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Updated the 10th of each month. |
| April 2008 |
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On the Cover: Photographer Gary Wainwright captured this shot of 4-way teams Perris Fury, Bodyflight Storm and Paradox coming together for an impromptu 12-way above Perris Valley Skydiving in California. |
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 Gearing Up
by Ed Scott, Executive Director
USPA’s Director of Government Relations Randy Ottinger and I recently drove to Frederick, Maryland, to meet with Phil Boyer, President of AOPA, and his staff . . .
MORE. |
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Safety Check
Shaking the Roller Coaster Mentality
After two tragic years for tandem skydiving in 2005 and 2006, there were no tandem fatalities in the U.S. in 2007. But even though we made it through last year without a fatal tandem accident, USPA received several reports of tandem jumps performed in violation of USPA’s and the manufacturer’s guidelines, any of which could have easily ended in tragedy . . .
MORE. |
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Parachutist Around the World
 Check out our interactive map of Parachutist Around the World.
Take your magazine on a tour around the world and e-mail communications@uspa.org your shot of a current USPA member reading an issue in front of a recognizable, well-known landmark. |
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Every One a Heartbreak
by Paul Sitter
The positive trend in skydiving safety continued in 2007, as 18 fatalities set a record for the fewest skydiving deaths in more than 40 years, but any fatal jump accident is one too many. The 2007 fatality summary takes a look at what went wrong in each case so jumpers can identify problem areas and learn valuable lessons from them.
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Too Close for Comfort
A USPA Special Report
Last year, eight skydiving-related aircraft accidents were reported, one of which was fatal. Each incident may contain pieces of information that may help jump pilots and skydivers reduce the chance of a repeat occurrence down the road.
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Fatal Ferries
by Paul Bertorelli
One of the only things that beats going to a great boogie is catching a ride on a jump plane to the event with a bunch of your friends. But doing so with an aircraft or pilot that might not be current for the situation could prove fatal.
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"With a Little Help From My Friends"
by Dixie Dakos
After a year spent rebuilding following the unexpected death of its DZO, Skydive Air Adventures welcomed jumpers from across the U.S. for its Everglades boogie in January. Relying on helping hands from friends and other drop zones near and far, the event proved more than successful.
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Invading Florida
by Cherie Schuch
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| Photo by Harry Parker. |
For almost two weeks around the turn of the year, Skydive Sebastian in Florida welcomed jumpers to its Cross Keys Invasion boogie for some fun in the sun and festive evening parties. Not to be slowed by an unusual cold spell, participants kept the boogie rolling and turned out thousands of slots in the process.
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In the Boardroom
A USPA Staff Report
In February, USPA’s Board of Directors traveled to Florida for their first meeting of the new year. With many hot items on the docket, the board got right to work on issues ranging from replacing a vacant regional director position to developing the Instructor Examiner Rating Course.
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Flattening Out
A Parachutist Pictorial
This month’s pictorial focuses on the flat flyers of the skydiving world as they take to the skies above. |
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Legends of the Sport: Steve Snyder
by Mike Muscat
 In 1971, USPA established the USPA Lifetime Achievement Award to honor the true legends of our sport. The third installment in this series takes a look at Steve Snyder, who—by his pioneering contributions through the years to the saving of lives and the improvement of parachute equipment—more than made his mark in the history of our sport.
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Blending Together
by Rich Delgado
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| Photo by Karen Lewis. |
Five years ago, a jumper dreamt of putting together a 100-way formation with equal numbers of male and female jumpers. Years later, the Perris Fusion event is still building momentum as organizers try to blend together just the right mix for success. |
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