2008 Skydiver's Information Manual
A United States Parachute Association Publication

Section 2: Basic Safety Requirements and Waivers

Contents:
Summary
Section 2-1: Basic Safety Requirements
Section 2-2: Waivers to the Basic Safety Requirements

Section Summary

Skydiving is based on the Basic Safety Requirements (BSRs) that have been established as the cornerstone of a self-policing principle. The BSRs represent the industry standard generally agreed upon as necessary for an adequate level of safety. Research can be conducted to develop and document new methods and procedures within the BSRs and, when necessary, under waivers to the BSRs, to establish a justifiable basis to modify these standards. This section includes two fundamental, interrelated USPA publications: the Basic Safety Requirements and waivers to the Basic Safety Requirements.

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A. How the BSRs affect safety

1. The BSRs promote practices aimed at eliminating incidents in skydiving and, by doing so, make skydiving safer and more enjoyable.

2. The BSRs are established by evaluating incidents and identifying their root causes.

3. Safety is accomplished by reducing the risk factors, which requires everyone involved in skydiving to:

a. acquire knowledge and make a continuing effort to increase and improve that knowledge

b. practice and prepare for both the expected and the unexpected

c. evaluate the risk factors

d. accurately evaluate personal capabilities and limitations

e. stay alert and aware of surroundings

f. keep options open

g. exercise good judgment

4. Failure to follow the BSRs may not always result in an incident, but many incidents are the result of not following these risk-reduction procedures.

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B. Waivers and changes to the BSRs

1. Also included in this section, waivers to the BSRs describe procedures for approving and documenting exceptions to the BSRs.

a. Waivers provide for the responsible development of new techniques and methods.

b. The BSRs are designed to establish safety standards for common situations; however, local circumstances may allow for greater tolerance in some cases.

c. The purpose for filing a waiver is to document that the particular BSR has been evaluated in the individual case and that the prescribed deviation and conditions do not represent an unacceptable compromise of safety.

d. waiverability

(1) Each BSR is categorized as either waiverable or non-waiverable.

(2) Those that are waiverable are categorized according to who may file the waiver.

2. The BSRs are changed from time to time by the USPA Board of Directors as equipment and practices develop and evolve.

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Contents:
A. Applicability
B. Compliance with Federal regulations
C. Medical requirements
D. Age requirements
E. Student skydivers
F. Winds
G. Minimum opening altitudes
H. Drop zone requirements
I. Pre-jump requirements
J. Extraordinary skydives
K. Parachute equipment
L. Special altitude equipment and supplementary oxygen

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Note: Each paragraph in the BSRs has a marginal notation of S, E, FB, or NW, which identifies its waiverability as indicated in Section 2-2.

A. Applicability [NW]

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1. These procedures apply to all jumps except those made under military orders and those made because of in-flight emergencies. Voluntary compliance with these procedures will protect the best interests of both the participants and the general public.

2. A "skydive" is defined as the descent of a person to the surface from an aircraft in flight when he or she uses or intends to use a parachute during all or part of that descent.

3. All persons participating in skydiving should be familiar with the Skydiver's Information Manual and all federal, state, and local regulations and rules pertaining to skydiving.

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B. Compliance with Federal regulations [NW]

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1. No skydive may be made in violation of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.

2. FAA regulations include the use of restraint systems in the aircraft by all skydivers during movement on the surface, takeoff, and landing. [FAR 91.107]

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C. Medical requirements [NW]

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1. All persons engaging in skydiving must:

a. Carry a valid Class 1, 2, or 3 Federal Aviation Administration Medical Certificate; or

b. Carry a certificate of physical fitness for skydiving from a registered physician; or

c. Have completed the USPA recommended medical statement.

2. Any skydiver acting as parachutist in command on a tandem jump must possess an FAA Class 3 medical certificate or the equivalent.

D. Age requirements

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1. Skydivers are to be at least either:

a. 18 years of age [FB]

b. 16 years of age with notarized parental or guardian consent [FB]

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E. Student skydivers

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Note: All references to USPA instructional rating holders apply to higher rating holders in that training discipline.

1. General [E]

a. All student training programs must be conducted under the direction and oversight of an appropriately rated USPA Instructor until the student is issued a USPA A license.

b. A person conducting, training, or supervising student jumps must hold a USPA instructional rating according to the requirements that follow.

2. First-jump course [E]

a. All first-jump non-method-specific training must be conducted by a USPA Instructor or a USPA Coach under the supervision of a USPA Instructor.

b. All method-specific training must be conducted by a USPA Instructor rated in the method for which the student is being trained.

3. All students must receive training in the following areas, sufficient to jump safely [E]:

a. equipment

b. aircraft and exit procedures

c. freefall procedures (except IAD and static-line jumps)

d. deployment procedures and parachute emergencies

e. canopy flight procedures

f. landing procedures and emergencies

4. Advancement criteria

a. IAD and static-line [E]

(1) All jumps must be conducted by a USPA Instructor in that student's training method.

