FAQs
What precautions are you taking due to Covid-19? Are you open?
We are currently open at this time. We are abiding by the Governor's masking mandate in our hangar, in our planes, and during our jumps. Please keep an eye on our social media pages (facebook and IG) for the most up-to-date info and a full list of our precautions we have implemented due to this virus.
Is it Refundable if I'm not able to jump?
We have different options for you jump that has different cancellation policies. The UPT Video provided with the waiver shows their refund policy, not ours. Our 10,000 ft jump is NON-REFUNDABLE, along with a 48 hour notice before changing or moving your reservation (changes less than 48 hours notice will incur a $50 reschedule fee). Our VIP Jump ($249 prepaid, $279 full price) is FULLY Refundable with 12 hours notice before cancelling. In cases of non-jumpable weather, we will move your reservation to whichever day you choose with no charge, as no one can control mother nature! Jumps that are unable to be completed due to the student being overweight or having harness-fitting issues due to body shape/size will not be refunded. Due to this we strongly suggest those approaching maximum weight or those who have concerns about the harness fitting over their chest/thighs/hips come to the drop zone to be weighed and assessed prior to booking a jump.
Who packs the parachutes?
At the Dallas Skydive Center, all main parachutes are packed by our instructors or our staff FAA certificated parachute riggers. Auxiliary or reserve parachutes are inspected and repacked every 180 days, per FAA regulations, by our staff FAA certified parachute riggers.
How far in advance should I make my reservation?
We recommend a few days notice during the week and about a week's notice for a weekend appointment. Also, you'll have a better chance at getting a prime time slot the earlier you make your reservation. Larger groups should also give consideration to the fact there may not be a large enough time block available for your group on the day you are requesting. Make your reservations as early as possible, and feel free to call or email anytime for availability.
How hard does the parachute open?
Most students would say the parachute opening was not nearly as hard as they anticipated it to be. On occasion, the parachute will open harder than normally expected. Although possible, it is unlikely you would sustain any injuries from an opening. Please consult your physician if you feel you may have a condition where you should refrain from skydiving.
Can we be in the airplane together?
Yes, our jump planes can take two students at time. We will make every effort for you to jump with your friends, however, this is not always possible. Student's size and weight directly affect the aircraft capabilities. In the case of groups with odd numbers, don't worry! Having a cheering section taking photos on the ground is actually a great experience!
What’s the best time to skydive?
There are a couple of factors to consider when answering this question: weather, scheduling, and video/photo images. For weather reasons, it's best to schedule as early in the day as possible. In the event we have inclement weather, we have all day for conditions to improve. Also, when the weather does break, we start with the students with the earliest appointments and work our way down pushing everybody's scheduled appointment time back. We are much like a doctor's office and the fewer students there are in front of you the fewer delays you'll encounter. For video and photo images, most professional photographers prefer soft morning and late afternoon light. While our professional photographers prefer these times, we make nice images all day long. Keep in mind, you'll probably be making your jump about one hour after your scheduled reservation time.
What if I am over the weight limit?
Maximum weight is 240 lbs (male) and 220 lbs (female). There is an additional fee for anyone over 200lbs. Our absolute maximum weight limits are based upon the maximum weight our reserve parachute can safely carry. Each of our parachute rigs is equipped with this reserve in case of failure of the main parachute. Due to the limitations on the reserve chute, the maximum weight limits are non-negotiable. You will be weighed fully clothed and with shoes, on our professional-grade scale. Your weight on our scale will be the weight used to determine maximum weight as well as heavy-fee limits (201-240lbs). Your weight on our scale is also non-negotiable. We have different maximum weights for men and women due to the typical height to weight ratios in women as well as how women's weight tends to be carried on the body. Most women carry extra weight in the chest, hips and thighs, which are the most essential points for the harness to be fitted. Not every situation can be covered in a written policy, and not every body type can be assessed by weight alone. If our instructors feel that your body size/shape/weight distribution does not allow the harness to be fitted properly, or does not allow you to be able to safely position your legs for landing, you will not jump, even if you are under the stated maximum weight. At DSC, we are all highly motivated to make it possible for every student who wants to jump to be able to enjoy their skydive. However, safety will always come first and not every body type is suited for the sport. If our instructors feel that it will be unsafe for you to skydive, you will not jump. If you are approaching our maximum weight or you feel that your body shape or size might interfere with the harness being fitted safely, please come by in person to be assessed prior to booking a jump, as jumps unable to be completed due to overweight or harness fitting issues will not be refunded.
