Dropzones that allow 16 year olds

[packing_jarrett 0]

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In my opinion,any DZO who would knowingly allow a minor to skydive is in extreme need of any business he can get and too stupid to know better

Archie!!! so are you saying every DZO who lets people under 18 skydive is stupid? There are so many great DZO's who let people under 18 skydive.

Na' Cho' Cheese

[toolbox 0]

Sorry dude,but from a legal standpoint it is very dumb to let a minor skydive,especialy in the land of the lawyers(also known as the USA).
Now if for instance,you have a son or daughter who wants to skydive and you happen to own yourself a DZ, then that would be less of a legal issue in my opinion since you could probably talk your kids out of suing your ass if they get hurt,and if they snuff themselves out, its not likely you will sue yourself,unless you were feeling really guilty and then I'm sure you could find some lawyer to take the case against yourself. Then you could for sure find another lawyer to defend yourself. But there is also the mother to worry about.
I hope someday we can all skydive together.
Blue skies!

[nitrochute 2]

my how things have changed! i made my first jump the weekend after my 16 th birthday(1970),a gift from elek puskas and steve snyder.

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

It would be much easier for me to tell you where to go if you indicated in your profile or your post where you live. Two places I know, for sure, that train 16 year olds are: Raeford Parachute Center in North Carolina and Skydive Opelika in Tuskeegee, Alabama. Edited to add that I can promise you that I have been involved in training over 100 students under the age of 18 to safely skydive in my 25 years as a JM/I.

Chuck

[PhoenixRising 0]

montana. i was only 17 when i started jumping. i did three tandems. and aff before i was 18. All i had to do was have my parents write a letter giving their permission to train me.

Wingsuit organizing, first flight courses and coaching
Flock University
Tonysuits

[chaosreins 0]

i believe there was another thread - don't remember which forum - about a guy bringing his 17 year old kid for aff instruction somewhere in oklahoma.

can a uspa-member dropzone allow under 18 to jump?

[VincentVL. 0]

Have him fly over to belgium.

Tandems: 12 years and up
AFF: 16 years and up

[DougH 270]

Does USPA specifically set an age limit?

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[PhreeZone 20]

The USPA, no. The tandem gear manufators.. yes.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[cpoxon 0]

I came across this story the other day about two 16-year olds from Florida who did a static-line and tandem jump in Georgia which I thought was unusual (especially as they jumped from 55 and 95 thousand feet! :-P)

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Two friends skydive for 16th birthdays

Vanessa Fultz, Democrat Reporter

A sweet 16th birthday becomes even sweeter when shared with a friend. Jennifer Davis and Jacob Williams, both Suwannee High School juniors, decided to take the plunge for their birthdays — they went skydiving.

The experience was a first for both of them.

It was Jacob who came up with the idea. Instead of asking for a vehicle for his 16th birthday he asked to go skydiving.

Jacob was inspired to skydive by his dad, Mike Williams, who is a retired United States Army paratrooper and ranger. When Jacob went to visit his dad at Fort Bragg, N.C. in 2005, that did it.

“Jacob saw some paratroopers jump out of planes, and he wanted to go,” Mike said.

The Williamses promised their son he could go skydiving for his 16th birthday and that he could take a friend.

Jennifer and Jacob have been best friends since elementary school. They have both participated in NJROTC together at SHS. The two share birthdays — almost. They also share a desire to be adventurous.

The two friends and their families loaded up to go skydiving at St. Mary’s, Ga, at The Jumping Place. They trained for about 4-5 hours before their jump. Jacob did a static line jump where he jumped from the plane by himself from 55,000 feet in the air. Jennifer did a tandem jump where her harness was attached to another skydiver. She jumped from 95,000 feet in the air.

Jennifer’s mother, Joyce Davis, said she was a bit nervous as she watched her daughter ascend into the sky preparing to take the plunge.

“At one time the clouds began to move in and it got stormy,” she said. Of course, that didn’t deter Jennifer.

“They’re both ready to go again,” said Joyce. “Jennifer is adventurous.”

This past summer Jennifer’s family visited Alaska. During the trip they went white water rafting.

“We went on the four-five level trip. The sixth level is the roughest,” Joyce said.