(2) Before being cleared for freefall, all students must perform three successive jumps with practice deployments while demonstrating the ability to maintain stability and control from exit to opening.

(3) All students must be under the direct supervision of an appropriately rated instructor until completing one successful clear-and-pull.

(4) Following a successful clear-and-pull, each student must be supervised in the aircraft and in freefall by a USPA Coach or Instructor until demonstrating stability and heading control prior to and within five seconds after initiating two intentional disorienting maneuvers involving a back-to-earth presentation.

(5) All ground training must be conducted by an instructor in that student’s training method, until demonstrating stability and heading control prior to and within five seconds after initiating two intentional disorienting maneuvers involving a back-to-earth presentation.

b. Harness-hold program [NW]

(1) All students must jump with two USPA AFF rating holders until demonstrating the ability to reliably deploy in the belly-to-earth orientation at the correct altitude without assistance.

(2) All students must jump with one USPA AFF rating holder, exit safely, maintain stability, and deploy at the planned altitude without assistance prior to attempting disorienting maneuvers.

(3) All students must jump with one USPA AFF rating holder until demonstrating stability and heading control prior to and within five seconds after initiating two intentional disorienting maneuvers involving a back-to-earth presentation.

c. All students must jump under the direct supervision of an appropriately rated USPA Instructor until demonstrating stability and heading control prior to and within five seconds after initiating two intentional disorienting maneuvers involving a back-to-earth presentation. [E]

d. Tandem training jumps [E]

(1) All tandem training jumps must be conducted by a USPA Tandem Instructor.

(2) For progressive training requirements following tandem jumps, refer to "Crossover training."

e. Other tandem jumps [E]

(1) Jumpers not rated as USPA Tandem Instructors who successfully complete a tandem instructor course in accordance with FAR 105.45 may act as a parachutist in command on tandem jumps.

(2) Any jumper acting as tandem parachutist in command must meet the recent experience requirements for USPA Tandem Instructors.

(3) Intentional back-to-earth or vertical orientations that cause tandem freefall speeds exceeding that of droguefall are prohibited.

f. Tandem equipment experience: [E]

(1) Before acting as parachutist in command or instructor on a tandem jump, a skydiver must satisfactorily complete an FAA-approved course of instruction on that equipment.

(2) Tandem equipment instruction must be conducted by an individual approved by the tandem equipment manufacturer of that system.

5. Crossover training [E]

a. Students may transfer after the first or subsequent jumps to another training method after demonstrating sufficient knowledge and skill in the areas of equipment, aircraft, exits, freefall maneuvers, deployment, emergency procedures, canopy control, and rules and recommendations to enter into that program at a comparable level of proficiency and training.

b. Students previously trained in a tandem program may continue in a harness-hold program or must demonstrate a solo exit and practice deployment with stability in the IAD or static-line program prior to advancing to freefall.

c. Students previously trained in a harness-hold program must have exited stable without assistance or performed a stable IAD or static-line jump with a practice deployment supervised by a USPA IAD or Static-Line Instructor prior to performing freefall jumps with any non-AFF-rated USPA Instructor.

6. Students training for group freefall [S]

a. Student freefall training for group freefall jumps must be conducted by either:

1. Student freefall training for group freefall jumps must be conducted by either A USPA Coach under the supervision of a USPA Instructor or;

2. USPA D license holders provided there is a minimum ratio of one D license holder to one student with a maximum of a 4-way.

7. Instruction of foreign students [E]

a. Foreign non-resident instructional rating holders appropriately and currently rated by their national aero club may train students from that nation in the U.S., provided the instruction is conducted in accordance with the USPA Basic Safety Requirements.

b. Appropriately and currently rated USPA instructional rating holders may assist in this training.

8. No skydiver will simultaneously perform the duties of a USPA instructional rating holder and pilot-in-command of an aircraft in flight. [NW]

9. All student jumps, including tandems, must be completed between official sunrise and sunset. [NW]

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F. Winds [S]

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Maximum ground winds

1. For all solo students

a. 14 mph for ram-air canopies

b. 10 mph for round reserves

2. For licensed skydivers are unlimited

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G. Minimum opening altitudes [E]

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Minimum container opening altitudes above the ground for skydivers are:

1. Tandem jumps--4,500 feet AGL

2. All students and A-license holders--3,000 feet AGL

3. B-license holders--2,500 feet AGL

4. C- and D-license holders--2,000 feet AGL

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H. Drop zone requirements

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1. Areas used for skydiving should be unobstructed, with the following minimum radial distances to the nearest hazard: [S]

a. solo students and A-license holders--100 meters

b. B- and C-license holders--50 meters

c. D-license holders--unlimited

2. Hazards are defined as telephone and power lines, towers, buildings, open bodies of water, highways, automobiles, and clusters of trees covering more than 3,000 square meters. [NW]

3. Manned ground-to-air communications (e.g., radios, panels, smoke, lights) are to be present on the drop zone during skydiving operations. [NW]

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I. Pre-jump requirements [NW]

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The appropriate altitude and surface winds are to be determined prior to conducting any skydive.

