 |
Welcome on our website,
The Caribbean Free-Fall Parachuting School puts this page on-line so that you can get the best prepared for your tandem jump or your free-fall training course (PAC).
Here you will find the main asked questions.
If you do not find the expected answer, feel free to contact us.
We thank you for the interest you give to our school and wish you a good reading.
1. How to book my tandem jump or my free-fall training course (PAC) ?
2. How will my tandem jump or my free-fall training course (PAC) be organized ?
3. 3. Que faut t-il faire pour me préparer au mieux le jour du saut ?
4. Is the waiting long before jumping?
5. What to wear to make a jump ?
6. If I am late, could I still jump ?
7. What are the opening hours and days to jump ?
8. What are the weather conditions which could cancel the jump and when will I be informed if the jump is postponed ?
9. If I come to make a tandem jump with a friend, could we jump in tandem together and could we take a video for two ?
10. Can my parents or friends come with me ?
11. Do I need a medical certificate to go skydiving ?
12. I suffer from dizziness, would it disturb me from my skydiving jump ?
13. Is there an age limit to make a skydiving jump ?
14. Is there a weight limit to make a skydiving jump ?
15. I wear glasses or lenses, would it disturb me from my skydiving jump ?
16. Am I insured for the jump ?
17. Is there any regulation about your diploma ?
18. Which difference is there between a para pro and a state instructor ?
19. What about safety ?
20. I feel like making a skydiving jump, is there any danger ?
21. Could I still go scuba diving if I make a skydiving jump ?
22. Is there any other fee to pay on the D-day ?
23. Is there any payment facilities for my skydiving jump ?
24. What is the difference between a tandem jump and a initiating jump ?
25. From which altitude do you jump ?
26. From which altitude do you jump ?
27. After my free-fall training course (PAC), could I jump on my own and am I still considered as a student? Is there anymore qualification to get afterwards ?
1. How to book my tandem jump or my free-fall training course (PAC) ?
You need to contact the Caribbean Free-Fall Parachuting School either by email or by telephone in order to book your tandem jump or your free-fall training course (PAC).
Back to questions
2. How is my tandem jump or my free-fall training course (PAC) organized?
Meet at the school at the agreed hour. After the administrative formalities you will have a 15 minute briefing. Then you will get into the plane to make your skydiving jump. Initiating jump? Meet at the Caribbean free-fall Parachuting school at 8:30 am with your medical certificate. After the administrative formalities you will have a 4-5 hour training. Then you will make your initiating jump by the late afternoon or the next day according to the jumping order. If the weather conditions do not allow us to jump after the training, we will suggest you another appointment to make your jump.
Back to questions
3. What to do to be the best prepared on the day of the jump?
The day before your jump have a good rest. Before the jump, you should have had something to eat. Please avoid the consumption of alcohol or drugs of all kinds. All these precautions will be beneficial to you to the best manage your apprehension. Once on the dropzone, the instructor will take care of you and you will see that you will be fast reassured.
Back to questions
4. Is the waiting long before jumping?
The school does its best to make you jump as soon as possible. The waiting can vary, but please count for a miximum of 3 hours. However many elements can disrupt the day schedule, such as the weather conditions, the delay of skydivers, the air traffic etc. Free-fall is a sport of patience. Please be courteous with your instructors, they try hard to make you jump the soonest and in the best conditions. You will join the session of other skydivers and students, that is why you will have to wait for your turn.
Back to questions
5. What to wear to make a jump ?
In relaxed holding, pants or a pair of shorts, a jumper or T-shirt is enough, low shoes with laces or velcro (hooks for laces such as mountain style shoes are to to ban), avoid mocassins and fliflop!
Back to questions
6. If I am late, could I still jump ?
Logically yes you would. However you will not be put at the top of the jumping list and you will have to stick to foreseen schedule of the day. It is possible that you will have more time to wait and your jump could be postponed.
Back to questions
7. What are the opening hours and days to jump ?
The school is openned everyday from 9 am till the sunset (except for Tuesdays).
