincible SKYDIVING SEEMS FULL OF LOUD, ALOOF AND INTIMIDATING TYPES WHO TREAT GETTING INTO FREEFALL WITH THE SAME CASUALNESS AS BUYING A CUP OF COFFEE. DO YOU HAVE TO BE INVINCIBLE? OR WILL PRACTICE MAKE PERFECT SO YOU TOO CAN BECOME THIS BLASÉ?

ow are you, with all your “WHENEVER I GO TO THE DZ, bad weather day you are at the dropzone, 1James Watson enthusiasm, potential and THE WEATHER’S AWFUL” presumably you came to jump. Put the looking cool, by Jimmy Freemantle attitude, ever going to Yes, it’s true that there seem to be money you would have spent somewhere Hovercome the hurdles in more non-jumpable days than there are safe and use it to jump more when the your way and get to the jumpable ones in the UK. As students, weather’s good. Does your dropzone pay standard of those heady individuals who you are justifiably confined by weather for packing? Learn! What is the breaking jump every weekend? Well, you don’t have restrictions. But you must keep your strain of one of your rigging lines anyway? to be a hero, you just need to have the eye on your goal, make sure that you are desire, set your goals and apply yourself. there when the weather is good and get “WHEN I JUMP, I GET ALL At the same time, bear in mind that, your name down early. If you do three TENSE AND I SCREW UP!” if this game was easy, anyone could do jumps on a good weather day, you will Yep. So did everyone else who skydives. it. Even the bland, sulky individuals we perform better than if you do one every It’s hard because it’s dramatic and scary meet every day. The ones in the bank, three weeks. out there, but there are things you can those at the supermarket, or maybe Everyone has demands on their time do to help. Make use of your time on the even the ones who look at you like – family, work, etc – but the time that ground (those bad weather days again). you’re mental when you say you’re you do have to give to skydiving, give Even outside formal revision, practise going to devote yet another weekend it all. Get up early. Be there! exits, rehearse your exercise repeatedly to staring at a windsock. This sport and really understand just what your makes its own selection and right now, “I’M BROKE!” instructor wants from you. There’s a brilliant for however long, it’s chosen you. So Fair one, me too – but here’s a tip. It sounds article about visualisation on page 39. what’s in your way? patronising, but it worked for me. Every Read it, read it again and apply it. ➔

skyDIVE 2013/14 25 3

Positive mental attitude is something of a bland cliché these days, but it works. Fool yourself that you’re really good and you probably will be

Never be afraid to ask. If ever you get a What do you think about on the climb Fear actually has 2Only skydivers critique that you don’t understand, ask. to altitude? How scared you are? How its place within our sport and people know the unique fear and pure Watch as many videos as you can; even you’ll probably get it wrong? If you do, who are completely without it are excitement of if they seem advanced, they show people then you will be scared and you will get it buying a dangerous ticket – but its place stepping through feeling the air and those people started wrong. Positive mental attitude is something is to edge our enjoyment, not to cloud it. the open door of from exactly the same place that you In the meantime, remember – you didn’t an aircraft. By of a bland cliché these days, but it works. Gary Wainwright are in now. Fool yourself that you’re really good and take up this game to get bored. you probably will be. 3Joanne Dawson “I’M WORRIED I CAN’T COPE” “MOST OF THE EXPERIENCED leaps from a hot air balloon, by Paul If you did AFF or a static line jump, you “I’M SCARED!” JUMPERS SEEM COLD Dorward have already been taught two types of First of all, you are not alone. Skydiving, AND ALOOF” skills; sport and survival. Sport skills in the early stages, is a very scary thing I know what you mean – I’ve got 4,000 relate to the routine of skydiving, the to do. Remember that, even though the jumps and no one talks to me! Seriously, things that happen on every jump – exits students around you feel the same fear, I do know exactly what you mean. This and progression exercises, canopy control, some are better at looking cool about it. can seem like a very exclusive game etc. Survival skills include cutaway and You are not the only one who hopes the sometimes. The thing is that we’re all reserve drills, hazard avoidance and weather will clag in again so you won’t tribal. We all relate to our own and aircraft emergency drills. Both skill have to jump! You’re not the only one people at the dropzone naturally sets need to be practised regularly. But who thinks about developing a ‘fractured gravitate towards their friends. Every remember this: if you doubt your ability leg’ in the aircraft so you won’t have to new social situation requires a little to cope in a given situation, such as a jump. You’re not the only one who holds ‘breaking in’, but you jump out of malfunction, this doubt will turn to fear. their risers tightly on the way down in aeroplanes, for God’s sake – don’t It will increase on the ride to altitude case their legstraps suddenly de- be timid of a little active socialising. and affect every aspect of the subsequent materialise. How do I know? Well, I was Don’t wait for it to come to you. jump. You cannot progress in skydiving that student! There, and now about a if you believe that you barely escape with million people know about it, so you’ve MAKE IT HAPPEN your life every time that you jump. An got nothing to worry about. That kind You have already done the hard bit. intermediate jumper once confessed to of irrational fear will simply fade as you You’ve crossed the line from the person me that he was praying he never got a make more and more jumps. Eventually that said “I’d love to do that”. You made problem with his canopy, because he was only a small fragment will remain, and a decision that most people don’t and convinced he would freeze. How could he so it should. It will give you respect. now you can say “I’ve done that”. But you ever expect to progress (or survive) with Incidentally, if you talk to most people haven’t done it all. There’s always more. that attitude? If this sounds like you, grab who have dealt with malfunctions, you That’s the challenge. Don’t give up! If you an instructor NOW. Get in a suspended will find that there wasn’t the mad do, then I and a bunch of others will have harness and go through hell until you are screaming panic that one expects. People to get proper jobs and interface with the sure you can cope. Then your survival almost invariably perform calmly and as real world and that, folks, is a prospect skills can sit where they belong in the a product of their training. One of the too horrible to contemplate. ● back of your mind, ready to leap out, slick most perfect first ‘dummy pulls’ I’ve seen and practised, if they are ever required. was done by a student I dispatched in Chris Donaldson Now you can get on with skydiving. an aircraft emergency at 1,800 feet! BPA Instructor and Examiner

26 skyDIVE 2013/14 CYPRES 2

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COPINGWITH FEAR

Coping with

SKYDIVINGfear IS A SO-CALLED ‘DANGEROUS’ SPORT. YET MANY OF US WILL COME TO THE SPORT PRECISELY IN ORDER TO MEET THAT PERSONAL CHALLENGE OF FEAR. IN THE EARLY STAGES THE COMPETITION IS PRINCIPALLY AGAINST OURSELVES AND OUR NATURAL SURVIVAL INSTINCTS

efore we examine how to a much more hostile environment and, learn how to utilise this altered brain 1With time and overcome fear, we should on top of that, we now have to actively state in positive ways. practice, hanging onto the outside first try to understand it participate in our own outcome. The The physical effect of ‘fight or flight’ of an aircraft in better – both the causes and extreme nature of skydiving will throw makes our bodies do everything they can flight can be B a pleasurable the effects. If we approach the majority of people straight into to distract us from the right actions. As experience! By it with the right attitude, fear can be level two fear. This is the level we will the heart pumps harder, our breathing Mike McNulty employed to produce positive results. concentrate on, as it is at this level changes as well. We take rapid, shallow Fear tends to be felt in three different where we can modify our behaviour breaths, or even hold our breath 2During AFF, ways. Let’s refer to them as levels: to bring us down closer to level one. completely. This creates tension and your instructors will guide you a high level of preparedness for action through your fear. Level one: ‘the butterflies’ LEVEL THREE: ‘FROZEN’ when, in fact, we need to get more By Gary Wainwright Anticipation/excitement (enjoyable) Level three belongs principally to those relaxed in the air. who are too scared even to contemplate Level two: ‘fight or flight’ leaping out of perfectly good aircraft. CONTROLLED BREATHING High apprehension/nervous agitation A small number of those who do come Controlled, regular breathing patterns (challenging) to skydive will experience this by have been proven to alleviate pain, ‘freezing’ in the door or bottling out tension and stress in many situations. Level three: ‘frozen’ completely. If that is you, please read on The way we breathe is the key to physical Terror/all-consuming e.g. panic attacks – this article might be of help to you too. and emotional relaxation. That inner and catatonia (debilitating) conflict between the body’s natural FIGHT OR FLIGHT survival instincts and right, safe action These are not sharply defined, but are What are the full implications of being is strongly at work. more like shades of grey – level three in ‘fight or flight’ mode? Fight or flight being the darkest. hits us at the deepest level. It is our FOETAL POSITION primal instinct for basic physical Another, often overlooked, physical LEVEL ONE: ‘THE BUTTERFLIES’ survival. As such, it has a profound effect that can cause problems with exits We have all met people who say that effect on our brain chemistry, our and body position in freefall is the foetal they don’t feel fear when jumping. sensory abilities and our perception. position. Again, that survival instinct I disagree with this perception. What As our heart rate increases, pumping seems to be working against us. The they probably mean is that they only adrenaline and noradrenaline around foetal position is a natural position we experience level one fear. For mere our systems, we feel it everywhere. adopt at times of great danger or stress mortals to reach this same level, we Nobody is immune to this effect. How for self-preservation. This tightly curled only have to ride big rollercoasters we manage it determines our reactions. posture serves to protect the head and or watch horror films. This lower Developing a strong mental attitude genitalia, the two most vulnerable and level is achieved because of the relative is essential when trying to counteract vital areas for continued existence. safety of the environment and the the body’s powerful defence mechanisms. Unfortunately, it also happens to be the certainty of a ‘happy ending’ outcome. Instinctive actions don’t always work complete opposite of the stable spread We just sit back and enjoy the thrill in our best interests. It is ironic that position we need. We hear that ‘hips of the ride. the things our bodies will do to keep down, head up’ is the right way to fall us safe are precisely the things that and our leading edge is the pelvis LEVEL TWO: ‘FIGHT OR FLIGHT’ can compromise our safety in a skydive. (assuming it is belly flight). It’s hardly Clearly a skydive is a very different To override our instincts, we need to surprising that all these contradictions situation. The speed and noise create concentrate on mental strategies and can feel overwhelming. ➔

