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Dropzone Database: Europe: Russia : Aerograd Kolomna : Reviews

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(Review ID:4673)

12 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

Our last trip to Aerograd / Kolomna

Rated by: tigerente on 2008-07-28 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: Aerograd Kolomna
Pros: Aircrafts
Cons: Service, Accomodation, language, prices,

Professionalism
Vibe
Aircraft
Facilities
Services
Location

We have been to Aerograd / Kolomna two times - this year and last year. Unfortunately it was our last trip to this DZ.
The good things on this DZ are fast explained:
- ticket price
- aircrafts
- safety-conscious

Now we come to the list of bad things:
- the "hotel" has the standard of a better youth-hostel in Europe and is more expensive. (Windows without mosquito net, bathrooms without windows and airing, ants coming out of the splices in the bathroom, windows besides the airing of the kitchen)
- The "restaurant" is expensive as Munich city, the food is between edible and awful, the servings are small, the service is horrible (no English, up to 45 min waiting time for a beer), in ten days we didn't get one correct bill;
- The cafe is also expensive as Munich (a small coffee with milk is about 3-4EUR)
- The only announcements from manifest which are in English are load calls; for the reasons of holdings or how long they will take you have to ask separately
- You have to count your jumps because there are frequently errors in the jumping-bill
- A lot of holdings because of the military
- They raised the ticket prices against last year by 15% (actual 500RUB (13,5 EUR) when you buy 50 tickets;
- they reduced the exit level from 4300m (at the first exit) to 4000m; so if you are the last exit you are on 3800m;
- They take more money for the helicopter (Mi-8) tickets now, but that doesn't matter because it doesn't work anyway :(

Result: If you only want to jump and don't worry about anything else, it's maybe worth the trip (depends on the holdings). But if you like to have a cold beer and good meal after more than 10 jumps a day, without driving to Kolomna to go to a even more expensive restaurant, don't do it!

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(Review ID:4005)

12 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

You wont regret it

Rated by: vodka on 2007-07-19 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: Aerograd Kolomna
Pros: Number of aircraft, landing area, scenery
Cons: Prices in restaurant

Professionalism
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Aircraft
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Ok, Ive only been skydiving for a few months and I learnt at Kolomno, doing my AFF with an english speaking instructor. Since this is the only DZ ive been to I cant compare it, but Ive met lots of people from abroad there, really lots of people and I ask them all how they rate it, and they all say its the best place they've been. Some of the comments they told me was, "as a skydiver, all you want to do is get in the air, and here it is hassle free to get airborne", another guy was saying about how beautiful the scenery is, and then I started to look around myself and I have to admit, its beautiful.

Ive never had any hassle regarding admin etc, they are all friendly and theres a few nice looking chicks there too, which aint too bad ;)

I regularly stay in the bunk house and ive stayed in the hotel before and it a nice western style hotel, not your typical soviet style.

One gourp of foreigners I met were wingeing about the service and prices in the restaurant, but since then I know that the menu has expanded, some cheap dishes some more pricey, and they have more staff working there now. I guess as with anything, the longer the restaurant and DZ exists, the more they improve it.

Also, if you want cheaper food, there is a canteen which does hot sandwiches etc.

I currently live and work in Moscow and I had an offer to move to a different location for work, bu this DZ has been a major factor in me staying.

Laters

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(Review ID:3733)

18 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

A leading DZs in Russia

Rated by: tfasbend on 2007-03-08 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: Aerograd Kolomna
Pros: atmosphere, fees, choice of aircraft
Cons: bit far away

Professionalism
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Facilities
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Location

My home DZ since I started skydiving a year ago. Last November I jumped two days at Eloy, and Kolomna does not lag behind in terms of manifest and load organisation, communication, and infrastructure. This winter they started year-round operations on weekdays and weekends, a new restaurant has opened, and with global warming there is a definite improval of wintertime air temperatures.

