showithers 0 #1 March 2, 2008 My 13 year old son has just been dying to go skydiving; it's all that he has been thinking about for a very long time. I can usually find him at the computer looking at websites related to skydiving, (including this one) and I want to take him so bad! Is there anyway at all that I could legally take him skydiving? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #2 March 2, 2008 Your profile is empty, so it's hard to give proper advice to you. 1) In the U.S. it's 18 y/o unless some places (Las Vegas) are said to take them at 16 with parents written consent. 2) If it's outside the U.S. you might have better luck as their laws may not be as strict. 3) My advice is to let him dream and grow his 'book' knowledge, while taking him to a wind tunnel to gain the body skill. It's expensive, but you'd satisfy his longing to 'fly' until he's of proper age. **Google "Wind Tunnel Team Future" and read about how their parents are footing the bill so their kids can do something fun. Some parents let their kids do soccer or little league baseball. These parents take their kids to the wind tunnel. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
benbarclay 0 #3 March 2, 2008 come jump in Australia, as far as i know its 14 for a tandem Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Para5-0 0 #4 March 2, 2008 The Tandem Instructor/ DZ can apply for a waiver, and yes it can be done. Where are you located? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #5 March 2, 2008 Quote My 13 year old son has just been dying to go skydiving; it's all that he has been thinking about for a very long time. I can usually find him at the computer looking at websites related to skydiving, (including this one) and I want to take him so bad! Is there anyway at all that I could legally take him skydiving? If you're in the USA, 16 for Static Line, and 18 for other methods, as far as I know. Now if your son's father was a Drop Zone Owner, he could go much earlier and keep it quiet. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baseknut 0 #6 March 2, 2008 Quote My 13 year old son has just been dying to go skydiving; it's all that he has been thinking about for a very long time. I can usually find him at the computer looking at websites related to skydiving, (including this one) and I want to take him so bad! Is there anyway at all that I could legally take him skydiving? Hint: Non USPA dropzones Some state laws require 18. But I know that the FAA has no age restrictions.Step into my (sub)terminal Playground Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 0 #7 March 2, 2008 In The Netherlands we have no minimum age for tandems, you just have to fit the harness ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PERRYSTONE04 0 #8 March 2, 2008 montreal canada at 14 he can do a tandem jump here is a link http://www.nouvelair.ca/FAQ.aspx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZigZagMarquis 8 #9 March 2, 2008 Take your kid to a windtunnel OR open a Drop Zone yourself... how many kids of DZOs out there had 100s of skydives before they turned 18? In the U.S., that's about your options. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zappman 0 #10 March 2, 2008 In Belgium you can start jumping from the year you turn 16. I think in France you can start jumping at the age of 15, with the consent of a doctor. I met a kid once who's father was a skydiving instructor and he wanted to go skydiving like his dad. When he turned 15 they went to france but the french doctor didn't give him permission because he was to small for his age. Had the bones of a 13 year old or something. He was pretty bummed out...So come to Europe to jump, you can even drink beer to celebrate your first jump, but ask somebody to drive you around in a car because you have to be 18 to do that Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
showithers 0 #11 March 2, 2008 Quote Quote My 13 year old son has just been dying to go skydiving; it's all that he has been thinking about for a very long time. I can usually find him at the computer looking at websites related to skydiving, (including this one) and I want to take him so bad! Is there anyway at all that I could legally take him skydiving? Hint: Non USPA dropzones Some state laws require 18. But I know that the FAA has no age restrictions. Sounds liike it might work, but do you know of any non-USPA dropzones in the U.S? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baseknut 0 #12 March 2, 2008 [url] Quote Quote Quote My 13 year old son has just been dying to go skydiving; it's all that he has been thinking about for a very long time. I can usually find him at the computer looking at websites related to skydiving, (including this one) and I want to take him so bad! Is there anyway at all that I could legally take him skydiving? Hint: Non USPA dropzones Some state laws require 18. But I know that the FAA has no age restrictions. Sounds liike it might work, but do you know of any non-USPA dropzones in the U.S? i am sorry but i dont know of any personally. try searching this site and google.. I personally know of a US jumper who did his first tandem at 9, and started skydiving at 14 or 16. Still active and not even 18 yet.Step into my (sub)terminal Playground Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zappman 0 #13 March 2, 2008 Maybe 13 is a little too young, i remember a video posted here a few years ago about parents wanted their son to be the youngest skydiver. They went to brasil and he became the youngest skydiving death http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1878179#1878179 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,049 #14 March 2, 2008 QuoteHint: Non USPA dropzones Some state laws require 18. But I know that the FAA has no age restrictions. Yeah, but the TM/TI still signed a contract with the manufacturer not to take anyone less than 18.Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
