Frequently Asked Questions: Updated 2023
Questions 39 to 42 are related to charity skydive jumps
Q1: I am booked in to jump this weekend, is the weather going to be suitable?
A1: Unfortunately we can’t predict the weather; weather forecasts are often inaccurate and therefore unreliable. So please turn up on the day that you are booked in. No matter what the weather we will be there.
Q2: Can I bring my Go-Pro camera to film my jump as I do it ?
A2: No, the rules that we operate under do not allow you to bring any form of auxiliary equipment on board the aircraft.
Q3: If I don’t turn up will I lose my deposit?
A3: You must give us seven days notice to change your booking date. If you are unable to attend on the day of your booking, and have not given us seven days notice, then you will lose your £50 deposit.
Q4: What is the difference between a Tandem Skydive and a Solo First Time jump?
A4: Both are training jumps intended for people who want to learn to skydive. On a Tandem Skydive you exit the aircraft attached to an instructor who will control everything that happens. On a Solo First Time jump you are trained to exit the aircraft yourself, after which your parachute will be deployed automatically by a static line, and you steer and land it yourself. This is all controlled by the instructor who remains on board the aircraft.
Q5: How do I know which type of jump I should do?
A5: The Solo First Time Jump course is intended for people of a higher physical and mental standard who intend to take up skydiving as a sport. If you intend just to do one jump, to raise money for a charity or as a one off experience, you may be better to do a Tandem Skydive.
Q6: Do you operate seven days a week?
A6: No, we only operate Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year.
Q7: Is there an age restriction?
A7: Yes , the maximum age we will accept for a Tandem Skydive is 60 and for the Solo First Jump Course is 49 years old.
Q8: Will you consider allowing someone over the age limits, who is super fit, to complete a tandem skydive or solo first jump course?
A8: Sorry but No.
Q9: Is there a weight restriction?
A9: Yes the maximum weight for any one doing a Tandem Skydive is 210 lbs/15 stone/95kg. For anyone doing a solo first jump course the maximum is 196 lbs/14 stone/89kg.
Q10: Is the maximum weight inclusive of my clothing?
A10: Yes, before you jump, you will be weighed.
Q 11: Is there any lee way with the weight restriction?
A11: Sorry but No.
Q12: If I book on line and enter my three preferred dates will I definitely be allocated one of them?
A12: No, we will try our best to accommodate the dates that you ask for, but if they are all fully booked we will offer you the next available date.
Q13: I am raising money for charity, will you be able to give a discount on the cost of a course as it is for a good cause?
A13: Sorry but no, most people are raising money for some good cause or other.
Q14: Is it scary?
A14: Throwing yourself out of a perfectly good aeroplane several thousand feet above the ground for the first few times goes against all your instincts for survival – it is scary! As you do more jumps your confidence will grow, and you will become much more excited about the prospect of jumping out of an aeroplane. The thrill and sense of achievement is present for all the jumps you do.
Q15: Is it safe?
A15: Parachuting is potentially a very dangerous activity. With the modern equipment used today, the intensive training and the strict safety rules that we follow, parachuting is made as safe as possible. You are of course required to obey the training you have been given. The instructors will not allow you to jump if they perceive any threat to your safety, either from yourself, others, equipment, weather, or any other factor.
Q16: Can I go solo on my first jump?
A16: Yes you can. After the full day’s training, you will be accompanied in the aircraft by an instructor who will ensure that everything is alright for you to exit solo from the aircraft above the dropping area. It is then up to you to carry out your training and to enjoy the descent.
Q17: Do you pack your own parachute?
A17: For your first few jumps a qualified parachute packer will pack the equipment for you. As you progress within the sport you will be encouraged to learn how the equipment functions and how it is packed. This will lead you to becoming an approved packer, which in turn will make your jumps cheaper, as you be able to claim £5 expenses for each parachute you pack.
Q18: How long does the training take?
A18: Training for solo first jumps will take a whole day, starting at 09:00. During the summer months with the extended daylight, first time jumpers will normally jump in the evening on the day they trained (weather permitting). During the winter months when sunset is earlier your jump will normally be carried out on a subsequent day, following refresher training. Training for a tandem skydive will take around 1 hour and is carried out at 09:00 on the day you are booked in to jump.
Q19: I trained 2 yrs ago, why can’t I jump now?
A19: Skydiving is a sport that requires you to be current and jump regularly. Having a long layoff means that you are no longer current. Equipment and procedures may have changed in that time and you would be required to carry out a full training course again to ensure you are fully conversant with current trends.
For jumpers who have short layoffs a brief refresher and retrain may be necessary, please contact us for further details.
Q20: How do I get onto freefall?
A20: After you do your first solo jump, you could be doing your first freefall jump as little as 5 jumps later. You firstly carry out two good basic static line jumps. After this you will do 3 good dummy ripcord pull jumps to prove your ability to pull a handle during a normal static line jump. (On these jumps the handle does nothing – the parachute is still opening automatically). When you can demonstrate this ability to pull the dummy ripcord, you will be allowed onto freefall. Your first freefall jump is a freefall of 3 seconds, which builds up to longer delays on each successive stage. We offer a solo freefall package that includes all of these jumps, as well as the first jump course, for £270.
Q21: How long is my first freefall jump?
A21: On your first freefall jump you will fall for 3 seconds before opening your parachute. As you progress in the sport gaining confidence and becoming more experienced the duration of your freefall jumps will increase until you can freefall for more than a minute.
