The United States Parachute Association is a voluntary membership association by, for, and about skydivers—that is, people who jump from aircraft for fun and sport. USPA also allows "drop zones," (the skydiving centers where skydivers jump) to affiliate with the association.

 

The association represents skydivers before all levels of government, the public and the aviation industry.

 

USPA has developed first-jump training programs, offers licensing programs for skydivers and qualifies skydiving instructors. USPA also conducts and promotes skydiving competition. USPA-issued skydiving licenses are recognized internationally through the International Parachuting Commission of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, which oversees all air sports.

 

The Federal Aviation Administration recognizes USPA’s successful leadership role in addressing skydiving safety, and the FAA endorses the “self-governing” approach by USPA.

Most skydiver accidents are attributed to skydiver error. Equipment failure is rarely a cause. What this means is that the skydiver either did something he shouldn’t have done, or didn’t do something he should have done, or simply used poor judgment or decision-making. For these reasons, the business establishment or the location itself are rarely factors in an accident. USPA investigates all fatal accidents for lessons learned that can be shared and disseminated to all skydivers.

 

The Federal Aviation Regulations require every skydiver (and every tandem pair) to use two parachutes—a main parachute and a reserve parachute that must always have been packed by an FAA certificated parachute rigger. All skydivers are taught emergency procedures in the event that the main parachute does not fully open or is not controllable. The procedure is to release from the malfunctioned main parachute and then deploy the reserve parachute so that the two have no chance to entangle. All student skydivers and all tandem pairs must have an automatic activation device (AAD) installed which deploys the reserve parachute if certain speed and altitude parameters are exceeded. Increasingly, experienced skydivers are also installing AADs in their equipment.

 

Most skydiving centers are affiliated with USPA as “Group Members” which is offered for renewal each calendar year. Group Member skydiving centers agree to abide by USPA’s Basic Safety Requirements, which among other things, requires the center to offer USPA-developed first-jump training methods, to use current USPA-rated skydiving instructors, and to provide skydiving students with safety equipment like AADs. 

View fatality numbers for the last decade.

Media—if you have questions about a specific accident, please e-mail Ed Scott, USPA's Executive Director.