Skydiving has evolved significantly since the first parachute was designed back in the 1480s. Today, sport skydiving exists as a hobby, participated in by thousands of skydivers across the globe, and tandem skydiving appears on most people’s bucket lists.

Here are ten key moments in skydiving history that brought us to where we are today.

1483: Leonardo Da Vinci and the World’s First Parachute

Leonardo Da Vinci (Leo to his friends) was an incredibly talented artist with an eye for detail. But even more than that, he was an exceptional scientist and engineer.

His intricate study of the world around him led him to create great works of art. It also led him to theorize much about the human anatomy, architecture, sculpture, music, engineering, geology, hydraulics and the military arts.

He took a keen interest in flight and sketched a conical parachute design in 1483, which is recognized as the first parachute. An accompanying note read: “If a man is provided with a length of gummed linen cloth with a length of 12 yards on each side and 12 yards high, he can jump from any great height whatsoever without injury.”

In the year 2,000, Adrian Nicholas became the first man to jump with the Da Vinci parachute, proving that it was, in fact, the first working parachute ever designed.

1911: The World’s First ‘Skydiver.

It was sometime between Da Vinci’s sketch and the first skydive as we know it today (though some scripture suggests parachute descents were made in China in the interim). Credit for the first modern skydive is split between Grant Morten and Albert Berry, with controversy rife to this day over who actually jumped first.

Morten was reportedly the first skydiver when he jumped from a Wright Model B airplane over Venice Beach, California using a folded silk parachute. It has been argued that he was actually beaten to it by Berry, a US Army Captain, who jumped in March 1912. Records aren’t clear, meaning we’ll probably never know – but suffice to say, the first skydive was made sometime around 1911-1912!

1914-1945: Skydiving and the Military

Much of skydiving’s development from that point on can be attributed to the use of parachutes in the World Wars. During this time, it was widely recognized that parachutes served a great purpose as a life saving device. It was first proposed by American General Billy Mitchell that parachute troops be used in 1917, with the Italian military credited with the first combat jump in 1918.

In 1933, the Soviets staged the first mass parachute drop when they dropped 62 parachutists from three bombers. They greatly expanded their parachute units and in 1936 dropped 1,800. Parachute regiments became commonplace in World War II, and many armies still retain their parachuting arms to this day.

With parachutes used so much in war, their development was accelerated. When the war ended, the parachutes became available for non-military use, helping to bring parachuting to the masses.

1946: USPA (United States Parachute Association) founded

The USPA is the governing body for the sport of skydiving in the USA. The USPA provides guidance and sets rules in place to keep the sport safe, and oversees its ongoing progression. Today, the USPA is a huge part of skydiving in this country and is the body which awards instructor ratings and skydiving qualifications.

The USPA was founded in 1946, in Mineola, New York, as the National Parachute Jumpers-Riggers, Incorporated. At the time, it represented around 100 members. It was renamed the Parachute Club of America in 1957 and renamed itself again to the United States Parachute Association in 1967. Its inception was an important point in skydiving as it marked the recognition of skydiving as a sport and hobby.

The 1960s: First Ram-Air Parachute Design

The first parachutes were round in shape. This meant they could pivot on their centre, but controlling their speed, direction, and glide ratio was pretty much impossible.

This led to the invention of the first ram-air parachute design by Domina Jalbert in the 1960s. Jalbert was a kite maker, who recognised that the kite shape was much more efficient as a wing. This is because the ram-air (or parafoil) design allows air in through the front ‘cells’ and then retains that air, forming a rigid wing that can be controlled by its pilot much more effectively than round parachutes ever could.

Today, the vast majority of skydivers use ram-air parachutes, with which they perform high-performance ‘swoop’ landings as well as being able to adjust their speed and descent.

1964: First Vertical Wind Tunnel Flight

Skydiving wind tunnels are what we call vertical wind tunnels (VWT). These differ from traditional horizontal wind tunnels which are used to test the aerodynamics of planes or cars.

The first person to fly in a vertical wind tunnel did so in 1964 in Ohio. It was a flight that started a new era for indoor body flight. The first wind tunnel intended for people to fly in was built in 1978 by John St Germain who wanted his children to experience freefall in what he considered being a safer environment.

Since then, indoor skydiving has progressed significantly. Dozens of wind tunnels now exist in the world and many of those are intended solely for the use of skydivers and those who want to experience body flight. Skyventure at Skydive Perris was one of the first wind tunnels for skydivers and remains one of the only wind tunnels situated on a skydiving drop zone. You can find out more about our wind tunnel here.

1978: The Three Ring Release System

The three-ring release system was invented by Bill Booth and patented in 1978 as a means of attaching (and detaching) a canopy from its harness.

It is accepted by skydivers that their main parachute doesn’t always work. This is why modern skydivers jump with a spare, or reserve parachute. But in order to use their reserve, skydivers must first detach the malfunctioning main canopy.

