303.SKYDIVE
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Also see Top 10 reasons to jump at Mile-Hi Skydiving Center

Is skydiving safe?
How and when do I make a reservation?
What does it feel like?
What are the age requirements?
What are the physical requirements?
Can I bring along friends and what do they do?
How am I secured to the Instructor on Tandem Jumps and is it comfortable?
How fast do you fall?
What if the parachute doesn't open?
How will it feel when the parachute opens?
Do you really go up when it opens?
What kind of parachute will I use?
How hard will the landing be?
What do I wear?
Will I be scared?
How long is the training?
How do you communicate in freefall? Can you talk?
How many jumps before I can skydive by myself or with my friends?

Is skydiving safe?
Your safety is our top priority. Skydiving is a high-speed extreme sport, and as with other adventures such as river rafting, skiing, or racing, there are always dangerous elements that must be respected. With the state-of-the-art training and equipment now available, skydiving has become a sport anyone can try, and can be a safe and sane adventure.

Mile-Hi is the only school in Colorado that has ALL of their student parachutes equipped with the most the advanced, computerized AAD (Automatic Activation Device) available in the world. This device is called a CYPRES (CYbernetic Parachute RElease System). The CYPRES is far superior (and more reliable) than the antiquated, mechanical type AAD's designed 30 years ago, which are used on some of the equipment elsewhere. We at Mile-Hi believe all our customers deserve the best safety equipment money can buy.

Although it is the skydiver's responsibility to deploy their parachute, the AAD is designed to activate the parachute automatically should the skydiver be incapable to do so. Also all of our skydiving instructors have undergone rigorous training and national USPA certification. We are proud to be a United States Parachute Association (USPA) enhanced group member drop zone. We strictly adhere to all FAA and USPA guidelines on safety.

How and when do I make a reservation?
Please contact the secretary Mon. - Fri. 9-5 at (303) 702-9911 to make the reservation. You may leave messages anytime, we check our messages daily. Please leave us your daytime phone number (and a cell # if you have it), so we can call you back. You may call 8:00 a.m. to sunset on the weekends too, when we jump the most. We skydive year-round on the weekends and Thursday thru Monday in the Spring and Summer.

You can usually make an appointment within a week. Walk-ins are welcome too, call for a time. If you have a group of 5 or more you may want to schedule a few weeks in advance, if you have a specific day and time in mind. Please have a MasterCard or Visa number to hold a reservation. Or you may send a $50 deposit (per person) to us with your requested date and time to:

Mile-Hi Skydiving Center, Inc.
229 Airport Rd., Hangar 34G
Longmont, CO 80503

What does it feel like?
Freefall is windy and loud, and feels more like floating or flying, than falling. The parachute ride is quiet and peaceful, with a spectacular view unlike anything you have ever seen.

What are the age requirements?
You have to be at least 18 years old and bring a valid photo ID. Parents cannot sign for minors under 18. No one is too old to enjoy "the thrill of a lifetime." At Mile-Hi, our oldest tandem passenger to date is 94 years young!

What are the physical requirements?
For a tandem jump, you must weigh around 215 pounds or less and for an AFF you must weigh 225 pounds or less. You will be weighed when you get here. We can take people over 215 lbs as long as it does not exceed the combined weight limit for the gear and with the prior approval of the tandem instructor but the tandem instructors reserve the right to refuse to skydive with any student in the interest of safety. There are no height requirements.

As with any sport, the better shape you are in the easier it will be and the more fun you will have. However, one of the best features of the Tandem program is that is has opened the sport up to the mainstream public. Almost anyone can make a tandem skydive. We've taken people with many different disabilities, even those who are missing limbs or blind. We have experienced Tandem Masters to handle these situations. If you have a special requirement, please call us! We can make your dream of flight come true!

If you have ear or sinus problems, experience seizures or fainting spells or have a weak heart, you should not be skydiving. In these cases check with your own doctor. If you have any medical problem, you will be asked to bring a release from your doctor before you can skydive.

Can I bring along friends and what do they do?
YES of course! They can listen in while you get trained, ride with you on the trailer when you are driven to the airplane, and will be taken to the landing area next to the runway to watch your landing. There is also 5 picnic tables under shade tents for you and your friends to wait at, or enjoy our "living room" in the student hangar to watch videos on multiple TV sets.