skyDIVE 2013/14 29 COPING WITH FEAR

3 Let fear help PROJECTED OUTCOME thousand, two thousand, three thousand, USE YOUR FEAR you to stay safe, but don’t let it Let us return to the example of the horror four thousand, check canopy!”) on exit, Not many people address the beneficial interfere with film for a moment; because we know it you break the tension held in the chest effects of fear but we will here as it is your enjoyment. isn’t real, we quite rightly can expect no by forcing an exhalation. The natural another way to combat its impact on us. Photo by Gary consequence from watching it. Real life consequence, of course, is then So long as you stay aware of the Wainwright is less predictable. The drive to the local to inhale; this sets you into a good dangers, you will not fall victim to supermarket, like many other day-to-day breathing pattern right at the start avoidable accidents. Be scared, but let activities, can have tragic results. of your skydive. it prompt you into affirmative action. It’s a sad fact that the media, family If you are concerned or worried about and friends only turn their attention to MENTAL PREPARATION any aspect of the equipment or the jump, one single aspect of our sport; the boring By consciously using our minds to talk to someone, reassure yourself and reality is that we are more likely to have a regulate our breathing, we can change give yourself one less thing to get stressed fatal accident on the way to the dropzone how we feel. We can carry that forwards about. Above all else, use your fear to than actually at it. and apply the same technique to the way make you practise those emergency drills. Fearful thinking is based on projection we think. It is commonly said that 75 per After all, the only time you might actually of the potential outcome of events. Who cent of a skydive takes place on the need to be scared is if you don’t have can blame us if, in unguarded moments, ground. Mental preparation is crucial a good canopy over your head after our minds automatically lock on to the for all levels of experience, but is the safety count. This is the time when least likely potential outcome of a skydive. especially important for the novice those troublesome survival instincts When this thinking combines with who is still dealing with ‘the fear’. The that were giving us problems before our primal need for survival, we create repetition of sequences of events and/or turn back in our favour; as long as you a vicious circle. actions develops muscle memory and know where the handles are, you will consciously familiarises you with the use them instinctively! THINKING IT OUT location of different handles etc. It is a good idea to address physical This, in itself, will help to remove IN SUMMARY symptoms first. Techniques learned some of the tension, but it is also an To sum it up, accept the fact that and used here are involved in mental opportunity to practise your relaxation skydiving is dangerous and it will trigger preparation. I strongly recommend the strategies. Build the awareness of your fear of some description. Acknowledge regular practice of any of the established breathing and state of relaxation into the and embrace the fear. Let it help you ‘controlled breathing’ exercises such as skydive at this early stage and it will be to stay safe without letting it interfere meditation or self-hypnosis; these easier in the air. with your enjoyment of this exhilarating exercises will make you consciously aware Rather than thinking about what might sport. It won’t always be as scary, of your own ‘relaxed’ breathing pattern. happen, you should be focusing on what as with experience comes familiarity. If you feel your breathing change when you want to happen. Remember, you are With every jump, you will further you are on your way to altitude, you can in complete control of your skydive; integrate this ‘highly conscious’ ‘remind’ yourself to breathe properly. everything you do in the air is going to way of thinking into your unconscious This should enable you to become more have an effect. The ground work and your thoughts and actions – and here’s physically relaxed and able to focus time in the plane should be spent with a the bonus. When you learn to manage clearly on your skydive. fully conscious attitude to your physical the level of fear that skydiving can Leaving the plane is a moment of the relaxation and your mental preparation. induce, it will carry through into highest intensity; heart rates of 200 beats If you let your mind wander, it will your whole life. ● per minute have been recorded. When invariably drift towards that unsettling you really shout the safety count (“one area of projection. Neil J Biscoe

Rather than thinking about what might happen, you should be focusing on what you want to happen

30 skyDIVE 2013/14

GLOSSARY

CONTAINER FAI The harness and pack that Féderation Aéronautique parachutes are contained in Internationale, the international CORK governing body for airsports To fall off a freefly position, FF1 and FF2 Glossary decelerating rapidly and popping BPA freeflying qualifications, up like a cork in relation to others grades 1 and 2 CP1 and CP2 FLARE BPA canopy piloting qualifications, To pull down both brakes on a grades 1 and 2 ram-air canopy to turn forward 4-WAY BPA speed into lift for a soft landing Formation of four people or British Parachute Association, CRAB canopies; similarly 8-way, 16-way... the UK governing body for Point canopy across wind line (you FLAT FLYING travel sideways relative to the ground) Formation skydiving A/C sport parachuting Aircraft BPA A LICENCE CREEPER FLAT LINE Parachuting qualification A board with wheels which Continuous warning tone from AAD formation skydivers manoeuvre by way of a licence awarded audible alti at the lowest preset Automatic Activation Device, to prepare their skydive by the BPA to someone who altitude initiates reserve deployment CREW at about 750 feet if needed has achieved Cat 8 and CH1 FLOATER Canopy relative work, old term for CF Exit position where the jumper ACCURACY BPA B LICENCE CSBI is outside the aircraft Discipline in which jumpers try Awarded for achieving BPA Category System Basic Instructor to land on a 2cm disc A Licence, 50 descents, CH2 FLOCK and JM1 CSI A group of wingsuited skydivers AFF Category System Instructor flying together Accelerated Free F all, intensive BPA C LICENCE course to learn skydiving Awarded for achieving BPA CUT FORMATION B Licence, 200 descents and Command given to the pilot to slow Two or more jumpers linked, AFF BI another grade 1 the aircraft speed for jumpers to exit in freefall or under canopy Accelerated Free Fall Basic Instructor BPA D LICENCE CUTAWAY FRAPPE HAT AFF I Awarded for achieving BPA Jettison of main canopy, usually Leather helmet with neoprene Accelerated Free Fall Instructor C Licence and 1,000 descents after a malfunction padding AGL BRAKES CYPRES FREE BAG Above ground level (e.g. 12,000 ft AGL) Used to steer ram-air canopies Type of AAD Bag the reserve canopy is packed ALTI (METER) BREAK-OFF DC into; this is not attached to the canopy, hence ‘free’ Mechanical device used for measuring When jumpers in freefall leave each Dead centre, the top score in accuracy altitude (height above the ground) other to find space to deploy safely DELAY FREEFLYING Freefalling in any orientation AUDIBLE ALTI BRIDLE A period of time in freefall A device placed in the helmet which A line attaching the pilot chute to e.g. 10 second delay FREESTYLE bleeps to indicate preset altitudes the top skin of the canopy DEMO An artistic event of aerial gymnastics APA BUM SPOT A parachute jump performed FS Army Parachute Association Leaving the aircraft at the at a public event Formation skydiving ARTISTIC EVENTS wrong place DIRT-DIVE FS1 Freeflying, freestyle, skysurfing BUNGEE Preparing skydiving sequences BPA formation skydiving and speed Rubber band used for stowing lines on the ground qualification, grade 1 ASPECT RATIO CAA DOCK FUNNEL The width of a ram-air (rectangular) Civil Aviation Authority, a Take up a grip on a formation Skydive formation or launch canopy divided by its length government body responsible for (canopy or freefall) which collapses ATMONAUTI safety and operations in UK airspace DOWNPLANE FXC A type of freeflying where CATEGORY 8 or CAT 8 Canopy formation with two Type of AAD skydivers fly at an angle between BPA qualification where the jumper jumpers linking legs and flying GATW head-down and flat progresses from student to their canopies straight down Good all the way (student critique) ATC intermediate skydiver DOWNWIND GLIDE RATIO Air Traffic Control CATEGORY SYSTEM Flying a canopy in the same Ratio of forward movement to BAG LOCK BPA progression system for direction as the wind descent rate under canopy A malfunction where the lines student skydivers DP or DRCP GPS have deployed but the canopy CCI Dummy pull or dummy ripcord Global Positioning System is still in the bag Club/Centre Chief Instructor pull (same) (Navigation system used by aircraft) BCPA CF DUMMY PULL GRAND PRIX British Collegiate Parachute Canopy formation, linking Simulated pull sequence Series of BPA competitions leading Association ram-air canopies DUMP to an overall award BELLY FLYING CF1 Deploy canopy GRIP Freefalling in a belly to earth BPA canopy formation qualification, DZ Handle on a jumpsuit used for position i.e. formation skydiving grade 1 Dropzone, landing area formations and exits BI CH1 and CH2 for parachutists GROUNDRUSH Basic Instructor BPA canopy handling qualifications, ESL The illusion of the ground appearing BIG-WAY grades 1 and 2 European Skydiving League, to accelerate towards you Big formation, around 20 or larger CLASSICS a series of competitions over Europe HALF SERIES BOC Style and accuracy EXIT Style manoeuvre; two 360o turns Bottom of container (main CLOSING LOOP Leave the aircraft and enter freefall and a backloop parachute deployment) Piece of line used to close F111 HARNESS BOOGIE the parachute container Fairly porous fabric used on Parachute webbing assembly, Fun skydiving event CONSOLS accuracy canopies part of container system BOOTIES 10 solo consolidation jumps by AFF FAA HEAD-DOWN Shoe-covers on jumpsuits which students before being awarded Federal Aviation Administration, Stable freeflying position where add power to formation skydivers their A Licence US equivalent of the CAA the jumper is upside down ➔