Prior to the invention of the three-ring release system, this detachment was done using capewells, which were cumbersome and could malfunction themselves. The three ring system makes cutting away the malfunctioning parachute much quicker and easier; this is because the design of the system means the mechanical advantage is multiplied by each ring in the series, allowing for the force needed to cut away to be greatly reduced.

The 3-ring is widely recognised as one of the greatest safety innovations in the history of skydiving.

1982: AFF Gets Approved by the USPA

Traditionally, skydiving students learned to skydive solo via static line, which meant that their initial jumps did not include any freefall time. Although there are positives to this method, the downfall was that their eventual introduction to freefalling was a bit rocky. The solution to this was allowing instructors and students to jump out solo, but alongside one another. If a student was unable to nail the freefall alone, it was common for an instructor to jump out with them while holding onto their harness. This is essentially what a modern-day Accelerated Freefall (AFF) jump is!

The issue arose because people were doing this despite the Basic Safety Requirements (BSRs) of the USPA. In 1970, Paul Poppenhager was granted a waiver to the BSRs and was permitted to use freefall as a way to train solo skydiving students at his dropzone.

Today, AFF is the primary method of teaching solo skydivers. It is the most comprehensive and efficient way to train new jumpers. And yes, it’s approved by the USPA. Thanks, Paul!

1980s: Tandem Skydiving Receives Sport Status

Tandem skydiving is a type of skydiving where the ‘student’ jumps from a plane attached to a qualified instructor, sharing one set of parachuting equipment between them. These days, tandem skydiving is the most popular way to experience the first jump – but it’s not always been that way!

In the early 80s, tandem skydiving was still in ‘experimental’ status. This means it was being tested but had yet to be classified as a full sport. The FAA (Federation Aviation Administration) waived the experimental status, opening the door for tandem skydiving to grow in popularity.

1989: Invention of the Cypres AAD

As skydiving has progressed, there have been significant improvements in the safety of the sport. The invention of the Cypres AAD is recognized as one of the most important of these safety innovations.

An AAD, or automatic activation device, is a small device which monitors air pressure and speed. It automatically opens the reserve parachute if it finds it is still falling at freefall speeds by a given altitude. This means that it will ensure the skydiver has a parachute over their heads even if they are knocked unconscious or lose altitude awareness during their descent.

Prior to the invention of the CYPRES, there were a number of AADs on the market but none were considered reliable. Today, the majority of skydivers use AADs, primarily from CYPRES and its rival company Vigil.

1991: Point Break Brings Skydiving to the Masses

Point Break was a film first released in 1991 and later remade in 2016. Its storyline revolved around an FBI agent who goes undercover to catch a gang of surfers who might be bank robbers.

In a plot similar to that of the later film, Cutaway, the main protagonist finds himself drawn into the adrenaline-fuelled lifestyle of the criminals he has been sent to catch. The group persuades the lead character, played by Keanu Reeves, to ‘jump from a perfectly good airplane’ in a scene which shows the skydivers talking to one another mid jump and having an awesome time!

Point Break was one of the first major box office hits to show skydiving, bringing the sport to the masses (although its viability as a true representation of skydiving is questionable!).

2006: 400-Way Formation Skydiving World Record

On February 8, 2006, 400 skydivers crushed the world record for formation skydiving in Udon Thani, Thailand. This is arguably one of the most important moments in skydiving history, because of the sheer amount of inspiration it spread across the skydiving community.

Records of this nature pose questions like: What else is possible? Can we go even bigger and better? And, how did they achieve something so incredible? This accomplishment wildly inspirational for avid skydivers and novices, alike. Inspiration in the sport is integral for growth, which brings us to the next two notable moments in skydiving history…

2012: Felix Baumgartner Shatters The Sound Barrier

In 2012, Felix Baumgartner was the first person to break the sound barrier in freefall. He jumped from 38,969.4 meters above the earth, meaning his fall from the stratosphere was 24 miles above the earth. We would like to express our deepest condolences to Felix’s loved ones, as he passed away in 2025. Long live the legend!

2014: Alan Eustace Does The Highest Freefall

Alan Eustace holds the record for world highest freefall. He fell from a height of 135,890 feet in 2014. He also shattered records for maximum vertical speed with a drogue (822mph!) and distance of fall with a drogue.

Are you Ready to Skydive?

Skydiving is an amazing experience and one which has evolved over more than 500 years. Each year, approximately 500,000 people in the US try skydiving for the first time. Today, more than 10 million men and women throughout the country can say they’ve made at least one skydive.

If you’re ready to join them, book your tandem skydive today. If you’ve got any questions, our team is here to help – contact us!

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What’s In A Skydive Gear Check? 

