Safety and Regulation

Although accidents do happen, skydiv­ing and parachute sports have a good safety record. Accidents are most com­mon when people jump in poor weather conditions, such as unpredictable winds. Jumping from buildings, cliffs, or other high structures (known as BASE jump­ing) is especially dangerous. Because the modern parachute can be steered, there is little chance of the parachutist landing accidentally in a lake or a tree, as was often the fate of parachutists in the past.

Drop zones in the United States and Canada are required to have an experi­enced person who acts as a safety offi­cer. In most countries, skydivers are required to carry a reserve parachute that has been packed and inspected by a certified parachute rigger. In the United States, certification is provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Many countries have national para­chuting associations, affiliated to the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI). In the United States, skydiving permits and ratings are issued by the United States Parachute Association.

EXTREME SKYDIVING

Specialized forms of skydiving and parachuting include:

• Accuracy landing: Aiming to land on or very near a drop zone target.

• Blade running: Like slalom skiing with a parachute.

• Formation skydiving: Also called relative work (RW).

• Paraskiing: Landing on a snowy mountain on skis.

• Skysurfing: Landing with a surfboard strapped to the feet.

• Stuff jumping: Jumping with

an object, such as a bicycle, which is ridden through the air before the sky – diver lets go and opens the parachute.