| A | ||
| AAD | Automatic Activation Device A back up device which initiates the deployment sequence of the reserve parachute in certain emergency situations. Common types include Cypres, Vigel and the FXC 1200. | |
| A/C | Abbreviation for aircraft. | |
| ACCURACY | A competition discipline, where the skydiver tries to land on, or as close as possible to a specified target. | |
| AFF | Accelerated Free Fall A 'fast track' method of learning to skydive. You jump from about 12,000 ft on the first jump with 2 instructors. Generally you are more likely to reach Cat 8 in fewer jumps. | |
| AGL | Altitude Above Ground Level, usually measured in feet in the UK. See also: MSL | |
| ALTI | Altimeter A barometer device which indicates height above the ground. | |
| AOD | Automatic Opening Device The old name for AAD. | |
| APA | Army Parachute Association The organisation running civilian activities at our dropzone, Netheravon. See also: JSPC | |
| ATC | Air Traffic Control | |
B | ||
| BAG LOCK | A malfunction of a freefall system where the parachute lines have deployed but the canopy is still trapped in bag. | |
| BCPA | British Collegiate Parachute Association A group run by and for college students, associated with the BPA. Runs regional and annual competitions for BPA members still undertaking education. | |
| BELLY FLYING | Freefalling in a belly to earth position i.e. formation skydiving | |
| BLADE RUNNING | Swooping under canopy through a series of wind blades along the ground | |
| BOC | Bottom of Container A type of pocket for storing the pilot chute of a freefall parachute. | |
| BOOGIE | A gathering of parachutists, whether national or international, normally associated with organised jumping and using large aircraft. | |
| BOOTIES | Jumpsuit 'feet' which hook over the front of the shoe and allow for greater maneuverability in freefall. | |
| BPA | British Parachute Association The governing body of sport parachuting within the UK, run by an elected Council of 15 sport parachutists, with a number of full-time employees fulfilling technical and administrative tasks. You must have current BPA membership in order to jump. | |
| BRAKES | Used to slow down and steer a canopy, located on the risers of square canopies | |
| BREAK-OFF | The time jumpers stop playing in freefall and seperate in order to open their parachutes away from other skydivers and avoid a potential canopy collision. | |
| BRIDLE | A line attached from the pilot chute to the top skin of canopy. | |
| BUM SPOT | An error of judgement by the jumpmaster, in which you have been despatched at a point at which you will probably find it impossible to get back to the PLA. | |
| BUNGEE | Rubber band used for stowing lines. | |
C | ||
| CAA | Civil Aviation Authority The body responsible for air standards, safety and operations in UK airspace. See also: FAA, FAI | |
| CATEGORY | A stage of progression from 1-8, with a specific set of guidelines for achievement, laid down by the STC. Followed by all students undertaking training at BPA Affiliated Parachute Clubs. Category 1-8 jumpers are classified as student parachutists. The categories are: 1 - Ground training completed 2 - Two good static line jumps 3 - Three consecutive good dummy pulls completed 4 - Two good freefall decents between 3 and 5 seconds each 5 - Two good freefall decents of 10 seconds each 6 - Two good freefall decents of 15 seconds and the ability to read an altimeter in freefall. 7 - Ability to perform precise 360 degree turns in freefall 8 - Proven your self to be able to exit, fall and deploy safely - the end of student status. | |
| CCI | Club (or Centre) Chief Instructor Advanced instructor (or Advanced Instructor/Examiner) nominated as the person in charge of a parachute operation | |
| CF | Canopy Formations Formation Work with 2 or more square canopies. See also: CRW | |
| CF1 | Canopy Formation Grade 1 Qualification that provides a basic canopy formation ability. Required before doing any canopy formations without an instructor. | |
| CLASSICS | Style and accuracy | |
| CONTAINER | The harness and pack parachutes are contained in | |
| CRABBING | Pointing the canopy slightly into wind of the place you are trying to reach, using the wind to ensure you actually fly in a straight line to your destination. Pointing directly at your destination will actually cause you to fly in an arc. | |
| CREEPER | A board with wheels on that jumpers use to practice their skydive | |
| CReW or CRW | Canopy Relative Work An old term for CF, but still used in america. | |
| CSBI | Category System Basic Instructor Someone who is currently training to become a CSI. They are allowed to perform most of the duties of a CSI under supervision. | |
| CSI | Category System Instructor An instructor for the RAPS skydive training system | |
| CUT | Slow the aircraft down to allow an easier exit | |
| CUTAWAY | Jettison the main canopy, usually after a malfunction | |