We’ll get into more detail later. First let’s take a look at what we check and what we’re checking for when we perform a skydiving gear check. In short:

• 3-rings. Are they routed properly? Are they free of filth? 
• RSL. Is the Reserve Static Line properly routed and connected? 
• Straps. Are the chest strap and leg straps routed through the metal friction adapter properly? Is there any wear and tear on them or the friction adapter? Is their excess cleanly stowed? 
• Handles. Are the cutaway and reserve handles seated correctly and securely? Are the cutaway cable and reserve cable able to move at will? 
• Reserve pin. Is the pin seated correctly and is it sealed by an FAA-certified rigger? 
• AAD. Is the AAD turned on, and was it turned on here, today? 
• Main pin and closing loop. Is the main pin placed properly through the closing loop, and does the closing loop have less than 10% wear? 
• Bridle. Is the bridle routing correct? 
• Pilot chute. Is the pilot chute able to be reached comfortably by the jumper? 
• Altimeter. Is the altimeter showing a reading of “zero” on the ground? And, is it set to the proper setting if it’s a digital altimeter? 
• Helmet. Do the helmet and goggles (if using an open-face helmet) fit well? 
• Shoes. Are shoes tied or otherwise secured to the jumper’s feet? 

What’s The Check of Threes? 

The Check of Threes is commonly used to remember critical components of parachute gear checks. 

• Three rings. The three-ring release system – created by the iconic Bill Booth – uses a series of large, medium, and small metal rings that loop through each other and are secured by the cutaway cable. This clever design spreads the effect of gravity on the skydiver and the forces of canopy flight across the rings, reducing the overall strain and demanding less force needed to cut away the main canopy.
  
  The RSL, which is connected to the main risers near the three-ring system, is also inspected at this point in the Check of Threes to ensure it’s properly routed and securely attached to the correct grommet. 

• Three attachment points. The harness of the skydiving rig has three straps – a chest strap and two leg straps. Each of these are routed through a metal friction adapter. When we’re checking the attachment points, we’re ensuring there isn’t wear on the straps or adapter, and that the strap is routed properly through the adapter. It’s common to see skydivers checking others’ straps by not only looking at them, but tugging on them. 

• Three handles. Skydiving rigs are equipped with three handles – the hacky on the pilot chute (which initiates deployment of the main parachute), the cutaway handle, and the reserve parachute handle. When we check these, we’re ensuring that they’re secure! They’re held in place by strong velcro – seriously! And yes, the velcro really withstands the speed of a skydive. 

The Nitty Gritty of Skydiving Gear Checks

With the basics behind us, let’s take a more in-depth look into the components we consider with each skydiving gear check:

• Main closing pin and loop. When we check these, we’re making sure they’re in good health and in the right spot! The main closing loop should have less than 10% wear. How do you measure 10%? A good rule of thumb is: if you’re debating, it’s time to change it! Closing loops that are too frayed can result in a premature deployment of the main canopy. 

• Reserve closing pin and loop. How much wear can a reserve closing loop show? Zero percent! Reserve parachutes have a sort of zero-tolerance policy – they need to be in pristine condition. This is one reason they’re unpacked, inspected, and repacked by an FAA-certified rigger every 180 days. Yes, this happens regardless of if you’ve used the reserve or not! 

• Automatic Activation Device. AADs are small computers situated in the container designed to deploy the reserve parachute in the event that the skydiver is unable to. They perform using a pressure and velocity system – if they determine the skydiver is falling too fast (velocity) and is too low (air pressure), they are designed to activate a small blade to cut the reserve cable, which deploys the reserve parachute. AADs save lives! 

• Altimeter. Altimeters show us how high we are – they’re pretty darn important in the skydiving world! When we check them prior to a jump, we’re making sure they’re displaying “zero” and are fastened snugly on the skydiver’s hand or wrist. 

Wondering how much full skydiving gear costs? It depends. Many people buy used gear, with the full setup costing a couple grand. Others (normally as they progress in the sport) might spend more than $10,000 on gear. It may sound like a lot, but you can’t put a price on something that will save your life and enable you to do something that brings you much joy! 

Do You Ever Check The Parachute? 

Although the parachute is inside the rig during a traditional gear check, it’s checked before every single jump when it’s packed! Every parachute packer – whether that’s you or someone you’ve hired – will consciously check the status of the risers, grommets, lines, canopy, pilot chute, deployment bag and bridle during every pack job. 

Pro tip: Take care of your parachute packer! They take a great deal of responsibility into their hands when they prepare your canopy for deployment and landing, i.e. their work saves your life! What are we hinting at? The answer to this frequently asked question: Do you tip your skydive parachute packer? You can! Tipping is never expected, but it’s always appreciated. Tipping isn’t always about money; packers work hard for long hours and save you the hassle of having to spend time sweating on the mat instead of grabbing a snack (if you’re at Skydive Perris, check out the Bombshelter Restaurant’s menu!) before your next jump. So, maybe bring them something too, like an electrolyte drink or a sandwich!