skyDIVE 2013/14 33 I just did a sky dive! Fancy taking the plunge too? Check out bpa.org. uk At

It was

I did it because and skydivethemag.com to find out more GLOSSARY

HOLDING PILOT CHUTE SERIES THREE-RING CIRCUS Facing canopy into the wind A small parachute released by a Style manoeuvre; two 360o turns Device to attach the main risers HOOK KNIFE skydiver to open the main parachute and a backloop and repeat in the to the harness, which provides an Small knife with protected blade PIN opposite direction, also called easy release mechanism for the carried in case of line tangles 1. When a jumper joins another, full series main canopy HOP ‘N’ POP in freefall or under canopy SIT-FLYING THROWAWAY A very short freefall delay 2. Closing device for container Freefalling in a sitting position Type of deployment where the HYBRID PJI SKYDIVE U pilot chute is packed externally in Skydive University, a worldwide a pocket and is thrown into the air Combining freeflying and belly flying Parachute Jumping Instructor TI IPC PLA training system for formation skydiving Tandem Instructor, qualified to International Parachuting Parachute landing area SKYSURFING take a student for a tandem jump Commission PLF TOGGLES IS1 Skydiving on a surfboard Parachute landing fall SLIDER Steering loops on the risers, also BPA individual style qualification, POINT Device to control the deployment called brakes grade 1 A successfully completed formation TOTAL JM of a ram-air parachute by sliding POPS down the suspension lines Malfunction where there is nothing Jumpmaster, person in charge of Parachutists Over ‘Phorty’ Society, SNIVEL slowing the jumper down the parachutists in the aircraft for jumpers aged 40+ TRACK JM1 Extremely slow opening of a canopy POROSITY SOS To move fast horizontally BPA Jumpmaster qualification, grade 1 The amount of air that will pass in freefall, often to achieve JSPC Society of Skydivers Over Sixty through a given area of material SPEED separation from others Joint Services Parachute Centre (see ZP) TUBE A competitive event where (group of five parachute centres PRO-PACKING Large windsock structure taken on around the world, formed for jumpers build a formation Way of packing a ram-air parachute as quickly as possible a skydive for fun, usually freeflying servicemen) PULL-OUT UKSL JUMP RUN SPEED SKYDIVING Method of deployment where the United Kingdom Skydiving League, Final line the aircraft takes to Competition where jumpers pilot chute is packed inside the try to freefall as fast as a series of linked 4-way FS reach the exit point (the spot) container, the owner pulls out competitions (run in parallel with ESL) JUMPMASTER possible, usually in a both the pin and the pilot chute head-down diving position USPA Experienced skydiver responsible PULL SPOT United States Parachute Association for jumpers in the aircraft and Deploy a parachute 1. The ideal exit point allowing for VIGIL where to exit PULL-UP CORD KILL LINE wind drift to reach the target Type of AAD Length of binding tape used VGT Line which collapses the pilot 2. The action of finding this point to close a parachute container SQUARE Very good throughout chute after a canopy opens, to RAeC reduce drag A ram-air parachute (actually (student critique) LAC Royal Aero Club, the UK rectangular or elliptical) VFS representative of the FAI SS1 and SS2 Vertical Formation Skydiving, Launch and accuracy (competition RAPA scored on exit and accuracy landings) BPA skysurfing qualifications, building formations while head-up LAUNCH Rhine Army Parachute Association grades 1 and 2 or head-down. Also called VRW (at Bad Lippspringe, Germany) STACK VRW Two or more jumpers exiting RAM-AIR together Ram-air canopies linked vertically Vertical Relative Work, another LIFT/LOAD Aerofoil parachute, also called above each other name for VFS square even though the shape WDI Group of people going to altitude STALL is nearer rectangular Wind drift indicator (pronounced in one aircraft RELATIVE WORK Pulling the brakes down on a LEVEL 8 ram-air canopy so far it loses ‘widdy’), thrown from the aircraft Old name for formation skydiving forward speed and collapses to determine the opening point The final level of AFF, a solo RIG WIND LINE hop ‘n’ pop STAND-UP MAIN A container and harness including 1. Vertical freefall position, A line through the PLA main and reserve parachutes crucifix style in the wind direction Primary parachute RIGGER WIND TUNNEL MAL 2. Landing without rolling Person qualified to construct, Freefall simulator for When a parachute fails to open or falling over modify and repair parachutes STATIC LINE skydiving indoors properly; also called malfunction and related equipment WINGSUIT MANIFEST RISER Line attached to the aircraft which deploys the main parachute as the Suit with fabric between the List of jumpers on board the aircraft Webbing strip joining the parachute legs and arms to increase lift MANIFESTOR jumper exits lines to the harness STATIC LINE PROGRESSION and freefall time Person who allocates jumpers ROUND WHUFFO to each load A course to learn skydiving A circular parachute of classic shape STC Person who doesn’t skydive NATIONALS RSL WRAP National Championships, annual Safety and Training Committee Reserve static line, joining the STREAMER One or more canopies wrapped BPA competitions to select British main parachute to the reserve around each other or a jumper teams for World Meets ripcord, which deploys the 1. Malfunction where the canopy is WS1 and WS2 OPENING POINT out of the bag but not inflating reserve on releasing the main BPA Wingsuit qualification, grades The point on the ground above RUN-IN 2. Slang for WDI 1 and 2 which a canopy should open to be Final line the aircraft takes, STYLE ZOO set up to land in the target area into wind, to reach the exit A discipline where the jumper does OPENING SHOCK A skydive that has turned into chaos point (the spot) a set series of turns and backloops ZP The force felt on the body due RUNNING as quickly as they can to sudden deceleration as the SWOOP Zero-porosity fabric which does not Flying the canopy in the same allow air through it, used for high- canopy opens direction as the wind 1. High-speed landing PARA-SKI performance canopies RW 2. Fast dive to a freefall formation Event combining parachuting Relative work i.e. formation TANDEM accuracy and slalom skiing skydiving A skydive for two in a dual harness

36 skyDIVE 2013/14 10% discount to all purchases made from Europe, UK and USA! CONGRATULATIONS, you’ve made your first step to becoming a qualified Skydiver! Whoever you choose to continue your training • No hidden charges for continuation training, kit hire, with, make sure they really put their students first. packing and FS, FF, and CF coaching. These days, more and more drop zones seem to lose Extra student open weeks to help you quickly interest once they have sold you that first jump. • progress. Do your research, talk to other students and gather opinions, visit different drop zones and then make • Discounted RAPS / AFF courses for Tandem jumpers* an informed choice. • Buy 10 get 1 free ticket deal As one of the UK’s longest established centres, we’ve • Credit/Debit cards accepted been training parachutists since 1964. We take pride in developing individuals into fully fledged, confident • Café - Freshly prepared hot meals, snacks and drinks and safe skydivers. With the majority of students served all day. coming to us by way of recommendation, you can feel • Camping / caravanning / bunkrooms /club room plus safe in the knowledge that you’ll immediately be made bathrooms and hot showers on the DZ welcome and part of the crowd. • 10 minutes from J33 M6 - The most accessible drop If you’ve got the desire to succeed, then we’ve got the zone in the North West. time, facilties and attitude to help you make it happen. *Proof of current BPA student membership required. For more information, go to www.bkpc.co.uk, phone for a chat, send us an email or simply just pay us a visit. We look forward to welcoming you soon to our friendly drop zone.

