5-7: Camera Flying 
Skydiving provides a wealth of visual inspiration that can be readily captured through still and video photography. Smaller and lighter cameras have made it easier and less expensive to take cameras on a jump, but jumpers still need to exercise caution with their camera equipment and its interaction with the parachute system throughout all activities on the jump, paying close attention to breakoff procedures and special emergency procedures for camera flyers. Only after a camera flyer has become completely familiar with the equipment and procedures of the discipline should they experiment and be creative.
USPA recommends that jumpers be licensed and have completed 200 jumps before jumping with a camera.
Early pioneer camera flyers had to solve the obvious problems presented by big, cumbersome camera equipment and parachutes. Only the most experienced jumpers and photographers would brave the activity of filming others. More recently, miniature digital still and video cameras present less of a challenge, encouraging more jumpers to use cameras on their jumps. Skydivers have become less concerned about the skill of a camera flyer jumping with their group.
Jumpers should realize that flying a camera—even a small one—requires additional effort and attention on each jump and should not take the decision to begin flying camera lightly. To support education for new camera flyers, the USPA Library offers an online course, Camera Flying Recommendations, at uspa.org/library.
A camera flyer should consult another experienced camera flyer and a rigger before using any new or modified piece of equipment on a camera jump, including:
- helmet
- parachute
- deployment-device modification
- camera
- camera mount
- flash
- switch and mounting
- camera suit
- emergency release
- other items such as sky surfboard or skis, tubes or other freefall toys, wingsuit
Prior to filming other skydivers, a camera flyer should jump with each new or additional piece of equipment until they are completely familiar with it and have adjusted any procedures accordingly.
Camera Equipment
Small cameras are not necessarily safer to jump than larger ones. Regardless of the location of the camera mount, users should place and rig them with respect to deploying parachutes. Camera flyers should cover, tape, or protect by other means all edges and potential snag areas. Snag points that cannot be mitigated on helmet-mounted cameras should at least face away from the deploying parachute. A pyramid shape of the entire camera-mounting system may deflect lines better than an egg shape. Deflectors can help protect areas that cannot otherwise be modified to reduce problems. All gaps between the helmet and equipment, including mounting plates, should be taped or filled. Protrusions, such as camera sights, should be engineered to present the least potential for snags. Test for these potential problems on the ground by dragging a suspension line over the camera assembly to reveal snag points.
Sharp edges and protrusions can injure other jumpers during a collision or emergency aircraft landing. During deployment, jumpers should make sure that any cameras mounted on their extremities are kept clear of the deploying canopy, lines, etc. Camera-operation devices such as switches and cables need to be simple and secure. Analyze each piece of added equipment for its potential interaction with the overall camera system and parachutes.
Helmets and Camera Mounts
A rigger or an experienced camera flyer should evaluate all camera platforms, whether custom or off the shelf, for safety and suitability to your purpose. The helmet should provide full visibility for the camera flyer in freefall and under canopy, but especially during emergency procedures. Cover and tape empty camera mounts to prevent snags.
Any camera helmet should have an emergency release that is easy to operate with either hand in case of entanglement. Use a reliable helmet closure or clasp that also functions as an emergency release.
Parachute
Camera flyers should use a reliable parachute that opens slowly and on heading. Those who use a camera suit need to ensure it is compatible with their deployment system. Camera-suit wings and lower connections must not interfere with the camera flyer’s parachute-operation handles or main-bridle routing in any freefall orientation. If using a camera suit, the pilot chute and bridle length must be sufficient to overcome the additional burble the suit creates. If the camera flyer generally opens higher than the other jumpers on the load, they may wish to use a slower descending canopy to help reduce traffic conflicts. As always, proper attention to packing and maintenance, especially line stows, helps prevent hard openings and malfunctions.
Recommended accessory equipment includes an audible altimeter, a visual altimeter that can be seen while filming, and a hook knife. USPA recommends camera flyers use an AAD and an RSL with a MARD.
Prior to jumping with a camera, a skydiver should have enough general jump experience to be able to handle any skydiving emergency or minor problem easily. A camera flyer should possess well-above-average skills that are applicable to the discipline or activity planned for the jump.
USPA recommends that jumpers be licensed and have completed 200 jumps before jumping with a camera. The jumper should have made at least 50 recent jumps on the same parachute equipment to be used for camera flying and should know the experience and skills of all the jumpers in the group.
The deployment altitude should allow time to deal with the additional equipment and its associated problems. The camera flyer must remain aware of other jumpers during deployment.
