Springtime weather often means windy weather, and while skydivers are often grounded when the winds are too strong or gusty, there are plenty of days when the wind picks up but remains at a reasonable level and we can continue to jump. However, we have to stay sharp and pay attention, especially under canopy. more »

Most jumpers tend to stick with one drop zone, especially during their student training days. Everything about the drop zone becomes second nature. The local jumpers, manifest procedures, airplanes, and the layout of the landing area, airport and surrounding land become “oh, so familiar.” But eventually, almost all jumpers end up going to new and unfamiliar locations. Whether it is a visit to a nearby drop zone during a weekend of normal jump operations or a long trip to a boogie or other special event, it is fun and exciting to head out for new adventures. But it can also be intimidating, especially if you are new to the sport and leaving the nest for the first time. A little planning and preparation will go a long way toward making your experience fun and painless. more »

Dear Santa,

It’s hard to believe another year is down the tubes! While USPA members had a pretty safe year overall, there is always room for improvement. It’s frustrating to see the same mistakes repeated over and over, resulting in injuries and fatalities that could have easily been avoided. So this year, my wish list is all about the basics that have proven to make skydiving safer: more »

Recently, a Beech 18 twin-engine airplane that was flying a load of jumpers crashed into the yard of a residence, killing the pilot. Luckily, nobody was killed on the ground, and the jumpers had all been able to exit the airplane before it crashed, landing safely. While the National Transportation Safety Board will not release its report for quite a while, the preliminary information points to the aircraft’s entering a stall as the jumpers were positioning in the door to exit. more »