About Government Relations

Oversight of skydiving involves multiple entities, most notably including the USPA, and the FAA.

The mission of the Federal Aviation Administration is to provide the safest, most efficient aviation system in the world. They regulate aspects of skydiving and rely on the self-regulation of the participants through the guidelines and recommendations published by USPA. The FAA's main responsibility is to provide for the safety of air traffic, as well as persons and property on the ground. The FAA does this by certificating pilots, mechanics, air traffic controllers and parachute riggers and by requiring approval data for aircraft and parachutes. The agency has the authority to impose fines and suspend or revoke certificates it has issued. In the case of a skydiving violation, the FAA can fine the pilot, rigger, jumpers, as well as suspend or revoke the certificates of pilots and riggers.

The FAA and USPA rely on self-regulation from within the skydiving community for most training and operational requirements.

Government Relations

The Government Relations Department at USPA Headquarters addresses member and group member questions regarding aircraft, airport access, the FAA, legislative issues, TSA, or security issues.

(540) 604-9740 ext. 3320
govrelations@uspa.org

View FARs in the online SIM

USPA In Action

One-third of USPA's mission directly involves Government Relations, namely to ensure skydiving’s rightful place on airports and in the airspace system, which includes protecting the sport and the industry. Often, USPA In Action involves prevention of harmful action. Here is a sample of the wins USPA has for skydiving!

USPA Joins GA Groups Opposed to ATC Privatization

Monday, June 5, 2017

USPA today joined a host of powerhouse general aviation associations in a joint letter to President Trump expressing concerns for his administration’s proposal to remove air traffic control from the Federal Aviation Administration and hand it over to a private, non-profit corporation. President Trump made the announcement this morning in a press event at the White House. The privatization plan is supported by the major airlines but opposed by virtually every general aviation group—from pilots to aircraft owners and aircraft manufacturers, flight schools, repair shops, charter companies and business aviation users—and skydivers. As described by the President, new user fees would be enacted for the privatized ATC, replacing the current aviation fuel taxes that jump operators currently pay toward the ATC system. Every jump flight is required to be in communication with ATC, and USPA is concerned that a per-flight user fee would increase the cost of skydiving. Moreover, jump flights currently enjoy the FAA ATC’s required “first-come, first-served” mandate, which is likely to disappear if ATC is privatized.

USPA Acts to Prevent ATC Privatization USPA Call to Action: Oppose ATC Privatization