How old do you have to be to skydive? Skydiving requires a minimum age of 16 years old. If you’re between the ages of 16 and 18, you’ll need a parent’s or legal guardian’s signed consent. There is no upper age limit for skydiving. The age limit for skydiving is dependent on a person’s mental or cognitive capacity to recognize the level of risk involved in parachute fall.
Skydiving Age Requirement
Let’s start with the question of who makes the rules. DZONE® Skydiving offers world-class skydiving adventures in three locations:
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Idaho’s Boise.
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Coeur d’Alene.
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Montana’s Bozeman.
Each of our drop zones is a member of the USPA (United States Parachute Association) and the PIA (Parachute Industry Association), which are industry organizations that determine policy, technology, and training standards for skydiving.
All USPA member drop zones are required to follow strict safety, instructor qualifications, and equipment maintenance criteria.
All first-time skydivers must be at least 18 years old, according to the USPA. This is a hard and fast rule: if you don’t have an ID, you can’t leap. Make sure you have a proper government-issued ID before walking out to the drop zone.
Age Limit for Skydiving
There is no age limit for skydiving. Indeed, the skydiving community is well-known for welcoming, encouraging, and inspiring people of all ages and phases of life, including elderly citizens.
Whatever your date of birth, if you’re in excellent health and live a moderately active lifestyle, you’re likely a suitable candidate for skydiving.
For example, former President George H. W. Bush celebrated his 75th, 80th, 85th, and 90th birthdays in freefall, and people all across the world commemorate their triple digits every year.
Regardless of Your Age
Your general health, mental clarity, physical flexibility, and overall strength all support the skydiving experience, regardless of your age:
General Well-being
Skydiving is an extreme sport, so keep that in mind. If you have hypertension or a cardiac ailment, or if you have knee, hip, or back discomfort, or if you have a serious sickness or handicap, or if you have any other health issues that would prevent you from participating in another extreme sport, skydiving may not be for you.
In general, a well-managed and monitored health condition is not a hindrance. If you’re unsure, consult your doctor before making a reservation (and bring a note if you get the green light).
Mental clarity
Another argument is that mental clarity is vital. Skydiving is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It takes mental fortitude to process the wonder that comes with leaping into the sky more than two miles above the ground, freefalling at 120 mph, and then floating under the canopy till touching down on the solid foundation. You’ll never be able to duplicate your first jump, so don’t overlook its significance!
Physical adaptability
Flexibility will come in handy on the trip up to altitude (typically sitting on the floor or a bench), as you shuffle to the door with your tandem instructor before your jump, and during freefall when body alignment is important. You don’t have to be circus-ready, but being able to shimmy when needed is a plus.
Strength
You’re largely along for the (most wonderful) ride (of your life) as a tandem student, but you also have a job. You’ll need to keep your arms lifted if you want to steer the parachute. You’ll also need to elevate your legs when it’s time to land so you can both glide into your house smoothly.
If you want to learn to skydive, you’ll need to be self-sufficient, which involves being able to navigate wind resistance in freefall and deploy and steer your canopy.
We can’t wait to jump with you, whether you’re counting down the days until you’re an official adult or have your heart set on celebrating a sky-high milestone.
Summary
DZONE Skydiving offers skydiving adventures in Idaho and Montana. There is no upper age limit, just a minimum age of 16. First-time skydivers must be at least 18 years old, according to the USPA (United States Parachute Association).
Skydiving is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You’ll never be able to duplicate your first jump, so don’t overlook its significance. Flexibility will come in handy on the trip up to altitude and during freefall when body alignment is important.
Skydiving In The United States
All skydiving passengers in the United States must be at least 18 years old to jump in a drop zone that is a member of the United States Parachute Association.
Children and teenagers under the age of 18 are frequently asked if they can jump with parental approval at Skydive New England. Still, sadly, USPA drop zones are not permitted to accept any passengers under the age of 18.
RESTRICTIONS ON SKYDIVING AGE LIMITS
Children are prohibited from skydiving by two major organizations:
Tandem skydiving equipment makers (Strong Enterprises and United Parachute Technologies): These firms created limitations for the use of its tandem gear, including a minimum age requirement, to comply with FAA safety standards.
The United States Parachute Association: Taking the age of majority into account, the USPA mandated that skydivers be at least 18 years old, and drop zones affiliated with the USPA must follow USPA laws and safety criteria.