D | ||
| DC | Dead Centre - Top score in accuracy competitions | |
| DEBRIEF | Post skydive analysis | |
| DELAY | The period of time in freefall | |
| DEMO | A parachute jump performed as a demonstration at an event (also known as a display) | |
| DEPLOYMENT BAG | Bag that the main canopy is packed into before being put into the container. Attached to the bridle between the canopy and the pilot chute. | |
| DIRT DIVE | The curious looking dance that skydivers use to practice their FS positions, prior to enplaning | |
| DIVE | 1. A methods of exiting the aircraft, similar to a dive into water. 2. Abbreviation for skydive | |
| DOCK | Take up a grip on a freefall formation or the linking of one canopy to another | |
| DOWNPLANE | Canopy formation with 2 jumpers linking linking legs and flying their canopies straight down. This can also happen unintentionally if a parachutist deploys both their main and reserve parachute at the same time. | |
| DOWNWIND | Pointing the canopy in the direction the wind is blowing | |
| DP | Dummy-pull (also known as dummy ripcord pull, DRCP). RAPS training stage, as part of the preparation for freefall | |
| DRAG MAT | Individual packing mat that container rests on during packing | |
| DUMP | Deploy main canopy See also: Pull | |
| DYTTER | Brand of audible altimeter | |
| DZ | Dropzone 1. A notified portion of airspace within which parachute descents are made. 2. The buildings and organisation associated with the dropzone. | |
E | ||
| EP | Exit Point Point over the ground determined as the release point from the aircraft, such that freefall drift, throw-forward and other factors cause you to arrive at the opening point at the right height. | |
| EXIT | Leave the aircraft and enter freefall | |
F | ||
| FAA | Federal Aviation Administration US equivalent of the CAA, who set standards for many items of parachute equipment | |
| FAI | Federation Aeronautique Internationale International Governing Body for all air sports, based in Switzerland. See also: RAeC | |
| FAI LICENCE | A ladder of qualification, starting at `A' and ending in `D', requirements are: A licence: 18 jumps and RAPS Category 8 or AFF Level 8 B licence: 50 jumps and IC1 C licence: 200 jumps at least one other qualification (usually FS1) D licence: 1,000 jumps | |
| FACTORY DIVER | Brand of enclosed open face helmet, often used for freeflying | |
| FF1 | Freefly Grade 1 Qualification providing a basic ability to skydive in a head up orientation (usually stand or sit fly). Required to skydive head up with other people or to attempt FF2. | |
| FF2 | Freefly Grade 2 Qualification providing a basic ability to skydive in a head down orientation. Required to skydive head down with other people. | |
| FLARE | To pull down both brakes to turn forward speed into lift, often for landing | |
| FLAT LINE | Continuous warning tone from an audible altimeter meaning act now, usually activates around 1,500ft | |
| FLAT FLYER | Formation skydiver | |
| FLOATER | 1. Exit position where the jumper holds on outside the aircraft 2. Somebody who natually falls slower than the average skydiver and therefore has to work harder to keep with formations. | |
| FORMATION | Two or more jumpers linked in freefall | |
| FREEFLY | A freefall discipline of any orientation See also: FF1, FF2, Sit fly, Head down | |
| FREESTYLE | A freefall discipline performing aerial gymnastics | |
| FREE BAG | Bag the reserve canopy is packed into, inside reserve container. When the reserver is used, this will become seperated from the reserve canopy and must be collected after landing. See also: Deployment bag | |
| FRIDGE | Slang term for some hard helmets | |
| FS | Formation Skydiving. The building of formations by a number of people in freefall, for fun, or for competition. The most wide-spread discipline in Sport Parachuting. See also: RW | |
| FS1 | Formation Skydiving Grade 1 Qualification that provides basic formation skydiving abilities. Unless under instruction, no more than one skydiver without FS1 can participate in a formation skydive. To gain FS1 you must safely particpate in a 4-point 4-way. | |
| FULL SERIES | A style routine of a left turn, a right turn, a backloop, a right turn, a left turn and another backloop. All must be performed with speed and precision. See also: Style, Half series | |
| F111 | Slang name for some fabrics used to make canopies. ZP fabric has replaced F111 in high performance canopies because it is less porous, but F111 is still used for accuracy canopies. | |
G | ||
| GATW | Acronym often used in student logbooks, meaning "Good All The Way" | |
| GLIDE RATIO | Ratio of forward movement to descent rate under canopy | |
| GPS | Global Positioning System. Navigation system used by aircraft which confirms ground position | |
| GRAND PRIX | Regional competition organised by the BPA | |
| GRIP | Handle on a jumpsuit used for FS | |
