Para Loft

One of the most thrilling things a person can probably do in this world is to jump out of an airplane. It is a confrontation with existential fears, a massive adrenalin rush, and a feeling of utmost freedom all in one package. Of course people may differ on the "fear factor" but to me jumping out of an airplane is a metaphor for life. Being able to overcome fear, to let go, to make a decision and be accepting of the consequences without worrying or as the German's say, "sich einfach fallen lassen" all this happens during a parachute jump. In my experience the fear and the worries that the chute might not open, that one will not be able to pull the reserve, that one might die ... begins on the ground and gets progressively stronger in the plane as one nears the drop zone. The final moment of truth occurs right before exiting the plane. It is here that these thoughts find their culmination and it is here that the jumper consciously throws them overboard, simply letting go in order to exit the plane and enjoy the moment.

If you're thinking about experiencing this for yourself there are three ways you can go about it:

1. Tandem Jump:

This is an excellent option if you would just like to experience the thrill of skydiving and are not planning on continuing with the sport. This method requires little preparation (between 15 to 45 minutes) and will allow you to experience about a 30 second freefall. This is possible because on this type of jump you are only a passenger. You are attached by a harness to the front of a tandem master's harness and this experienced jumper takes care of all the work (chute opening, steering, landing etc.) leaving you to enjoy the ride. Tandem jumps cost between $ 150 and $ 250. A tandem jump is not a training jump however, so if you want to eventually be certified to jump on your own you should opt for one of the other two methods detailed below.

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2. Static Line:

This is the traditional method of training parachutists and has its roots in the military. Before jumping, the student receives numerous hours of ground training (usually lasting one to two days and covering equipment, exits, steering, landing, emergency drills, and chute packing). Once this training is completed, jumps are made from an altitude of approximately 900 - 1200 meters (3000 to 4000 feet). The chute is opened automatically through the static line which is attached to the plane and which pulls the chute out as the jumper falls away from the aircraft. The freefall experience is only as long as it takes for the chute to open, which is about 3 seconds. After five static line jumps you can receive a static-line A license which is good for life. At this stage you can continue to just make static line jumps (cost between $ 20 to $ 25) or progress on to freefall. This is done by first practicing the pulling of a dummy ripcord during static line jumps. Once this is mastered, jumps are made without the static line. The student now has to deploy his chute by himself using the ripcord. During this training the freefall time becomes progressively longer, i.e. on the first jump, the ripcord is pulled immediately upon exiting the plane, on the second jump with a 10 second delay before pulling the rip cord etc. The basic static line course for a license costs between $ 350 and $450. To progress to freefall, at least 5 progressive training jumps are required and the cost between the first static line jump and the first freefall jump will amount to approximately $ 400 to $ 700 depending on the skill of the jumper. To receive the A license for freefall at least 20 freefall jumps must be made. During each jump certain basic requirements must be met to progress to the next level (i.e. stable fall, specific turns, dives etc. Check out the Miami University Skydiving Club's progression list for a more detailed description). These jumps cost between $ 30 and $ 60 with the total cost for going from non-jumper to certified skydiver, using this method, being approximately $ 1200 to $ 1400.

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3. Accelerated Freefall (AFF):

After a day of ground training, the AFF program allows you a 50 second freefall on your very first jump. This is possible because two instructors jump with you. From the moment you exit the plane until your chute opens, these instructors hold on to you and assist you with stabilization, altitude monitoring, and ripcord pulling as necessary. The program progresses through seven levels. Each AFF level is designed to be completed with one jump and requires approximately 45 minutes of preparatory training. During the first three levels the student jumps with two instructors and learns basic safety skills such as altitude awareness, body position, stability during the freefall and pull sequence, and a successful ripcord pull. During level 3 the student is released for the very first time. The levels 4, 5, 6, and 7 require only one instructor and teach skills such as turns, forward movement, docking on other people, frontloops, backloops etc. After completing the seventh level exam jump the student enters level 8 in which he can practice his skills in order to gain full certification (see Skydive Kentucky for another good progression list). The total cost of an AFF course is between $ 1300 and $ 1500. To gain full certification, at a minimum, an additional 13 of these solo practice jumps are required, making the total cost for full licensure $ 1700 to $ 1900.

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