In this installment of our skydiving guide we look at clothing and equipment.
Even basic skydiving requires the use of a range of specialist equipment and clothing. Understanding what each piece does and how it works will improve not only your confidence, but your safety too.
Your parachute is made up of several component parts, which are contained in a single pack that you wear on your back. The main canopy is housed in a unit called a D-bag and is attached via lines to a smaller pilot chute called a drogue, which is deployed first to assist the main canopy in its deployment. Alongside those is a reserve chute that can be deployed in case the main one fails. Once deployed there are hand toggles used to steer and brake.
If for any reason a skydiver fails to attempt to release the parachute, the automatic activation device (or AAD) will kick in. This palm-sized computer measures height above ground level and the speed of descent, and if the jumper fails to deploy the chute by the appropriate height, the AAD will automatically cut a strap to open the parachute. This device can save a skydiver's life in the event of a blackout or entanglement.
An altimeter is a piece of equipment that lets you know how far above ground level you are and how fast you're descending. They work by sensing the pressure levels in the air around your as you fall and are accurate to within a few meters. They are mostly digital and are calibrated on the ground before the plane takes off.
Skydiving suits are worn to give protection from the wind whilst in the air and cuts and scratches on landing. They come in a variety of styles, with differences including tightness (the tighter they are the quicker you'll fall), materials (different ones have different aero-dynamic qualities), and how and where straps are attached (with different designs for different types of skydiving).
A helmet is necessary because there's a possible chance of head trauma when hitting the ground. Landings should be made on your feet, and it's very rare for a skydiver to have to hit the ground and roll, but it's possible for a gust of wind, a trip or other event to put a skydiver's head on the ground. They also typically incorporate two-way radios which allow in-the-air and air-to-ground communication.
Even basic skydiving requires the use of a range of specialist equipment and clothing. Understanding what each piece does and how it works will improve not only your confidence, but your safety too.
Your parachute is made up of several component parts, which are contained in a single pack that you wear on your back. The main canopy is housed in a unit called a D-bag and is attached via lines to a smaller pilot chute called a drogue, which is deployed first to assist the main canopy in its deployment. Alongside those is a reserve chute that can be deployed in case the main one fails. Once deployed there are hand toggles used to steer and brake.
If for any reason a skydiver fails to attempt to release the parachute, the automatic activation device (or AAD) will kick in. This palm-sized computer measures height above ground level and the speed of descent, and if the jumper fails to deploy the chute by the appropriate height, the AAD will automatically cut a strap to open the parachute. This device can save a skydiver's life in the event of a blackout or entanglement.
An altimeter is a piece of equipment that lets you know how far above ground level you are and how fast you're descending. They work by sensing the pressure levels in the air around your as you fall and are accurate to within a few meters. They are mostly digital and are calibrated on the ground before the plane takes off.
Skydiving suits are worn to give protection from the wind whilst in the air and cuts and scratches on landing. They come in a variety of styles, with differences including tightness (the tighter they are the quicker you'll fall), materials (different ones have different aero-dynamic qualities), and how and where straps are attached (with different designs for different types of skydiving).
A helmet is necessary because there's a possible chance of head trauma when hitting the ground. Landings should be made on your feet, and it's very rare for a skydiver to have to hit the ground and roll, but it's possible for a gust of wind, a trip or other event to put a skydiver's head on the ground. They also typically incorporate two-way radios which allow in-the-air and air-to-ground communication.
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