5-10: Movement Jumps

A. Introduction and Definition

Movement jumps include but are not limited to tracking and angle-flying jumps. These recommendations provide guidance for a non-wingsuit jump on which a skydiver or group intends to move horizontally off the line of flight during freefall.

B. Qualifications

Before engaging in movement jumps outside of the Integrated Student Program, a participating skydiver (not a leader) should hold a USPA A license and demonstrate proficiency at tracking while maintaining situational awareness.

Before engaging in movement jumps as the leader, the skydiver should have:

• At a minimum, qualified for the USPA C License.
• The ability to maintain consistent awareness of altitude and location
• Proficiency and experience in the discipline
• Received DZ management or S&TA approval, if required
• Received formal instruction on:
  • DZ terrain (changing ground levels, bodies of water or any other ground obstacles) and alternate landing areas (outs).
  • exit order
  • navigation (ability to move in the correct direction and deploy where planned)
  • communication with drop zone authorities, other jumpers and the pilot (to determine jump run and spot)
  • understanding weather (including reading a winds-aloft forecast, and maintaining awareness of clouds prior to jumping)
  • Making a flight plan (including exit order, breakoff and designated deployment area) and adjusting that flight plan as necessary to accommodate changing conditions to avoid other groups.

Jumpers can use the graph below to determine their skill levels:

C. Equipment

Properly secure your gear to prevent premature deployment of either canopy. A premature opening at the speeds involved in this type of skydiving could result in severe injury to the body or stress to the equipment beyond limits set by the manufacturers. Deployment systems and operation handles should remain secure during inverted and stand-up flight. Therefore, equipment for movement jumps should include either a throw-out pilot chute with a bottom-of-container-mounted pouch, or a pull-out pilot chute. Exposed leg-strap-mounted pilot chutes present an extreme hazard. Also, any exposed pilot-chute bridle presents a hazard. Use a tuck-tab to provide additional security for the pilot chute. Maintain and properly size your closing loops and ensure your pin-protection flaps and riser covers are in good shape.

Connect leg straps with a bungee to keep the leg straps from moving toward your knees. Tightly stow excess leg and chest strap material. USPA recommends participants use an AAD and an RSL with a MARD due to the high potential for collisions and loss of altitude awareness associated with movement jumps.

Personal accessories for movement jumps should include:

• audible altimeter (two are recommended)
• visual altimeter
• hard helmet
• clothing or jumpsuit that will remain in place during movement flights and will not obscure or obstruct deployment, emergency handles or altimeters
• GPS

D. Training

Movement flying has many things in common with belly-to-earth formation skydiving. A beginner will progress more quickly and safely with a coach. Novices should not jump with each other until they have received specific training in movement jumps and have demonstrated the ability to control navigation, pitch, and speed.

Prior to jumping with larger groups, progress should follow the same model as for the freefall and canopy formation disciplines: Novices should begin with coached 2-way formations to develop breakoff skills and exit, body-position, pitch and speed control, and then gradually progress to larger and more complex movement jumps.

E. Hazards Associated with Movement Jumps

Navigation is a critically important skill that entails plotting a route, maneuvering to follow that route, and adapting when conditions change. Jumpers must plan accordingly to:

• Move off the aircraft's line of flight
• Consider other movement groups on the load
• Avoid other groups in freefall and under canopy
• Open where they've pre-determined
• Account for the DZ terrain
• Have a backup plan for landing out

Weather is important in the planning phase to determine navigation and exit order and to coordinate with other movement groups. Cloud conditions can change during freefall and canopy flight.

Prior to boarding, it is of the utmost importance to communicate your intentions with the drop zone authorities (such as manifest, an S&TA or a load master) and the entire load in order to understand local drop zone restrictions and requirements for movement jumps, share your flight plan, and determine exit order. It is also important that everyone in the group understands the DZ terrain, hazards, and alternate landing areas.

Several factors—such as local DZ rules and terrain, weather and leader experience—influence how many movement groups may safely be on any one aircraft load. However, the general recommendation is to limit movement groups to two per load.

Exit order will depend on weather, freefall drift, DZ terrain, deployment altitudes, other groups, and DZ rules and considerations. The group leader must communicate with the S&TA, drop zone, pilot, and others on the load.

Every jump plan should accommodate the skill level of the jumper with the least experience in order to execute the flight plan and open in the determined spot. Opening in the correct, predetermined spot is crucial for safety, so jumpers must be able to demonstrate proficiency on beginner-level movement jumps before progressing to intermediate or advanced jumps. Jumpers who are unable to follow intermediate or advanced movement jumps may cause their groups to conflict with others on the load. Adding speed and pitch changes and transitions greatly increases the difficulty of the jump, requiring an expert leader to consider all the variables of the jump so as to avoid collisions, maintain the flight plan and open in the predetermined spot.

Maintain visual contact with the leader so you can adapt if you are far behind, above, to the side of, or low relative to the group. Even if you are far away from the group, continue moving in the same direction to avoid collisions. Maintain the same heading as the rest of the group. Off-heading collisions are more dangerous than collisions between jumpers heading in the same direction. Never turn 180 degrees from the group’s heading, even if you think there is no one behind you. If you have passed the group, slow down and let it catch up. If you are flying to the side of the group and the group starts turning toward you, turn toward the same heading, even if you are far away.

It is crucial to understand the elements of breakoff to avoid congestion and collisions. Choose a clear path and fan out from the other jumpers while flattening the pitch to a track. Maintain awareness by looking in all directions. If you are on your back at breakoff, avoid flipping to a belly-to-earth orientation until you are on a clear trajectory with no one above you. Once on your belly, continue to track off until it is time to clear airspace and pull.

F. Pre-Flight Checklist

This pre-flight checklist can help you determine the specifics of your jump. Draw the flight plan on the map of your drop zone and share it with the drop zone staff, other jumpers on the load, and the pilot to confirm you can perform the skydive safely:

• What is jump run for your load?
• What are the forecasted winds aloft at these points during your jump?
  • exit altitude
  • freefall
  • under canopy
  • in the landing pattern
• How many groups and other jumpers are on your load?
• What is your exit order?
  • Are there any other movement jumps on your load?
• What are the DZ terrain factors to consider in navigation?
• What is the intended landing pattern and holding area for the jump?
• Have you ensured that your flight path does not interfere with jump run?
• Does your flight plan take into consideration freefall, DZ terrain, canopy flight path and weather?
• Is your flight plan appropriate for the skill level of all the jumpers?