FAQs
Please download the Skydiving Information Pack which will answer all of your questions. Alternatively please see below the answers to some frequently asked questions. If your question is not answered below then please do not hesitate to contact us.
1. Who are The Tigers?
Our charity skydiving partners are nicknamed ‘The Tigers’, but officially they are the Army’s own Freefall Parachute Display Team from The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment. Currently commanded by Cpl Chris Smith, The Tigers were formed over 25 years ago and are firmly established as one of the top Army skydiving teams in the UK.
2. What does a tandem jump involve?
A tandem jump is a combined freefall and parachute descent where you are strapped to a professional parachute instructor. On the morning of your jump you will get a full 30 minute briefing on the equipment used during your jump, as well as detailed information on exiting the aircraft, freefall and how to land safely.
Once you have been securely attached to an experienced tandem instructor with a 4-point harness system, you will board the aircraft together. The plain will normally climb to a minimum of 13,000 feet where you will exit and begin your skydive! You will freefall at around 120mph for approximately 1 minute then at around 5,000 feet your tandem instructor will deploy the main parachute and you will begin your descent under canopy.
3. Where can I jump?
The flagship charity Jump Days for the 2012 season are:
• Friday June 15th – Netheravon Airfield, Wiltshire
• Friday September 14th – South Cerney Airfield, Gloucestershire
4. How much does it cost?
We ask all fundraisers to raise a minimum of £400 in sponsorship, which will then allow you to jump for free – covering all jump fees, insurance and donations to the charity.
5. Are there any restrictions?
Generally anyone who is of reasonable fitness and 16 years old or over can take part. There is a weight limit of 15 stone for males and 13.5 stone for females.
There is no upper age limit for tandem skydives but anyone who is aged 40 or over needs to have their declaration of fitness form signed or stamped by their GP. There are some restrictions in relation to certain medical conditions, please see your medical form for further details. In the past we have catered for several people with disabilities but please call to discuss requirements.
6. How safe is it?
All extreme sports carry a certain level of risk, but skydiving is an extremely well-regulated sport. We only used drop zones approved by the British Parachute Association (the national governing body). All instructors are highly experienced and hold formal BPA qualifications. The equipment used is the best available and the aircraft are operated in accordance with Civil Aviation Authority regulations. Your skydive will only happen when weather conditions are suitable as your safety is our primary concern.
7. What about insurance?
All skydivers will be covered by the BPA’s public liability insurance for up to £2million liability to third parties. However this does not cover you for personal injury. If you would like to take out personal accident insurance then you can do this through a number of recommended insurers.
8. What if the weather is bad on my jump day?
Like all aviation activity, skydiving is dependent on suitable weather conditions. The correct weather conditions will enable the jumper to clearly see the drop zone from the exit point and wind speeds must not exceed 20 knots. Should the weather forecast be bad, we will contact you 24 hours in advance to notify you of this and rearrange your jump.
9. Can my jump be filmed?
For an additional fee of £99 a cameraman can jump with you and capture your big moment on film. The cost includes a DVD of photos and your skydiving movie and can be reserved ahead or simply booked on jump day.
10. What if I’m scared of heights?
This is a very common question; thousands of people who claim to have a fear of heights skydive every year. Skydiving is nothing like standing on the edge of a tall building looking down. When you are in the plane, you are not connected to the ground so therefore you don’t have the ‘I might fall off feeling’. Instead you are securely connected to a highly qualified tandem instructor so you can exit the plane at a very safe altitude and enjoy the freedom of skydiving. It is an out of this world sensation, there is nothing else like it, so join Team Soldiers’ Charity today!