“Black Knights is a great drop zone. Since moving Lancaster University Skydive Club there in November, we have had great student and experienced jumper progression alike and have been made very welcome by everyone” Beth Richards, President Lancaster University Sky Dive Club

Black Knights Parachute Centre, Hillam Lane, Cockerham, Lancashire, LA2 ODY Tel: 01524 791820 (drop zone) Tel: 07970 764850 (mobile) Email: [email protected] www.bkpc.co.uk IT’SALL IN THE MIND it’s all in

the MOST SPORTS ARE A HEAD GAME BUT SKYDIVING IS EVEN MORE THAN MOST. BEING MENTALLY PREPARED FOR YOUR JUMP WILL INCREASE THE CHANCE OF IT BEING A GOOD ONE. SPORTS mind PSYCHOLOGIST WARREN SLINGSBY EXPLAINS HOW TO USE VISUALISATION TO IMPROVE YOUR PERFORMANCE

1 arachuting is similar to 1 Spend the many other sports in that ride up to altitude visualising your there are learned skills and jump. By Mark Psequences that must be Harris carried out correctly for safe, successful performance. The problem is that practising them is not always easy. For example, the Premiership footballer can practise taking penalty kicks during training. However, there are vast differences between taking penalties in training and during a match! The largest difference being 40,000 people, most of whom are against him – booing, whistling, jeering – and perhaps the relegation or promotion of his team resting on his shoulders. This different environment will bring with it a different set of feelings, emotions and a totally different anxiety level. This poses the question: how does the footballer prepare for that penalty kick? Effectively, taking the kick during the match is the best simulation, but the worst possible time for a practice. Similarly, the best time to practise jumping from an aircraft is when actually doing it because it’s the best simulation. However, when you’re paying for your jumps and when slots are limited due to available aircraft and weather, it would be better if you were able to practise on the ground to get the skill right. This is where mental rehearsal is an important stepping stone. It costs nothing, can be done practically anywhere and is simple to learn. Additionally, it can be adapted to almost any sport or activity. ➔

skyDIVE 2013/14 39 IT’S ALL IN THE MIND

Go through the whole jump including you performing your exercises perfectly in slow motion, using all your senses to make the picture as real as possible

VISUALISATION 2 Skydivers elements of the skydive. These jumpers See yourself getting in the aircraft, Mental rehearsal is when an action is visualising a big- have learned how to make the technique smiling at your instructor on take-off, way formation practised or seen mentally as opposed skydive, by work for them. and see yourself calm and relaxed on the to physically. Visualisation is the process Tony Danbury ride to altitude. On run-in, see yourself of seeing yourself performing an action MENTAL PREPARATION getting in the door and notice, as if and is used to practise or rehearse. There The body and mind must be relaxed and from other eyes, how focused you are. is a body of scientific evidence to say focused. The best way to do this is to Watch your jump in great detail from that visualisation increases or improves make sure you are in a quiet place where your instructor’s point of view and notice performance in several sports. There are you won’t be disturbed, lie or sit down how perfect the jump is. Continue this two types of self-imagery – internal and and make sure you’re comfortable. imagery as your canopy opens and all the external. External imagery is mentally Take a few minutes to relax yourself by way to the ground, including gathering viewing oneself as if from a video camera concentrating on your breathing. Correct up your kit and walking back with a big and has two main benefits; it is easy to deep breathing should use the stomach smile on your face. do and it’s possible to see yourself from as opposed to the chest. When you Now move on to internal visualisation. many different angles. Internal imagery breathe in, your stomach should enlarge Concentrate on your emotions at this is viewing actions as if through one’s own and should drop when you breathe out. time – you are likely to start feeling hyped eyes. This is generally more difficult and Spend a few minutes in this state. Make up just at the thought of getting your kit! can be more limited than external in sure that your arms, legs, head and neck But see, from your own eyes, your hands terms of what you can visualise. An are also relaxed and pushing down deep putting the kit on and feel yourself example is that you wouldn’t be able into whatever you’re lying or sitting on. becoming calmer as this happens. Go to visualise head positions. When you are fully relaxed, you can through the whole sequence you have start to go through whatever actions just done from the outside, this time HOW DOES IT WORK? or skills you want to practise. It’s best to seeing the walk to the plane, getting in If the body is relaxed and the mind begin with external visualisation, so start and the ride to altitude from your own focused and really concentrating on by seeing the actions happening slowly – eyes. Imagine what it will look like as the task of visualising a skill, the brain almost as if you were watching them in you get in the door and feel how perfectly actually sends the correct signals to slow motion on an action replay. Make prepared you are. Include all your senses; the muscles to make them contract and sure that you concentrate on whatever the noise of the aircraft, the cool rush perform the tasks. This just happens at parts of the technique are important. See of air, the sight of your instructor. a very low intensity and not enough to this several times. Follow it with internal Go through the whole jump including physically move the limbs. However, visualisation. The beauty of it is that you you performing your exercises perfectly if you try this you may feel your arms can practise without having to take off in slow motion, again using all your and legs twitching – ‘wanting’ to move. or spend any money. You will also find senses to make the picture as real as During this time, the muscles are learning it builds confidence due to jumps being possible. Finish by seeing your mates the correct patterns of contraction. more successful. It will become easier asking how the jump went and you telling to visualise the events as your mental them how fantastic it was, your best ever! APPLICATIONS IN SKYDIVING picture becomes clearer with each jump. If you’re waiting for the weather to As a supremely mental sport, skydiving clear, try to repeat this every half hour. is an ideal situation to use visualisation TRY IT! When you are called, you will find the to improve performance. When you are Build up a complete sequence of events, jump easier and your head-state calmer at the dropzone, you will often see beginning with external and moving on because, in a way, you have already experienced jumpers with their eyes to internal visualisation of each element. practised. And we all know that closed, imagining every part of the Start by getting your kit, putting it on practice makes perfect! ● dive, often with their hands moving and waiting at the flight line. See yourself and taking imaginary grips. Or they from your instructor’s eyes, see them Warren Slingsby will dirt-dive in groups, visualising key assessing your readiness for the jump. Sports psychologist

40 skyDIVE 2013/14 2 FREE flights for all readers*

When and where can I fly? You can fly every day and we're situated in & Milton KeynesBasingstoke, Manchester of the UK's finest retail, right and next to some entertainment destinations. So, why not make a day of it?

For all enquiries, call us on 0161 359 3864 / 01908 247773 or email us at [email protected]

*Applies to a single purchase of 10 flights (you will receive 2 additional flights for free). Please use contact details provided to claim the offer. Skydiving disciplines

Once you have gained FS1, you are free to jump with other qualified individuals as you wish, both in the UK and abroad

Formation sky diving PROBABLY THE MOST WIDESPREAD FORM OF JUMPING, FS OR FORMATION SKYDIVING IS LINKING WITH OTHERS IN FREEFALL, OFTEN REFERRED TO BY NON-JUMPERS AS ‘HOLDING HANDS’. THESE FORMATIONS CAN BE AS SMALL OR AS LARGE AS YOU CAN IMAGINE. IT IS A POPULAR WEEKEND PASTIME; JUMPERS WILL MEET UP AND FORM GROUPS. FS IS A HIGH-SPEED COMPETITIVE DISCIPLINE AS WELL AS A RECREATIONAL PURSUIT

42 skyDIVE 2013/14 FORMATIONSKYDIVING

4-WAY COMPETITION 3 Teams of five (four, plus a camera jumper) leave the plane at 10,500 feet and are scored on the number of set formations they achieve in 35 seconds. The first point of the skydive is generally launched – the jumpers will take the correct grips and present the whole thing to the slipstream Did you know...? to fly out stable in the same way as first- The women’s British record is a time jumpers try to leave the plane in 68-way red cross built in 2007 a stable position. The biggest formation built The formations are drawn from over Britain is a 100-way, a set pool (see fai.org/parachuting) but, in 1999 of course, can come up in any order. The The world record is 400 people, set in Thailand in formations can either be ‘randoms’, which February 2006. A 500-way are single formations, or ‘blocks’ that have is planned for 2014 a second formation, built by splitting the first one into pieces and rotating or moving these to make a second formation – sometimes the same and sometimes different to the first one. The cameraflyer will wear a helmet-mounted camera to record the dive for judging purposes. The current British record in 4-way is 47 points, achieved by team Satori at the 2010 World Championships in Russia. 4 8-WAY COMPETITION Teams are of eight people (plus camera) and leave from 13,000 feet, with 50 1The formation skydivers must seconds of ‘working time’ within which fall on the same level as each other, with any camera person staying they are scored. Again, the dives are a short distance above them. By drawn from a pool of blocks and James Stevenson randoms. Having eight people to play 2Team Satori , 4-way National with makes for interesting and varied Champions for the last four years formations, with a few different running. By Dave Head permutations possible for the same dive. 3A fun 60-way formation skydive, by Dave Butterell BOOGIES AND BIG-WAYS FS1, Formation Skydiving 1, is a BPA 4The UK has won many medals qualification awarded to someone who in the Female 4-way FS event. By Pete Allum has demonstrated the ability to fly on their belly. Once you have gained FS1, 5The current world record 400-way, you are free to jump with other qualified by Gary Wainwright individuals as you wish, both in the UK and abroad. Boogies are popular 5 skydiving parties where a number of large aircraft are brought to one place for a jumping festival. Big-way events are organised, sometimes for fun and sometimes to try to set new national or international records jumping from a multitude of different aircraft. It’s possible to go and make jumps with people even though you don’t speak their language. It’s a great way to make friends! ●