How Often Should You Gear Check? 

You should gear check so often that it becomes second nature. Gear checks are expected to be done by the jumper using the gear prior to putting it on and after putting it on. Before boarding the airplane, it’s customary to get a gear check from at least one other qualified skydiver – a second set of eyes could save your life! Many jumpers also check their own gear and others prior to leaving the aircraft. This is trickier to do in a crowded airplane, but it’s possible and common! Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld (a.k.a. Dan BC), one of the greatest skydivers in history and a fierce advocate of safety in skydiving, reminds jumpers regularly that they should always “expect everything that could go wrong to go wrong on every jump” 

What is the fatality rate of skydiving? According to the United States Parachute Association’s 2024 report, there were 0.23 skydiving fatalities for every 100,000 skydives made last year. To put this ratio into context, that’s approximately one fatality for every 434,783 jumps. This number represents the lowest number of annual skydiving deaths in recorded history – a statistic we have been able to achieve, in part, through diligent safety checks, individual accountability, and a commitment to keeping complacency at bay. We are acutely aware that skydiving is an inherently risky sport, which is why we are so meticulous about mitigating risk wherever possible.

Have questions about skydiving gear checks, or anything else related to our industry? Feel free to reach out to us! We’re here to support you and to responsibly advance the sport of skydiving. Blue skies!

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Did you know that within every student parachute system, used during the skydiving courses that create the next generation of tandem skydivers at Skydive Perris, there is a device that can deploy the reserve parachute during a parachute emergency? We call this device the parachute Automatic Activation Device, or the skydiving AAD for short.

Within the skydiving industry, there are a few devices that have completely revolutionized the sport for the better — especially when it comes to skydiving safety. One of these devices is the skydiving AAD.

What Is A Skydiving AAD?

Developed through extensive engineering efforts and often not much longer than your little finger, the skydiving AAD is a microprocessor computer. This uber-precise computer is located within the skydiving container. In the event a jumper is unable to deploy his or her parachute, the skydiving AAD will deploy the reserve parachute.

Parachute Emergency Procedures

Each licensed skydiver and skydiving instructor has been thoroughly trained to enact a series of emergency procedures in the event of a parachute emergency. Although parachute malfunctions are rare, a skydiver will initiate their emergency procedures in the event there is an issue with the main parachute. This is done by first locating and firmly grasping a pillow handle — aptly nicknamed the “cutaway” handle because it separates the skydiver from the main parachute — that can be found on the main lift web of the skydiving container system. After locating and securing a firm hold on the cutaway handle, the skydiver will locate the reserve handle, which deploys the reserve parachute. In order, the skydiver will peel the cutaway handle from its Velcro housing and then pull until the arm has reached full extension. Then, the jumper will pull the reserve handle to deploy the reserve parachute.

Most skydiving equipment includes an added redundancy called the Reserve Static Line or RSL. The RSL is a lanyard that connects one or both risers of the main parachute to the reserve rip cord. With an RSL, once the jumper pulls the cutaway handle and the main canopy is released, the reserve parachute deployment is initiated.

The skydiving AAD comes into play if, for whatever reason, the skydiver is unable to complete their emergency procedures by the appropriate altitude or deploy their main parachute.

How Skydiving AAD Works

AAD’s are programmed to activate and deploy the reserve parachute if a skydiver has reached a certain speed at a certain altitude. Practically speaking, if you are still falling at freefall speeds at an altitude when your rate of descent should have been significantly slowed beneath a parachute, the AAD will deploy the reserve parachute.

Now, this may leave you wondering how, exactly, can the AAD possibly know your rate of descent and altitude? Well, the AAD measures changes in barometric pressure to calculate altitude and rate of descent. Every time the AAD powers up, the unit calibrates by taking an average value of pressure, which allows it to set a current pressure at ground level. Because the pressure may change throughout the day, the AAD also takes intermittent readings to adjust to current conditions.

Every skydiving AAD consists of a control unit, a processing unit, and a cutter unit. Essentially, the control unit is a small screen display with a button that allows an individual to adjust the AAD firing parameters. During each skydive, the processing unit then measures the barometric values. If the firing parameters are met, an electronic pulse activates the cutter unit which severs the reserve container closing loop. When this loop is cut, it frees a spring-loaded pilot chute which deploys the reserve parachute.

Skydiving AADs at Skydive Perris

As we mentioned in the introduction, all the student equipment at Skydive Perris utilizes a skydiving AAD. Although the probability of an issue is small, the extra layer of security that an AAD provides is invaluable. It is far better than to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it!

Just like the secret of the skydiving AAD, there’s so much more to this sport than meets the eye. Want to learn more? Check out our blog, give us a call or schedule your skydive today!

The post What is a Skydiving AAD? appeared first on Skydive Perris.

