Below are some common
questions that a first time jumper may have in regards to
making their first sky dive. If you do not find the answer
to a question that you have below, please see some of our
other information regarding skydiving, or
contact us.
Q:
What are the age requirements?
A:
You must be at least 18 years
of age to make a skydive at Skydive New Mexico.
There are no exceptions to this
requirement.
Q:
What are the physical
requirements?
A:
We evaluate each student on an
individual basis. In general, you should be in reasonably
good physical shape, this *is* a sport after all. Problems
may arise where a prospect is too heavy (over 220lbs) or if
they have medical conditions which may impair them during
the activity. Very few people have medical or physical
conditions which actually preclude jumping. If you have a
question, ask your doctor. You may be surprised at the
relatively few physical constraints involved.
Q:
How much does it cost?
A:
Skydive New Mexico pricing can
be found on the Pricing page.
Q:
Will I have to sign a waiver?
A:
Yes. Everyone at Skydive New
Mexico is required to sign a waiver. Tandem students sign an
additional waiver releasing Tandem equipment manufacturers
from liability. Skydiving is not an amusement park ride.
Nothing can guarantee that if you jump from a plane you
won't get hurt. Skydiving can seriously injure or kill you.
On the bright side, Accidents are extremely rare in
skydiving (about 1 in 80,000 jumps), and we do everything
possible to ensure your safety.
Ask us
about our safety record.
Q:
What if the weather is bad?
A:
High winds, low clouds, or
rain may prevent us from jumping, but classes are held
regardless of the weather. This way you'll be prepared to
jump right away if we have to reschedule you.
Q:
How long does it take?
A:
The tandem class is under an
hour. After your class you will get on the first available
skydive. Waiting times can vary greatly depending on
business and weather. We'll try to get you on your way as
soon as possible, but we ask that you be prepared to spend
the whole day with us. Feel free to bring Frisbees, soccer
balls, etc. We appreciate your patience and we work hard to
get everyone in the air as fast and as safely as possible.
Q:
What should I wear?
A:
Dress comfortably for the
weather on the day of your skydive. Shorts and T-Shirts are
fine for warm weather. We provide jumpsuits to protect your
clothing. Please wear sneakers, no pull-on boots allowed.
Q:
What If I wear contacts or
glasses?
A:
No problem, we have goggles
that will fit over your glasses.
Q:
Will I get sick?
A:
If you don't suffer from
motion sickness normally, it is unlikely that skydiving will
make you nauseous. Be sure to be well rested and eat a
healthy breakfast. You'll be much more likely to get sick if
your stomach is empty.
Q:
What if I chicken out?
A:
It doesn't happen very often,
but it's your decision to jump or not to. Nobody will ever
force you to jump, and we'll gladly land the plane with you
inside it.
Q:
What if your parachute doesn't
open?
A:
Clearly, this is the most
Frequently-Asked-Question posed by all prospective jumpers.
By law (FAA regulations), all intentional parachute jumps
must be made with a single harness, dual parachute system
with both a main canopy *AND* a reserve canopy. In other
words, you have a second (or spare) canopy in case the first
one fails to open properly. However, it must be noted that
the technology utilized in today's sport parachuting
equipment is light years ahead of the old military surplus
gear used in the '60s and '70s. The canopies are DRASTICALLY
different from the classic G.I. Joe round parachutes. The
materials are stronger, lighter and last longer, the packing
procedures are simpler, the deployment sequence is much more
refined, etc. The reserve canopies are even more carefully
designed and packed.
The reserve parachute must be inspected and repacked every
120 days by an FAA rated parachute Rigger - even if it has
not been used during that time. The student's main canopy is
always packed either by a rigger or under a rigger's direct
supervision by experienced packers. There are also
additional safety features employed to ensure canopy
deployment such as Automatic Activation Devices (AAD) and
Reserve Static Lines (RSL) which add still more layers of
safety.
Q:
How fast do you fall?
A:
When you leave the aircraft,
you are moving horizontally at the same speed as the
aircraft, typically 90-110MPH. During the first 10 seconds,
a skydiver accelerates up to about 115-130MPH straight down.
(A tandem pair uses a drogue chute to keep them from falling
much faster than this). It is possible to change your body
position to vary your rate of fall.