| GROUNDRUSH | 1. The illusion of the ground appearing to accelerate towards you 2. Skydiving clothing company | |
H | ||
| HACKY | Abbreviation of Hacky Sack 1. A type of handle attached to a pilot chute and used to deploy a parachute 2. A game involing kicking a hacky sack to each other in the air (not in freefall) | |
| HALF SERIES | A succession of manoeuvres, two alternate turns and a back-loop See also: Style, Full series | |
| HARNESS | Webbing assembly which is part of the container system | |
| HEAD DOWN | Freefly position | |
| HOLDING | Facing canopy into the wind | |
| HOOK KNIFE | Small knife with protected blade carried in case of line tangles | |
| HOOK TURN | A radical turn with a square parachute close to the ground. Some experienced parachutists perform these to generate a swoop landing, but poorly performed hook turns are the most common reason for serious injury or death in skydiving. | |
| HOP & POP | Slang for a very short freefall delay | |
I | ||
| IC1 | Individual Canopy Grade 1 Qualification covering intermediate canopy control and useful skydiving skills (being a jump master, spotting etc) | |
| IPC | International Parachuting Commission, part of the FAI. | |
| IS1 | Individual style Grade 1 Qualification giving you a basic ability in style, gained by performing a full series within 16 seconds. | |
J | ||
| JM | Jumpmaster An experienced skydiver, responsible to the CCI and pilot for the parachutists on each lift | |
| JSPC | Joint Services Parachute Centre 5 Centres around the world, formed to give skydiving opportunities to service personnel. Netheravon is a JSPC centre. | |
K | ||
| KILL LINE | Line through some bridles which collapses pilot chute after canopy opens to reduce drag | |
| LAUNCH | Two or more jumpers exiting the aircraft together (stable) | |
M | ||
| MAIN | Primary parachute | |
| MAL | Malfunction A failure in some part of the parachuting system, causing you to carry out your emergency procedures to open your reserve parachute. | |
| MANIFEST | List of all on board the aircraft | |
| MANIFESTOR | The person responsible to the CCI for allocating jumpers to aircraft, and keeping the legally required records | |
N | ||
| NATIONALS | National championships An annual event organised by the BPA | |
O | ||
| OP | Opening Point The point over the ground at which the parachutist should open their canopies such that taking into account wind drift, they will land on the target. OP and EP will be the same for a SL jumper | |
| OPENING SHOCK | The force felt due to sudden deceleration as the canopy opens | |
P | ||
| PARASKI | Combination ski/accuracy event | |
| PILOT CHUTE | A small parachute used to create drag and pull the main parachute out into the air | |
| PIN | 1. Basic FS position where two skydivers face each other holding both hands or arms. 2. Closing device for main and reserve parachutes | |
| PLA | Parachute Landing Area The area where it is intended parachutists will land, sometimes mistakenly called the DZ. | |
| PLF | Parachute Landing Fall A controlled collapse and roll which absorbs the landing impact, usually under a round parachute, but may save you under a fast moving square parachute | |
| POINT | In FS or CF, each successfully completed formation scores one point. The formations themselves are often referred to in this way | |
| POROSITY | The amount of air that will pass through a given area of canopy material | |
| POPS | Parachutists Over Phorty Society An association for the more mature skydiver | |
| PRO-DYTTER | A brand of audible altitude that can be set to give three different alarms at three different hights. The alarms are usually set to indicate break off, deployment and hard deck. | |
| PRO-PACK | One way of packing a square canopy, where for the first half of the pack job you hang the canopy up by the top of the lines, ususally over your shoulder or a hook. See also: Flat packing, Psycho packing | |
| PULL | Deploy main parachute See also: dump | |
| PULL OUT | Method of deployment where the pilot chute is packed inside the container, the owner pulls out the pin and the pilot chute | |
| PULL-UP CORD | Short length of line or binding tape used to close a parachute container | |
R | ||
| RAeC | Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom The UK representatives to and for the FAI | |
| RAFSPA | Royal Air Force Sport Parachuting Association Dropzone based at Weston on the Green | |
| RAM-AIR | A rectangular parachute that is flown as a wing, usually consisting of 7 or 9 cells running from the front to the back of the parachute. The wing is kept rigid because air enters the front of the parachute but is not allowed to escape. | |
| RAPS | Ram-Air Progression System A method of teaching skydiving to beginners, starting with a static line jump where the parachute is opened automatically as the jumper exits. All jumps are preformed using ram-air parachutes. | |
| REGIONALS | Regional championships, also known as Grand Prix | |