Each camera flyer should conduct a complete camera- and parachute-equipment check before rigging up, after rigging up, before boarding the plane, and again prior to exit. They should approach camera jumps procedurally, following the same routine on every jump. The priorities on the jump should be the parachute equipment and procedures first, then the camera equipment and procedures. Introduce only one new variable—either procedure or equipment—at a time. A camera jump requires additional planning, and jumpers should never consider it to be just another skydive.
Aircraft
Camera flyers should wear or secure any camera during takeoff and landing to prevent it from becoming a projectile in the event of sudden movement. Be aware of the additional space a camera takes up, and practice climb-out procedures in each aircraft to prevent injury resulting from catching the camera on the door or other part of the aircraft. To prevent injury and damage to the aircraft, the camera flyer should coordinate with the pilot before attempting any new climb-out position.
Exit
Unless the plan calls for the camera flyer to be part of the exit, they should remain clear of the group, being mindful of the airspace opposite the exiting jumpers’ relative wind. Be aware that:
- Wearing a camera helmet can make collisions with other jumpers more serious.
- Student jumpers can become disoriented when unexpectedly encountering a camera flyer.
- A tandem parachutist in command requires clear airspace to deploy a drogue.
- Skydivers occasionally experience inadvertent openings on exit.
Freefall
Jumpers should prepare a freefall plan with the camera flyer to include the camera flyer’s position in relation to the group and any planned camera-flyer interaction with the group. The jumpers and the camera flyer should follow the plan.
All jumpers on the load should understand the camera flyer’s breakoff and deployment plan. Two or more camera flyers must coordinate the breakoff and deployment more carefully than when only one camera flyer is involved. Filming other jumpers through deployment should be planned in consideration of the opening altitudes of all the jumpers involved and with their cooperation. The camera flyer should maintain awareness of his or her position over the ground and deploy high enough to reach a safe landing area.
Deployment
The camera flyer must exercise increased caution during deployment to prevent malfunctions, assure an on-heading deployment, reduce the likelihood of line twists-, and avoid neck injury. New camera flyers should consult with experienced camera flyers for specific techniques to prevent accidents during deployment and inflation. Malfunction, serious injury, or death can occur if the lines of a deploying parachute become snagged on camera equipment.
Parachute Emergencies
The additional equipment worn for filming can complicate emergency procedures. Each camera flyer should regularly practice all parachute emergency procedures under canopy or in a training harness while fully rigged for a camera jump and should practice routine emergency procedures before every jump. Emergency-procedure practice should include removing the helmet with either hand in response to certain malfunctions. A camera flyer should release their helmet during equipment entanglements, obstacle landings (water, trees, building, power lines), and whenever a dangerous situation presents itself.
F. Considerations for Videoing Students
Refer to the Instructional Rating Manual for additional guidelines for flying camera for student training jumps. A skydiver should have extensive camera-flying experience with experienced jumpers prior to photographing or videoing student jumps, including at least 300 group freefall skydives and at least 50 jumps flying camera with experienced jumpers.
The USPA Instructor supervising the jump should conduct a thorough briefing with the camera flyer prior to boarding. The USPA Coach or Instructor, the camera flyer, and the student making the jump should all be aware of the procedures and the camera plan. The instructors’ full attention is supposed to be on the student, and the student is incapable of considering the movements and needs of the camera flyer.
The camera flyer should avoid the area directly above or below a student or instructor(s), because students may deploy without warning and because disturbing the student’s or instructors’ air could compromise their performance and the safety of the jumpers.
The camera flyer should plan an exit position that avoids contact with the student or the instructor(s). During the exit, students often give erratic exit counts, making exit timing difficult for the camera flyer. The camera flyer may leave slightly before the student exits when the count is reliable. The camera flyer should follow slightly after the student’s exit whenever the student’s exit timing is uncertain. When filming tandem jumpers, the camera flyer must remain clear of the deploying drogue
The camera flyer needs to maintain independent altitude awareness and never rely on the student or instructor(s). The camera flyer is responsible for opening separation from the student and the instructor(s). Although the footage may be dramatic, aggressive filming of openings compromises the safety of the student, the instructor(s), and the camera flyer.
When using larger aircraft, student groups typically exit farther upwind, which may require a higher opening for the camera flyer to safely return to the landing area.
When using a hand-mounted camera to video students, the tandem instructor should review the information contained in the Instructional Rating Manual Tandem Section regarding hand-cam training.