How am I secured to the Instructor on Tandem Jumps and is it comfortable?
Your harness snaps securely to the front of the instructor's harness at four points - two at the shoulders (5000 pound rating), and two at the hips (2500-pound rating). In freefall, the instructor is above you. Under canopy, he is behind you.

With an increasing popularity of tandem jumping by all ages and sizes of people, a new tandem passenger harness has been recently designed in the industry. It is completely adjustable, allowing for unsurpassed, individual fit and most importantly pivots your legs up in a sitting position to enhance safety on landing. Mile-Hi is the first and only school in Colorado that utilizes this new technology on all of their tandem jumps!

How fast do you fall?
The average freefall speed is 120-130 mph. In a student jump from over 2 miles up, this allows you to fall for about 45 seconds before you will reach deployment altitude. The skydiver's weight or body position can alter this speed. The freefall speed record is over 330 mph! Once you are under an open parachute, your rate of descent decreases to about 10 miles per hour.

What if the parachute doesn't open?
Although it is unlikely your main parachute will fail to open properly, it does sometimes occur and this is a common question for first time jumpers. According to federal law (FAA regulations), all intentional parachute jumps must be made with a single (or dual) harness, dual parachute system. In other words, you must have a second, or reserve parachute in case the first one fails to open properly.

On a Tandem skydive the instructor pulls an emergency handle which releases the faulty main and then activates the specially packed reserve, that opens in less than three seconds. Your tandem instructor is thoroughly trained to deal with unusual situations. As an AFF student with your own parachute equipment, you are trained on and are responsible to execute these emergency procedures yourself.

These reserve parachutes are only packed by FAA certified parachute riggers. They are inspected and re-packed every 180 days, whether they are used or not.

How will it feel when the parachute opens?
The parachute is specially designed for soft, comfortable openings. You will definitely know something is happening, but very few people have ever complained of any discomfort.

Do you really go up when it opens?
No! That's an illusion created when the cameraman keeps falling while filming a parachute opening.

What kind of parachute will I use?
Our tandem canopies are modern, extra large, gliding square (actually rectangular) parachutes built for two people. They are designed for maneuverability and soft landings. There are dual steering controls so you can fly the parachute with your instructor! A solo AFF student will fly a modern gliding rectangular parachute as well. We even use rectangular parachutes for the emergency (reserve) parachute, on all of our equipment, unlike some schools that use old round reserves.

How hard will the landing be?
The landing is similar to hopping off a step of 1 - 2' high. With square parachutes you can control both the forward speed and the rate of descent of the parachute. It is quite common to land standing up with your tandem instructor.

What do I wear?
Clothes suitable for the season. Avoid bulky sweaters in the fall and winter (yes we jump all year around!). Men may be more comfortable in looser pants versus blue jeans. We provide you a jumpsuit, head wear, and goggles. You should wear tennis shoes, not boots or sandals.

Will I be scared?
Maybe, maybe not. You will definitely feel a surge of adrenaline and anticipation before the jump - this is a normal part of the experience. Most first time jumpers say without question, "Skydiving is the most exciting thing I have ever done!"

How long is the training?
For a tandem skydive, the training is short in the classroom or suit-up area. The tandem instructor will explain the equipment and the skydive. You will have ample time to ask your instructor any questions you may have before you exit the airplane. You should plan to spend about half the day or about four hours with us the day you make your tandem skydive.

AFF is a more involved process, because you are wearing your own parachute equipment, and will be in charge of flying and landing the parachute by yourself. Classroom instruction for AFF usually lasts between 5 to 7 hours, depending on the number of jumpers in class and the number of questions asked. Plan to spend the entire day with us for the AFF First Jump Course. At Mile-Hi, we allow you to jump the same day as the class, weather and daylight permitting.

How do you communicate in freefall? Can you talk?
While it is possible to talk in freefall, it will be difficult for anyone to hear you, due to the noise of the rush of wind. Communication in freefall is possible, however, with eye contact and hand signals. You will learn how to communicate in freefall during your AFF training.

How many jumps before I can skydive by myself or with my friends?
You must complete the 7 level AFF program before you can jump solo. You continue honing your skills until you have 25 jumps, at which time you can apply for a USPA "A" license, after passing a written test and demonstration of skydiving proficiency. The "A" license will allow you to skydive at most USPA member drop zones by yourself or with your friends.

Mail us! or call MILE-HI SKYDIVING CENTER at 303-SKYDIVE (759-3483).