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J. Extraordinary skydives

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1. Night, water, and demonstration jumps are to be performed only with the advice of the local USPA S&TA, Instructor Examiner, or Regional Director. [NW]

2. Pre-planned breakaway jumps are to be made by only class C- and D-license holders using FAA TSO'ed equipment. [E]

3. Demonstration jumps into Level 2 areas require a D license with a USPA PRO Rating for all jumpers, including both tandem jump participants. [E]

4. Contact canopy formation activity is prohibited on tandem jumps. [E]

5. Tandem jumps into stadiums are prohibited. [E]

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K. Parachute equipment

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1. FAA regulations [FAR 105.19] require that when performing night jumps, each skydiver must display a light that is visible for at least three statute miles from the time the jumper is under an open parachute until landing. [NW]

2. All students are to be equipped with the following equipment until they have obtained a USPA A license:

a. a rigid helmet (except tandem students) [NW]

b. a piggyback harness and container system that includes a single-point riser release and a reserve static line, except: [FB]

(1) A student who has been cleared for freefall self-supervision may jump without a reserve static line upon endorsement from his or her supervising instructor.

(2) Such endorsement may be for one jump or a series of jumps.

c. a visually accessible altimeter [NW]

d. a functional automatic activation device that meets the manufacturer's recommended service schedule [FB]

e. a ram-air main canopy suitable for student use [FB]

f. a steerable reserve canopy appropriate to the student's weight [FB]

g. for freefall, a ripcord-activated, spring-loaded, pilot-chute-equipped main parachute or a bottom-of-container (BOC) throw-out pilot chute [FB]

3. Students must receive additional ground instruction in emergency procedures and deployment-specific information before jumping any unfamiliar system. [NW]

4. For each harness-hold jump, each AFF rating holder supervising the jump must be equipped with a visually accessible altimeter. [NW]

5. All skydivers wearing a round main or reserve canopy and all students must wear flotation gear when the intended exit, opening, or landing point is within one mile of an open body of water (an open body of water is defined as one in which a skydiver could drown). [S]

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L. Special altitude equipment and supplementary oxygen

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Supplementary oxygen available on the aircraft is mandatory on skydives made from higher than 15,000 feet (MSL). [NW]

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Contents:
A. Why BSRs may need to be waived
B. Classification of waivers
C. Procedures for filing waivers
D. Filing of waivers

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A. Why BSRs may need to be waived

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1. The Basic Safety Requirements represent commonly accepted standards necessary to promote safety in average conditions.

2. Since these standards may be an unnecessary burden in some individual circumstances, USPA provides procedures to document exceptions, known as waivers to the BSRs.

3. These waivers also provide for the responsible research and development of improved techniques and methods.

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B. Classification of waivers

1. Waivers to the Basic Safety Requirements are filed at three levels:

a. the USPA Safety & Training Advisor (S&TA) or USPA Instructor Examiner

b. the Executive Committee of USPA

c. full Board of Directors of USPA

2. Neither USPA Headquarters nor any other person or group of persons except those here stated has the authorization to file a waiver to any BSR.

3. Each paragraph of the BSRs will be identified as to who is required to file the waiver.

a. S&TA or Instructor Examiner only [S]

b. Executive Committee of the USPA Board only [E]

c. full Board of Directors only [FB]

d. may not be waived [NW]

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C. Procedures for filing waivers

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1. Waivers are to be filed only when the person(s) filing the waiver is assured that there will be no compromise of safety.

2. Inspections

a. The person(s) filing the waiver should make periodic inspections to ensure that safety is not being compromised and to determine if the waiver should be rescinded.

b. In the case of waivers by the Executive Committee, the Regional Director will perform these inspections and make recommendations to the Board.

3. Form of waiver

a. Any waiver filed by an S&TA or Instructor Examiner will be in writing on the waiver form provided in the Forms apendix of the SIM.

b. A copy of the waiver will be sent to both the USPA Regional Director and USPA Headquarters.

4. S&TAs are not to file waivers for skydiving activities outside their assigned area.

5. If there is a conflict between an S&TA and an Instructor Examiner as to whether a waiver should be filed, the decision of the S&TA will be final.

6. The Executive Committee or full Board of Directors will not file a waiver without consulting and notifying the local S&TA and USPA Regional Director.

7. Any waivers filed by S&TAs or I/Es must specify a location and be renewed in writing each January 1 with a copy to USPA Headquarters and the USPA Regional Director for that location.

8. The waiver filing authorization code [NW] must first be eliminated by a vote of the full BOD before the BSR can be waivered.

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D. Filing of waivers

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1. Persons filing waivers will maintain permanent records of all waivers filed by themselves.

a. The S&TA and Regional Director will maintain permanent records of all waivers filed for skydiving activities within their area.

b. The records will be kept in such a manner as to indicate those waivers currently in effect and those that have been rescinded.

2. USPA Headquarters will maintain a permanent record of all waivers.

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