Skydive Perris is Re-Opening on May 30th!!

Current Licensed jumpers and those needing essential re-currency training are invited to join us.

We are offering free re-currency training on May 30 and 31.  Please email email hidden; JavaScript is required if you will be attending.

We’re going to start off weekends only but expect to be adding days very shortly.

We are making plans to get our students who are in the middle of AFF and those working towards their “A” License back in the air as soon as possible.

Be sure your gear is in date and that you have money on account so that we can limit traffic in the manifest.

Keep an eye on the website for further details.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!

The full list of S.O.P.’s are published below.

SKYDIVE PERRIS COVID-19 SOPs

Safety is always our top priority at Skydive Perris. For this reason we were one of the first Skydiving Centers in the country to shut down operations because of COVID-19. Since then, more data has been gathered and new mandates released by our local and state governments.  We have been carefully examining the new information and consulting with trusted medical professionals in our effort to develop a plan for how best to responsibly reopen while also maintaining the safest environment possible for all our jumpers. With a little time we are optimistically expecting to relax these procedures, hopefully returning to near normal in the not too distant future.

One of the things we love most about our skydiving family is that we are an incredibly diverse group. This includes people who are immune compromised for a variety of reasons. We want everyone to feel as comfortable as possible coming to Skydive Perris and loading up in an Otter together and making a jump.

As tired as some of us are of the phrase, “we’re in this together”, at the drop zone it’s always been true. We would never want another jumper to pay the price for our bad decisions. It’s one thing if we hurt ourselves but an entirely different thing if we hurt someone else. We wear seatbelts in the plane to protect ourselves and everyone else. We will be wearing face coverings and washing our hands more often for the same reason.

Please help us to continue to make Skydive Perris the safest drop zone and facility it can be. The following are the COVID-19 standard operating procedures we will be implementing.

PRIOR TO COMING TO SKYDIVE PERRIS, PERRIS INDOOR SKYDIVING OR THE BOMBSHELTER

Our first line of defense against COVID-19 is minimizing the likelihood that someone who has it comes to the airport.  Prior to coming to Skydive Perris please ask yourself:

1. Have you been in contact with someone who has COVID-19?
2. Have you tested positive for COVID-19?
3. Do you now or have you in the last 14 days had any of the following symptoms: Fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache, or loss of taste or smell?
4. Have you traveled out of the country in the last 14 days?
5. While at home, are you in frequent direct contact with individuals whose health is at high risk if they are exposed to COVID-19?  (This isn’t only about those of us at the DZ.)
6. Have you been disregarding basic social distancing practices in your daily life, e.g. not wearing a mask in public and not staying at least 6’ away from other individuals when possible?    If you haven’t been protecting yourself on a daily basis, you are more likely to have been exposed to the virus even if not showing any symptoms.

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions please do not come to Skydive Perris at this time.

Medical Professionals who work with COVID-19 patients but are strictly protected while at work will be allowed on the premises even though they answered “yes” to the first question.

DUE TO CURRENT STATE MANDATES AND OUR DOD COMMITMENTS DURING THIS TIME OUR FACILITY WILL ONLY BE OPEN TO:

• Skydivers doing ongoing and essential re-currency training
• Patrons of the Perris Valley Skydiving School – RE-OPENING DAY TO BE ANNOUNCED
• Patrons of Perris Indoor Skydiving – RE-OPENING DAY TO BE ANNOUNCED
• Patrons of the Bomb Shelter Sports Bar and Grill
• USUA Ultralight Pilots
• Transient Pilots
• The only spectators allowed on the premises are patrons of the above mentioned or those who accompany tandem skydivers and Indoor Skydiving customers.

WHEN ARRIVING AT SKYDIVE PERRIS

Everyone coming to Skydive Perris will need to enter in the main parking lot by the wind tunnel.  As you walk out of the parking lot and through the airport entrance, you will be met by a staff member at a pre-screening check in station.     The staff member will ask the questions mentioned earlier and will take your temperature.  A “yes” answer to any of questions or a temperature above 100 will be reason for not being allowed entry.

Each person who answers “no” to all the questions and who has a temperature of 100 or less will be allowed to enter Skydive Perris.  At that time, they will be given a wrist band allowing them entry for that day only.

In the event you arrive and there is no one at the prescreening station, the manifest staff will do the temperature test, ask the questions and provide a wrist band if applicable.

SOCIAL DISTANCING AND PERSONAL SANITIZING MEASURES

Everyone will be required to wear a face covering while on the premises at all times.* The only time face coverings can be removed is when you are secluded and not speaking with others.