Formation skydivers tend to wear: Jumpsuits with chunky grips for taking hold of people and booties – bits of material which cover the shoes and add power to leg movements Hard, full-face helmets in case of freefall collisions Audible warning devices which signal break-off (time to leave the group, find some sky and deploy your canopy)

skyDIVE 2013/14 43 Skydiving disciplines

rtistics (which refers to freeflying, freestyle, VFS, skysurfing and speed) is Athe fastest-growing and most innovative area of the sport. It evolved from a desire to have fun through exploring the almost limitless ways to fly your body in freefall. Freeflying started in the early ‘90s with a small group of guys who were looking Artistics for a new direction in human flight. SKYDIVING IS STILL IN ITS INFANCY AND IS STILL CHANGING AT A GREAT RATE FREESTYLE Freestyle is a form of aerial gymnastics where the emphasis is on pointed toes, pleasing moves and aesthetic beauty. Men and women compete alongside each other in the same category. They jump with 1 a cameraflyer, who adds to the visual image Freefly was born of pure fun by flying a routine with the performer. There are compulsory moves and but has grown into a multi-faceted free rounds, similar to figure skating, and judges mark specific areas such as discipline that offers the highest technical merit, fluidity, style and originality. level of international competition FREEFLY PROGRESSION Freestyle led to the development of freeflying, a more fun-based approach where smiles are more important than style. The BPA runs a freefly progression system including a comprehensive manual, which is available from the BPA website: bpa.org.uk

HEAD-UP Most freeflyers start out learning how to fly head-up in a sit-fly position, so called because it is similar to the position for sitting in a chair. This position can be manoeuvred around the sky in three dimensions. The great thing about sit- flying is that, with hard work, you can soon become proficient. It’s the sort of thing that, once you get the feeling, you never lose it. Straighten your legs from the sit position to a crucifix and you’re in a stand-up, a position where you can admire the view and feel on top of the world! Skills in head-up are recognised by the BPA’s Freefly 1 (FF1) qualification. The Nationals includes two levels of competition; a basic one for head-up flying only and one for all orientations.

HEAD-DOWN As the name suggests, you fly upside- down using your legs to provide balance and support in the same way a shuttlecock falls. By deflecting the passing air in different ways, it’s possible to go faster and slower with the potential to cover great distances forwards and backwards horizontally. Head-down is the most aerodynamic way for the human Freeflyers body to fly. Attaining a basic level of skill in head-down flying will gain you the tend to wear: Freefly 2 (FF2) qualification. Video – nearly everyone wears a tiny video camera One, if not two, audible altimeters, as well as the COMBINATIONS traditional altimeter because the high freefall speeds You can combine head-down and head- make it difficult to hear up with people who inevitably develop Small, hard, open-faced helmets their own styles and techniques. Hybrid Freefly suits in heavy material to add power to arms dives involve people ‘flat-flying’ (in a and legs, and with small grips for making formations standard stable position) too. Follow-

44 skyDIVE 2013/14 ARTISTICS

Did you know...? 2 The fastest freefall speed recorded is 343mph! The world record head-down formation is 138, set at Skydive Chicago in 2012

1Freefly team Volare, by Jim Harris

2Freeflyers on the way to a new World Record, by Brian Buckland

3British VFS team, BadLieutenants, by Mike Carpenter

4Airkix Freestyle have medalled at the last three World Championships running, by Rolf ‘Kuri’ Kuratle

4 my-leader tracking dives are a popular elements, 4-way VFS has objective judging way to end the day, with belly flyers with a point scored for each formation joining their freeflying friends. built in the planned sequence drawn from the VFS dive pool. The British team, FREEFLY COMPETITIONS Bad Lieutenants, took bronze at the Teams of three include two 2010 World Championships. performers and a cameraperson, who flies interactively with the others to PHILOSOPHY create a routine. Like ice skating, the Freefly is fast-paced and dynamic, requiring competition involves compulsory rounds an increased level of safety awareness and – flying set manoeuvres – and free rounds a willingness to share knowledge within where the team creates its own artistic a friendly and super-enthusiastic bunch interpretation. British freefly team Volare of people. This environment is enhanced won the World Cup in 2009, for which by a progression system that encourages they were additionally awarded the the individual to experiment and learn in accolade of a Royal Aero Club gold medal. their own way – hence the variety in styles and flying techniques. Freefly was born VFS of pure fun, but has grown into a multi- The newest official skydiving competition faceted discipline that offers the highest is VFS or Vertical Formation Skydiving. level of international competition. New Teams compete in 4-way like the techniques and ideas are emerging all the formation skydivers on the previous page time. The rise in head-down world records, but, instead of being belly to earth, they for example, has been meteoric: from 18 in are head-down, head-up or even a 2002 to 69 in 2007 and 138 in 2012. ● mixture. Unlike other freefly competitions which are subjectively judged on artistic Mark Swarbrick

skyDIVE 2013/14 45 Skydiving disciplines Wingsuiting

The wings enable the 1 wearer to ‘fly’ forward through the sky, creating lift

WINGSUITING IS STILL A RELATIVELY NEW DISCIPLINE, HAVING TAKEN OFF IN ONLY THE LAST 10 YEARS OR SO. HOWEVER ITS POPULARITY HAS EXPLODED, WITH MANY NEW SKYDIVERS HAVING HEARD OF IT BEFORE THEY START JUMPING, AND SOME EVEN STARTING TO SKYDIVE BECAUSE OF IT

ingsuiters wear large skydivers, 1Wingsuits are sometimes pairs with or without a suits with fabric wings and can cover normally flown cameraflyer, can perform acrobatics belly-down but can that stretch from each thousands of metres be flown belly-up around each other, barrel rolling and Warm to the main body across the ground. too! By Mark Harris flipping for fun. and between the legs. Some wingsuiters like to challenge Despite the low descent rate, high 2On the way to the This creates drag, which results in a themselves to see how long they can fly current wingsuit forward speed means that it is not possible slower descent rate in itself but, more for or how far they can go, and some like world record of to land a wingsuit without first opening importantly, the wings enable the wearer to ‘flock’ with other wingsuiters in tight 100 people in a parachute. Wingsuiters normally open to ‘fly’ forward through the sky, creating formations. The Guinness World Record tight formation. slightly higher than usual to give extra By Matt Hoover lift. Wingsuiters experience freefall times is of 100 wingsuiters in a pre-determined time to fold away the wings of the suit of double or even triple that of other ‘arrowhead’ formation. Smaller groups, for unrestricted control of the canopy.

46 skyDIVE 2013/14 WINGSUITING

2 3

Did you know...? Freefall speeds of less than 50mph are regularly achieved when wingsuiting (normal terminal velocity is about 120mph)

Wingsuiters tend to wear Larger, more docile main canopies Audible altimeters One-piece suits that can be easily folded away once under canopy

HISTORY and cloth, and most pioneers started making and experimenting There are many historical references to died along the way. More big with wingsuits for flight. 1999 marked the idea of wingsuiting, from Icarus and 3Wingsuiting advances were made by Leo Valentin the first commercially available wingsuits, Daedalus in Ancient Greece to sketches can be enjoyed in the 1950s, but he too came to an so the discipline has come a long way in and writings by Leonardo da Vinci in solo, in pairs untimely end. a short time. about 1500. However, it was not until the or in ‘flocks’. Fast forward to the 1980s and skydivers Due to its added complexity, skydivers By Mark Harris 1930s that jumpers such as Clem Sohn and were using small wings when jumping must have a minimum of 200 jumps ‘Yorkshire Birdman’ Harry Ward made 4Wingsuiters with a camera. However, these were to before starting wingsuit training and successful repeated wingsuit flights. This can travel great aid in fall rate control only and not for progression is carefully regulated. ● distances in freefall. was an experimental era of wingsuiting, By Mark Harris forward speed. In the mid-1990s, modern- often using crazy suits made with wood day skydivers such as Patrick de Gayardon Liz Ashley

skyDIVE 2013/14 47 Skydiving disciplines Style and 1 Accuracy THE OLDEST COMPETITION DISCIPLINE, CLASSICS ARE STILL POPULAR WORLDWIDE

3 Classics are great disciplines to become involved in and provide excellent experience for improving parachuting skills in general

