Hummm.........Jumping out of a plane. You either love the idea or you don't. This is the sport for the thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If it peaks your interest you should give it a try. Most people that try it only end up taking one or two jumps. They view it more of a one-time carnival ride and never pursue parachuting as a regular sport.


It does take commitment to gain the skills and knowledge needed to get licensed. Though it's not difficult and there are plenty of women involved in this sport. You don't have to go through a long training course to sample skydiving. You will be able to experience your first jump on the first day.


Parachuting has been around for about 200 years. Of course early parachutes were not as safe as they are today. Much of the improvements in parachuting equipment are due to government's military use.


First Jump


Before you ever jump, you go through lots of training so you're fully prepared. There are a few first jump options. The more traditional first jump is a Static Cord or Static Line jump. With the static cord jump your parachute is automatically deployed once you leave the plane. There is only about 2 to 3 seconds of free fall. Static cord jumps are from a lower altitude of around 3000 feet. You will be required to do about 6 static line jumps before you actually do your first free fall. To get your Class A license you will need 20 free fall jumps.


The Accelerated Free Fall (AFF) jump is an accelerated course to qualify for a Class A license. AFF is broken down into 7 levels each requiring only one free fall jump. You will need to demonstrate your mastery of certain skills in order to move to the next level. 2 jumpmasters will accompany your first jump, which will be from about 10,000 feet.


The newer option is a Tandem jump. Here, you are harnessed to an instructor, stepping out of the plane together. You are responsible for going through the steps during your fall. A larger tandem parachute is used instead of the single person chute. You also have the assurance and safety of having an expert with you. These jumps are usually from a higher altitude. Because tandem jumps are so new it is still considered experimental by the Federal Aviation Administration. Also, United States Parachuting Association (USPA) does not regulate the training or safety of tandem jumps.


The cost for your first day should be around $100 for a static cord jump and $200+ for a tandem and AFF jump. It's important to make sure you choose a reputable skydiving school. The school's equipment should be in great shape.


Safety should be their top priority. Students should have a main parachute and a reserve in case of emergencies. Some skydiving schools provide student rigs with an automatic activation device (AAD). This device senses altitude and speed, and in an emergency it will automatically deploy your reserve parachute.


The skydiving school will provide all your equipment including the rig and jump suit. It is best to get their recommendation on what to wear and bring.