*WE DO NOT WANT TO BECOME MASK POLICE BUT WE ARE GOING TO ENFORCE THE RULES.  PLEASE USE COMMON SENSE AND RESPECT FOR OTHERS

• If you have to cough or sneeze do so tightly into your arm.   If you are frequently coughing or sneezing you will be asked to leave the premises.
• Please maintain a minimum distance of at least six feet from other individuals whenever possible.  This includes while you are packing.
• While dirt diving please use common sense social distancing measures that everyone in your group is comfortable with.
• Don’t do practice counts with hand contact, handshakes, high fives or fist bumps.
• Debrief skydives outside, not in small enclosed rooms.
• No more than four people other than staff will be allowed in the manifest office at one time.  Please put money on your account prior to coming to the drop zone.
• Please resist taking part in the loving, affectionate physical gestures we normally enjoy including hugs, kisses, high fives, fist bumps, etc.  (Sorry about this one )
• Wash your hands with soap and water before and after every jump, prior to making any transactions at manifest, restaurant and wind tunnel and frequently throughout the day.
• We will be spraying your gloves/hands with an alcohol based spray before boarding the airplane.
• When possible use a barrier such as a clean paper towel to prevent direct contact with shared surfaces including sinks, toilets, water fountains, door knobs, etc.

In addition please be sure to provide your own supply of protective equipment and sanitation items including facial coverings, hand sanitizer, sanitizing spray, disinfectant wipes and drinking water. This is the only way to be absolutely certain you always have what you need when you need it.

AIRCRAFT PROTOCOL

Time spent together in tight quarters in the aircraft is the riskiest part of spreading the virus while skydiving. Facial coverings will help but will not completely eliminate the risk.  The higher quality the face covering and the longer it is worn the more protection it provides.  In addition we need to pay extra attention to how we conduct ourselves in the airplane.

• Be completely geared up and in the loading area on a 5 minute call.
• Wash your hands as shortly before boarding the aircraft as possible.
• If you wear gloves they need to be sprayed down with a sanitizing agent prior to boarding.
• Wearing a face covering is required in the plane and loading area at all times.
• Full face helmets with the lenses closed are STRONGLY recommended.
• If you are wearing a full face helmet with the lens down during the ride to altitude you must also have a face covering.  You can lower or remove your face covering after the red light is on just before exiting the plane.
• If you are wearing a face covering which will not fit under your full face helmet (like the N95) it is ok to secure your helmet to your seatbelt for takeoff. When the red light comes on you can remove your face covering and put on your full face helmet with the lens down.
• If you are wearing an open faced helmet you must keep the face covering on until the red light comes on.
• Make sure your chosen face covering is not at risk of migrating in freefall and obstructing your vision, especially with a closed full face helmet.
• To encourage air circulation the aircraft door will be opened at 1500’ and left open as long as possible. Be extra aware that your pilot chutes are secure.  The door will stay open until the jumpers in the front of the plane closest to the pilot ask for it to be closed.
• Only speak in the airplane if absolutely necessary.  Speaking increases the transmission of COVID-19 particles.  Speaking loudly exponentially increases the transmission of COVID-19 particles.
• Do not do practice counts, handshakes, high fives, fist bumps, etc. in the plane.

SANITIZING PROCEDURES

In addition to the personal safety measures and aircraft protocols, we are also increasing our sanitizing procedures throughout the day as follows:

• At the start of the day and during shut downs, each aircraft operating will be sprayed with FAA and EPA approved disinfectant.
• At the start of each day the manifest office, Bombshelter, Perris Valley Skydiving School, video rooms, Perris Indoor Skydiving and other facilities will be cleaned and sanitized.
• Counter tops, bathrooms, door handles, aircraft handles, seat belts, door frames, aircraft mock ups and all commonly touched surfaces throughout the facility will be cleaned each morning and frequently throughout the day.
• Hand washing stations have been installed in the loading areas.
• Hand sanitizing stations have been installed in many places across the dz.
• Plastic separators have been installed in the rear of the aircraft cockpits as well as in the Manifest, School, Bomb Shelter and Perris Indoor Skydiving customer service counters.
• No touch faucets have been installed in the sinks in the bathrooms.
• Use common sense social distancing when using the bathrooms.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

Nothing is more important to us at Skydive Perris than knowing our jumpers, our family, trust that their safety is always our top priority.  We have worked for years to earn that trust and we want to earn it again now.  But there is nothing Skydive Perris can do to replace the behavioral measures each of us as individuals must take.  In the best interest of protecting yourself, your friends, families and communities please abide by all these procedures.  Please help us to hold ourselves and each other accountable.

Due to the increased safety protocols and staff needed to do all we can to fight the transmission of COVID-19, we are increasing the jump tickets to $30.

CONTACT TRACING

If you discover that you have contracted COVID-19 and have been to Skydive Perris in the prior 14 days please contact us immediately at email hidden; JavaScript is required, 951-657-3904.  We will follow up with contact tracing efforts by notifying other jumpers you were on the plane with that day.  You’re name will not be released by Skydive Perris.

