Static Line
- Updated May 2011
Basic Information
For more detailed information, use the Contact Us page.
Static line jumps are no longer being offered to first jump students at Skydive Opelika. Furthermore, they are not offered at any nearby dropzones within TN, GA, FL, MS, LA. For information on how to make your first jump, contact us and we can give you some GREAT recommendations. I'd much rather give you some advice on where to go, what to do, and how much it will cost. Take the advice of people who are already in this business - DO NOT just find the nearest dropzone and go jump!
A static line jump is a hop out of an airplane followed by a gentle glide downward. Freefall is not truly experienced.
The main reason to go static line is to learn the proper airplane exit procedures and canopy control methods. Once these items are covered, freefall procedures will be discussed. After five jumps, you'll be pulling your own ripcord. As early as the sixth jump, you'll experience freefall.
Static line is the most economical method of learning because it is done completely solo. The first jump course is $175 (plus $5 to join the club!) Each subsequent jump is done at the "experienced skydiver" rate of $45 per jump including gear rental and a parachute repack.
The money is distributed approximately like this:
$25 goes to your instructor, who teaches you the entire class and helps you leave the plane
$100 goes to wear and tear on the airplane and the parachute
$45 goes to fuel for the airplane
$5 goes to the guy who packs your chute
The club does not get any money from your jump.
A video of your jump is impractical because you're not freefalling. However, if you'll hand me your own personal camera or videocamera, I'll do my best to snap a shot just like the one on this page. We could even have another person on the ground to video your landing. This would be done for free, so all you'd need to do is ask someone!
In the class, you'll learn everything you need to know about parachute control, landing, malfunctions, and safety.
This is the safest method to learn how to jump! Out of thousands of static line students, we extremely rarely have a problem. The only thing you'll have to worry about is landing, and we'll teach you how to do that!
Because your parachute opens automatically and you don't freefall on your first jump, you have no worries.
How do I get my license from the Static Line course?
The static line course is set up to get you freefalling in 7 jumps. By the 10th or 12th jump, you'll be jumping from 12,000 feet high and freefalling for almost a minute. Your 25th jump is your "graduation" jump where you will earn your "A License."
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Contact Us page
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Directions page
For more information, check out the FAQ page.