1 lassics consists of two points for being as little as five degrees Pete Sizer strikes the accuracy pad Style skydivers different disciplines: Style (in off heading on any of the set manoeuvres. with his heel, by freefall) and Accuracy (under The professionals out there are doing Nigel Rowlan tend to wear: canopy). They are individual these ‘sets’ in less than six seconds – Skin-tight, stretchy, shiny suits which are C 2Style competitors events, but accuracy is also about a second for each manoeuvre. use a ‘tuck’ position easy to move in and very aerodynamic a team event as well. Men and women The faster you are falling, the faster that is dynamic and The smallest of rigs (with small jump in separate events but some of the you can turn. But the faster you turn, allows great speed canopies) of movement. Frappe hats as helmets, because they do great women do beat the men’s scores. the less controlled it becomes. The key is By Max Dereta to get the right balance between the two. not constrict STYLE ‘Stylies’, as they are called, jump in a tuck 3Halfway through The skydiver tries to minimise drag so they Style is a complicated discipline that is all position, which increases freefall speed a backloop, by can fall as fast as they can Simon Ward about speed and precision. Jumpers exit and gives maximum maneouvrability. the aircraft at 7,000 feet and perform You can see from the pictures on the left 4Jackie Smith Style is a highly individual discipline. It 360 degree left and right turns followed and right how inherently unstable the going for yet is a skydiving event which is solely your another DC by a backloop (backwards somersault), position is compared to the student arch. (dead centre), responsibility; just you that wins. It’s a before repeating the sequence. They are It takes about 50 jumps just to crack the by Doug Peacock great feeling standing on the podium competing against the clock, with penalty basic position, before adding any turns. knowing that you, just you, are the best.

48 skyDIVE 2013/14 STYLE ANDACCURACY

ACCURACY 4 5 Accuracy is both a team and an individual event. There are five in a team, with the top four scores counting and the worst being thrown away. All five jump consecutively, a few seconds apart from 3,500 feet and all have to land on the same target. Thus, you must work as a team to ensure that you don’t get in each other’s way. Did you know...? Large, accuracy ram-air parachutes British jumper Jackie Smith became a are used – most commonly a ‘252’ (this is world champion in 1978 when she was the size in square feet). Such parachutes the first and only competitor to gain 10 have a relatively slow forward speed. consecutive discs in as many jumps (note: at that time the disc was 10cm). This makes it easier to judge the angle of approach, which is done ‘into wind’ (in the opposite direction to the wind) 5Jane Buckle on to minimise the approach speed. The the pad, by Nigel Rowlan canopies are designed to ‘sink’; i.e. in deep brakes with toggles pulled 6Ever-decreasing a long way down, they will virtually circles: the target descend straight down. They may be is a 2cm disc on a 32cm pad, on a equipped with ‘flares’ – triangular pieces tuffet measuring a of fabric that attach the lines to the couple of metres, in canopy, keeping the parachute locked in a large gravel circle that could be 25m on a straight course without wavering. across! By Nigel These predictable, rectangular canopies Rowlan

are very different animals to the small, nippy, ‘hot’ ones jumped by most other skydivers, some of which are elliptical in shape for higher performance. The accuracy jumpers have to land on a target the size of a dinner plate (radius of 16cm), which is an electronic scoring pad. The first part of the jumper to touch the ground is used for scoring, which is registered automatically by the electronic pad. Hence, jumpers practise precision placement of their leading foot as this can make up for a slightly off-centre approach. The skydiver is scored for each centimetre they are away from the centre, which is about the size of a one pence piece (2cm). Landing on this is called a ‘dead centre’ and scores zero. It used to be a 10cm radius but, with greatly increased skills, it was reduced to 5cm, then 3cm and is now down to 2cm. If the jumper lands off the scoring pad, judges will mark the place of first touchdown and measure the distance from the centre of the target. The winners are the teams and individuals Accuracy skydivers who score the lowest. This is a great tend to wear: spectator sport, as the accuracy target Shoes with pointed heels to improve can be surrounded by a crowd who can precision when striking the target with see the action clearly as it happens. their foot Casual clothes – jumpsuits are PHILOSOPHY considered unnecessary as they Classics are great disciplines to are only in freefall for a few seconds become involved in and provide excellent Frappe hats for all-round vision experience for improving parachuting Large, docile accuracy canopies skills in general. They are the only Style and accuracy competitors at the disciplines that can be performed highest level wear different rigs for the completely individually and this makes two disciplines. Intermediates can ● compromise to reduce the amount training as flexible as you like. of of equipment that they need. Al Macartney

skyDIVE 2013/14 49 Skydiving disciplines

The 100-way weighed eight tons and was more than 300 feet Canopy high and 200 feet wide! Formation

CANOPY FORMATION (CF) IS ABOUT ‘PRECISION COLLISIONS’ WITH YOUR MAIN CANOPIES

t goes against your training about 1On the way to ROTATIONS formations using the parachutes. A steering as far away from others the world record The most popular competition event is delicate touch and mental engineering 100-way, by as possible, but if you’re willing to Keith Macbeth called 4-way rotations. This event is really of the entire dive is required for this open your mind to new ways of ‘more balls than brains’! You build a event. Rather than just building a I 2CF is often thinking, a wealth of new 4-stack formation as quickly as possible, straight stack, the grips may be taken used for ‘demos’ opportunities awaits. Guessing where the (or displays) to a then rebuild with each jumper stalling on the end cells and the centre cell. canopies are going to be and getting there crowd of people. their canopy off the top and re-docking Competitions include 2-way sequential, in time is what it’s all about. The game By Gary Wainwright on the bottom as many times as possible. a natural place to begin learning this is played while we are all moving and, Precision, consistency and brute force discipline, and 4-way sequential. 3Big-way canopy at first, is a little tricky. The convention formations are are what this event is about. Deceptively is that you dock from below so the last physically large simple to grasp, extremely difficult to SPEED people to join a formation will generally and look impressive master. When you get it right, your This event is like drag racing; it’s all about from the ground be the ones at the bottom. and air. By Bruno canopy (or body) will clip the tails of speed in building a single formation as Brokken the other canopies. When you’re in quickly as possible. There are four GROUP EXITS the formation and you feel and hear the different formations in the dive pool 4A sequential With talented people, you can exit as team build a 4-way contact on the tails, you know it’s going but only one to build on each dive. close as a 4-way FS team by split-second diamond, by Gary right. Too close and, at best, you’ll Complete formations have to be held for timing in the sub-terminal air and the Wainwright bounce off and upset the balance of a minimum of five seconds, so you don’t placing of your pilot chutes into the the formation or, at worse, you’ll end get any bonus points for looking pretty slipstream. You’ll be close enough to up practising your cutaway drills! or holding longer than required. hear the crack and feel the material of the other canopies as they lift off their SEQUENTIAL LARGE FORMATIONS backs; they fill your whole field of vision. This event is more like canopy chess – The numbers may not be as big as with FS When starting out, a more conservative this can best be likened to FS (Formation formations but the physical size definitely exit technique is used! Skydiving) as it is building different is. Big formations are very fragile and won’t

1 2

50 skyDIVE 2013/14 CANOPYFORMATION

4 Did you know...? The world record canopy formation is 100, set in November 2007 using PD Lightning canopies, at Lake Wales, Florida. tolerate the big hits and aggressive docks that smaller formations can take. The Royal Marines hold the world record 24-stack, where the parachutes are directly in-line with each other. This was set many years ago before the game changed and the French realised the future lay in engineering diamond-shaped formations. This allowed the size of formations to grow tremendously, with the current record standing at 100 set by an international group at Lake Wales, Florida and the 24-stack being confined to the history books. To put it into perspective, the 100-way weighed eight tons and was more than 300 feet high and 200 feet wide!

ENGINEERING The construction and breakdown must be orchestrated to ensure the formation flies. Breaking it is just as organised as the build.

IF IT GOES WRONG There are a lot of lines and material around! Remaining calm, using logical thinking and keeping an eye open for the early warning signs are hot tips. Most problems do work themselves out.

JUST FOR FUN Perhaps the most enjoyable type of CF is when two or three people have fun hooking up in small stacks, downplanes, pendulums and side-by-sides. The BPA runs coaching roadshows to teach CF, offering free kit hire and skills coaching from national champions. ● CF skydivers tend to jump with: Adrian Bowles A Protec helmet, frappe hat, cycling helmet or a modified full-face helmet with no visor – all protect and allow 3 easy communication by shouting Gloves to prevent line burns CF canopies, which are 7-cell, with extra reinforcement designed to open on heading Some use radios Red front centre lines for easy identification; all are made of Dacron, which is wider and easier to grip than the more fashionable microline Canopies with ‘retracting’ pilot chutes which are pulled onto the top skin of the canopy so they are not trailing behind the canopy, risking entanglement Rigs which have been optimised specially for CF and adjusted for long periods of hanging in the harness Pack jobs which look peculiar with no deployment bag and may have risers hanging out

skyDIVE 2013/14 51 Skydiving disciplines

1 Canopy Piloting PARACHUTE TECHNOLOGY HAS HUGELY ADVANCED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. DESIGN, SHAPE, MANUFACTURING PROCESSES AND THE FABRICS USED HAVE ALL DEVELOPED RADICALLY. THE RESULTING CANOPIES ARE INCREDIBLE FLYING MACHINES. THE LIMITING FACTOR, FOR BOTH PERFORMANCE AND SAFETY, IS THE PERSON IN CONTROL. CANOPY PILOTING, A REALLY EXCITING EVENT FOR SPECTATORS, HAS EVOLVED AS A RESULT

Did you know...? There are currently 22 basic freestyle manoeuvres and a further 112 possible combination moves listed in the pool!

