Information On Skydiving : Static Line Instruction

In this installment of our go skydiving guide we look at static line jumps.

In static line skydiving, a line is pre-attached to the pack on the jumper’s back that contains the parachute. This line pulls the chute open automatically as the jumper exits the plane.

The skydiver will usually be jumping at elevations of 3500-4000 feet (1067-1220m) above the ground, but in some cases the heights may be greater. The jumper experiences about three seconds of freefall before the canopy is fully deployed. Once the chute is fully open, the speed of descent begins falling from around 120 mph (193 kph) to about 10 mph (16 kph).

Instructors will be in the plane with you prior to your jump and will ensure that the line mechanism is attached properly but they don't exit the plane with you. Normally though, as you descend, you'll typically be in two-way radio contact with an instructor on the ground who will provide directions on landing.

While the parachute is deployed for the jumper, training is still required for this type of skydiving. The jumper must learn how to properly exit the plane and must grasp landing technique and safety measures, including deployment of the reserve parachute. This kind of training is much less involved than accelerated freefall training and usually takes about half a day.

Prices for static line jumping vary depending on the number of jumps purchased and the location of the skydiving school. However, this is often cheaper than other forms of skydiving because there is relatively little training and one instructor can train a small group of students.

As well as being the cheaper option, it also has the advantages of getting you up in the air quickly and of your being on your own from the minute you exit the plane (though some might not see the this latter point as an advantage).

But people who aim to become regular skydivers see static line jumping simply as a stepping stone. They tend to progress to accelerated freefall training and solo jumping as they want more time in freefall.