In addition, because skydiving is an extreme activity, jumpers who want to do a tandem skydive must sign a waiver of rights. This ownership waiver is a legally binding contract that acts as a contract, a release of obligation, and a risk assumption.
To engage in a legally enforceable contract in the United States, an individual must be at least 18 years old. Parents or legal guardians of minors under the age of 18 are not permitted to forgo their child’s rights and sign into this contract on their behalf.
Another Skydiving Option For Minors Is Tandem Skydiving
Are you too young to skydive? Indoor skydiving is a fantastic opportunity for youngsters to experience the thrill of skydiving. Children as young as three years old can participate in this alternative sport.
The freefall component of a skydive is replicated in wind tunnels, so you enjoy the sheer adrenaline rush of freefall throughout the whole experience. While you wait for your 18th birthday, enjoy the sensation of soaring like a superhero!
Here are New England’s two indoor skydiving locations:
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Nashua, NH – Sky Venture
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Yonkers, NY-based file
WHY IS IT WORTH WAITING FOR SKYDIVING?
Skydiving has this great ability to make you feel incredible! When you skydive, the feelings you receive are extremely liberating, and many first-time skydivers report feeling like a new person following their jump.
Although many individuals skydive for the thrill, they frequently learn that skydiving’s extraordinary freedom and spectacular beauty are far more than they could have dreamed. You feel powerful and successful, as if you’re ready to take on the world and face anything.
Find out more about why skydiving is so incredible by reading What Does Skydiving Feel Like.
Tandem Skydiving Requirements In General
Tandem skydiving requirements are as follows:
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The maximum weight for skydiving is 260 pounds.
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You must be at least 18 years old.
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There is no upper age limit.
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To jump, you must be in generally good health.
WEIGHT LIMIT FOR SKYDIVING
Do you weigh more than 200 pounds? We can still arrange a skydiving for you. While our “Learn to Skydive” Accelerated Freefall program has a weight limit of 200 pounds, tandem skydives can accommodate people up to 260 pounds.
Our weight limit for skydiving is not intended to be discriminatory. The skydiving weight limit is in place to ensure the safety of both our customers and instructors. The more the physical strain on the skydiving instructor, the larger the skydiving student. The extra weight can complicate everything from exiting the plane to parachute opening and landing.
Jumpers weighing more than 260 pounds not only place an undue physical burden on the teacher, but they also exceed the limitations of the equipment. When considering the weight requirements for tandem skydiving, keep in mind that the parachute must safely carry the combined weight of the skydiver, instructor, and equipment—not just one of the three.
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a Technical Standard Order (TSO) for each parachute system we employ. This TSO validates the maximum weight at which the parachute can operate safely. If you exceed this weight restriction, the equipment may not work properly.
Customers weighing more than 200 pounds will be charged a fee. We understand that paying more for our service may seem unusual at first, but please bear with us as we explain. The price is in place to compensate for the additional strain on our equipment due to heavier weight loads. Handling heavier loads causes more wear and tear on our equipment, which results in higher maintenance costs.
Aside from increased wear and tear on the equipment, having a larger pupil skydiving necessitates much more physical exertion on our instructor’s part. We believe it is only right to pay our instructors for the more demanding workload because they work tirelessly to create a safe, professional, and enjoyable experience for our students.
The following are the surcharges:
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There is a $50 extra for weights between 200 and 230 pounds.
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The cost for students weighing more than 230 pounds is $100.
There Is No Minimum Age, But There Is No Maximum Age
The age restrictions for skydiving are rather easy. You must be 18 years old or older to participate in a jump. (However, the United States Parachute Association can offer waivers for terminally sick individuals to do tandem skydives at a younger age through groups like the Make a Wish Program.)
In terms of a maximum age limit for skydiving, tandem skydiving has no such restriction! When it comes to skydiving, you are only as old as you feel. At WSC, we’ve done tandem skydives with people in their 90s.
Being in generally excellent health and having modest mobility are the only real requirements for skydiving at an older age. We’ll go through the general health criteria for skydiving in greater detail later.
Skydiving Requirements For General Health
Skydiving is a sport, not a carnival attraction. However, ideal skydiving candidates should be in reasonably excellent condition and have acceptable mobility. Certain health concerns, like as high blood pressure or diabetes, must be carefully considered before skydiving. Having these diseases, however, does not stop you from skydiving.
