Is a Solo Skydive with reduced vision possible

[Joshua60111 0]

Hi everyone,

I completed my first tandem skydive a few months ago from 15K and want to complete a solo dive through an AFF course.  I was given all the details for it on the day to which I enquired about whether it would be possible with my visual impairment.  I will try to explain it as best as I can as far as I understand it. 

I suffer from Oculocutaneous albinism meaning I have a reduced ability to produce pigment / melanin which is essential during the formation of the eye.  This leads to a reduced concentration of receptors on the retina ( reducing the 'resolution' or visual acuity ) and also allows way more light to pass through resulting in photophobia ( increased sensitivity to light).  

The photophobia is manageable and could be completely negated with a pair of tinted goggles, similar to the kind that i've used to participate in motocross and other sports, however my best corrected visual acuity BCVA is about 20 / 75 left eye and 20 / 100 in the right.  I can read a car number plate at a max distance of around 13 meters with tinted prescription glasses which is below the typical standard to drive.  I have no problems with depth perception or field of vision, the condition is completely stable and i'm otherwise fit and healthy. 

I have read various articles which suggest discussing with both a qualified doctor and with individual drop zones and know of some extreme cases involving completely blind jumpers like John Heming and Dan Rossi, however the medical forms seem to quite clearly draw the line at 6/12 (20/40) minimum required BCVA.  Is there any way that I could be deemed as safe to participate in an AFF course or am I solely limited to tandem dives ?  

If I was jumping in a low traffic DZ, to reduce the chances of collision, with instructors aware of my condition and possibly audio alerts for different altitude levels and radio communication and possibly even a ground spotter is this visual handicap something that could be worked around ?  I would really like to participate in an AFF course, if possible, and tick the 'solo dive' off my bucket list.  Any further information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks all!

Edited July 18, 2022 by Joshua60111

[wmw999 2,117]

I don’t know about BPA rules; they’re different on things like this. In the US it would be very much up to the individual drop zone. I had a friend in the 70’s with much more restricted vision who made it to freefall using the static line progression. I’d start by contacting an individual DZ and talking to their chief instructor. If it’s absolutely not possible in the UK, then make it a “what if” discussion — you’ll still learn something, and can use that to start a discussion in Spain or somewhere else.

Good luck

Wendy P. 

[Bokdrol 40]

On 7/18/2022 at 10:40 PM, Joshua60111 said:

Hi everyone,

I completed my first tandem skydive a few months ago from 15K and want to complete a solo dive through an AFF course.  I was given all the details for it on the day to which I enquired about whether it would be possible with my visual impairment.  I will try to explain it as best as I can as far as I understand it. 

I suffer from Oculocutaneous albinism meaning I have a reduced ability to produce pigment / melanin which is essential during the formation of the eye.  This leads to a reduced concentration of receptors on the retina ( reducing the 'resolution' or visual acuity ) and also allows way more light to pass through resulting in photophobia ( increased sensitivity to light).  

The photophobia is manageable and could be completely negated with a pair of tinted goggles, similar to the kind that i've used to participate in motocross and other sports, however my best corrected visual acuity BCVA is about 20 / 75 left eye and 20 / 100 in the right.  I can read a car number plate at a max distance of around 13 meters with tinted prescription glasses which is below the typical standard to drive.  I have no problems with depth perception or field of vision, the condition is completely stable and i'm otherwise fit and healthy. 

I have read various articles which suggest discussing with both a qualified doctor and with individual drop zones and know of some extreme cases involving completely blind jumpers like John Heming and Dan Rossi, however the medical forms seem to quite clearly draw the line at 6/12 (20/40) minimum required BCVA.  Is there any way that I could be deemed as safe to participate in an AFF course or am I solely limited to tandem dives ?  

If I was jumping in a low traffic DZ, to reduce the chances of collision, with instructors aware of my condition and possibly audio alerts for different altitude levels and radio communication and possibly even a ground spotter is this visual handicap something that could be worked around ?  I would really like to participate in an AFF course, if possible, and tick the 'solo dive' off my bucket list.  Any further information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks all!

Given that the BPA /BS don't even allow 100% fit adults over the age of 55 to do AFF in the UK, I would have thought that your chances of completing an AFF1 jump in the UK are pretty slim. You can but ask. I know that disabled ex servicemen (BLESMA) do have some dispensation but whether or not that extends to sight issues, I can't say. As the previous poster said, you might have better luck in Spain (or one of the other EU countries)  where the rules may not be less rigorous but are, on occasion, possibly less rigorously enforced. Good luck with your quest.

Edited July 20, 2022 by Bokdrol

[riggerrob 558]

Possible, with precautions.

Try visiting an aviation medical examiner (doctor who examines pilots) to discuss vision limitations ... or an optometrist when routinely examines pilots.

Also consider doing a simplified jump like IAD or static-line when your parachute will start to open almost immediately after you let go of the airplane 3,000 feet or 1 kilometer above the planet). S/L will reduce the number of variables you need to deal with.

If BPA proves problematic, consider going to a DZ with fewer obstacles (rivers, lakes, wires, roads, alligator farms, etc. Even people with perfect vision have difficulty seeing wires from above. Perhaps visiting a desert skydiving school will further reduce the number of landing hazards you need to avoid.

The better schools already equip students with radios and station an instructor - with a radio - at the target to talk students down. However, radios are not perfect and sometimes fail, so you need to understand the entire parachute steering process before you board the airplane for a solo jump. For back up, many schools also have a huge white arrow on the groudn beside the target. Few students can understand the arrow from 3,000 feet away, but it becomes clearer the closer you get.