Jennifer’s adventurous spirit is no surprise. She is the second in command in NJROTC, holding the title of executive officer.

Jacob is a senior chief petty officer for NJROTC. Another one of his goals is to get a scuba diving certification this summer. His mother, Karen Williams, has also been a scuba diver.

“We encourage Jacob to test his limits but to channel that into a productive thing,” said Mike.

Jennifer is the daughter of Keith and Joyce Davis. Jacob is the son of Mike and Karen Williams.

Vanessa Fultz can be reached by calling 386-362-1734 ext. 130 or by e-mail at vanessa.fultz@gaflnews.com.

Skydiving Fatalities - Cease not to learn 'til thou cease to live

[Jumpah 0]

Archie! Glad to see you around!

Many minors would be great skydivers, and I'm all for them getting into it. The undeniable problem is risk...a DZ will lose everything if a minor gets seriously injured and chooses to sue (and wins). The rigger, pilot, and instructors might also be named, even if they had nothing to do with it. Financially, if they lost, all those people will have to start over...they'll lose it all.

Its not fair, but thats what will happen.

[kelpdiver 2]

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Many minors would be great skydivers, and I'm all for them getting into it. The undeniable problem is risk...a DZ will lose everything if a minor gets seriously injured and chooses to sue (and wins).

And so why is this not the case for the scuba industry (will take 8 year olds), snow (will take 2 or 3 year olds), football, rockclimbing, ..... there are no shortage of industries that seem to exist under this threat just fine.

[billvon 2,991]

>And so why is this not the case for the scuba industry (will take 8
> year olds), snow (will take 2 or 3 year olds), football,
> rockclimbing, ..... there are no shortage of industries that seem to
> exist under this threat just fine.

PADI has a "bubblemaker" program (or something along those lines) for young kids that involves diving to a depth of six feet with an instructor within hand's reach. If there's a problem they can be hauled to the surface within seconds - and even 8 year olds have built-in protections against drowning.

Snow skiing allows young kids (say 3 or so) to play on small slopes. It's next to impossible to get any speed with a 30 pound kid on 80cm skis on slopes like that - and even if they can get up to those speeds, they just stop when they get to the bottom.

Skydiving has a version of this too. It's called a wind tunnel. There, kids can be held onto, and can be pulled out of the tunnel if there is a problem.

Skydiving itself is quite different. If a tandem master has a double malfunction, there is no way to snatch the kid out of the harness and save him. He is going to die, through no fault of his own. And _that_ is why it's different than all the above endeavors.

[mikempb 0]

I was 17 with notorized parental permission but that dz closed down a looong time ago, Im not sure they were a USPA drop zone. In other words if there is a place that will allow it it may not be regulated by USPA so be careful.

[rehmwa 2]

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My point exactly. You act above your age and keep your mouth shut nobody is gonna ask.

Or, be honest and don't try to FRAUD an honest DZ business (AND a Tandem professional). Better to be up front and jump at one that "knowingly" allows the 17 year old to jump.

I'm not a big fan of lying (or encouraging lying) to a DZ and putting them in a position to be subject to a possible lawsuit and hurting our sport even farther.

Lying is dispicable. So is encouraging it. Especially for such a pissy little thing.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[bozo 0]

Lying is dispicable. So is encouraging it. Especially for such a pissy little thing.

[kelpdiver 2]

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>And so why is this not the case for the scuba industry (will take 8
> year olds), snow (will take 2 or 3 year olds), football,
> rockclimbing, ..... there are no shortage of industries that seem to
> exist under this threat just fine.

PADI has a "bubblemaker" program (or something along those lines) for young kids that involves diving to a depth of six feet with an instructor within hand's reach. If there's a problem they can be hauled to the surface within seconds - and even 8 year olds have built-in protections against drowning.

Snow skiing allows young kids (say 3 or so) to play on small slopes. It's next to impossible to get any speed with a 30 pound kid on 80cm skis on slopes like that - and even if they can get up to those speeds, they just stop when they get to the bottom.

Skydiving has a version of this too. It's called a wind tunnel. There, kids can be held onto, and can be pulled out of the tunnel if there is a problem.

Skydiving itself is quite different. If a tandem master has a double malfunction, there is no way to snatch the kid out of the harness and save him. He is going to die, through no fault of his own. And _that_ is why it's different than all the above endeavors.

