Stavropol Woman Shares First Skydiving Experience
People are not birds; we cannot fly. But there is a way to feel like a bird! For many, skydiving is something scary, dangerous, and desperate. However, there are those who dare to take the risk and overcome themselves. One such cloud conqueror is Yevgenia, a resident of Stavropol, who told what it«s like to jump with a parachute for the first time.
You need to jump in tandem with an instructor
Since this is a first jump, it is only permitted from a high altitude in tandem with an instructor. Yevgenia was given a certificate for her birthday, so for her, fulfilling a long-held dream was free. But if you decide to pay for the adventure yourself, the pleasure will cost about 14,000–15,000 rubles (approximately $150–$160 at current rates). You can also order filming, which will be done by an operator. For 4,500 rubles (about $47), he will jump with you and record everything on camera. There is a cheaper option: for 2,500 rubles (about $26), the device will be attached directly to you.
The group left around 8 a.m. from Nevinnomyssk and arrived at the location by 9 a.m. The airfield is located in Khutor Verkhneyegorlyksky, near Stavropol. You need to arrive a bit early so that no one is waiting for you, otherwise the certificate and jump will simply be forfeited.
«We arrived there at the appointed time. You need to check the weather a day or two in advance. If it is good, then the jump is planned, and you are signed up for the ascent. I waited a long time because conditions didn»t allow it, jumps were canceled. They asked me in advance if I could make it that day,« says Yevgenia.
In such matters, preparation and safety are important. Even though skydiving in the understanding of many is not for the faint of heart, it is necessary to follow the rules to ensure everything goes smoothly. If you adhere to the instructor«s advice, it will be safe.
«You need to undergo medical control: measure blood pressure, fill out a questionnaire stating that you have no cardiovascular diseases, you don»t faint, are not a drug addict or alcoholic, and haven«t taken anything in the last 24 hours. Then you are weighed, and a paper parachutist»s bracelet (for the instructor) is attached to your arm, who will jump with you in tandem. It has the surnames of the instructor and video operator assigned to you.«
After this, a briefing is conducted, and then you need to change clothes. Yevgenia came to the jump with her boyfriend, so they went through all the preparations together.
«I turn around and see people falling out of the plane»
«The plane had to be rolled back a bit to give it space for takeoff. The parachutists leaned against it in such a funny way. We weren»t the only ones jumping in tandem; after us, there were about three more people, and the rest were just athletes who came for solo jumps. I would be very scared to do it alone. When we boarded the plane, I was seated to the right of the pilot; of course, they didn«t let me steer, but I observed the most beautiful views,» the girl shares.
The group ascended to an altitude of 3,000 meters (about 9,800 feet).
«I can»t even describe how cool it is. You fly above the clouds, see the entire Caucasian range, the sky was clear, the mountains as if in the palm of your hand. I thought they would seem small, but no—they were larger than what you see from a window, for example in Stavropol. Mount Elbrus was visible. I looked down—rivers, fields, despite winter, even green grass.«
As Yevgenia told, flying in such a small plane is very different from the usual flights on airliners.
«We are flying, gaining altitude, and I don»t feel it at all. If in a regular plane you are shaken, you understand that you are taking off, here it«s not like that. This is a crop duster, I didn»t even understand when we lifted off the ground—everything was smooth. I am generally a bit afraid of heights, but here that feeling was completely absent. At some point, I turn around and see people starting to fall out of the plane—so scary, but also cool.«
Right before the jump, the instructor checked once more if everything was secure, then fastened Yevgenia to himself and reassured her that there was no need to be afraid, just «enjoy the ride.» As the girl says, these words really helped switch gears and enjoy the moment. A slight fear appeared only in flight when the pair did a somersault—the first 30 seconds of freefall. But the heroine noted that she understood she was in safe hands, so that feeling vanished.
«Spinning is scarier than freefall»
«At first it was scary, and that»s understandable. You«re just falling. But when the parachute opened, it became cool. You soar and enjoy the views. The instructor talks to you, at this moment you can already hear him. He offered, so to speak, to give me a ride. I agreed, and we started spinning. It was harsh and even, in my opinion, scarier than freefall. Then we just glided and began descending. Honestly, I thought it would take more time. When you»re in the air, minutes seem to last forever, but when you descend, you realize it was just a moment,« says the heroine.
The descent was also assisted by the instructor, who explained how to do it correctly, when to straighten the legs.
«Then we went to change clothes, and they sent us the video filmed by the operator. If you order such a service, you need to bring your own flash drive. But if you don»t have one, you can buy it at their base for about 400 rubles (about $4). After that, we were called outside and presented with certificates, which state that we completed a jump from 3,000 meters. Overall, everything is well organized. At the airfield, you can even take photos against the backdrop of planes, there are photo zones and a food court, and nearby is the Novokavkazsky Bridge.«
Yevgenia noted that the instructors are qualified, with over 1,000 jumps under their belts, so there«s no need to fear, as a professional is nearby who calms you down.
You must bring documents with you to the jump. In advance, everyone is sent a memo and a list. Of course, first and foremost, it«s important not to forget your passport, jump certificate or money for payment on site, sportswear and shoes according to the weather—a jumpsuit, helmet, and goggles are provided at the airfield.
In winter, warmer uniforms are necessary because the temperature is lower than in summer. This is important to consider when bringing clothes for changing. But in Stavropol, winter temperatures are not very low, so jumps are conducted even in cold seasons. The nuances are only in the weather, sometimes it is unfavorable for this. You need to be patient to wait for the jump.
How to choose an organization and airfield?
When you«ve decided to jump and are ready to pay for it, the question arises—how to choose an organization. Sometimes the choice is limited, especially in small towns, so you have to settle for what»s available, but here the main thing is your safety. So, let«s figure out which companies to approach and which not.
Besides reviews, it«s important to pay attention to the organization»s documents. According to the «Basic Parachute Rules» (BPR-97), companies are subject to mandatory registration, certification, and licensing. Specialists must undergo certification.
Of course, the presence of a permit for performing parachute jumps is important. It is issued by local self-government bodies. This is provided for in paragraph 49 of the Federal Rules for the Use of Airspace of the Russian Federation, approved by Government Decree No. 138 of March 11, 2010.
The issuance of permits for performing parachute jumps is also provided for by Government Order No. 2113-r of September 18, 2019 (as amended on June 20, 2023) «On the List of Standard State and Municipal Services Provided by Executive Bodies of the Subjects of the Russian Federation, State Institutions of the Subjects of the Russian Federation and Municipal Institutions, as well as Local Self-Government Bodies.»
In addition to licensing and airspace use permits, there are other requirements:
compliance of landing sites with safety rules;
availability of qualified personnel—instructors and other specialists must have appropriate training and certificates;
technical condition of parachute equipment—systems must undergo regular technical inspections, and data about them is recorded in special passports;
liability insurance—the company must arrange mandatory liability insurance for the operator in aviation works in accordance with Article 135 of the Air Code of the Russian Federation.
Usually, all these documents are on the organizations« websites, but if you don»t find them, you can ask the organizers to send them. This is important because entertainment should be as safe as possible. You can«t rely on luck.
Organizing parachute jumps without a permit entails administrative liability under Articles 11.4 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (violation of airspace use rules) and 11.5 (violation of aircraft operation safety rules).
Never forget about your safety, demand to see documents and certificates. Promises and talks are important for peace of mind, but it«s better to trust official papers.
