Our Fleet
Skydive Arizona’s active jump fleet includes 5 Twin Otters and 7 Skyvans. Our DC-3 flies jumpers on boogie weekends. We also have a Beech-18 which flies at specialty events. Our Otters and Skyvans each carry 23 jumpers. The DC-3 carries 43, and the Beech takes 12.
Loading
Be in the loading area geared up and ready at the 5 minute call. You will ride a tram to the aircraft boarding area.
Please remain behind the fence and off the tarmac at the boarding area until the plane has come to a
complete stop.
Once the plane has stopped, please board quickly and efficiently in the reverse of your exit order.
EXIT Order
1. Hop & Pops
2. Skyboards
3. Belly groups, largest to smallest
4. Flat-trackers
5. Freefly groups, largest to smallest
6. Angle-flyers
7. Students
8. Tandems
9. Wingsuits
10. High Pulls
Remember: if you are intending anything other than a standard, straight-down belly or freefly freefall jump, and/or intend on pulling above 4000 feet, you MUST inform Manifest when you turn in your ticket. If you are making a high-pull, please also inform the Ground Safety Officer.
Boarding
Otter:
First to board needs to put up the ladder. Last person to board needs to kick the ladder away from the plane after sitting down. The door must be fully closed before the plane begins its take-off roll.
Skyvan:
First to board should move the steps up to the tailgate. Last person to board needs to first pull the steps back all the way back to the gravel. The Skyvan door needs to be fully closed and latched (including the Lexan flap) before the pilot can start taxiing.
DC-3:
Each DC-3 flight will have a load master who is in charge of the boarding process.
General Rules
Seatbelts MUST be worn from the time you take your seat until the plane has climbed through 1500 feet. Once the plane has reached 1500 feet, all jumpers MUST unfasten their seatbelts. If for some reason you will be riding the plane down, refasten your seatbelt once the plane begins its descent and keep it fastened until the plane has come to a complete stop up by the hangar.
Helmets MUST be secured from takeoff until 1500 feet. “Secured” means worn and fastened on your head, fastened to your chest strap, or fastened via seatbelt thread-through in your lap.
The aircraft door MUST remain completely closed from takeoff until 1500 feet. The Skyvan door (including the Lexan flap) MUST remain closed for the duration of ascent, until the yellow light goes on. Once the Skyvan door has been opened, it must remain open, even if there are multiple passes at different altitudes. The Otter door may be opened all the way at 1500 feet, after all jumpers near the door have removed their seatbelts. The Otter door must always be all the way open or all the way closed.
EXIT Lights
Exit lights: Open the door on the yellow light (yes, even if it’s cold). Exit on the green (do not self-spot for location). Do not exit on the red light unless part of your group is already outside the aircraft.
Check the jump-run direction and ground speed on the Daily Conditions board before boarding the tram so that you know how much exit separation to give. Note that ground speed may vary from what is posted. Whoever is closest to the pilot can check the ground speed on the GPS and call it down to the rest of the load AFTER the green light goes on. Ground speed is not fixed until the aircraft is entirely set up for exit.
If your group’s exit requires a more extensive setup time in the door, factor this into your exit separation count and start your climb-out sooner. If your group is going to be the first to exit, tell the GSO before you board the tram; the GSO will tell the pilot.