Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ) - To know everything about skydiving and Parachute Jump
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Booking, how is it working?
- Just call us on 020 8133 1413 or go to the "Booking" section of www.whatajump.com
- Pick your jump, your preferred site and date (or choose the open-dated voucher valid for a year).
- Fill in the online booking form. Select type of payment.Confirm your booking.
- Receive your "e-file" - roadmap/itinerary, gift voucher, booking confirmation by email.
- Call or email your contact on the premises (details on your itinerary) to confirm your jump.
- Specify an appointment time with him and ask him any technical question if you have any... Jump !
- Need help at the time of booking? Call us on 020 8133 1413 or email us on wannajump@whatajump.co.uk
How can I pay on this website? Credit Cad, Cheque?
You can pay online:
- By Credit Card (simple deposit by Visa, Mastercard).
Can I pay by instalment ?
- CC : Yes, you can, you only have to pay a deposit at time of booking. The balance is to be paid either on the premises (cash,cheque,credit card excep Amex) on the day of the jump or by cheque that you will send to the Parachute Centre when you have agreed on a date for the jump with the instructor.
- Please contact us for any question concerning the payment as it may differ from centre to centre.
Is there a minimum / maximum age for skydiving?
- The lower age limit for all types of parachuting in the UK is 16. There is no upper age limit for Tandem skydiving. If you are aged 40 or over, you will need to have your Medical form signed and stamped by a doctor. At some centres the maximum age for AFF courses and Static Line is 55 years old,please d not hesitate to contact us for further information.In any case the final decision as to a person's suitability, rests with the Parachute Instructor.
A PARENTAL CONSENT FORM IS REQUIRED FOR THOSE AGED 16 AND 17.
How can I get my gift voucher ?
Your gift voucher will be sent by email along with a roadmap/itinerary including the contact details as soon as your booking is completed.
Will the recipient be informed ?
We will inform the instructor/pilot or staff member about the discretion concerning the recipient if it is a gift in order to keep it a surprise. The best is to give the mobile number of the person who buys the gift and not the phone number of the jumper.
How long are the gift vouchers valid for?
One year from the booking date (fixed date or open dated voucher) - However try not to call at the last minute to book the slot for your jump!
What's it like on the day of the jump?What time should I arrive?
After you get in touch with your contact on the premises (contact details of your instructor resumed on your roadmap/itinerary )and you've agreed on a date and a slot for your jump,please get to the DropZone on the appointed date. You will get a short ground training, then wait to be summonned.Get on the plane, fly over the area and once you've reached 12000 ft (approx),...jump, ....smile! You can jump from morning till night, you will specify the time with your instructor when you call him to get the appointment for your jump (previous appointment compulsory via the roadmap/itinerary sent to you on the day of the booking).
How long does the parachute jump/freefall last?
About 20 minutes of ground tuition - 15 to 25 minutes overflying the area - 30 seconds to 1 minute of freefall - 5 to 12 minutes under canopy to land smoothly on the ground - AS SKYDIVING IS SUBJECT TO MANY STANDARDS, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO WAIT A BIT BEFORE YOUR JUMP.
Friends, family...Can they come with me to the dropzone ? Can they takes pictures ?
No problem! It's important though that you respect the staff's instructions and avoid the prohibited areas on the dropzone for everyone's safety. Your friends will be able to see your landing and take photos of you and even film your landing - just a few feet away. HOWEVER if you wish to keet a souvenir of this incredible moment,choose the video/stills option as you will not be allowed to take your camera or a camcorder on the plane for obvious safety reasons,moreover this might be a once in a lifetime experience and deserves to be immortalized by an expert.
Can I order one video for 2 or more jumpers?
The ground training, the flight and landing of several jumpers can be filmed by the same cameraman only if these people are on the same plane BUT because they will be separated by a few hundreds feet when they exit the aircraft for obvious safety reasons IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE SAME CAMERAMAN TO FILM THE FREEFALL OF SEVERAL JUMPERS AT THE SAME TIME.You will have to get one cameraman each to get the full jump on DVD.
What happens if the weather is bad and I can't jump on the day I was supposed to? Or if any other factor makes it impossible for me to jump?
Your voucher is valid for a year so your instructor/pilot/staff member will offer you to rebook you with a different day of your choice. Suggestion : Call your contact on the premises early on the day of your jump for an accurate weather check!
Can I get on the aircraft to accompany the jumper?
Sometimes the pilot will allow you to get on the aircraft.You will still have to pay a passenger seat (average price : £60) – You may ask the Tandem Pilot while checking appointment time (and ask for prices then) as it's not always possible.
However, bear in mind that if you are on the aircraft to accompany the jumper, you will not see him/her landing and welcom him after his/her jump... We always advise to stay on the ground and be there when the jumper land, as it is when all the emotions come out!!
Do I need to be fit? Are there some restricions? Can children and elderly skydive ?