COVID-19 AND SKYDIVING

Skydiving is a contact sport.  Please understand that with all the precautions and safety measures we have taken it is not possible for us to guarantee you that you won’t be exposed to COVID-19.  By participating in skydiving you accept the risk and assume all responsibility to the exposure and risk of contracting COVID-19.

Skydive Perris and all associated entities and individuals cannot guarantee your protection.  If you cannot accept the risk despite all the safety measures we have taken then you should not participate in skydiving activities.

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In this video General Manager of Skydive Perris, Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld gives a little bit of skydiving history about how we as a community have made safety decisions in the past.  In this time of COVID-19 there is much debate on when and how to reopen society in general, and among skydivers, drop zones in particular. As BC states in this video, “It’s not a one size fits all solution.”  Different drop zones in different locations with different jumpers will often make different decisions regarding what the best safety procedures at their facility are.  COVID-19 safety plans are no different.

All of us at Skydive Perris miss our family terribly and are anxious to open up as soon as we can.  While we’re not entirely comfortable doing that yet you can be sure in the meantime we are also not sitting in wait to see what happens.  Ours is a “safeish” sport.  As with all our safety plans we are taking the time to be sure we understand the threat and have done all we can to mitigate it.  We are preparing to re-open with well thought out actionable plans as we speak.

We will be back in the air soon and can’t wait to see and be flying again with all of you.

Much love,

The Skydive Perris Team

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Skydive Perris‘ General manager Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld’s safety briefings are legendary for being the most thorough and complete of any in the sport.  That is why the United States Parachute Association asked Dan to do one for USPA to release on Safety Day.  This video has been seen more than 65,000 times.  In it Dan talks about what every skydiver must do on every jump to make every skydive as safe as it can be.  It’s about the attitude and approach to skydiving it takes to make safety cool on your DZ.

The post Safety, Safety, Safety by Dan BC! appeared first on Skydive Perris.

For licensed skydivers, our sport is the epitome of self-reliance.  The United States Parachute Association recognizes that part of taking responsibility for yourself is making sure your gear is ready to jump before you put it on.  Doing a good gear check is step one.  Make sure you have a process for consistently doing a gear check and do it before every jump.  On this video Skydive Perris General Manager Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld reviews why gear checks are so important and demonstrates his process.  DO TRY THIS AT HOME!!  It’s important to get proficient at doing your gear check.  The best way is to practice doing them while you’re at home.  “Learning” to do a gear check only when you’re ON a jump simply isn’t enough. Practice at home so by the time you’re getting ready to put your rig on, you’ll be great at doing a gear check!!

For a great read from Dan covering topics such as this and more check out his book “Above All Else” by clicking here.

For a list of skydiving gear manufacturers and their recommendations you can also check out their homepages by clicking on any of the manufacturers links below.

SunPath Products
Rigging Innovations
United Parachute Technologies
Mirage Systems
Aerodyne Systems
Firebird
Velocity Sports Equipment
Wings

The post Mastering The Art of Gear Checks With Dan BC appeared first on Skydive Perris.

We at Skydive Perris were very happy to see that the Safety Day video United States Parachute Association – USPA did with the Manager of Skydive Perris, Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld, went viral and has already been viewed over 58,000 times. You can watch the USPA Safety Day Video here.

With so many of our skydiving family across the world quarantining themselves to some degree, we have received several requests for Dan to do other interesting videos. That’s why we wanted to share his keynote address at the 2013 PIA Symposium. It’s an interesting firsthand perspective on how the sport has advanced over the last 40 years (let’s face it, we could all listen to him talking about anything for hours anyway). We hope you enjoy.

By the way, have you read Dan’s book, Above All Else? It’s a great read about a story that is ideal for social distancing times! If you’re interested, it is available on Amazon by also clicking here. We highly recommend the inspirational read.

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Here’s the deal, fair reader: If you’re playing in the sky, you’re playing in the weather. Yep! That means that the weather totally affects every “beat” of the skydiving experience, from the sun shining on your smiling face during freefall to the tinkerbell delicacy of your triumphant landing.

Parachute weather is pernickety, and that’s fine by us. The thing to know is that the very nicest skydiving weather conditions are also the best conditions to visit the beach: the weather is warm, the sky is clear and blue, and there’s a gentle breeze stirring the air. It’s true that deviations from that ideal are common and not always unpleasant (some clouds are fun!), but go far afield from those ideal skydiving weather conditions and things get less favorable for a jump. Here come insights and advice that we have on weather conditions for a safe and happy skydiving experience.

We need to see the ground from the airplane

If the ground isn’t visible from the plane, we don’t jump. Sure, GPS is very likely to get us close to the mark, but all safety-minded skydivers (that’s your Perris Tandem Instructor!) know that it’s a terrible call to rely on them completely. The best tool to evaluate whether you’re getting out in the right place is your very own eyesight. Landing off the dropzone could put a baffled jumper in a tree, a lake, or a full parking lot.