If I am under 18 can I still jump if my parents sign for me?
Unfortunately no. The age requirement of 18 is set forth due to the hold harmless waivers every skydiver must agree to and sign. These waivers are only binding if the person signing is at the age or consent, 18, or older. Parental or guardian permission holds no validity when signing legal documents directly related to release of liability regarding recreational sports. No ID, No JUMP!! DSC accepts DLs, State/Military IDs and Passports only.
What if I don't like my media package?
Skydiving is a very fast paced sport. We can not pause in freefall to remind you to look at the cameras and smile! Our cameras are rolling as fast as we are falling. We don't offer a refund on your media if you don't like it, unless the freefall portion of your footage is missing due to our camera malfunction. You are, in effect, purchasing the freefall portion of your media. Any footage able to be safely captured by your instructor during canopy flight, landing, etc, is to be considered value added to your purchase. Our instructors focus on safety first, and capturing media will not be attempted if conditions exist where your instructor cannot do so safely.
Can we share a video?
Two people can appear in one video on the ground preparing for the sky dive and possibly for landing, but in freefall and under the canopy, one student can only be filmed by one camera.
Can I wear my own GoPro or camera during the skydive?
The United States Parachute Association (USPA) mandates that all skydivers must have a minimum of 200 jumps prior to taking a camera into freefall. No outside cameras are permitted on your skydive due to safety reasons. There are no exceptions.
What if I’m afraid of heights?
Many people are hesitant to skydive due to their personal fear or discomfort of heights. A skydiving experience does not equate to being, for example, at the top of a ladder, bridge, or building. You are simply too high up to have any height induced vertigo or dizziness. We are literally over two miles up when we skydive. An individual would no more encounter a fear of heights during skydiving than when flying in a jet airliner.
What’s the landing like?
Several factors come into play when we land a parachute. Most tandem parachute landings are very soft, often times standing up nicely. However this soft stand up style landing cannot be guaranteed and students must be physically fit enough to perform a harder falling down or sliding style landing. Generally, a person is fit to tandem skydive if they can perform some other rigorous sport such as tennis, basketball or racquetball and not injure themselves. Please consult your physician if you have doubts about your physical condition or strength.
Will I see my friend in freefall?
You can certainly try to see your friend in freefall. However, with the fast paced environment of freefall, spotting your friend several hundred feet away is unlikely. After one tandem skydiving pair leaves the airplane, it will take several seconds for the next pair to leave. During this slight delay, the plane has traveled several hundred or even thousands of feet away horizontally from the first pair.
What height do we jump from?
Our typical jump altitude is between 8,000 and 13,500 feet providing a typical 30-60 second free fall, depending on your purchased package, weather, student's weight and air traffic. The FAA also forbids us to jump through clouds. If there is a cloud layer which prevents us from climbing to peak jump altitude, we offer skydivers the option of a slightly lower skydive under the clouds or to reschedule their skydive to another day.
How fast will we be falling?
Typical free fall speeds are approximately 120 MPH although this can increase or decrease slightly with body size and position. The freefall speed record is 833.9 mph!! An experienced skydiver using specialized equipment achieved this speed record.
Can you breathe in freefall?
The freefall and parachute environments do not cause any difficulty in breathing; however, some students have commented that it was awkward to breathe during the first few seconds. This is caused not by lack of oxygen but by the surge of adrenaline and excitement of first jumping out of the aircraft. Sometimes when a person is startled they draw in a breath of air and hold it. When you exit the airplane you must continue to breathe in and breathe out.
Who is USPA and are you rated through them?
The United States Parachute Association or USPA is the regulatory or governing agency serving skydivers. They are the only such agency in the United States and have set forth standards in skydiving safety and training. All of our Instructors possess instructional ratings recognized by USPA and abide by the safety standards set forth by USPA.
What if my skydiving question was not answered here?
Please give us a call or drop us an email. We're eager to answer any questions you have.