shannick08 0 #1 June 30, 2011 I did a search on the forums and the last post on the subject was from 07 so I hope I haven't missed anything more recent. She is a thrill seeking 15 year old and I'd love to give her a jump for her 16th birthday... We live in FL and the closest I can find that would allow her is in TN. Does anyone know of any place closer? Thank you in advance!!! Shannon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrewwhyte 1 #2 June 30, 2011 A DZ that will allow a 15 year old will be very hard to find. The equipment manufacturers insist on 18 as the minimum age for liability reasons, but several DZs will allow 16 year olds to go with parental consent. While I have nothing against a 15 year old jumping, I think that a DZ that will be that far outside normal prudence indicates a very close inspection. Find a United States Parachute Association affiliated DZ that will allow 16 year olds and take her there for her next birthday. You should jump as well. It will be a together thing you both will never forget. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydude2000 3 #3 June 30, 2011 Hi Shannon, If you haven't already checked, have a look in the Dropzone Database here, in the Florida area. Most of the DZs seem to have websites listed with FAQs for age/weight requirements. That would probably be your best bet. I don't believe there are any DZs in FL that offer tandems to anyone under 18 though. Sorry!PULL!! or DIE!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nigel99 505 #4 June 30, 2011 QuoteHi Shannon, If you haven't already checked, have a look in the Dropzone Database here, in the Florida area. Most of the DZs seem to have websites listed with FAQs for age/weight requirements. That would probably be your best bet. I don't believe there are any DZs in FL that offer tandems to anyone under 18 though. Sorry! I believe all tandems now need to be over 18 in the USA to comply with the USPA.http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=4058693;page=1;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;mh=25; However Static Line and AFF are probably treated differently at some dz's. As a parent, I would suggest not giving a skydive as a 16th birthday present. If she is really keen to jump, then give some tunnel time instead. It will build her freefall skills in preparation for actual jumping.Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #5 June 30, 2011 She's probably going to have to wait until she's 18 to skydive. Find some other kind of thrill for her to enjoy as a birthday present. Like some freefall time in a wind tunnel, or a ride in a sailplane. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
virgin-burner 1 #6 June 30, 2011 come to switzerland; as long as she's 5ft tall, she's good to go! “Some may never live, but the crazy never die.” -Hunter S. Thompson "No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crotalus01 0 #7 June 30, 2011 Contact Mike Mullins at West Tennessee Skydiving. 16 shouldnt be an issue there with parental consent, and they have excellent USPA rated instructors and are very safety conscious - plus their Super King Air is the fastest jump ship in the country As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Abedy 0 #8 July 1, 2011 Quote A DZ that will allow a 15 year old will be very hard to find. ... I think that a DZ that will be that far outside normal prudence indicates a very close inspection. Not that this will really help, but dropzones in Germany are generally "far outside normal prudence". In fact, most DZ here allow 12-year-olds to do tandem jumps (with parental [mum AND dad] consent). We usually tell parents to wait until 14* when they should be grown-up enough to not run into barotraumas. *(typical age for religious and non-religious initiation rites/ceremonies and thus, occasion for tandem jump gifts) German Parachute Association recommends jumps form 10+ on [Link in German], many dropzones use German tandem gear. The situation might be a little different on dropzones with Sigmas only, however The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #9 July 1, 2011 You are probably not going to find a DZ that will let a 16 year old jump either AFF, SL, or Tandem in FL. You can call and ask them, but my quick check of a few DZ's all said 18 on their websites. The tunnel suggestion is not bad, or maybe an hour of flight instruction in an airplane."No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