Scuba - if an 8 yo has a problem with trapped air in the lungs, he can't get to the surface within seconds. He'll die. Ignoring the potential for screwing with the growing process, teenagers and younger have a much higher likelihood of having a PFO (open heart valve that allows nitrogen bubble formation) and is less able to identify and react to emergency situations. Just as skydivers can't stop on the way down, divers can always head for the surface.

Skiing - I see unescorted youngsters on the slopes all the time. You're correct in that the little ones lack the mass to get much speed. They bounce off my legs with neither of us hurt. But they quickly graduate to steeper and faster runs. While skydivers kill the femur, snowboarders kill the wrist and pelvis.

In both sports, kids can certainly die, even with an instructor around. And they do have deaths - most commonly with kids boarding in the trees and getting inverted in a snow well and suffocating. Somehow those industries enjoy better legal protection.

[Beerlight 0]

M. Mullins DZ maybe? I know his boyz started wayyy early. No probs there.....

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

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can a uspa-member dropzone allow under 18 to jump?

USPA always has and always will allow 16 year olds to skydive with notarized parental consent. Now, whether or not your state allows it, or the DZO of that dropzone allows it is another thing altogether. Feel free to go to Raeford, North Carolina and jump at the DZ owned by the former Chairman of The Board of USPA and the many, many-year regional directors (Gene Paul and Tony Thacker). They have been doing business for over 35 years. (910) 904-0000 or (910) 875-3261.

Chuck

[toolbox 0]

I must know you from SNE.
I see you are from NH. I hope you have a nice long dry season this year.
Blue skies!

[peckerhead 0]

Try Toledo Washington.

Those dorks will let anyone jump!

Ha!

[floridadiver81 0]

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They trained for about 4-5 hours before their jump. Jacob did a static line jump where he jumped from the plane by himself from 55,000 feet in the air. Jennifer did a tandem jump where her harness was attached to another skydiver. She jumped from 95,000 feet in the air.

I so hope those are typo's!

"Age has absolutely nothing to do with knowledge, learning, respect, attitude, or personality." -yardhippie
"Fight the air, and the air will kick your ass!!! "-Specialkaye

[crazydiver 0]

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My brother and his two sons, 17yr. and 16 yr. old will do s/l training next summer at Skydown in Caldwell, Id.

I think that skydiving under the age of 18 is completely acceptable. I started when I was 16 and wouldn't take it back, just make sure the kids have the emotional maturity to make decisions as to not be cocky when making decisions. Hard to accept, but all youngsters are cocky. I'm only 22 and feel lucky to have made it through jumping in high school and in my teens since even at my age I feel like I constantly have to keep myself in check of what I'm doing.

Second...I jumped in Idaho for a bit a couple summers ago...I knew the folks over at Skydown briefly. Nice folks, but I don't necessarily recommend their services. There was a student fatality there a few years ago which has been rumored to have been from foulplay with drug issues. Do a search on dropzone.com for it. If I remember correctly, the DZO got into a scuffle with the victim who miraculously decided to take up skydiving and go in with a no pull.

I fully support underage skydiving, but you would be better off having them wait until they are both 18 and jumping with the folks at Skydive Idaho and Skydive Starr. Skydive Idaho is on the same airport as Skydown and run a top notch operation where your nephews will get freefall from a tandem or AFF, rather than static line. Skydive Idaho has some super nice folks too.

Cheers,
Travis

[Cowboy1974 0]

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i believe there was another thread - don't remember which forum - about a guy bringing his 17 year old kid for aff instruction somewhere in oklahoma.

can a uspa-member dropzone allow under 18 to jump?

I bought my daughter a skydive for her 16th Birthday. She has 2 AFF jumps under her belt. We jump at the Oklahoma Skydiving Center in Cushing Oklahoma. It's a great little DZ. 918-225-2222. www.okskydive.com I'm really pleased with the training. Legalities aside...my daughter could die in a car crash on the way home from school. Life's an adventure and we're taking part in it.

Have You Hugged Your
Local Skydiver Today?

[rehmwa 2]

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Lying is dispicable. So is encouraging it. Especially for such a pissy little thing.

LOL pissy ? hahahaha