Hey Let's Be Careful Out There

Now that summer's here most of us will be going abroad to jump, whether for a Boogie or just a week away with a group of friends. 

A great opportunity to cram in lots of jumps in a week and improve your skills. 

But - Hey, let's be careful out there.

In the UK we are used to fairly strict rules about weather conditions, kit and experience level. The vast majority of decisions about the jumping conditions are made for us. The CCI at your drop zone will only send the aircraft up if the wind is within limits and cloud conditions are suitable. But abroad we have to make our own decisions. Generally the DZ will send an aircraft up with anyone who is happy to jump! This works fine on the whole, because foreign skydivers are used to this approach and to taking responsibility for their own safety. But as Brits abroad we must be aware the onus is on us to look after ourselves. It's all part of being a grown-up skydiver.

Don't be pressured into jumping in weather conditions you are unhappy with. Be aware you will not be 'spoon-fed' the way you are in British centres. It is often up to you to find out the information you need, such as where to land, the wind direction and the hazards. Be alert. It's down to you!

Few other countries have such strict rules as the BPA, especially if you are only recently off student status. They will tend to leave more decisions to your discretion. This will work fine if you have a modicum of common sense and a healthy sense of survival. However, it is not difficult to find yourself jumping in conditions quite unlike any you have been used to. This can put you under more stress than normal which may affect your decision-making processes just when you need to have all your wits about you.

Sort out your kit
First of all, ensure you have your personal equipment in order and all necessary paperwork. Most countries have a 120 day reserve repack cycle, so your reserve may well be in date at home, but the first thing you may be faced with abroad is a rigger's bill for a repack and possibly a lost day's jumping. If you cannot find out for sure, simply get your reserve repacked at home, so it will be valid for the duration of your trip based on a 120 day cycle. The rigger checking your gear will not be interested in the BPA inspection checklist, but only in the packing card. If you have a Cypres, take the X-ray explanatory card in the back of the manual with you and hope that you don't have a problem with security at the airport on your way out of the country - you shouldn't.

Sort out your docs
Get yourself an FAI licence - other countries seem to be more interested in that than your logbook, but of course take that with you as well. Your BPA membership will be valid in all countries except the USA and Canada, but other countries may also require you to take out their membership (as we insist all visiting jumpers become at least temporary members of the BPA). And now for possibly the most important thing of all: personal insurance cover. Find out about the health insurance requirements for the country you are visiting. Most European countries have a reciprocal agreement with the NHS, but you need to have a form E111. For the USA - Get cover! American hospitals will find out first whether they will get paid, then they will think about helping you. It may not be quite that callous but you could be faced with unbelievably high bills, if you are not adequately insured. Don't say "It won't happen to me" - no-one ever set out to have an accident.

Check out the hazards
Now you have arrived and had your gear tagged and it's time to get on the manifest. Make sure you are familiar with the surrounding area, prevailing winds, procedures in the event of an off landing and anything else you may consider relevant. Ask yourself some pertinent questions:

Have you been shown the DZ on an aerial photo? What hazards are there? Do you know the aircraft and procedures inside? When does the door get closed and opened? Do you have to help? Are there seat belts? Who will do the spotting? What delay should you give the previous group? Do you have to wear a helmet? Should you wear a helmet? Is there anyone you trust to give you a pin-check? What will the exit height be?

photo by Adrian Thornton

Now to manifest
But what are you going to do? I guess that depends on your experience level and whether you have a bunch of like-minded friends over with you. If this is all very new to you, maybe a solo or a no pressure 2-way with a friend would be a good idea, just to get to know the area and get your 'knees in the breeze'. If you want to learn the basics of FS, sit flying, freeflying etc, ask at the manifest to be pointed in the direction of an appropriate coach. There will be load organising for bigger groups if you have a little more experience. Hopefully the organisation will be good enough to cater for different experience levels adequately, so you will benefit from your skydives.

Safety first
The main thing to be aware of is safety, both in freefall and under canopy. You should be happy with the standard of people's behaviour during the skydive. Is the coach / organiser warning people about docking gently and on a level, not going under the formation, flat tracking at the correct altitude away from the centre of the formation and pulling at a safe altitude? If people are consistently breaking these basic safety rules, don't jump with them.

Under canopy
How is discipline under canopy? You will probably find yourself under canopy with a lot more people than you are used to. Be very aware. Establish whether the DZ has specified a landing circuit (left-handed is the normal convention) and stick to it. Watch out for others who may not. Don't try to land as close to the packing area as possible, if this is where all the hot shots and 'wannabes' are hooking in. Pick yourself a bit of the landing area that is less hectic. If there is a student operation, see where they are being told to land - it's probably a big, safe area, but don't get in their way! So many skydivers now are killed after their canopy has opened safely. You really have to be sensible and aware. Now your CCI is not breathing down your neck, don't start pulling low, hooking in and generally acting cocky - it's easily done.

Stand up for standing down
If you are not happy with the skydives you are making, then find out why and try to join another group if that is what it takes. If you are not 100% happy with the weather conditions, then don't be afraid of standing yourself down for a while. You know your own weight, canopy size and pilot ability - what may be fine for others is not necessarily safe for you.

You will find yourself having to make more of your own decisions - unlike being told exactly what you can and cannot do by your CCI at home. This is fine and should be no problem, just know your limitations, both in free fall and under canopy. Don't get forced into situations you don't have the experience to handle. You will still have so much fun and will find your jumping coming on by leaps and bounds!

Article by Cornelia Waymouth

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