| Jumping from a plane meters above from land is | | | | currently using. AAD stands for automatic |
| not a safe sport as everybody may think. | | | | activation device. The AAD automatically activate |
| Skydiving poses that same feeling to anyone. In | | | | the jumper’s reserve parachute in the even |
| fact, skydiving safety has been better over the | | | | that the jumper is disabled or disoriented or has |
| years. | | | | lost track of the altitude and failed to deploy the |
| Most skydiving fatalities and incidents are not | | | | main parachute. |
| caused by faulty equipment but failure to obey | | | | The AAD was introduced by a German named |
| necessary precautions before jumping, like wrong | | | | Helmut Cloth. It was first called as CYPRESS or |
| timing of deploying the parachute, incorrect folding | | | | Cybernetic Parachute Release System. It used to |
| of the parachute and performing or experimenting | | | | be a student only device. During a free-fall, the |
| with maneuvers that are extremely difficult and | | | | CYPRESS uses computer interpreted barometric |
| dangerous | | | | metering to constantly assess a skydiver’s |
| The most common reasons for skydiving deaths | | | | altitude and rate of descent. If a skydiver is |
| and injuries, and that is 92 percent, are mistakes | | | | descending faster that a certain speed, this device |
| in judgment and procedure. This means that the | | | | will instantly activate the skydiver’s reserve. |
| jumper should be prepared well for the jump and | | | | Currently, the AAD is available for novice and |
| do everything accurately to the time it takes until | | | | expert skydivers. It has evolved into a compact, |
| he reaches the ground. | | | | reliable and readily available for an average of |
| Even in the process of signing up practice | | | | $1200. |
| honesty. State or inform your skydiving | | | | Other safety items that skydivers bring are visual |
| instructors of any medical condition you are in. | | | | and audible altimeters. When a person is skydiving, |
| Saying that you have medical condition would not | | | | it is difficult to inform how close to the ground |
| automatically stop you from skydiving, but | | | | you are. Opening a parachute requires you to be |
| absolutely doctor’s approval would be needed. | | | | at a specific altitude. Altimeters provide the |
| Before jumping, knowing and checking you gear is | | | | altitude reading and even activate alarms |
| very important, however experienced or eager | | | | whenever you have reached the height for |
| you are to make your first jump. Ensure the | | | | releasing the parachute. |
| goggles, helmet and jumpsuit are all in good | | | | Aside from these issues with the equipment |
| condition. | | | | questioning how safe skydiving is, there are also |
| Parachute checks are also done before the jump. | | | | several myths about skydiving that make people |
| Parachutes are not always 100 percent safe, | | | | more afraid of it. An example of a skydiving |
| that’s why jumpers have a reserve | | | | myth is that divers cannot breathe during free fall |
| parachute completely independent form the main | | | | which is totally untrue, since consciousness is |
| chute. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) | | | | needed to open the parachute. |
| requires that the reserve parachute be inspected | | | | Nobody would argue that skydiving is a safe thing |
| and repacked every 120 days (whether it is used | | | | to do. And statistics can be manipulated to make |
| or not) by a FAA- certified parachute rigger. | | | | skydiving look very safe or very dangerous. |
| Aside from the reserve parachute that can be | | | | Generally, safety in skydiving is determined by |
| used when the main chute is malfunctioning, the | | | | the individual. Rarely do skydiving accidents result |
| AAD is another safety device that skydivers are | | | | from equipment failure or bad luck. |