In a standard face-to-earth position, you can change your
fall rate up or down a few (10-20) miles per hour. However,
by diving or "standing up" in freefall, any experienced
skydiver can learn to reach speeds of over 160-180MPH.
Speeds of over 200MPH require significant practice to
achieve. The record freefall speed, done without any special
equipment, is 321MPH. Obviously, it is desirable to slow
back down to 110MPH before parachute opening. Once under
parachute, decent rates of 1000ft./min. are typical.
A lighter student with a bigger canopy may come down much
more slowly, and, obviously, a heavier person may have a
somewhat faster decent. Experienced jumper's canopies
descend (in normal glide) at up to 1500ft./min. During
radical turns, the decent rate can go well over 2000ft./min.
Q:
How hard is the landing?
A:
The canopies used today bear
little resemblance to the classic round canopies of years
gone by. Today, nearly all jumpers and jump schools use
"square" canopies for parachuting. These canopies are
actually rectangular in shape, and when open, act like an
airplane wing (or an airfoil). They are more like gliders
than umbrellas. The aerodynamics of the square canopy
provide it with exceptional maneuverability, allowing the
jumpers to land almost anywhere they wish. This wing shape
also provides tippy-toe soft landings for even the novice
jumper. The days of landing like a sack of flour are
history. Most students land standing up or sliding down
softly to their rear on their first jump.
Q:
Should I tip my instructor?
A:
Tipping is not expected, but
is always greatly appreciated. If you feel your instructor
or pilot has done an especially good job, let them know
about it. Everyone at Skydive New Mexico works hard to help
make your first jump safe and enjoyable.
Q:
Does Skydive
New Mexico accept any certificates from 1800SKYRIDE or any
other place?
A:
NO! Skydive New Mexico does not accept any
type of certificate from any other organization. The only
certificates accepted are those issued by Skydive New
Mexico. We will not honor any certificate from any other
organization, and you have been misinformed by that
organization if they led you to believe that we would. If
this has happened to you, you should contact the Better
Business Bureau and your state's business bureau and find
out how you can put a legal complaint on their record.
Q:
How do I tell a good Drop Zone
from poor one?
A:
Most Drop Zones that provide
regular student training are "USPA Affiliated". The United
States Parachute Association (USPA) is the representative
body for sport parachuting within the US, and a member of
the FAI (the international equivalent). The
USPA defends the
sport's interests before the FAA and other
regulating/lawmaking bodies at all levels of government. It
also develops and monitors safety and training doctrine for
the sport. Other benefits include liability insurance for
students and DZs in the case of damage to property, the
monthly magazine "Parachutist", etc. The
USPA has had
tremendous success instituting rating programs for
Jumpmasters, Instructors, and Instructor-Examiners to ensure
that only properly trained and qualified personnel work with
students. You should insist on
USPA Instructors and
Jumpmasters. Do not be afraid to ask to see your Instructor
or Jumpmaster's rating card. It should show the appropriate
rating and expiration date.
USPA affiliation is not
required, and does not *guarantee* a DZ to be a "good" DZ,
and non-affiliation does not mean the DZ is "bad". However,
the USPA, through their diligence and caution, has compiled
an excellent safety record over the years. Skydive New
Mexico is proud to be a
USPA Group Member.
Q:
Where can I try Skysurfing or
BASE jumping?
A:
You can't — unless you're
already a very experienced skydiver. "Skysurfing" or "Skyboarding"
refers to skydiving with a small board, similar to a
snowboard, attached to your feet. This allows for some
radical maneuvers in freefall. However, such jumps should
only be attempted by expert skydivers, and preferably after
long discussion with one of many skysurfers who have
experience. Some board manufacturers and experienced sky
surfers offer instructional classes or videotapes.
BASE jumping involves
jumping off of fixed objects (like Buildings, Antennas,
Spans (bridges), or Earth (cliffs)), and landing under a
parachute. While being an expert skydiver isn't an absolute
requirement, you need a great deal of experience in
parachute packing, canopy control, quick reflexes, and body
position awareness before this can be attempted with any
real safety. Start with skydiving, and then go from there.
Furthermore, there are very few places where one may BASE
jump legally, as most locations are private or government
property.
For other Related
Information regarding skydiving, click
here. All statistics provided by
the United
States Parachute Association (USPA).
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