Safety First
At Niagara Skydive Centre (NSC), safety is always first, all the time. NSC welcomes your questions and looks forward to showing you why we are your skydiving facility (a.k.a. drop zone)!
Parachuting and skydiving have risks, just like driving a car, taking a train, elevator, or working at home for that matter. In fact you are statistically safer to skydive
than renovate your home.
The reasons are simple and very straightforward: We take extraordinary steps to ensure safety in every aspect of what we do, every time. Checks, rechecks and rechecks again are common practice at NSC.
How To Select A Drop Zone
We have some basic suggestions of what to look for to help you decide where you should jump. Also feel free to ask questions to help you determine your choice of drop zone.
Organization:
Is the facility organized and tidy? This is your first indication of how the drop zone is run. If effort is
spent on organization and cleanliness, there is most likely a management attitude that ensures that equipment is maintained to the highest standards.
Facility:
Is the facility adequate for running a drop zone? Is the facility professional? Are there: Paved runways? Safety zones for viewing? Clearly marked offices such as manifest? Packing areas? Recreation areas? Classrooms? Are the owners and management personnel accessible? It is a good bet that a professional facility will provide for a professional
and safe experience.
Landing area:
Is the landing area large, flat, and unobstructed? Is it very visible from the air? Is it adjacent to “friendly” landing possibilities such as fields? Does it look safe?
Equipment:
Equipment includes airplanes, parachutes, helmets, goggles, jump suits and anything else that is used to get you in the air and back on the ground safely. Planes should be
very stringently regulated. You can rely on the fact that the planes at NSC are airworthy. Ask us about regulations and safety inspections. Ask to see the student and tandem parachutes. Make sure they appear very neat and tidy, with no signs of
overuse or misuse. You are not an expert, but the general condition and outward appearance of the chutes are important, and should give you confidence
that the parachutes inside are in good working order.
Personnel:
The facility and the equipment are important, but the management and ownership are every bit as important to your safety and enjoyment. Is there a management presence? Is there a respectful attitude amongst ownership and management? Listen and look at how the team interacts. Look at how other jumpers act and are treated. You are placing your life and enjoyment in the hands of people you do not know. Are your questions answered respectfully? Is there a respectful and business approach that is also done in a fun way? Remember, this is also supposed to be a fun experience!
Experience:
Ask about the experience of the owner, the trainers, the people who will pack your chutes, schedule your flight and fly your plane. Ask about certification.
Training:
Training is extremely important. Make certain the trainers take their job seriously. They should have fun teaching you and the training should be serious but fun too. Is there an adequate training room? Are there adequate technologies to aid in the training such as video, power point, detailed hand outs? Training is
extremely important and will allow you to be safe and have fun. Good training will give you a chance to evaluate the sport in a competent fashion and allow you to decide if it is right for you. A versatile drop zone has the facilities, equipment, and staff to offer three kinds of first-time skydiving experiences: (1) Instructor Assisted Deployment, (2) Progressive Free Fall and (3) Tandem. Always feel free to ask questions and ask for credentials. A good facility answers those questions politely, and without reservation.
Find additional safety information at the Canadian Sport Parachute Association
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