skydiving

Skydiving is a sport and activity that involves exiting an aircraft in midair and using a parachute to descend and land safely. Participants experience a period of freefall followed by controlled canopy flight.

Modern recreational skydiving grew from military parachuting in the 20th century. After World War II, civilian clubs formed and competitive events developed. Key disciplines emerged in subsequent decades, including formation skydiving in the 1980s and wingsuiting in the 1990s.

Equipment includes a parachute system with a main canopy and a reserve canopy secured in a harness and container, a hand- or wrist-mounted altimeter or digital device, a helmet, and a jumpsuit. An Automatic Activation Device (AAD) may deploy the reserve if the jumper is unable to deploy manually.

Training and licensing vary by country but generally follow a progression through levels or licenses. In many places, progression includes student, A license, B, C, and D or equivalent. Methods include tandem jumps, Accelerated Freefall (AFF), and solo progression under supervision at a licensed drop zone.

A typical jump from 10,000 to 14,000 ft begins with exit from the aircraft, a period of freefall lasting 30–60 seconds depending on altitude and body position, then deployment of the main parachute at about 4,000–6,000 ft, canopy flight to a landing zone, and a landing.

Disciplines include tandem, formation skydiving, competitive canopy piloting, and wingsuiting. Safety emphasizes gear checks, weather assessment, proper training, and adherence to drop-zone rules. While risks exist, fatalities and injuries have declined with improved equipment and training.