52 skyDIVE 2013/14 CANOPYPILOTING

arachute technology has 2 advanced greatly in recent years. Previously, landing Psafely under a good parachute was just something everyone had to do after a freefall jump. It was almost taken for granted. The first ram-air parachutes were large and forgiving. The modern sport of skydiving has unfortunately seen an increase in accidents resulting from human error under a fully functional parachute. With the development of smaller, faster and more radical canopies, basic individual piloting and landing skills were no longer enough. As a result, the sport has had a change of focus towards landing parachutes safely in every condition. Canopy progression systems and canopy schools are now considered a must in order to develop individual skills to land safely every time. Ongoing canopy instruction reinforces and develops the discipline has now evolved. Started by a 3 basic skills learnt during initial training. few pioneers experimenting with radical speed-inducing inputs, the discipline BPA CANOPY PROGRESSION of canopy piloting has developed into SYSTEM a highly competitive, spectator-friendly Introduced in 2005, the BPA Canopy sport. Competition in this event is Progression System gives the UK skydiver very technical and a highly advanced a clear, concise system to reach defined level of piloting is required. International skill levels and obtain current canopy piloting competitions currently internationally recognised licences. consist of three events: speed, distance It consists of two basic levels; Canopy and zone accuracy. Handling 1 and 2 (CH1 and CH2), and two advanced levels; Canopy Piloting SPEED 1 and 2 (CP1 and CP2). These progression A course is laid out on the ground or over systems introduce the jumper to essential water with a 1.5 metre high, 10 metres knowledge and skills at an early stage in wide entry gate, showing the start of their skydiving career. Free manuals for the 75 degree, 70 metre carving course both are available from BPA dropzones that ends with an exit gate. Both have and bpa.org.uk electronic sensors, activated by the jumper as he/she passes between each CANOPY HANDLING 1 AND 2 gate. The speed is measured and the Basic canopy skills such as flat turns, competitor’s cumulative score is recorded landing in the target area and using over three rounds. To score, the jumper a variety of toggle and riser inputs must fly cleanly through each gate and are augmented with written tests. remain within the course.

CANOPY PILOTING 1 AND 2 DISTANCE These grades further develop the range A course is laid out over water with 1Setting up to only two metres in length and the of control inputs mastered by the pilots, a series of 1.5 metre high, 10 metres swoop the pond competitor is penalised if a stand-up at the World who also have to pass written tests. CP1 wide entry gates. The competitor must Championships landing is not achieved. is mandatory for those wishing to carry break through the sensor on the entry in Dubai, by Bruno out high-performance or swoop landings. gate and then fly as far as possible, scoring Brokken/EAA COMPETITION FREESTYLE CP2 is only needed if you want to enter a further four gates before making contact The most recent event to be added to 2CP often takes an official BPA Canopy Piloting event. with the ground. The distance is then place over water, the canopy piloting competition circuit is measured from the first entry gate to the with competitors freestyle. This is a very spectator-friendly CANOPY PILOTING first point of contact with the surface of the skimming the event where the canopy pilot defines and surface to make COMPETITIONS course. The current world distance record a visually appealing performs any number of freestyle tricks With the development of more efficient is 154.09 metres and the British (and display. If a DZ and moves during the landing process. canopy designs, a new and exciting European) record is 116.33 metres. doesn’t have a pond, Points are awarded for the approach to swoopers sometimes improvise if it’s been the course, the execution, degree of ZONE ACCURACY raining! By Nigel difficulty of the move and the landing Canopy pilots This is split into two sections; a water Holland itself. The tricks can be chosen from tend to wear: course and an accuracy course laid out a set pool of moves or the competitor 3A swoop pond as Tight clothing on the ground. The competitor must seen from above, by can define a new move as long as it is Trousers with a large pocket for break through the sensor on the entry Dougie Macpherson declared to the judges beforehand and the removable deployment system gate, then score as many water points as it is landed properly. The moves include, Digital visual and audible canopy possible and finally land in the correct for example, a ‘Blindman’ where the specific altimeters zone. In order to receive a perfect score competitor faces backwards in the Weight belt(s) (100 points), the competitor must make harness during landing. ● Hard aerodynamic helmet contact with the water through each Protective clothing, e.g. knee-pads water gate, then land in the correct zone Brian Vacher on the shore. The high-scoring zone is Coach, Safe Flight School

skyDIVE 2013/14 53

TELL THEWORLD!

WHAT NEXT? PHOTOS Well, of course we look forward to you A picture tells a thousand words and trying our awesome sport again very soon will really help sell your story and catch and, as you can see, this magazine can readers’ interest. Send one or two photos guide you a little further. But, in the with your release. Hopefully you had an meantime, why not share your experience? in-air cameraflyer and can share freefall photos but, if not, a ground shot wearing WHY? your kit would be almost as good. List If you’ve taken part in a charity or who is who on any photos and include fundraising event, then extra publicity the photographer’s name. in papers, news websites, magazines, radio and even TV will go a long way WHO AND WHERE? for the cause. You deserve it too; this is Just done something awesome? You will already have an idea of where something special. You made that huge to send it to in your area: your local leap – why not shout it from the rooftops? newspaper, regional or national press – even TV if you’ve done something extra HOW? special. Also try further afield: charity Editors need news, especially exciting TELL THE websites, work noticeboards, company stuff for local papers – give them a newsletters, social networking sites, story on a plate. You don’t have to anywhere there is an interest. be JK Rowling, just a few pertinent The relevant email address will be paragraphs will be great. printed in the newspaper and on their WORLD! website. If in doubt, pick up the phone, HEADING explain you have a story and ask to Make it bold and to the point. Tell IF YOU ARE READING THIS SKYDIVE whom you should send it. the story in a line: ‘Teachers raise STARTER MAGAZINE, THE CHANCES Your basic press release can easily £1,000 by skydiving’; ‘Mum jumps be tweaked to make it applicable to the for cancer awareness’. ARE YOU HAVE JUST JUMPED OUT OF different media by varying the quote. A PERFECTLY GOOD AEROPLANE! IT’S STORY LIKELY TO BE ON YOUR LIST OF THE EASY OPTION The five magic Ws – ‘What, When, If you are short of time or not sure what Where, Who and Why’ – will ensure you MOST MEMORABLE, INCREDIBLE, to write, then there is a photocopiable tell the full story. Add ‘How’ for a really AWE-INSPIRING THINGS YOU HAVE template on the facing page to make it complete picture. Keep to the point, make EVER DONE. CLOSE YOUR EYES AND easier. Fill it in and fax, post or email to it interesting and relevant to the media your chosen contacts with your photos. you are aiming at. Make one sentence or RELIVE THOSE MOMENTS – WOW! Keep in touch with the reporter and paragraph a quote, this is a super way to make sure you get a copy when you make the account more personal. Don’t hit the papers! write more than a page. End with your contact details – email and mobile. AND FINALLY... We hope you enjoyed your first LINKS experience of skydiving, that this article It helps to include links to relevant helps you get the coverage you deserve organisations, e.g. British Parachute and that you continue in this amazing Association (bpa.org.uk), the dropzone, sport. Good luck! ● your charity, workplace, sports centre, 1 Tandem Instructor Lloyd Quenby with local area, etc. a delighted student, by Lorraine Dixcey Weed Stoodley

skyDIVE 2013/14 55 British Parachute Association bpa.org.uk BPA Limited, Wharf Way, Glen Parva, Leicester, LE2 9TF Tel: 0116 278 5271 Fax: 0116 247 7662 Email: [email protected] Patron: HRH The Prince of Wales A company limited by guarantee. Registered in London No. 875429. VAT reg. No. 239 469 620

To the Editor of

Dear Editor, We believe that this achievement by a local person is a good news story likely to be of interest to your readers. Our new skydiver has kindly agreed to us making this approach and is prepared to provide further details should you so wish. If you or a colleague would like to visit your local dropzone to experience skydiving first-hand – perhaps with a view to producing an article or photo spread on our exciting sport in your locality – then I’m sure you will receive a warm welcome.

Kind regards, Martin Soulsby Chairman, British Parachute Association

Leap of faith – first ever skydive!

