Les 5 mythes les plus répandus dans le monde du parachutisme!

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Myth number 1 – You go back up when the parachute opens

If you’re planning a skydive soon, you’ve probably watched some videos to prepare! In tandem skydiving videos, it looks like the skydivers are « rising »  the moment the instructor deploys the parachute!

It’s just an impression! It’s due to the fact that the shot is from an external aerial cameraman who continues to fall at terminal velocity, while the instructor and tandem guest duo are slowed down by the opening of the parachute.

So it’s a slowdown, not an increase!

So, what is the change in speed?! The terminal velocity of freefall reached during a tandem parachute jump is approximately 200 km/h . Once the parachute is open, the descent speed is then approximately 20 km/h or 1000 feet/minute.

Although skydiving remains an extreme sport, a sport of thrills, and a faster opening could occur, rest assured, in general, the deceleration is gradual, like braking in a car!

Myth number 2 – « Skydiving?! I’m way too afraid of heights! »

Vertigo is a sensation that gives a person the illusion that their body or surrounding objects are rotating or oscillating . For some, it’s even a frightening and overwhelming feeling of losing their balance . Does this sound familiar?

How does vertigo develop?

This is a discrepancy that the brain poorly manages when it receives two contradictory pieces of information :

1. The inner ear (responsible for balance) signals that the body is in an upright position, head up, with feet on a solid surface. All our musculoskeletal « proprioceptive » receptors confirm this… We « feel » our upright position on solid ground .

2. Meanwhile, the eyes show the void below, in (almost) our entire field of vision. Our binocular vision perceives an absence of reference points which is called the  »information gap » .

Unfortunately for humans, the information provided by the eyes takes precedence over everything else.

Torn apart, the brain no longer « believes » at all in our upright and solid position!

Now, let’s talk about skydiving!

1. In our skydiving planes, you will be seated and able to contemplate the view through the windows, which will give you physical landmarks close to you.

2. Unless knee health reasons prevent you, your instructor will gently push you towards the door, directly from the seated position to the kneeling position .

3. He will ask you to rest your head against his shoulder and look upwards, which helps to avoid the mental strain created by the void below . Furthermore, you will still have the door frame in your field of vision.

4. You will be securely attached to your instructor, and physical contact is known to break the brain loop of fear by drowning it out with physically perceived information.

There you go! You’ll probably be scared… But you won’t get dizzy!

P.S. Hypoglycemia and dehydration can impair brain perception… Keep a small snack on hand !

Myth number 3 – « I don’t like amusement park rides… Forget about the parachute! »

First, let’s discuss the elevator effect!

Whether you like amusement park rides or not, you’re probably familiar with the « elevator effect, » but did you know it has a name? AIRTIME !

An AIRTIME is the sensation of weightlessness, of falling into a void, or of lightness resulting from negative downward acceleration or a reduction in gravity of one gram compared to that on Earth, at sea level, and at rest. This last sensation is the most intense and is what one can experience on roller coasters .

Airtime and the sensation of falling into the void result from the inertia of the train and its passengers opposing the force pulling the ride downwards … Which makes the passengers lift off their seats for a moment.

Now, let’s talk about skydiving!

When the aircraft reaches the altitude for dropping the paratroopers, it will decelerate and maintain a constant speed of 85 knots (150 km/h) . Once this is done, the pilot will give permission to open the aircraft door.

Now imagine opening your car window while driving at 150 km/h on the motorway and sticking your hand out to oppose the wind resistance!

When your instructor gives the initial push, your body will land exactly on a similar air cushion .

In theory, you’re not jumping into the void at all, but rather into an « airbag. » If your heart races, it’s just the effect of the adrenaline!

Myth number 4 – « They’re forecasting 80% rain! Are the jumps cancelled?! » 

Contrary to popular belief…

An 80% probability of rain does not mean there is an 80% chance of rain where you are… But rather that there is a 100% chance of rain over 80% of the area covered by the forecast!

For example: Let’s say he’s forecasting an 18% probability of rain in Joliette…

It actually forecasts 100% rain , but over ONLY 18% of the territory !

100% rain… but how many millimeters ? At what time ? And for how long ?!

It could be 2mm/hour all day or a thunderstorm of 10mm/hour for 1 hour ! From 8:00 am to 9:00 am!

Weather radar is what allows us to know this!

Moreover, even with an 80% probability of rain … we must not forget that no rain is forecast for 20% of the territory !

It’s our job to analyze the radar! So it’s essential that you call us before you leave home!

Myth number 5 – Hitting a free-falling bird

The thought crossed your mind… that it would probably be unpleasant to get hit by a bird in the chest… or worse…

Well… Why do you think you’re strapped in in front of your instructor ?!

IT’S A JOKE!

The chances of hitting a bird in freefall are almost impossible ! Here’s why !

Tandem parachutes are typically opened at approximately 5000 feet . The minimum recommended opening altitude in Canada for a solo, certified skydiver is 2500 feet .

While some birds of prey can occasionally fly at altitudes of around 1500 feet, most birds fly at a maximum of 500 feet . Therefore, the vast majority of birds are not a cause for concern!

But what about large-scale migrations?

Some birds can fly higher, like the swan which travels up to 8000 feet in altitude, but there are two reasons why we don’t encounter them:

1. First, thanks to « The Big Sky Theory » : A mathematical theory of aeronautics which states that two bodies/objects in flight or in free fall have statistically very little chance of colliding due to the immense difference between the 3D size of the sky versus the size of these bodies/objects .

2. Because, due to the high volume of traffic in our airspace, birds naturally bypass our area of ​​operation . Furthermore, they generally do not fly at high altitudes over our territory.

Once airborne with your parachute open , you might share the airspace with some birds taking advantage of thermals (warm air currents), but this is very rare, as they are naturally timid! If this happens, enjoy this special moment !

Finally, don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions! We’d be happy to answer them and put your mind at ease! Is someone you know hesitant to jump because of one or more of these myths? Send them this blog post! Perhaps their curiosity will overcome their fears, thanks to you!