Skydive Atlanta

Skydive Atlanta is a phenominal DZ. My first and only day there was as if it was my hundredth. Friendly staff, and more importantly, friendly jumpers. The only 'tude here is ALTItude. The Super Twin is a rocket, you're up to 14K in about 8 minutes.
There's a big indoor packing area, nice shop, and huge grassy landing areas and a million outs if you need them. I just wish I lived there.

People ~ The people of SA are beautiful in every aspect! The DZOs are approachable and caring. The load organizers are safe and trusting. The up-jumpers are sweet and loving. They are all very beautiful people.

Hangar ~ The hangar is very large with comfortable carpet, easy to pack on. Just watch out for the dog hair. Lay your things on an old blanket or mat. If you are allergic to dogs, I would suggest to bring your medication. I am not bashing on the dogs, as they are all sweet and playful...they just shed a lot of hair :^D

Aircraft ~ Super Fast & Super Groovy! The inside of the Super King Air is decorated with leopard seats and purple plush walls...along with a kickbutt sound system!

Landing Area & Outs ~ Nicely groomed grass, HUGE airport, Many Outs & enforced landing pattern for safety.

I really enjoyed my visit to SA. I got lost on a few of the roads...as they can be a bit tricky. But for the most part, I really recommend visiting this wonderful dropzone!

As a recent import to GA I've gone around and checked out a variety of the dz's in the area. So far, without a doubt, this is the best with the best people. There's a ton of freeflying going on (where else can you pick up a 5 point, 6 way HD with the local flyers) and plenty of knowledge to be handed out in all disciplines including Swooping, Crew, RW and VRW.

The tandem masters and AFF instructors are top notch, I feel very, very comfortable recommending them to my friends and family.

Now, the plane. It's a king air and it's frigging awesome! Around 8 mins to 14000 every load!!

It's now my home dz, so hope to see you all there!

Blues,
Ian

About 18 months ago I wrote my first review of Skydive Atlanta. Well, I was wrong when I said 8.5 out of 10 (remember, I was a newbie back then). 500 jumps later (and after visiting a dozen or so other drop-zones), I can provide an unqualified opinion that Skydive Atlanta is one of the BEST DZs in the United States.

Where should I start? The facilities are excellent. Huge hangar, plenty of room. The people are AWESOME, the friendliest DZ I've ever been to. You are never a stranger here. Within 10 minutes you will be introduced to all the regular jumpers (whether you are a free-flyer, belly-flyer or a one-man-hybrid flyer like me). Always a friendly crowd after-hours. Stick around for the videos of the day, sit back, enjoy a movie and a few cold ones.

Landing facilities are the best I've seen so far. Not a single dip, hole, rock or stub in the landing area. This is the best groomed landing area in the U.S. Had a bad spot or pulled a tad too low? Don't worry! About 4000 acres of FLAT alternate landing spots.

I had four cut-aways in 12 months at Skydive Atlanta. I landed with my main and free-bag twice and the other two times the owners had my main canopy retrieved before I landed the reserve ! How's that for service? Moreover, if you land any where near the end of the runway in either direction,(that's about 1/2 mile from the main landing area) you are pretty much guaranteed a comfortable ride back in a car to the landing area. Needles to say, if you have to land outside of the airport, you can be assured that at least two experience jumpers will be looking for you! Either the owners or another experienced jumper will pick you up! No kidding, this DZ has the most caring jumpers you can ever hope for.

Aircraft? How about a screaming King Air, anywhere between 6 to 8 minutes to full altitude (that's 13.5 AGL). In over 450 jumps at this DZ I had less than 5 jumps below 13,000 ( and that's due to weather). Slow day? They will fly you in the Cessna 182 to 10,500.

Safety? Extremely safe operation. Best of all, the safety mind-set permeates the DZ. Everyone is on the lookout for your safety !

The instructors are OUTSTANDING. No Sky Gods here. You get an honest input to your questions and priceless advice.

In summary, I've been jumping at SkyDive Atlanta for over 18 months and miss the place every day that I am not there. The sport could use more DZs like SDA: caring, safe, friendly and committed to the experience jumpers as well as the first time jumpers. I have NEVER seen a first time jumper complain about the service or the experience. Truly a class-act!

If your travel takes you through Atlanta, give it a try. If you are considering a first jump in the Atlanta area, this is the premier place to go.

Cheers
George

I made my first jump at Skydive Atlanta over the weekend and it was awesome. I had Dennis as my instructor and my jump master. The whole staff there is really nice and Safety is Top Notch to them! I came here to this web site and read the reviews about SDA before I went and man weren't they right!! It was an awesome jump and I plan to go back soon. I am proud to call SDA my home DZ.