Back to questions
8. What are the weather conditions which could cancel the jump and when will I be informed if the jump is postponed ?
Strong wind : The allowed jumping limit is 11m/s for the experienced and tandems; for students (from P.A.C. students up to B license) the limit is 7 m/s. Low clouds and rain are bad conditions. On the morning we will warn you, by phone, in case of cancellation, but the weather report is whimsical and can change during your arrival be comprehensive and remain good-humoured. The day before(wakefulness) you can verify the local weather report on the site
Back to questions
9. If I come to make a tandem jump with a friend, could we jump in tandem together and could we take a video for two ?
When making a tandem jump, you are not allowed to jump with another tandem passenger. It represents a risk. To make this up, you can go up together on the same plane (according to the jump schedule). About the film, the videoman can only film one tandem at a time. We advise you to make your tandem jump one after another, allowing you to see your friends landing and also his reaction when landed !
Back to questions
10. Can my parents or friends come with me ?
Yes indeed. However they will have to stick to the security rules of the school (dogs in leash, children surveillance).
Back to questions
11. Do I need a medical certificate to go skydiving ?
Yes for the initiating jump and for the freefall training course PAC, a medical certificate is compulsory. It has to be delivered by an approved doctor by the French Skydiving Federation (FFP) within the last 12 months. You need to provide it on the jumping day otherwise you will not be allowed to jump. For the tandem jump, a medical certificate is not compulsory but highly recommended (deliverance by a GP is enough). It is compulsory for the under-18s and the over-60s.
Back to questions
12. I suffer from dizziness, would it disturb me from my skydiving jump ?
No, to get dizziness you need a reference to the ground, for example when you are on a bridge. On a plane, you cannot get any dizziness because you are not linked to the ground. Moreover we are constantly moving. You will certainly feel an apprehension about the jump. Every skydiver has had this feeling before. It is a part of what make this sport great.
Back to questions
13. Is there an age limit to make a skydiving jump ?
Minimum age for a tandem jump : federal dropzones: 15 year old; Para pro dropzones: no minimum age but minimum weight and height demanded: 40 kg or 88,18 lbs for 1,40 meter or 4,59 feet, no maximum age either.
Minimum age for a PAC course: 15 year old.
IN ANY CASE UNDER-18S NEED PARENTAL ACCOMPANIMENT OR TO PROVIDE A PARENTAL AUTHORIZATION WITH PARENTAL ID COPIES.
Back to questions
14. Is there a weight limit to make a skydiving jump ?
For skydiving, the minimum weight and height are: 40 kg or 88 lbs for 1,40 meter or 4'6". Maximum: 90 kg or 200 lbs for 2 meters or 6'6".
These limits are provided by our school in order to insure a maximum security and the best comfort of the passenger when jumping. However some dropzones may accept heavier and taller passengers if they have the corresponding instructors. Usually if the passenger is corpulent but tall and sporty, it could be able to jump. A front wind is needed for corpulent passenger because it helps slowing down the canopy when landing. The tandem instructor is the only person able to decide whether or not the tandem passenger can jump, according also to the weather conditions. In any case, please contact us if the passenger is close the weight and height limits
Back to questions
15. I wear glasses or lenses, would it disturb me from my skydiving jump ?
No, when jumping you wear glasses in order to protect your eyes. We also have special glasses which you can wear on the top of your normal glasses.
Back to questions
16. Am I insured for the jump ?
Yes, insurance for passenger is not an option but is compulsory. Every skydiver needs insurance.
Back to questions
17. Is there any regulation about your diploma ?
Yes, all the instructors need state qualifications as well as complementary qualifications or para pro ones.
Back to questions
18. Which difference is there between a para pro and a state instructor ?
Para pro is qualification delivered by the ministry of transport which only allows the tandem practice. BEES 1st degree is a state qualification delivered by the ministry of youth and sport. It allows the practice of tandem and teaching PAC. The Caribbean Free-Fall Parachuting School has both qualifications.