On (date) Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms/etc

Of (address)

Occupation Tel/mob

Completed their first skydive at Parachute centre

Tel Website

Photo(s) attached YES/NO

Photo caption (names from left to right)

Motivation for the jump was: charity/birthday/anniversary/other

Brief details

Quote

Amount raised (if applicable) Charity/event

Other interesting facts/info

Notes for editor: Approximately 250,000 skydives are made over the UK annually at 26 locations countrywide. Women make up 43 per cent of the 45,000 making their first jump each year. 5,000+ full time BPA Members include people from all walks of life, aged from 16 to 76. UK sportspeople are at the pinnacle of skydiving internationally, some even being multiple world champions. See bpa.org.uk and skydivethemag.co m

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A skydiving Diveproblem page doctor I AM ALWAYS VERY SCARED if you allow yourself to be; there is lots to 1 Photo by IN THE AEROPLANE do. Learn to pack, go through your next Joanne Dawson Why do I have to Don’t worry, this is quite normal. Even jump until it is second nature, revise your use the radio when if everyone around you seems unafraid, emergency procedures, practise the exit they are probably all scared to some from the mock-up, use a mirror (or I’m sure I could do extent. Some people are just better at a friend) to look at your position, read better myself? maintaining their external ‘cool’. Talking skydiving articles and magazines, watch The British Parachute Association (BPA) to others about the ‘F’ word (Fear) may skydiving videos, talk to other jumpers, rules state that a student on a square make you feel better. practise packing again, watch experienced canopy must have a radio for at least the first three jumps. Things will improve with experience. jumpers under canopy, just immerse Read the article on page 29. Practise slow yourself in the whole scene. Some parachute centres have local conditions which increase the length of time breathing to calm yourself down. Keep Ask instructors for any help you need for which a radio is to be used. For example, jumping as much as possible – try to do and use the time to make friends. You if there is a hazard that, though not as many as you can on the one day or may be surprised how well people react dangerous enough to prevent parachuting, weekend. Try and eliminate as many if you just start a conversation. No one is still enough of a risk for students to rational causes of your fear as possible, is going to pretend that it is all really benefit from a radio, especially in the event of a sudden wind change. such as any uncertainty about your easy, but you will save time and money Under a square canopy, the potential for equipment or drills and, eventually, by practising everything you learn on the travelling a long distance and getting the irrational fear will lessen too. ground – something your instructors will yourself into trouble is quite considerable. encourage you to do anyway. Dropzones So, even though the radio cannot make you I GET BORED WAITING FOR can seem the most boring and frustrating do the right thing, it can certainly tell you THE RIGHT WEATHER place to be when you are not jumping, to! Similarly for landing, even though a student canopy is by design reasonably Spend your time on the ground but it is surprising what you can achieve forgiving, it is nevertheless much better constructively. You will only be bored with a positive attitude. to flare at the correct height and, for this, the radio is invaluable. When will I qualify? HOW COME THE INSTRUCTORS In summary, the Club Chief Instructor SAY IT IS TOO CLOUDY FOR ME (CCI) at your centre will have a radio policy It’s taking forever! TO JUMP, YET THE EXPERIENCED and it will be there to help you and keep you safe. Even if you are made to carry a radio, Try not to lose heart. Everyone around you JUMPERS ARE GOING UP? if you are doing well under canopy, you will has gone through the same thing, they are If you are a static line student, you will be spoken to less and less. When you are just the ones who stuck at it. If you only most likely be jumping from 3,500 feet given an instruction, try and work out why. ever show up at the dropzone once every Then you will not just carry out the action, two months, do a bit of a retrain, then and you could be getting out of the aircraft a fair way from the target before but also increase your understanding of leave after an hour if the weather is no canopy control. good, you cannot expect to progress. You spending about four minutes under need to spend lots of time at the DZ – you canopy. In the case of AFF, you are may have poor luck with the weather, but opening even higher. This gives you quite must be watched. If this is being done eventually you will get there. It will be worth it in the long run. Apply yourself a chance to go through any bits of cloud through telemeters from the ground, to the sport as much as possible when that are floating around. Cloud can be clouds will naturally mean that your not jumping and you’ll find your jumps very disorientating. If you were to fly jump is not seen and you may have themselves are better. into one after opening before you have to repeat it – extra expense! If your parachute centre is full-time and worked out where you are, you could Experienced jumpers are more likely you can take a week off, you will find find yourself heading off in completely to suss out where they are quickly and the yourself progressing more quickly. Even better if there is a progression week the wrong way and be unable to reach odd bit of cloud may be less of a problem. planned – this is a great way to boost your the target. Trust your instructors to have your best jumping career while making new friends. If you are a student on freefall or an interests at heart. They want you to jump AFF consolidation student, your jump possibly more than even you do! ●

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Mobile: 0780 2850084 Email: [email protected] THEBPA About the BPA

THE BRITISH PARACHUTE ASSOCIATION (BPA) IS A NOT-FOR- PROFIT BODY RUN BY ITS MEMBERS FOR ITS MEMBERS. IT WAS FORMED IN 1961 TO GOVERN, ORGANISE AND FACILITATE SPORT PARACHUTING IN THE UK AND REPRESENTS THE INTERESTS OF ALL UK SKYDIVERS, AS WELL AS BEING OUR VOICE IN THE INTERNATIONAL SKYDIVING COMMUNITY

BPA OPERATIONS MANUAL individuals wish to receive the magazine COMPETITIONS With a sport as potentially hazardous as before they convert to full membership, Encourages and supports competitive skydiving, the need for a clear set of safety a magazine-only subscription is available skydiving and the pursuit of excellence rules is obvious. The BPA established its – which is a good way to keep in touch • Selects host Centres and writes Operations Manual in 1984, which is with the sport. See page five. the rules for British Open National approved by the Civil Aviation Authority and Grand Prix/UK Skydiving (CAA), the controlling body for UK BPA COUNCIL League competitions airspace. Hence, you can only train to A committee of up to 15 elected members, • Selects the British team for World skydive in the UK at a BPA Affiliated called the Council, sets the BPA’s policy. Championships and other FAI Centre. This means training methods, These unpaid volunteers are elected international sport parachuting meets equipment and instructional qualification each year by the full (voting) members. • Allocates funding for our is standardised throughout the UK. Members of Council are Directors top-level athletes There is a well-established progression of British Parachute Association Ltd, • Arranges coaching for non-seniors system designed for parachutists to gain a company limited by guarantee, • Co-ordinates judging and judges the skills they need. The BPA’s safety according to its legal governing • Seeks sponsorship system and Instructor courses are instrument, the Memorandum & Articles widely respected both nationally of Association. The Council, in turn, Committees of appropriately qualified and internationally. elects a Chair, Vice Chair and Committee members oversee other areas: There are around 26 of these BPA Chairs etc from their own number. The Affiliated Centres in the UK, plus two Council usually meets six times a year SAFETY AND TRAINING in Germany and Cyprus. All are run in and the minutes of its meetings and those Consists of every Club Chief Instructor accordance with the BPA Operations of the BPA Committees are published (25-30 members) Manual. A map is on page 61. on the BPA website to keep members up • Updates the BPA Operations Manual to date with everything that is going on. • Sets rules for skydiving NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL • Reviews incident reports and takes REPRESENTATION BPA COMMITTEES action as necessary The BPA is the National Governing Council Members also serve on Committees. • Clears equipment for use Body for sport parachuting in the UK • Sets criteria for Instructor ratings: and is affiliated to the FAI, the Fédération COMMUNICATIONS new, advanced and examiners Aéronautique Internationale (or World Facilitates the flow of information and • Sets criteria for demonstration events Air Sports Federation) through the Royal news for members and potential skydivers • Assesses new parachuting activities Aero Club of the UK. The BPA represents • Directs the BPA’s Skydive the Mag and the interests of skydivers in the UK its website RIGGERS through the FAI’s International • Publishes Skydive Starter magazine Consists of every UK rigger qualified Parachuting Commission. The BPA is • Steers the BPA website and the for two years or more (approximately recognised by the government’s official Skydive the Mag website 50 members) agencies for sport such as UK Sport. • Publishes the BPA e-newsletter • Parachute manufacture, assembly, • Publishes the BPA Skydiving Calendar modification and repair JOINING THE BPA • Plans the AGM and associated events • Certificates new riggers and qualifies Every British sport parachutist must be reserve parachute packers. a member of the BPA. Initially, the 45,000 DEVELOPMENT or so people a year who make their first Develops the sport and BPA membership PILOTS jump join as provisional members, which • Encourages membership recruitment Consists of every qualified jump pilot covers them for up to a year or until and retention • Considers aircraft issues for they progress to freefall. At that stage, • Improves the BPA’s services and systems parachute dropping membership is converted to full status • Develops the functionality of the • Certificates new jump pilots with the cost of Skydive the Mag included BPA website • Incident reporting in the membership subscription. Should • Extends the BPA’s influence • Aircraft safety

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