You do not need to be super fit to skydive. However you do need to be in good health with average fitness for AFF jumps. You do not need to be in excellent health to do a Tandem Jump. Some centres can take people who are wheelchair bound. Elderly,teenagers (16 and over) and disabled people skydive. However if you are pregnant, have ear problems,decompression problems, or other structural problems (this is not a detailed list), you should first have an appointment with your doctor and report any pathology to the pilot before you jump.
What about safety ?
Tandem Jumping in France is one of the most draconian discipline in the world accounting for the number of qualifications and diplomas required. Your instructor has compulsorily jumped hundreds of times in many different weather conditions before having the right to practice tandem jump as an instructor.Most of them are BPA approved.Main and Life parachutes are both folded by highly skilled and experienced staff (a special diploma for life parachutes folding is compulsory). Parachutes are all equipped with safety openers which activate automatically at a certain altitude and make the parachute open, whatever happens. To recap : Tandem jump is by far the safest way to start with skydiving. Still Parachute remains an extreme sport, and everyone has to observe the instructor's indications, to arrive in good physical and mental conditions, and take the potential risks linked to the practice into account.
Do I need a medical form ?
No medical form is needed from those aged 16 to 39. Applicants aged 40 and over should request a British Parachute Associate Medical Certificate for completion by their doctor before their course. Before 40 years old, no medifical certificate is required.In some centres aswell,those wishing to carry out a tandem parachute jump over the age of 60 will be assessed on the day by a tandem instructor. It will be the tandem instructor’s decision to carry out the jump. If, in the opinion of the tandem instructor, the passenger is too frail the jump will not go ahead - even if the tandem student has a certificate signed by the doctor.
Can I take photos? Can i have a Camcorder ? Be filmed?
For safety reasons, only professional cameramen are allowed to follow you during your jump to film you. They are expert and will make a montage of your jump on DVD if your request it. Your friends/relatives can take photos of you and film you as much as they like while you are on the ground.
I wear glasses/contact lenses, is that a problem?
No. Goggles to fit over glasses will be provided, and these will securely retain your glasses in place. Goggles will also protect contact lenses and prevent them from being displaced. Please specificy in advance that you wear glasses/contact lenses.
When can i skydive ? When is the best time to skydive?
Almost all year long. Anyway, a winter break (november - february) is often decided in some centres. (some centres only offer special sessions in summer and spring). For further information, contact us.
What could prevent me from jumping?
Mostly the weather. Clouds, fog, rain… Civil aviation's authorization according to the air traffic. Tha activity of the centre and the number of jumper scheduled.
What shall I wear?Is the equipment provided?
Jeans and confortable shoes (sneakers) will be perfect. Remember that,like in the mountains, it sometimes feels cold in altitude.If necessary, jumpsuits and any other accessory will provided.
How can I modify my booking? Add some jumpers ?
For any question concerning your order, we invite you contact us by email via the Contact us section or by phone on 020 8133 1413 from 9am to 5.30pm monday to friday. Your booking can be transferred to the person of your choice satisfying the requirements of weight and height - for a year after the booking date, but they are non-refundable.
How much does a parachute jump cost ? what about the videos? Is it possible to get discounted rates ?
If you want to have information on our rates, we invite you to look at the prices for each centre on our Where to jump section. Pass the mouse pointer over the desired centres, and you will see the price for the jump and for the video option (if available on the chosen centre). For a group of 5 or more, discounts are possible. Please fill in the form on the Work Councils / Groups section.
What are the weight limits for skydiving ?
A build of minimum 6st is required. In order to ensure total safety, the weight limit for AFF and Tandem jumps is 15-16 stone (210-220 lb) depending on the centres and these weights must be in proportion to your overall height. If th jumper is close to this weight limit or above it please contact us for handling on a case-by-case basis.
How to set the date?
As most of the orders booked online are gifts, we offer the possibility to choose open-dated gift vouchers valid for a year. Thus, when the person who received the gift feels like it, all he/she has to do is to call the centre for an appointment two or three weeks before the chosen date. The phone number of your appointed contact will appear on the gift voucher (or in the DVD gift case set if requested)that you will receive. IMPORTANT: WE CANNOT GUARANTEE THE POSSIBILIY OF A JUMP ON A FIXED DATE - AND ALTHOUGH OUR SYSTEM ALLOWS YOU TO BOOK ANY DATE,THE DIARY DISPLAYED ON OUR WEBSITE'S BOOKING SYSTEM DOES NOT ACCURATELY RECIPROCATE THE DIARY OF THE CENTRES SO YOU MUST CALL ONE OF THE NUMBERS IN THE CONTACT SECTION IN ORDER TO GET THE AVAILABILITY'S CERTAINTY.
Tandem Parachute jump, AFF level 1, AFF Full course,Static Line, what type of jump should I choose?