Back to questions
19. What about safety ?
All our parachutes are homologated, following rules and daily controlled. They all have a safety parachute and an Automatic Activation Device which automatically opens the safety parachute if needed. Safety parachutes are only packed by professional. Nowadays, equipment is highly reliable.
Back to questions
20. I feel like making a skydiving jump, is there any danger ?
No it appears irresponsible to considered skydiving as a no-danger activity; as for skiing, scuba-diving or even driving a car. The last activities certainly get higher accident rates than skydiving. Nowadays, equipment is highly reliable what prevents from serious accidents because they are mainly linked to human mistake from confirmed skydivers. Sometimes they do not respect security rules. Skydiving in France beneficiates from the strictest regulation in the world. However you need to be mentally and physically ready to make your jump. 0 risk does not exist and this whatever sport you practice.
Back to questions
21. Could I still go scuba diving if I make a skydiving jump ?
Practicing scuba-diving is to be banned before you jump out of a plane. The length between the two practices will depend on the depth and the time spent under water. For security reasons, please foresee 48 hours without scuba-diving before you jump. There is no arm going scuba-diving after a jump, only the other way is dangerous.
Back to questions
22. Is there any other fee to pay on the D-day ?
No, the Caribbean Free-Fall Parachuting School provides you full-tax prices. They include all the costs (dropzone tax, insurance, etc.). You will not any other money to add. Expect for the freefall training course PAC which price is provided excluding insurance and license because it depends on the age of the student.
Back to questions
23. Is there any payment facilities for my skydiving jump ?
Yes, you only have to write the date at the back of the cheque. Only the deposit is immediately cashed (Payable in 2 steps maximum).
Back to questions
24. What is the difference between a tandem jump and a initiating jump ?
It depends on the skydiver’s motivation :
A tandem jump is an inactive jump where an instructor takes care of you during the total time of about 3 hours. The passenger only has to open his eyes and enjoy his time.
The initiating jump is a more active jump because it is you who is going to deal with your jump supported by your instructors. You need 1 or 2 days of attendance on the dropzone. If you were to decide to continue jumping after this first jump, the price of the initiating jump will be deduced from you freefall training course PAC.
Back to questions
25. From which altitude do you jump ?
We jump at 4000 meters (12 500 feet).
Back to questions
26. From which altitude do you jump ?
Yes, a videoman will jump with you. He will film you on the ground during the briefing, during the plane, during your 50 minute freefall and on the landing. This film will be recorded on a DVD and given to you. It will be a great memory of your first jump.
Back to questions
27. After my free-fall training course (PAC), could I jump on my own and am I still considered as a student? Is there anymore qualification to get afterwards ?
Yes, you can jump alone after your training course P.A.C which includes six accompanied jumps. The freefall school can ask you to make additional jumps (what happens rarely) according to your confidence in flying. After your training course you will be able to jump alone, then once you will have add up 15 jumps (compulsory according to the federal regulation) you would obtain the License A. As soon as you will get 30 jumps, you could obtain the Partent B which includes a freefall test, a target landing and a theoretical course. Once you will have passed your License B, you will not be consider any longer as a student and will beneficiate from all the linked advantages (wind limits, access to federal competition,…)
WARNING! It is not because you are not a student anymore that you can do anything you want !
Afterwards you will be able to consider to pass the other skydiving licenses :
B2 license:
After few improving jumps (minimum 8 with an instructor) and security course allowing you to jump with other skydivers, you will be able to join freefall groups. It is specifically at this time that skydiving is flying off.
B4 license :
You will attend an improving training course in order to learn how to fly in groups in multi position. There are 3 modules: “track”, “head up” and the full B4 module including “head down”.
This type of flying is practiced using all kinds of positions: sit flying, head up flying, back track flying, etc. This type of jump demands a minimum flying ease because flying rate are high.
B3 license
Your parachute opens as soon as get off the plane and you need to makes some figures under canopy with other skydivers.
B1 license
Nowadays it is not much practiced as it mix jumps with a sequence of jump to make in the shortest time possible and an accuracy landing. This discipline is more often practiced during military competitions.
Back to questions
|
|