Kolomna is home to a number of the best formations in Russia and their jumpers are regular - and successful - participants at skydiving events abroad. During summer season you will meet foreigners from as far as South America, benefitting from the low prices for jumps (USD 16) and AFF courses. With announcements in Russian and English and widely English speaking staff there are few language hurdles.

Problematic is the transfer from the Sheremetyevo airport in the north of Moscow, so if you have a chance, book a flight into the nearby Domodedovo airport! Visa and registration is a challenge typical for Russia, and not related to the DZ as such. Being a Moscow resident I can't say to what extent DZ staff are actually involved. They probably send an invitation for presentation at your nearest Russian consulate, and then help you to get your registration stamp upon arrival. Talking to foreign skydivers at the DZ last year I don't remember any critical remarks in that respect.

Several bunkhouses and a small hotel are available at the DZ, and all year round they organize evening fun, ice hockeying in winter, BBQs, music and so on. Visitors usually spend most of the evenings at the DZ or in the nearby town of Kolomna. Moscow is a two hour drive away and best visited on a weekend day before departure.

I love the place for it's friendliness, cosmopolitan atmosphere, and high standards in the sport.

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(Review ID:3127)

0 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

Good place for many jumps

Rated by: Stiletto5 on 2006-10-06 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: Aerograd Kolomna
Pros: Profesionalism, very low waiting time
Cons: Restaurant Prices

Professionalism
Vibe
Aircraft
Facilities
Services
Location

After being there in 2006 I wrote a 90% positive review. We went there again this year to do 4-way training. Now I feel that I have to correct my first review. Still Kolomna is a very professional dropzone and you can still easily make 10 jumps a day, but there are a few more cons now: Their ticket prices are raised. Due to two days bad wheather we didn't manage to make the 50 jumps ticket price level - so we had to pay all our 36 team jumps (x5) as we would only make one jump. Calculating all the extra costs for the ride from the airport, visa + airline ticket we came to the conclusion that we may as well jump in Spain for less and warmer (in May).
The other reviews are right regarding the restaurant. The quality and the service don't match the price level. As for the accommocation we again stayed in the cosy wooden bungalows for a reasonable rate.
Meanwhile Aerograd has some helpful girls taking care of typical foreigner problems. Anyway regarding service one cannot compare Russia with Japan. Knowing how service usually can be in Russia Aerograd staff is to be considered very friendly. Alhough having thousands of jumps they don't behave it.

Having to cut away on our last day the rigger repacked the reserve nicely within an hour. As my reserve is quite big for my container size, I didn't even expect him to get it in properly.

Conclusion: If you want to make as many jumps as possible within a limited time with very professional staff at hand you are at the right place. If you go there to save money - make sure to include all side costs into your calculation.

Markus Bartels

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(Review ID:3161)

13 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

Western dropzone in the East!

Rated by: Ossi on 2006-06-13 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: Aerograd Kolomna
Pros: Cheap, many aircrafts, working organization
Cons: No restaurant, russian toilets, language barrier

Professionalism
Vibe
Aircraft
Facilities
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Location

I visited Aerograd Kolomna in June �06. The place exceeded my expectations. The mastermind behind the Dropzone development certainly knows what western skydivers appreciate.

The location is ok (some 110 km South from Moscow) and the dropzone was happy to help with the transportation. The dropzone is a privat compound with several guards on watch.

The city of Kolomna is 6 km away from the dropzone. It�s a basic Russian town I guess. Nothing special there and nobody really speaks english.

I might say that the most important thing was that I felt safe and welcomed during my stay. The organization was very efficient with lots of friendly staff. The language barrier was a bit of a problem but it didn't really cause any big problems.

Jumping felt safe with an experienced load organizer and a doctor on-site. Pilots did the spotting and the manifest was very efficiant. You could easily make 10-15 jumps per day thanks to the quick packers.

One anecdote: There's a river right next to the dropzone. If you land on the other side, they�ll send a helicopter to pick you up. (Been there, done that).

The spots were accurate (besides the one incident mentioned above) and the landigs (direction, swoop area etc) carefully instructed.