You must contact your healthcare professional if you have any concerns about your health or skydiving eligibility. Give us a call after you’ve talked with them. Individuals with health constraints are considered on a case-by-case basis.
| Height Feet | Meters | Weight Kg | Stone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 feet | or 1.52m | no more than 67kg | 10st 7 |
| 5′ 1″ | 1.55m | no more than 69kg | 10st 12 |
| 5′ 2″ | 1.57m | no more than 71kg | 11st 2 |
| 5′ 3″ | 1.60m | no more than 74kg | 11st 8 |
| 5′ 4″ | 1.63m | no more than 76kg | 12st |
| 5′ 5″ | 1.65m | no more than 78kg | 12st 4 |
| 5′ 6″ | 1.68m | no more than 81kg | 12st 10 |
| 5′ 7″ | 1.70m | no more than 83kg | 13st |
| 5′ 8″ | 1.73m | no more than 85kg | 13st 6 |
| 5′ 9″ | 1.75m | no more than 88kg | 13st 12 |
| 5′ 10″ | 1.78m | no more than 90kg | 14st 3 |
| 5′ 11″ | 1.80m | no more than 92kg | 14st 7 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
People have a lot of queries about “How old do you have to be to skydive?” some of them were discussed below:
1. Can you skydive at the age of 14?
Anyone under the age of 18 requires written consent from their parent or guardian. Although there is no upper age limit for skydiving, we reserve the right to refuse a skydive based on our age, weight, and health assessment to ensure everyone’s safety.
2. Who is the world’s most junior skydiver?
Toni Stadler of South Africa, who was four years old at the time, was the youngest person ever to skydive. As they plunged out of their single-engine plane 10,000 feet above the earth, the child was tied to Tandem Master Paul Lutge’s chest and freefall for half a minute before activating the parachute.
3. Is skydiving dangerous?
Skydiving isn’t even on the list of things to do if you’re afraid of heights. When your eyes and brain function from a vision that looks like a flat map, your body cannot be terrified of heights. The kind of fear you’ll experience has little to do with flowers and everything to do with the unknown.
4. Am I going to give up skydiving?
As skydiving teachers, we have to deal with ■■■■ regularly. It is quite uncommon for a tandem passenger to vomit while in free fall. The most usual time for puking is during the parachute flight and immediately after landing.
5. How cold is it when you skydive?
It would help to realize that skydiving is considerably more enjoyable when the temperature is not below freezing. Every thousand feet you climb, the temperature changes by around three degrees. That means it’s about 30 degrees cooler at a higher elevation! Licensed skydivers and seasoned pros will tell you that when it’s warm outside, you’ll enjoy your jump a lot more.
6. Who is the world’s oldest skydiver?
Alfred “Al” Blaschke, 103, is shown in action in a video uploaded with the tweet. Blaschke broke the world record for being the oldest man to accomplish a tandem parachute jump by attempting a 14,000-foot drop at 120 mph.
7. How often do parachute systems fail?
Parachute failures during skydiving are uncommon. Only one skydiving parachute malfunction is said to occur every 1,000 skydives. This indicates that only one-hundredth of one percent of skydiving parachutes will fail.
8. Do your ears pop when you skydive?
The most common side effect is temporarily clogged ears. Here’s how it works scientifically. Because the air is thinner at exit altitude, the pressure outside is lower than the pressure inside your ears. The force wants to equalize by pushing from the inside out.
9. When you jump, do you get that sick sensation in your stomach?
So, when you jump, does your stomach drop as you fall out of the plane? The answer is simple: no! The stomach drop you feel when you reach the top of a rollercoaster is caused by a significant increase in speed.
10. Has anyone ever survived a parachute failure?
When his parachute failed to deploy fully, a British soldier survived a 15,000-footfall by slamming into someone’s roof. On July 6, the parachutist participated in a training exercise in California when he jumped out of a plane in a Halo (High Altitude Low Opening) movement.
Conclusion
Skydiving activities are available through DZONE Skydiving in Idaho and Montana. There is no higher age limit; however, there is a minimum age requirement of 16. Skydiving has a maximum weight limit of 260 pounds. A fee will be applied to customers who weigh more than 200 pounds.