THIS MANUAL WAS REVISED IN OC to BER 2008. THE NEX T EDI T I O N IS EXPEC T ED IN SEP T EMBER 2010. 2009-2010 SKYDIVER ’S INFORMATION MANUAL cover photo by Ron Lengel cover design by Travis Walchle © 2008 by the United States Parachute Association. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without the express permission of USPA. this page intentionally left blank WARNING IMPORTANT NOTICE Sport parachuting or skydiving is a potentially dangerous activity that can result in injury or death. EACH INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANT, REGARDLESS OF EXPERIENCE, HAS FINAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS OR HER OWN SAFETY. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PRESENTED AS A MEMBERSHIP SERVICE BY THE UNITED STATES PARACHUTE ASSOCIATION (USPA). USPA MAKES NO WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS AND ASSUMES NO LIABILITY CONCERNING THE VALIDITY OF ANY ADVICE, OPINION OR RECOMMENDATION EXPRESSED IN THIS MATERIAL. ALL INDIVIDUALS RELYING ON THIS MATERIAL DO SO AT THEIR OWN RISK. An individual’s safety can be enhanced by exercising proper precautions and procedures. This manual contains some of the knowledge and practices that, in the opinion of USPA, will promote the safe enjoyment of skydiving. The UNITED STATES PARACHUTE ASSOCIATION is a not -for- profit, voluntary membership organization of the participants and supporters of the sport of parachuting. The sport is also referred to as skydiving. USPA has no involvement in the conduct or operations of any skydiving center, parachute center, or drop zone. USPA, AS A PRIVATE, NON-REGULATORY ORGANIZATION WHICH HAS NO LEGAL AUTHORITY TO REGULATE OR CONTROL INDIVIDUALS OR CORPORATIONS, CANNOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY JUMP OR TRAINING OPERATIONS THAT RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH TO ANY PARTY. Regardless of any statements made in any USPA publications, USPA has neither been given nor has it assumed any duty to anyone. USPA has no obligation to anyone concerning his or her skydiving activities. All references by USPA to self-regulation refer to each individual person regulating or being responsible for him or herself. USPA issues various licenses, ratings, awards, and appointments and provides various types of information, advice, and training but does not authorize anyone in any capacity to act for USPA as an agent or representative in con- nection with the regulation or control of skydiving operations. It is the responsibility of each student to ask whatever questions are necessary for him or her to have a thorough understanding of the actions and procedures that he or she must perform in order to make a safe jump. Each sky- diver has the responsibility to exercise certain practices and perform certain actions to maintain safety for himself or herself and for other people. USPA MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE INFORMATION SET FORTH IN THIS MANUAL. PEOPLE RELYING THEREON DO SO AT THEIR OWN RISK. 2009-2010 skydiver’s information manual • page i this page intentionally left blank united states parachute association® publications INTRODUCTION A. PUR P O S E AND S CO P E OF THE USPA SKYDIVER ’S INFORMATION MANUAL The Skydiver’s Information Manual (SIM) provides basic skydiving standards (the Basic Safety Requirements) and recommendations agreed upon by USPA members for the conduct of safe and enjoyable skydiving. It also describes the programs USPA administers to recognize individuals for their expertise, ability to train others, and proficiency or tenure in the sport. Although the SIM provides much basic information for skydivers, each jumper should research further and consult USPA and industry officials, documents, and other produced media, as well as other reliable individuals for clarification and additional information. B. THE SIM AND SKYDIVING’S S ELF -POLICING P RINCI P LE OF REGULATION Although USPA is a voluntary membership association with no regulatory power, USPA can suspend or revoke any USPA license, rating, award, appointment, or membership it issues, according to terms and conditions stated in the USPA Governance Manual. Compliance with the Basic Safety Requirements (BSRs) contained herein is mandatory for participation in USPA programs. The BSRs represent the commonly accepted standards for a reasonable level of safety. However, the recommendations contained herein, unless otherwise stated (such as in the case of compliance with a Federal Aviation Regulation), are put forth as guidance and are not mandatory. Moreover, a deviation from these recommendations does not necessarily imply negligence and is not to be used in a court of law to demon- strate negligence. Voluntary compliance with rules, recommendations, and standards within the SIM demonstrates that jumpers and drop zone operators are exercising self-regulation. C. HOW TO O B TAIN OR RECOMMEND CHANGE S TO THI S MANUAL The SIM from time to time requires updating. It is the responsibility of SIM holders to keep their version current. New copies may be downloaded free of charge from the USPA website, www.uspa.org, or purchased from the USPA Store: (540) 604-9740; 604-9741 (fax), or e-mail [email protected]. Readers are encouraged to submit comments or recommended changes in writing to USPA, 5401 Southpoint Centre Blvd., Fredericksburg, VA 22407; by phone to (540) 604-9740; by fax to 604-9741; or by e-mail to [email protected]. This manual provides procedures to address many foreseeable situations, but each situation is different. Deviations from these recommendations does not imply negligence. 2009-2010 skydiver’s information manual • page iii united states parachute association® publications table of contents Table of Contents Warning i Introduction iii Section 1: The United States Parachute Association 1 United States Parachute Association (Overview) 2 A. Your USPA representatives ................................................................................................................................2 B. USPA leadership ...............................................................................................................................................2 C. USPA policy making .........................................................................................................................................2 D. The USPA Headquarters staff ...........................................................................................................................2 E. USPA Constitution and By-Laws .....................................................................................................................2 Section 2: Basic Safety Requirements and Waivers 3 Basic Safety Requirements (Overview) 5 A. How the BSRs affect safety ...............................................................................................................................5 B. Waivers and changes to the BSRs ......................................................................................................................5 2-1 Basic Safety Requirements 6 A. Applicability ......................................................................................................................................................6 B. Compliance with Federal regulations ................................................................................................................6 C. Medical requirements ........................................................................................................................................6 D. Age requirements ..............................................................................................................................................6 E. Student skydivers ..............................................................................................................................................6 F. Winds ...............................................................................................................................................................7 G. Minimum opening altitudes ..............................................................................................................................7 H. Drop zone requirements ....................................................................................................................................7 I. Pre-jump requirements ......................................................................................................................................7 J. Extraordinary skydives ......................................................................................................................................7 K. Parachute equipment .........................................................................................................................................8 L. Special altitude equipment and supplementary oxygen .....................................................................................8 2-2 Waivers to the Basic Safety Requirements 9 A. Why BSRs may need to be waived ....................................................................................................................9 B. Classification of waivers ....................................................................................................................................9 C. Procedures for filing waivers ..............................................................................................................................9 D. Filing of waivers ................................................................................................................................................9 Section 3: Classification