How to Be Formation Skydiver - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Jan 14, 2020 / 6 Minutes Read / By Albert

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Formation skydiving is a popular sport where multiple skydivers join together to form various shapes or formations in the air. This type of skydiving is thrilling and challenging, and it requires a high level of skill and teamwork. The benefits of formation skydiving include improved communication skills, building trust within the team, and increased confidence.

The effects of formation skydiving are far-reaching. It can help to strengthen relationships between teammates and build a sense of camaraderie. it can improve overall coordination, agility, and mental focus.

Lastly, the thrill of formation skydiving can be incredibly rewarding, resulting in a great sense of accomplishment and exhilaration.

Steps How to Become

Start by researching skydiving centers in your area and signing up for a first jump course. Most will offer instruction that includes classroom time and jumping with an experienced skydiver.
Take the time to practice your jumps in the air. Many centers will offer simulated jumps or a wind tunnel to help you get used to the sensation of freefalling.
Once youve completed the course, youll need to log at least 25 solo jumps before you can become a formation skydiver. This will help you become comfortable with the motion and control of freefalling, as well as learning how to exit the plane correctly.
After logging your 25 jumps, you can apply for a formation skydiving license. Youll need to pass a written exam and demonstrate your ability to safely exit the plane, fly in formation, and deploy your parachute in a timely manner.
Once youre licensed, its time to start honing your skills. Join a formation skydiving team and practice on a regular basis. Youll want to log several hundred jumps before you attempt any complicated formations.
When youre ready, compete in skydiving competitions and try to set new records. With enough practice and dedication, you may one day become a world-class formation skydiver!

The path to becoming an ideal and capable skydiver requires dedication and hard work. It starts with choosing the right type of skydiving courses to suit individual needs and abilities. These courses provide the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge, as well as the skills needed to be a competent skydiver.

Furthermore, individuals must be physically fit and possess strong mental focus. Regular practice and repetition of the learned skills are essential to maintain proficiency and prevent accidents while skydiving. Once a person has mastered the basics, they can then move on to more advanced skydiving techniques such as formation skydiving.

This requires additional physical and mental stamina, as well as precision and accuracy. Finally, a skydiver must stay up-to-date with safety regulations and practices, as well as proper equipment maintenance, in order to ensure their safety and that of other skydivers. With dedication and hard work, a person can become an ideal and capable skydiver.

You may want to check Canopy Piloting Instructor, Skydiver Deployment Specialist, and Skydiving Video and Photography Specialist for alternative.

Job Description

Instructor: Responsible for providing skydiving instruction to students, ensuring their safety and helping them learn the fundamentals of the sport.
Drop Zone Manager: Oversees all operations at a drop zone, ensuring that the environment is safe and organized. Manages the staff and runs the business side of the drop zone.
Load Organizer: Coordinates the loading of aircraft with skydivers, assigns seating and ensures that all safety protocols are followed.
Aircraft Pilot: Pilots the aircraft carrying the skydivers to the desired altitude, then releases them to begin their jump.
Gear Technician: Maintains and repairs the gear used by skydivers, including parachutes, helmets, jumpsuits, altimeters and other equipment.
Safety Officer: Monitors skydiving activities and ensures that safety regulations are being followed. Investigates any accidents that take place and offers recommendations for improving safety.
Videographer: Responsible for shooting videos of skydiving jumps and creating videos to promote the drop zone.
Rigging Technician: Inspects and repairs parachutes and related equipment to ensure that it is in safe condition for use.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Positive mental attitude
Demonstrated ability to control body position and movement in freefall
Knowledge of parachuting safety regulations and procedures
Knowledge of emergency procedures
Ability to read and interpret weather conditions
Ability to perform emergency landings
Understanding of air currents and their effects on flight
Ability to correctly pack and inspect parachutes
Ability to deploy and recognize parachutes in the sky
Awareness of other skydivers in the sky
Ability to control the parachute in flight
Understanding of landing patterns and procedures

Formation skydiving is an incredibly thrilling and dangerous activity that requires an immense amount of skill and finesse. The most important skill for a formation skydiver to possess is the ability to work well in teams and have excellent communication skills. This is because in order to be successful in formation skydiving, multiple skydivers must coordinate their movements and fly in close proximity to each other in order to connect and form a formation.

Formation skydiving requires a great deal of trust between team members, as they rely on each other to perform the maneuvers safely and successfully. the skydivers must also be aware of their surroundings at all times and be able to think quickly and adjust their formations accordingly. Having excellent communication skills is crucial in order to keep everyone on the same page.

In order to be successful at formation skydiving, the skydivers must be able to trust each other and communicate effectively. Doing so will ensure that they can achieve their goals and have a safe and successful jump.

Skydiving Rigging Technician, Skydiving Center Manager, and Skydiving Tandem Master are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have in skydiving?
How would you handle a difficult situation while skydiving?
What safety protocols do you follow when skydiving?
How do you handle the stress of skydiving?
Are you comfortable with the physical demands of skydiving?
What is your experience with packing and maintaining parachutes?
Do you have any experience teaching skydiving to others?
How would you ensure a safe and fun skydiving experience for customers?
What do you think are the most important qualities for a successful skydiver?
How would you handle an emergency situation while skydiving?

Common Tools in Industry

Parachute. A device used to slow the descent of a person or object during a jump from a high altitude. (eg: Military personnel use parachutes to safely land after a high altitude jump. )
Altimeter. An instrument used to measure altitude and vertical speed of an aircraft or skydiver. (eg: Skydivers use an altimeter to monitor their altitude during a jump. )
Audible Altimeter. A device that provides an audible warning when a skydiver has reached a specific altitude. (eg: Audible altimeters are used by skydivers to know when they are close to the ground and should deploy their parachute. )
Automatic Activation Device (AAD). A device which automatically deploys a parachute if the skydiver is unable to do so at a certain altitude. (eg: AADs are used by skydivers as a failsafe in case of emergency. )
Rigging Tool Kit. A tool kit used for packing, inspecting, and maintaining skydiving equipment. (eg: Rigging tool kits contain specialized tools for packing parachutes and other components of skydiving gear. )

Professional Organizations to Know

United States Parachute Association (USPA)
British Parachute Association (BPA)
Australian Parachute Federation (APF)
World Freefall Convention (WFC)
International Bodyflight Association (IBA)
International Skydiving Commission (ISC)
World Air Sports Federation (FAI)
Canadian Sport Parachuting Association (CSPA)

We also have Skydiving Ground Crew Member, AFF (Accelerated Freefall) Instructor, and Advanced Canopy Pilot jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Parachute. A device used for slowing the descent of a person or object from a height, typically consisting of a fabric canopy that is held open by air pressure and attached to a harness or back pack.
Altimeter. An instrument used to measure altitude, typically in connection with skydiving.
Canopy. The large fabric dome of a parachute, typically supported by lines connecting it to the harness of the skydiver.
Deployment. The act of opening the parachute in order to start the descent of a skydiver.
Freefall. The period of time during a skydive when the skydiver is in the air without their parachute deployed.
Aircraft. A vehicle that is able to fly through the air, typically propelled by an engine. Used by skydivers to climb to altitude before jumping out and freefalling.
Rigging. The act of attaching the lines and other components of a parachute system to the harness worn by the skydiver.
Harness. The system of straps and buckles worn by the skydiver that is connected to the parachute system and allows them to remain attached to it during flight.