Q22: Can I jump with a surfboard?
A22: Yes, if you stick at it and become an licensed skydiver you will be able to do skysurfing jumps. Skysurfing is a very specialised branch of skydiving and requires special equipment, training and lots of experience to be undertaken safely.
Q23: How long does it take to learn how to skydive?
A23: When learning to skydive everyone is different. It depends on various factors such as natural ability and money, and it could take anything from a couple of months to a year of jumping before you become a competent licensed skydiver. We offer a solo licence package that includes all 18 necessary jumps, as well as the first jump course, for £750.
Q24: Do I need to make reservations for a skydive?
A24: When planning to do your initial training you have to book a date on which you can carry out your training course. Once you have completed your initial training you can turn up at the drop zone whenever suits you, complete refresher training, and carry out more jumps.
Q25: Can we get one video for our whole group?
A25: There is no provision made to video solo students on static line jumps. With tandem skydives you have the option of having your jump videoed. A camera flyer will film all aspects of your jump from gearing up to landing, including the freefall part of the jump. Mention this at the time of booking and we attempt to arrange this for you, dependent on the availability of camera flyers on the day of your skydive.
Q26: Can you talk in freefall?
A26: You can talk in freefall if you like but the sound of the air rushing past your body is so loud that it is impossible for anyone to hear you.
Q27: Can you breathe in freefall?
A27: Breathing in freefall is no different to breathing on the ground. Sometimes the whole experience can be enough to take your breath away.
Q28: How fast do you fall?
A28: You fall pretty fast when in freefall. After exiting the aircraft gravity starts to accelerate your body towards the ground and it takes about 12 seconds to reach a maximum speed of around 175 ft per second which is roughly 120 mph. Once you have reached this terminal velocity your body will continue to fall at this rate, falling 1000 ft roughly every 5.5 seconds. If you exit the aircraft on a tandem jump at 10000 ft where the parachute is opened at 5000ft you will be in freefall for about 34 seconds.
Q29: Do you go up when your parachute opens?
A29: No. When you see films of skydivers opening their parachutes it would appear that they go up. This is just an illusion caused by the camera flyer continuing to fall past the other skydivers whose descent rate is reduced by their opening parachute.
Q30: What if my parachute doesn’t open?
A30: In skydiving it is an accepted fact that occasionally your main parachute may not open correctly. This is a very rare occurrence, but this is why it is mandatory that everyone wears a reserve parachute as a backup.
Q31: What weather might prevent me from jumping?
A31: As with many outdoor and aviation activities skydiving relies on the weather to be kind to us. The type of weather that can prevent jumping is low cloud and / or a stiff breeze. The minimum altitude required for static line jumping is 3,500 feet. Tandems will not normally take place unless there is around 10,000 feet of altitude. Wind limits are 15 knots for solo student jumping and 20 knots for tandem skydiving.
Q32:Do you bury your parachute after you land ?
A32: No.
Q33: Can I have a refund if I don’t jump ?
A33: The club does not issue refunds to people who have completed the solo first jump course. The cost of your solo first jump course covers the training that you receive prior to the jump – you will have received this training even if you decline to jump. We make every effort to ensure that you make your jump and we do not issue refunds for any circumstances out with our control that prevent you from jumping. Tandem students normally pay on the day of their jump and should the jump not take place due to bad weather we will allow you to re book for another suitable date.
Q34: Can I get a deposit refunded ?
A34: Sorry but deposits are non-refundable. The deposit covers the costs of our banking, PayPal, Booking Secretary, stationery, advertising and web site.
Q35: There are a few of us who want to do this, will we all be able to all jump on the same day?
A35: We can take up to 10 people doing tandems and 14 on solo first jump courses on any one day. Just send in the booking forms all together or apply on line at the same time requesting the same dates, and we will keep you all as one group.
Q36: Can I arrange to have my Tandem Skydive filmed and have photographs taken?
A36: Yes we will arrange to film your Tandem Skydive if at all possible. Please note that occasionally due to operational restrictions we are unable to provide this service.
Q37: If I have paid to have my Tandem Skydive filmed, and it is not possible, will I get a refund?
A37: Yes. Occasionally operational issues may mean that either your jump may not be filmed, or the video equipment may malfunction. In these scenarios, your video package payment will be refunded. Video malfunctions will not entitle you to a refund of your tandem jump, or a re-jump.
Q38: Can I elect to be one of the first to jump, as I have a long way to travel or have to leave at a specific time ?
A38: No, as most people will have a good reason why they should go first. We decide on the order in which people will jump based on operational requirements which will change as the weather and flying conditions vary throughout the day .
Q39: If I do the Jump for Free option, will all the money I raise go to my chosen charity?
A39: No, the cost of the jump has to be deducted, £270 for a Tandem Skydive and £160 for a Solo First Jump Course. The balance of the money you raise will go to your chosen Charity.
Q40: Can I pick a charity that is not listed?
A40: We will only provide sponsor packs for the charities listed. If you wish to raise money for another charity, you can organise it yourself by producing sponsor forms, booking and paying for the jump from the money you raise, and passing on the balance to the charity of your choice.
Q41: Can I use “Just Giving” to collect sponsorship?
A41: We are not set up to receive donations from any electronic site.
Q42: I am raising money for charity, will you be able to give a discount on the cost of a course as it is for a good cause?
A42: Sorry but no, most people are raising money for some good cause or other.