I visited Skydive Atlanta for the first time this weekend. I arrived at about 5 pm. I admit I was little nervous because I did't expect to see anyone I knew. Fortunately, I knew one of the video flyers and one of the instructors from another DZ. Mandy in manifest was very friendly and professional. She checked my gear and my license and asked me if I wanted on the next load. All of the upjumpers and staff were very friendly. They were very safety conscience, asking about my currency, checking manifest against jumpers on the plane, etc. The rigging staff is top notch. I landed from a load and manifested for the next one which was on 15 minute call, droppped my rig to be packed and asked if it could be ready by the next load. They packed it and I had time to spare. Friendly and professional, what more can you ask for?
How about a rocket to get you to altitude?
Their King Air is pretty close. It felt like a vertical launch when we took off and 7 or 8 minutes later I was out the door. The plane was so nice on the inside it wouldn't have bothered me one bit if the ride lasted longer. Bottom line: I highly recommend Skydive Atlanta. Blue Skies

Its been over a year since I jumped in Thomaston. I was shipped overseas for some time and I came back to the U.S. and landed in Las Vegas. I have made about 100 jumps since I left them in Aug 2001, but I still consider SKYDIVE ATLANTA my home DZ.(other then DZ.COM)I have oinly made 36 jumps with them but I met some of the coolest people there that I still talk to today.
The atmosphere was always light and fun, yet safety was a key issue.
Its been a year so I dont know how they've improved the place, but I know they were making some big changes!
my 1st jump in Thomaston was Trey and TIm's 1st weekend as owner's. in the time I jumped there they made terrific changes, and I know they had big plans!
I will be back there to visit...REGULARLY! I cant wait to see everyone again!

I hate to jump on the bandwagon, but I too choose to make a longer drive to Skydive Atlanta in Thomaston. While I ocasionally jump at other GA DZs, I keep going back (and sending tandems) to Thomaston.

This is far and away the best dropzone in the Atlanta Area. The DZ is owned by freeflyers that are always buying new things to improve the dropzone. This is a jumper dropzone run for skydivers not a tandem mill, there is consistently 20-30 regular skydivers there every weekend, with over 60-80 regulars jumpers. They have the largest airplane of the GA DZs with an Otter, and the airport has more outs than i have seen at any other dz (except those in the desert), the area is flat and grassy, while the landing areas on the DZ are many and large. And if you land at the end of the runway then their will be a car or 3 down thier to meet you. The DZ is has many of both freeflyers and RW people with Wicked Liquid and Nemisis training thier and offering load organizing. And when the sun sets well they dont close down, the beer light comes on, the music gets turned up and a party begins, many people just crash in the hanger.

All in all this is the best, most personable, and best feeling dropzone i have ever been to.

Jonathan Bartlett
[email protected]
C-31802

This is my home drop zone even though it is twice the drive as ASC. The people are friendly and always willing to help out a fellow jumper. They have professional coaching available for both RW and Free flying. The landing area is huge(and flat! unlike ASC) and there are plenty of outs. Manifest takes care of the jumpers and accounts for them on every jump. If you land off rest assured that someone will be there to pick you up(probably before you even land). The staff and jumpers here are very safety concious. I wouldnt jump here if they werent. They have a full time Super Otter and Wendel's Cessna. Nice shower facilities, restaurant, and plenty of space for camping. It has had a recent management change as Mike finally gave up the DZO game but I havent seen much of any change in the operation. It's a great place to Skydive! I only gave it a 9 because it doesnt have a bar like Raeford, NC. Let's change that....

I have nothing but good things to say about this dz. The people are cool and the place is great. If your going to Atlanta...jump here. I'm going back!

Often imitated but never duplicated.
There can be only one SKYDIVE ATLANTA!
When I first arrived at Skydive Atlanta I was treated like I had been there forever.
Thanks to all the jumpers and staff at SDA.

Thomaston has some of the best instructors in the state, great facilities, and open landing areas.

This is a great DZ out on a nice county(Thomaston-Upson) airport-it has a good large landing area with LOTS of outs,not too crammed in with wires or trees,a wonderful mix of friendly,talented people who'd jump at the chance to do a fun skydive with you or challenge you with a more complicated aerial set;a well-run manifest,a professional, experienced staff,excellent camera people,load organizing for those who want to attain freeflying or RW skills,a big Twin Otter with bench seats-lots of fun to jump out of-it's also kid and pet-friendly;they have a huge trampoline on site and plenty of room for the kids to run around and play-the family atmosphere is welcome and refreshing!I have been to most of the dropzones in the state and have found Skydive Atlanta to be the best one around.