Parachuting or skydiving is a recreational activity or sport, in which a person jumps from a plane, or any other high point, from a height of several thousand feet, and opens a parachute to slow the descent. Parachuting has expanded and developed across time to take different forms of practice, such as base jumping, freestyle skydiving, formation skydiving and many more. A person undertaking this activity can come to experience a beautiful view, the rush of free-falling and a feeling of extreme adrenaline-induced excitement and happiness when the parachute is opened, giving the activity its popularity.
Organizations and groups have formed to teach and guide beginners, starting from basic steps. A typical program involves first a lesson on the fundamentals of parachuting, and the use of a wind tunnel or a simulator. Once the theory has been understood, the student will move to a proper jump, first with a tandem instructor to experience the feeling, and afterwards completing up to six solo jumps. With each jump, the student will learn how to use the proper control of the movements, body position and the lines of the parachute for a safe landing, including the use of the altimeter.
Most parachutists do not use parachutes containing accessories except for deployment and recovery systems, mostly backup parachutes in case of malfunction or delay. The lines of the suspension system of the canopy are attached to a braking system, which controls an amount of pressure and allows the canopy to be opened or repacked. The modern parachute system is available in different sizes and can be used for different, such as speed parachuting, formation parachuting, precision parachuting and recreational parachuting.
The most important part of the equipment is the main parachute. The main parachute is most often an elliptical or semi-elliptical design, followed by a square or round design and finally a rectangular design. The strength of the parachute material is determined by its weight, along with its ability to withstand the forces of the air when opened. The coordinates of the canopy are designed to keep the canopy stable during the entire descent and to avoid spinning. The size of the main parachute is usually determined by the weight of the parachutist.
The safety system is another important part of the parachute equipment. This includes a harness, a reserve canopy system, an Automatic Activation Device (AAD) and an altimeter. The harness is used to keep the parachutist attached to the parachute and supports the body upon landing. The reserve canopy system is used as a backup for the main parachute in case of a malfunction. The AAD is an electronic device that automatically deploys the reserve parachute if the main canopy fails to open during the descent.
Finally, the altimeter is used to measure the altitude of the parachutist, which will determine when the parachute has to be deployed. Modern parachutes are equipped with an altimeter, but the use of this equipment is optional and strictly a personal choice.
Generally, the descent rate of a parachutist ranges between 10 and 25 metres per second depending on different factors such as the weight of the parachutist, the type of parachute and the wind. The descent rate can also be controlled by adjusting the body position and the use of brakes, the suspension lines of the canopy that runs down the back of the parachutist.
In the end, the goal of parachuting is to land safely and securely on the ground, after experiencing the unbeatable feeling of free-falling from a height of several thousand feet. The thrill and adrenaline of this sport makes it worthy of attempting, but let’s not forget to think and learn first on how to use the equipment, be familiar with the safety protocols, and respect the laws of physics.
