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Capturing the Moment Advances in camera technology have made still and video cameras smaller and lighter than ever before. With their seemingly relative ease of use for skydiving, more and more jumpers are showing up at the drop zone with a shiny new camera helmet and digital camera, looking for hapless test subjects who want to be videoed or photographed on their skydives. Fortunately, most jumpers realize it requires training to stay safe while trying anything new in the sport, especially when adding new techniques and equipment at the same time. Starting in 2002, USPA—realizing that more and more skydivers were getting into video too early in their skydiving careers—added camera flyer recommendations to its Skydiver’s Information Manual. Several accidents had occurred due to equipment entanglements or poor flying skills, so USPA consulted with some of the most experienced camera flyers in the U.S. to develop useful and realistic guidelines for skydivers interested in getting into aerial photography and videography. The initial recommendations have proven solid, and the USPA Safety & Training Committee has had to make very few revisions to that section over the years even with all the new technology. Before you can safely jump with a camera, your skydiving skills need to be better than average in whatever discipline you plan to film. The SIM recommends a minimum of a C license and at least 50 jumps with the same parachute equipment you’ll be using for your camera jumps. In spite of these recommendations, USPA has received reports of jumpers with as few as 30 skydives trying to board an airplane with a camera helmet. Sometimes they made the jump, while other times, an S&TA or drop zone owner stepped in and asked that the jumper work on developing better freefall and canopy skills before taking on the challenges of flying camera. Meeting the license and recent jump requirements aren’t the only things to consider when you get into flying camera. Even if you have a ton of jumps under your belt flying on your belly, it’s not a good idea to break out your camera while you decide to learn to freefly. Rather, you should wait until your freeflying abilities are on par with your belly skills. Why wear the additional gear while trying a new discipline? It will just be a distraction and add complications and safety concerns to your training. It’s always better to keep everything as basic as possible while working on a new skill. As you get your flying skills up to speed, carefully consider the gear you would like to use. There are many different video helmets and cameras to choose from. Check with experienced camera flyers and parachute riggers for guidance. The equipment needs to fit your needs and, most of all, keep you safe. A winged camera suit can help with your fall rate and give you a wider range of freefall speeds, but it can also add complications to your canopy deployment and emergency procedures. Make sure your suit allows for clear access to your container handles as well as risers and steering toggles after you deploy. Wear the gear in a training harness before making a jump to be sure. And if a winged camera suit is new to you, jump it without your camera gear until you have complete control in freefall and throughout deployment. Make sure you have a plan for each video jump that includes breakoff procedures and deployment altitudes. Depending on the type of jump, you may be deploying in place while everyone else tracks away or you may be also tracking. If you decide you want to tackle filming students, experienced videographers—with the help of the chief instructor or Safety and Training Advisor—can help you prepare for those challenges. Flying with cameras is both fun and challenging, but it also adds complications and additional risks to every skydive. Fly to survive. —Jim Crouch
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