The Exceptional Skills of Our Skydiving Pilots

Estimated reading time: 12 minutes

When people think about skydiving, they often picture the adrenaline rush of freefall, the breathtaking aerial views, and the incredible sense of freedom, but behind every successful jump, there’s an unsung hero: THE PILOT.

At Parachute Voltige, our pilots are far more than just aircraft operators. They are highly skilled experts, trained in the specific art of parachuting activities, activities, ensuring safe flights, precise exit points, and seamless coordination with Montreal Centre Air Traffic Control, local air traffic, and ground teams at Voltige.

Let’s take a closer look at what makes our skydive pilots some of the best in the industry.

1. Unmatched Expertise

Our pilots ensure flight safety through vigilance and expertise. Our team is composed of seasoned veterans from commercial airlines, accumulating tens of thousands of flight hours, as well as younger, dynamic pilots, each with a minimum of 1,000 flight hours.

But experience alone isn’t enough. Every pilot, regardless of their background, must complete an extensive training program achieving Aircraft Captaincy. This includes:

• Initial training

• Annual recurrent training

• Proficiency check flights

For over 20 years, our pilot training program has been continuously refined and improved. Today, it stands as one of the most comprehensive in the industry and is emulated by other skydiving centers across Canada and United States.

2. Precision Exit Calculations when Airborne

A skydiver’s jump exit point is not random—it is meticulously calculated to ensure the best possible skydiving experience. But how do we determine the exact location where the green light signals “JUMP”?

Our pilots consider multiple critical factors:

• Wind direction and speed at various altitudes

• The number of jumpers on board

• The type of jump being performed

• Ground speed of the aircraft

All these elements help us anticipate drift during freefall and parachute deployment, ensuring that each jumper reaches the designated landing zone safely and efficiently.

Our pilots use a redundant GPS systems  specifically designed for aviation navigation, achieving drop zone accuracy within 50 cm (20 inches)—an incredible level of precision.

3. Clear and Constant Communication

Skydiving operations are a highly coordinated team effort. To ensure smooth operations, our key ground staff remain in constant radio communication with our pilots.

Key staff include:

• The manifest team, who organize aircraft seat bookings, aircraft departure times and associated

• The technical director, who oversees aerial safety

• The ground safety officer, who monitors physical dropzone conditions

Throughout the flight, these team members relay real-time information to the pilots, who then pass on critical updates to the skydivers.

Additionally, our pilots operate in a designated airspace zone and are under constant radar coverage. Air Traffic Control provides live updates on surrounding aircraft, helping our pilots ensure safe exits.

4. Unshakable Composure in Any Situation

Flying a skydiving aircraft may seem repetitive, but in reality, no two flights are ever the same.

Weather conditions, flight paths, jump types, the number of aircraft in operation—every detail can change from one flight to another. Our pilots are specially trained to adapt on the fly, ensuring that each flight is executed safely and efficiently.

They are also rigorously trained to handle any situation—normal, abnormal, or emergency— with calm and precision.

5. A Passion for Aviation That Shows

At Parachute Voltige, our pilots aren’t just here for a job—they are passionate about aviation.

Even though skydiving is a seasonal activity, the excitement, teamwork, and pure love of flying bring them back year after year. Every single one of our pilots will tell you that this type of flying is one of the most rewarding experiences in aviation.

You can see their enthusiasm and their smiles after a long day of flights, knowing they have delivered an unforgettable experience to hundreds of  first-time jumpers and skydivers.

6. Advanced Knowledge in Navigation, Meteorology, and Aircraft Mechanics

Our pilots aren’t just skilled aviators—they are also experts in parachuting activities.

Flying skydivers is are vastly different from traditional commercial aviation and require specialized knowledge and training in:

• Skydiving-specific regulations and safety protocols as defined by Transport Canada

• Aircraft modifications for skydiving activities

• Navigation along standardized ascent and descent routes

• Emergency procedures specific to skydiving operations

• Weather limitations and their impact on skydiving operations

• Different jump types and their corresponding exit strategies

• The effects of sudden load shifts as skydivers exit the aircraft

• Coordinating multiple skydiving planes flying together in formation

• Handling rare parachute equipment malfunctions inside the aircraft

• Executing formation flights for special events and record attempts

Skydiving is an exhilarating adventure, but behind every safe and successful jump is a highly skilled pilot who ensures a smooth flight, precise dropping area, and maximum safety.

Thanks to their rigorous training, expertise, and dedication, our pilots elevate the skydiving experience, allowing each jumper to fully enjoy the thrill of the sport with total confidence.

So next time you board one of our aircraft, take a moment to appreciate the pilot at the controls. Their skills are what make your jump truly unforgettable!