Hello, I am a total newbie, never jumped off an aeroplane, still wondering why you would that if the plane is alright etc... Basically, as probably the majority of people - I feel really bad when the distance between myself and the ground is big. So I thought that the best way of fighting my fear would be... to try skydiving ;). I know that I won't be able to jump off a plane, but I think that will be my instructor's problem, while tandem jumping. Later I might think about AFF course... I came here to ask you a question about the safety of skydiving. I know that this is extreme sport, there are deaths etc... BUT: If you follow all the necessary procedures, do not try to do anything sophisticated but merely jump off, free-fall, open the parachute at the safe altitude and land -> in such a situation, is the risk really significant? Is the amount of people suffering serious injuries while merely amateur-jumping really big? If I wanted to do AFF later on - do you believe that a trained person, jumping in the conditions which a given centre regards as acceptable, following strict procedures, is under serious risk? I am a sailor, diver etc. The thing e.g. about diving is -> obviously, it is a special environment, obviously there are injuries etc. But it is easier to die in a car accident than find a person who got injured while following all the procedures. In majority of cases it is the bravado, laziness in checking the equipment or ignoring small problems, which cause problems. What I am also worried about in skydiving is an improperly or negligently packed parachute. Does it happen often? Is the packing method quite permissive, or a small mistake can be very serious afterwards? [P.S. Feel free to post your own beliefs and opinions or whatever you have heard or read. None of the information as a legally binding expert information etc.] Thank you for your help! Theriel
