Parachutism

Parachutism, commonly known as skydiving, is the sport or activity of descending from an aircraft or other high altitude using a parachute. It involves exiting a moving aircraft at a designated altitude and deploying a parachute to control the descent and ensure a safe landing. Parachutism encompasses a range of disciplines, including sport skydiving, tandem jumps for beginners, and military parachuting.

Sport skydiving can be further categorized into disciplines such as formation skydiving, where groups of skydivers link together in freefall, and freestyle skydiving, which involves performing aerial maneuvers. Accuracy landing is another discipline focused on precise touchdown on a designated spot. Tandem skydiving allows individuals to experience freefall with an experienced instructor securely attached.

The equipment used in parachutism includes a main parachute, a reserve parachute, a harness, and often an automatic activation device (AAD) that deploys the reserve parachute if certain conditions are met. Safety is paramount, with rigorous training, equipment checks, and adherence to established procedures being essential for participants. Weather conditions, such as wind speed and visibility, play a significant role in determining the feasibility and safety of a jump. Parachutism requires significant training and skill to participate safely.