The Job Description
A skydiver is (clearly) somebody who works with the game of skydiving, whether or not as an teacher, a coach, a parachute packer or a photographer!
Initially I used to be going to do that article solely on the trainer place, however I made a decision that I wished to function a number of different jobs for individuals who aren’t essentially taken with making a full-blown profession out of skydiving!
There are different job alternatives obtainable for skydiving-enthusiasts, that contain much less licensing and fewer of a dedication.
So, let’s go over a number of of the potential positions which might be on the market:
A skydiving teacher is that thrill-seeking, adrenaline junkie who jumps out of planes for a dwelling…and teaches others to do the identical! Their job is to take their college students 2 and half miles into the sky, and free fall by way of the clouds at 100+ mph- generally as much as 10-12 instances per day!
This job is definitely not as reckless as the outline makes it sounds; the truth is, this position, as with all skydiving worker roles, is all about security. Earlier than the entire leaping and flying can occur, the skydiving teacher completely educates their college students on touchdown procedures, physique positing and different security directions.
As soon as correct coaching has been accomplished and the gear has been checked on the bottom, the trainer and the scholars will take-off into the clouds, and make the leap. Instructors could go along with a scholar, in what is known as a tandem jump- throughout which the trainer and scholar are connected and the trainer is accountable for the leap; OR, the trainer could act as a supervisor to solo jumpers going for his or her skydiving license.
A parachute packer is a skydiver who assists with packing the parachutes for instructors and college students. Though this might not be probably the most thrilling job within the drop zone, it’s a good technique to community with different skydivers, and may get you fast money for each parachute that you simply pack!
The on-site photographers and pictures editors would be the skydivers who’re filming, photographing and modifying the footage of the jumps!
Often, most skydiving colleges supply their college students the choice of buying footage and movies taken throughout the jump- due to this fact, there’s placement for skydivers who don’t essentially have sufficient licensing to develop into an teacher, however are in a position to solo leap and seize the footage for the opposite jumpers.
You probably have by no means been skydiving before- don’t be too fast to rule these choices out.
Some folks attempt skydiving for the primary time and completely fall in love with the game! You probably have at all times questioned what it might really feel wish to fly, to drift within the clouds with stunning 100-mile views in all directions- perhaps you need to give skydiving a shot. It might be the right journey job for you!
That is undoubtedly not your typical 9-5 job, however day-after-day is new and thrilling. You’ll be sharing a singular expertise with strangers, which they’ll keep in mind for the remainder of their lives.
It’s a fulfilling and exhilarating day of labor, each time!
The place within the World the Job Exists
Skydiving is predicated on the climate, and so though positions could be discovered around the globe, they could solely exist throughout a specific season. Places with gentle climate year-round, corresponding to California or different warm-weather locations, could have a necessity for workers all through the whole yr.
If you need extra particular info on the place this job could exist, you possibly can go to Dropzone, in an effort to get a map view of dropzones around the globe.
The right way to Get a Job as a Skydiver
Nicely, in an effort to get a place as a skydiving worker, you’ll need some skydiving expertise! The method goes one thing like this:
- First, you’ll need to enroll in your first leap! You’ll be able to google to search out dropzones in your required location, and ebook your leap. First, you’ll go over the security procedures and obtain your floor coaching, after which you’ll make a tandem leap with an teacher. Flying excessive by way of the sky!
- Should you liked your first leap, you possibly can proceed within the licensing course of by taking your AFF (Accelerated Free Fall) floor coaching, after which it is possible for you to to make your first of many solo jumps! In the course of the first 8 solo jumps, an teacher will accompany you- however after that, you’ll lastly be cleared to leap with minimal supervision.
- After you have reached 25 solo jumps, you’ll be able to take an examination to go in your A License. Together with your A License, you should have confirmed your self to be a critical skydiver, and acknowledged as being legitimately able to serving to out on the drop zones!
- If you need to go additional along with your licensing, or wish to develop into an teacher, you’ll need to take extra coaching programs and get far more expertise within the air – a minimum of 500 jumps below your belt and three hours of free fall time.
Simply to make clear, even if you happen to don’t have your A License, you possibly can nonetheless be educated to assist out with parachute packing and video editing- jobs which don’t happen within the air! This can be a goo technique to complement the prices of your jumps or programs!
After having expertise with jumps or going by way of licensing, you’ll in all probability at this level already be fairly properly networked, and may use that to your benefit. Ask your fellow skydiver mates for recommendation and contacts with discovering a brand new job, be a part of Fb teams and develop into energetic with message boards on skydiving-related web sites.
In case you are attempting to choose up work whereas touring, name forward or cease by the closest dropzone to see if you happen to can spend the day helping with rigging or packing parachutes. Instructors will in all probability be completely happy for the assistance, and you’ll earn $5 per rig and $10 per tandem!
Should you’d wish to base round one location for some time throughout your travels, and also you’re good with a digicam, see if you happen to can act because the GoPro handler or video editor! Your abilities could also be simply what they’re in search of, and you should have a chance to do some leaping, and make some cash.
Skydiving jobs are pretty versatile, so an alternative choice can be to supply to fill in for a full-time worker who could also be in search of a while off. Win-win scenario!
Final however not least— an important tip for getting a job: be likeable! Present that you’re a cool particular person to assist out across the dropzone. You’re certain to mesh with the opposite skydivers, because you already share an excessive ardour for a similar sport… so simply display that you’re a certified, hardworking and FUN particular person!
I might advocate utilizing Dropzone and USPA if you’re to study extra particulars with skydiving, to seek for dropzone places and/or to learn by way of the consumer boards!
What {Qualifications} They Are Wanting For
As talked about, in an effort to be a parachute packer or video you editor you don’t essentially NEED your A license. Chances are you’ll simply want coaching, the required skill-set for whichever job you’re going for, and hopefully a ardour for skydiving!
It’s undoubtedly most popular that you’ve your A License in an effort to display that you’re certified and updated with the security procedures, if you happen to plan on doing any type of job within the air. The extra licenses you’ve got, the higher! As for turning into an instructor- you’ll need to undergo in depth coaching, and have a minimal of 500 jumps and three hours of free fall logged. YIKES!
However, the dedication will repay if you find yourself doing one thing that you simply completely love day-after-day!
