Federal Aviation Regulation Part 105.25 requires that ATC be notified no earlier than 24 hours before or no later than one hour before the parachute operation begins in Class E and G airspace. Jumps in Class A, B, C and D airspace require an authorization from ATC.

Part 105.25(c) states that ATC may accept written notification for 12 calendar months, precluding the need for daily notification. Part 105.15 stipulates the eight items that must be provided in an ATC notification or authorization. Included here are model letters that can be customized to provide your ATC facility with that written notification of your use of Class E and G airspace, or request ATC authorization to use Class A, B, C or D airspace. ATC notification or request for ATC authorization does not result in the publishing of a NOTAM. You should still file a daily NOTAM with Flight Service if your DZ is not published in the Airport/Facility Directory and charted with a parachute symbol.

Download model letter for ATC Notification.
Download model letter for ATC Authorization.

Sport Parachuting
This advisory circular (AC) provides suggestions to improve the safety of skydives that are conducted in compliance with Part 105, Parachute Operations. It also contains information for skydivers and riggers on parachute equipment, on- and off-airport parachute operations, jump pilot training, aircraft maintenance, and parachute rigging. ATC notifications, jump doors, and the use of restraint systems are also addressed.

Recommended Standard Traffic Patterns and Practices for Aeronautical Operations at Airports without Operating Control Towers
Pilots use this advisory circular for guidance when flying in the airport traffic pattern.

Parachute demonstration or exhibitions jumps conducted into aviation events, congested areas on the surface, or open-air assemblies, require an FAA Certificate of Authorization to be issued by the FAA Flight Standards District Office with jurisdiction where the jump(s) will occur. FAA Form 7711-2, the application for that authorization, and the attachment for skydiving demonstration jumps can be found on the FAA and USPA websites. Submit both the application and the attachment to the FSDO after completing the form using the instructions.

In 1993, the FAA issued a combined bulletin that clarified that jump planes can carry a number of skydivers that may exceed the number of seats or passengers than that stated by the aircraft’s type design certificate, as long as weight and balance limits are observed. Though the bulletins carry an expiration date, technically the information does not expire and has been incorporated within FAA policy. These bulletins were FSAW 93-09 (Flight Standards Information Bulletin for Airworthiness) and FSGA 93-02 (Flight Standards Information Bulletin for General Aviation).

Download bulletin for Airworthiness and General Aviation.

In 1992, USPA succeeded in gaining a letter from the office of FAA’s Chief Counsel which reversed a previous finding that skydiving aircraft could not fly in formation when dropping jumpers. As a result, FAA policy is that jump pilots can fly in formation without violating Section 91.111(c) that prohibits formation flights when carrying passengers for hire.

Download a copy of the letter regarding formation flight.

Dynamic Regulatory System (DRS) consolidates a broad range of FAA source material for easy use by all aeronautical users.

View FARs in the online SIM