| RIG | A complete parachute system, comprising main, reserve, container and often AAD. | |
| RIGGER | A person qualified to construct, maintain and repair parachutes and related equipment | |
| RISER | Webbing strip the connects the top of the parachute harness to be bottom of the parachute lines. | |
| ROUND | 1. A classic parachute that decreases decent rate by increasing drag. Now normally only used by military jumpers. 2. A competition stage, usually requiring each individual or team to perform a specific skydive chosen at random or a planned routine of their chosing | |
| RSL | Reserve Static Line A back up device that opens the reserve on releasing the main | |
| RUNNING | Facing canopy down wind | |
| RUN-IN | Final line that the aircraft flies to reach the pre determined spot for jumpers to leave. Also called jump run | |
| RW | Relative work Old name for FS, still used in America | |
S | ||
| SKYDIVE U | Skydive University An commercial alternative to the WARP system of FS coaching. | |
| SKYSURF | Skydiving with a specialised snowboard | |
| SIT FLY | Freefalling in a sit position | |
| SLIDER | Device to slow down the deployment of ram air parachutes by gliding down the suspension lines | |
| S/L | Static Line A deployment system where the parachute opens automatically as the jumper leaves the aircraft. Used to train beginners and when dropping military personnel. | |
| SNIVEL | The period between the parachute coming out of its deployment bag and fully opening. A longer snivel will give a softer opening but will use more altitude. | |
| SPEED | A competition where jumpers build a formation as quickly as possible | |
| SPOT | The point you should exit the aircraft to reach the target | |
| SPOTTING | Choosing the spot. Performed by both the pilot and a nominated skydiver, usually the jump master. The pilot will direct the aircraft along the correct jump run and the spotter will then choose the best time to exit the aircraft, after being cleared for exit by the pilot. | |
| SQUARE | Slang for a ram-air parachute | |
| SS1 | Sky Surfing Grade 1 | |
| SS2 | Sky Surfing Grade 2 | |
| STALL | When toggles are pulled down further than full brakes, causing the canopy to lose forward speed and collapse | |
| STAR | A basic FS formation, with 3 or more skydivers linked in a circle by their arms | |
| STACK | A group of canopies in the sky stacked vertically above each other | |
| STAND | Vertical freefall position, feet to earth, crucifix style. | |
| STC | Safety and Training Committee (of the BPA). A sub-committee of Council, made up by CCI's who make appropriate decisions on safety and training | |
| STREAMER | 1. A malfunction where the main canopy has left the bag but not inflated at all. 2. A slang name for a WDI | |
| STYLE | The execution of a specific set of freefall manoeuvres in the shortest possible time See also: Half Series, Full Series | |
| SWOOP | A high speed landing | |
T | ||
| TANDEM | 1. An introduction to skydiving by a Tandem Instructor, in which the student is strapped to the Instructors front, and conducts a free-fall descent from altitude, and a long canopy ride under a very large parachute, remaining attached throughout! 2. Another name for the piggyback parachute system, in which the main and reserve canopies are in the same container (with older parachute systems, the reserve is often in a seperator container mounted to the front of the skydiver) | |
| THREE RING CIRCUS | Release mechanism for main canopy, attaches the risers to the harness. Used to reduce the forces needed to cut away. | |
| THROW AWAY | Type of hand deployment where the pilot chute is packed externally in a spandex pocket, traditionally on the leg strap but now normally at the bottom of the container (BOC) | |
| TIME OUT | Brand of audible altimeter | |
| TOGGLES | Steering loops on risers | |
| TOTAL | Malfunction where there is nothing out of the container | |
| TRACK | To move fast horizontally in freefall often to achieve separation from other jumpers | |
| TSO | Technical Safety Order These are American FAA safety standards, but are the guidelines for much of parachute design. | |
U | ||
| USPA | United States Parachute Association The American equivilent of the BPA | |
| VGATW | Very Good All the Way See Also: GATW | |
W | ||
| WARP | Worldwide Advanced Relative Work Progression A programme of FS tuition once Category 8 has been achieved in which individual instruction is provided by an FS Coach leading to FS1 | |
| WDI | Wind Drift Indicator A paper streamer used to predict canopy drift, and hence the OP. Also known as a Widdy or a streamer | |
| WIND LINE | A line through the target in the wind direction | |
Z | ||
| ZP | Zero-Porosity Non permeable fabric used in modern high performance canopies. Pronounced zee-pee. | |
| ZOO | A jump that didn?t go quite as planned! | |
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