If the jumper wishes to discover skydiving directly and without a lot of training, just enjoy the lanscapes and the sensations to the full, Tandem Parachute jump is the mot recommended : 20 minutes of ground training, freefall for 40 seconds to 1 minute approx., float down under canopy for 5 to 10 minutes.If the jumper wants a maximum of sensations want to take up the sport of skydiving,in that case,AFF level 1, or "solo" jump, is recommended - specially for more independent character willing to go beyond their limits, practicing other sports other sports or extreme activities, paragliders, former parachutist or thrill seekers... It will allow the person to jump with 2 experienced instructors: a full day of ground training to learn the basis followed by your first freefall. If the jumper wants to become a skydiver, be able to jump on his/her own, get the full training in order to get the licences,AFF 8 level Full Course is recommended... Do not hesitate to contact us for customised advice. Click here to book your jump or here to find a skydiving centtre near you
About the videos/stills.
Videos are realised by experts cameramen. You can get them for an average of £85(price details for each centre in the Booking section by passing the mouse pointer over each centre on the map). Price includes: The availability and seat for the cameraman, the film, the musical montage, so that you can keep images of a unique day even in ten years' time.depending on the centres, the stills might be included in the price or you might have to add an extra. NOTE : for AFF instructors brief and debrief your jump on a video they might be able to burn this video for you if you ask them.
Learn to skydive (school centres) with AFF courses
The best way to really learn skydiving is definitely the AFF Full course (Accelerated Free Fall) - details, description, price, sites... via this link : http://www.whatajump.co.uk/en/aff-full-course When you've completed the full course youwill be allowed to jump on your own (the price of he jumps will then be much cheaper) and next... get licensed !
There are several of us, can we jump together?
You can plan to live this experience with your friends,in a group BUT although the training,briefing,and the flight can be done in small groups, WHEN YOU EXIT THE AIRCRAFT, for obvious safety reasons, each beginner is taken care of by his/he own instructor, with the tandem jump, 1 student = 1 instructor. It is strictly forbidden as it would be highly dangerous that two student jump at the same time ...(this practice exist in bungee jumping but is totally impossible in skydiving). Althought it seems obvious (you need to be experienced to stabilize the aircraft exit, open the parachute and to land...) some people insist to do it this way which is impossible obviously.The important part, you'll notice it, is to share the emotions before and afterwards... What you live during your jump is always heady, exciting and finally rather personnal in a discovery jump.
Directions to the centre, catering, accomodation - what are the options?
CATERING: It is possble to eat (sandwich and/or hot meals) on some centres - anyway your instructor will tell what is the best option nearby. ACCOMODATION : Some centres offer cheap accomodation options - and you can still find accomodaion near any centre that would not offer this option. The best thing is to ask your instructor or a staff member after your booking when you call to confirm your jump (contact details on your itinerary sent right after the booking) if you want to know all the possible catering and accomodation options on the centre. DIRECTIONS : A roadmap will be sent to you right after your booking so that you can go to the centre on your own.Some centres also offer shuttles from the train station but it's quite random. In every instance, you should ask your contact what's the best option on the specific centre.
Where to parachute jump ?
You can check all the centres available near you by clicking on this link where to jump
You can jump near :
Bath - Birmingham - Blackpool - Bristol - Cambridge - Falmouth - Gloucester - Ipswich - Lancaster - Leeds - Liverpool - London - Manchester - Newcastle Upon Tyne - Newquay - Northampton - Norwich - Oxford - Peterborough - Salisbury - Truro - York -
Toulouse - Paris - Bordeaux - Bretagne - Lyon - Nantes - Gap - Pujaut - Octeville - Brest - Peronne - Lille - Belgique - München - Neumünster - Lübeck - Arcachon - Valence - Agen - Rouen - Marseille - Nancy - Chalons - Royan - La Rochelle - Cahors - Toulon - Nice - Rennes - Quimper - La Roche Sur Yon - Vendee - Firenze - Avignon - Vannes - Grenoble - Caen - Poitiers - Montpellier - Besancon - Amiens - Annecy - Nimes - Dijon - St-etienne - Mimizan - Laon - Sables D Olonne -
skydiving photos
Enjoy the following skydiding photos:
- Tandem Parachute Jump
- Skydive Simulator
- AFF Level 1
- AFF Full Course
- Others
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Valentine's gift
For yourValentine's gift, a Parachute Jump is THE present you need.
Who never dreamt of feeling as free as air, the freefall, unrestrained for 60 seconds that seem like hours, a pure moment of happiness for the jumper.
Taken care of by professionals, everyone will spare no effort to make this day an unforgettable memory.
To book, all you have to do is call us (020 8133 1413) or book online via our online secure booking form and pay a deposit of about 20% to get your Gift voucher instantly by email..
Why Do I Need BPA Membership ?
Every person who wishes to jump in the UK is required to have either Temporary or Full BPA membership. This covers them on a 3rd party insurance for up to £2,000,000.
Can you breathe in free fall?
No problem! Very rarely a 1st time skydiver will have difficulty catching their breath. After a few jumps you would give breathing no more thought than you would now!
What if I'm afraid of heights?
Many people wonder about that. A fear of heights can often be confused with a natural and healthy respect for the inherent dangers of high places. This respect is necessary and essential to survival!