showithers 0 #15 March 3, 2008 You were saying there was a waiver that could be filled out to go skydiving under 16? How do I get the waiver; I never heard of it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 14 #16 March 3, 2008 You would need to speak to the DZ owner, the Safety and Traing advisor and the Instructor. The application then needs to go before the USPA Board of Directors to be voted on. They typically only hear underage requests for things like Make a Wish or other organizations where the person will not be alive long enough to legally jump. These are case by case basis only and usually only approved if there is enough evidence to make it worth the increased liability risk to the USPA and the tandem equipment manufactors. Honestly if you are in the US just go to a Wind Tunnel until they are 16, its easiest for everyone that way.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
showithers 0 #17 March 3, 2008 Thank you everyone for your posts! The only problem with going to a wind tunnel is that the closet one is about five hours away... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #18 March 3, 2008 Quote Thank you everyone for your posts! The only problem with going to a wind tunnel is that the closet one is about five hours away... Paraclete XP is the most awesome wind tunnel around. Not only new, but the largest SkyVenture one in operation at this time. Often our world class competitors hold clinics and competitions there. I bet if you called them in advance they could give you a schedule of upcoming events. That way your son could meet some of the best in the world when he goes the distance to get a taste of the sky. Just a thought. http://skyventure.com/tunnellocations/default.aspx?ID=299d98a1-4657-4646-a469-1acbf33798e3 ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydived19006 4 #19 March 4, 2008 Quote Is there anyway at all that I could legally take him skydiving? There is no Federal law regarding the minimum age to skydive. I do not know about individual state laws. That said, there is a lot of pressure outside of the law! As said, most instructors have signed a contract with the gear manufactures (maybe not if using Eclipse, or foreign gear). Just about every DZ requires a signed waiver, and you have to be the "legal age of contract" for it to be binding. Some DZs may allow 16 year olds with parents signed consent, but those "contracts" are generally worth less than the paper their written on. If you can't drive 5 hours to a wind tunnel, then I guess Europe is out of the question as well. He will more than likely have to wait until he's 18. Well, you could learn to skydive, make 500 jumps over 2 years, get your Tandem Instructor rating, buy a tandem rig, buy, or "find" an airplane, and take him yourself. You could do it in 2 years, and somewhere between $20,000 and $30,000 (if you don't buy your own airplane. Then figure a little more $.) Oh!! Don't forget to check with him mom!!! MartinExperience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TAXIWAY 0 #20 March 4, 2008 I remember doing some freefly jump with Jeff Mullins when he was 13. He was a great skydiver at 13 I can only image how good he is now. Try west tenn skydiving. You might could get him on a tandem. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrewEckhardt 0 #21 March 4, 2008 QuoteMy 13 year old son has just been dying to go skydiving; it's all that he has been thinking about for a very long time. I can usually find him at the computer looking at websites related to skydiving, (including this one) and I want to take him so bad! Is there anyway at all that I could legally take him skydiving? Sure. Provided that you comply with FAA regulations, there's no law against putting him in a parachute and tossing him out of an airplane. Of course doing that safely requires training, experience, a plane, and pilot. People you don't know with training and experience are nearly all going to be unwilling to take the legal risk of letting your son jump. Since he's under 18, he can't waive his right to sue if something (which may be his fault; doing the wrong thing on landing can get you badly broken legs or worse even on a tandem and $20-$200K+ hospital bills) goes wrong. You also can't waive a minor's right to sue if something (which may be his fault; doing the wrong thing on landing can get you badly broken legs or worse even on a tandem and $20-$200K+ hospital bills ) goes wrong. You might be a reasonable person who wouldn't sue and may raise a son who won't sue on his own if he's stuck with a limp but your health insurance company has a subrogation clause which lets them sue to recover costs ($20-$200K hospital bills). Some drop zones take the risk and let children skydive at 16 with parental consent (the minimum age according to the USPA Basic Safety Regulations) but finding one that will let strangers jump before that is unlikely to happen. Most of the kids who've jumped sooner in America have skydiving parents that are instructors, own dropzones, own planes, etc. Tandems are possible in countries where lawsuits are less prevalent. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
showithers 0 #22 March 4, 2008 Great news! I found a non-uspa dropzone that's going to take him. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydived19006 4 #24 March 5, 2008 Quote Get video You think that they'll run video? They're liable to lose their USPA Instructional ratings if "found out." If I'd ever done something like that, I'd prefer no paper trail, no video, etc. Keep no records, write nothing down, never happened. "I didn't do it, nobody saw me do it, you can't prove anything!" Edit to add: Just occurred to me, maybe these guys are "cowboys", and have no ratings to lose? I'm envisioning gear out of date, no AAD, no medical, no training, etc. Might want to ask around about your DZ. Anyone willing to ignore the age rule, especially with someone they have never met, is suspect in my book.Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