The facilities were ramping up. Lots of indoor space, teamrooms, tv�s, internet accesses etc. They had built nice bungalows & bunkhouses. And there was still more to come. Nice clean showers with hot water. The toilets were quite Russian but ok and clean. I was though a bit disappointed by the small cafeteria in a tent. If you were really hungry after a day of jumping you had to head for the city. I guess they are enhancing the restaurant quite soon.

I'm sure to visit the place again.

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(Review ID:2398)

1 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

Rapidly becoming one of the best drop zones in the world.

Rated by: plastic on 2005-07-05 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: Aerograd Kolomna
Pros: Good facilities and friendly professional staff.
Cons: none

Professionalism
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Location

I visited kolomna with an 8-way crw team in june 2005.
Despite the fact that we wanted to exit at 7000ft and then fly across the dz building canopy formations this seemed to cause no inconvenience to the dropzone due to the very professional staff that run the dz control and on the busiest day they still did 58 loads and were still jumping when we left the dz.
Kolomna was operating an MI-8, let-410 and an AN28. Even at the busiest time we had no more than 30 minutes between manifesting and jumping but 10-15 minutes was more normal.
This dropzone is rapidly becoming one of the best in the world and offers excellent facilities with all buildings being very modern and well maintained. The recently completed toilet and shower block is as good as you would find on a dz anywhere, and accommodation is also rapidly being completed on the dropzone.
There are two large covered packing areas, good catering facilities and the dropzone is large and hazard free.
I would recommend this dropzone to anybody but it may be worth making the effort to learn a little russian before you go, however if this is not possible you will get by without too much trouble as the staff and local jumpers are all very friendly and helpful with a few of them speaking good english.
Would i return, definately.
Enjoy.

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(Review ID:2327)

3 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

A world class DZ with excellent aircraft and instructors who have a wealth of experience. If you wan

Rated by: MatthewPrice on 2005-06-07 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: Aerograd Kolomna
Pros: Very friendly and professional staff, who strike a great balance between discipline and fun.
Cons: Obtaining a visa. Traffic to and from Moscow airport at peek period is an issue.

Professionalism
Vibe
Aircraft
Facilities
Services
Location

I have recently moved to Moscow and am pleasantly surprised to find such a fabulous drope zone. It is very effcicently run with 50-60 loads a day quite normal at the weekend. There are highly experienced staff, with world championship standard backgrounds, who are friendly and welcoming. Low jump level people can quickly find themselved welcomed and on 10+ RW formations. There is nothing elitist about the people despite the fact that they are world class. Equipment is modern and at 13-14$ a jump ticket it is a highly attractive option for people who want to make a lot of cost effective jumps. The manifest is fast and efficent and they will call the loads in English if you ask. I would highly recommend it.

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(Review ID:2328)

7 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

Best DZ

Rated by: ernguru on 2005-06-07 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: Aerograd Kolomna
Pros: Friendly, Cheap, Great Staff, Great Aircraft, Packers, etc etc etc
Cons: None

Professionalism
Vibe
Aircraft
Facilities
Services
Location

This was my first visit to Russia and I spent 4 weekends jumping at Aerograd where I easily got 46 jumps. I could have got double that amount if I was at the club from 1st load to last load every day.

Everyone was very friendly and even though there was the obvious language barrier by learning a few Russian words you can easily get by.
The food hall is great and by pointing or making friends with one of the regular jumpers you can eat very well.
The toilets and showers are very good and the club is busy building huts to stay in which should be ready in the next few weeks.
From the moment I got out of the taxi at the DZ (3pm) I was made to feel very welcome and after the paperwork and a slight weather hold I was up in the air (4pm) and managed 6 jumps by 9pm.

My only problem was that I could not stay longer.
This is a very very well organised professional safety conscious club.
I do not have a negative thing to say about this club.
My thanks to all staff and club members for making my trip to Aerograd very memorable.
I WILL BE BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

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