Does it look like there aren’t too many clouds up there? Maybe think again. Even if the cloud seems broken in places, those “holes” are almost certainly moving around. Unless the Safety and Training Officer keeping an eye on things from the ground determines that there will certainly be a big space directly over the dropzone by the time the plane reaches exit altitude, all jumpers need to wait, from the newest first-time skydiving student to the most seasoned sport jumper.

Rain means pain

Rain falls from clouds and, as we said before, clouds between the plane and the ground aren’t great for anybody. But even if the source clouds are higher than exit altitude, we tend to wait for the rain to pass.

Why? Well: we admit that the gentle patter of light rain down on your smiling face sounds pretty romantic, but make no mistake. When you’re skydiving, the sharp ends of each those raindrops are pointing up at you as you smack against them at 120mph. Ow. Seriously. It’s just not worth the misery.

Also: If we were to jump in the rain, the weight of the water in the fabric of our parachutes would negatively affect the way our parachutes fly.

We need to control our parachutes during descent

High winds significantly affect how our parachutes fly, pushing them off course. Sometimes, they even push them backward. Because of this, we enforce wind speed limits for different solo skydiving licensing levels. If you have a higher-level license, you’re given more latitude to decide what wind speeds you will and will not tolerate. Tandems have more latitude than A-license skydivers because of the high-level professional pilot and the design of the equipment. Even so, we keep our tandem students’ comfort and safety firmly and centrally in mind when we’re determining a dropzone wind hold.

…So what if I show up for my jump, and it’s not parachute weather?

Don’t sweat it! In the unfortunate event that the weather keeps you down on the day you’d hoped to jump, we’ll just reschedule your jump for a nicer day. Don’t worry; we’ll be doing good-weather dances along with you! Now seems like a nice day to book your skydiving adventure with us. Check out our current SPECIALS.

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It’s easy to be all talk, that is, until sh*t gets real.

On a skydive, this comes somewhere muddled amongst the moments when the door of the aircraft opens filling the cabin with the brisk air at altitude, as nervous goosebumps prickle your skin while you slide toward that open door, and as you precariously line your toes against the edge that separates you from freefall.

So, what do you do when sh*t gets real? With 40+ years of experience dealing with sh*t just got real moments, we think we’ve got it just about figured out. Here’s what you need to know.

1. It’s All In Your Head.

Skydiving is a total head game. Don’t get psyched out. Anticipation of your skydiving adventure is much more frightening than skydiving itself. You won’t be the first to wait trembling for your turn to board the plane or be entirely unique if you wonder “what in the world am I doing” as the instructor says “Ready. Set. Go.”

We will have you know, within seconds of sh*t getting real, it gets really great. Once you’re in freefall, you can let your worries go. The only thing you’ll focus on is how much fun you’re having. Give yourself a mental break and keep this in mind as jump time approaches.

2. It’s Safer Than You Think.

Let’s talk statistics.  According to the United States Parachute Association, out of 3.2 MILLION jumps, there were only 24 recorded fatal skydiving accidents. That equates to .0075 fatalities per 1,000 jumps. For tandem skydiving, the stats are even better. Over the past decade, there has only been one student fatality per 500,000 tandem jumps. In fact, data gathered by the National Safety Council reveals a person is more likely to be killed by a bee sting or being struck by lightning than on a skydive.  For more on skydiving safety, you can view the most recent statistics on USPA’s website.

Since its inception, skydiving has experienced great technological advances. While as an extreme sport, skydiving is subject to inherent risks, we can boast an excellent safety record. You’re better off skydiving than you are on your commute to work. Seriously.

3. If Granddad Can Do It, So Can You.

For skydiving, there is an age minimum but no maximum. All that is required is to be young at heart. Plenty of seniors see skydiving as a great way to have fun, and not just to cross an item off their bucket list with tandem skydiving either. There are clubs and specific record attempts for licensed sport skydivers who in the “regular world” may be considered “past their prime,” Don’t you let them hear you say that, though. These skydivers can certainly show you a thing or two. Clubs include the Skydivers Over Sixty (SOS), the Jumpers Over Seventy (JOS), the Jumpers Over Eighty Society (JOES), and even the Jumpers Over Ninety Society (JONS).

Inspired? You should be. Impressed? You better be. All things considered, you’re a young whippersnapper. Are you really going to let granny show you up?

4. Until Sh*t Gets Real, You Won’t Know What It’s Like To Be Fully Alive.

It’s easy to become dull, complacent, and comfortable. But here’s a secret: nothing remarkable occurs within the boundaries of your comfort zone. You want to know when memories are made and magic happens? It’s when sh*t get’s real. Let’s put it this way. If your life became a biography, would anybody want to read it?

Leave the boring behind and start an epic story with a tandem skydive at Skydive Perris today!

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