Photo By Steve Shorten | D-27932

Jumpers Paul Cochran, Art Cross, Tim Guy, Daryl Harmon, Mike McCormick, Jim Nelson, Dana Parker, Dick Pigg, Bob Summers, Jim Trimby and Ed Zell set the 11-way Indiana Skydivers Over Sixty Record for Largest Formation Skydive over Frankfort, Indiana.

The Federal Aviation Administration ruled in favor of a USPA member who sought airport access for his skydiving business in Romeo, Michigan.

These days it often seems that everything is described in the extreme. Simply fun outings become “epic,” everyday good things are “amazing” or “awesome,” and everyday good people become “legends.” However, that which is truly epic, amazing or legendary clearly stands out as the genuine article. Thomas Jenkins was absolutely such a legend.

USPA is looking for 15 remarkable photographs for the 2019 USPA Skydive Calendar. Photographers must submit entries by July 31 for consideration.

Photo by August Haeuser | D-32152

I am by no means a skydiver, but skydiving did truly change my life!

After I had a heart-crushing breakup, my friend Jenn told me how she once went skydiving to feel alive again after hitting rock bottom. Completely devastated, I agreed, and we made tandem appointments at Freefall Adventures (now called Skydive Cross Keys) in New Jersey. Little did I know that fate had plans for me.

Rachel Kennedy | B-46618
Clinton Township, Michigan 

Each year, the National Aeronautic Association selects what it considers aviation's most memorable records from the previous year and honors those records at an event near Washington, D.C. 

Competing  in  4-way  formation  skydiving  can  be  a  lot  of  fun  and  also  very  challenging.  It’s  the  kind  of  sport  you  can  enjoy  casually  on  the weekend  or  devote  your  life  to  (like  the  members  of  SDC  Rhythm  XP  do)! If  you’re  thinking  of  participating,  you’ll  first  need  to  learn  a  little about  the  formations  and  the  five  positions  on  the  team.

For skydivers, two things keep us in the sport—our passion for human flight and the amazing friendships we build with others who share that passion.

Welcome to the front office! This new bimonthly column will take you behind the scenes of jump piloting to give you insight into the job and why your pilots do what they do. Author Chas Hines, C-41147, is an airline pilot and certified flight instructor who spent five years as a jump pilot at various drop zones. He has logged more than 5,000 hours of flight time, 500 of those instructing other pilots. He’s also been skydiving for 13 years and has more than 1,500 jumps. He can often be found load organizing at Skydive Arizona in Eloy. 

In May, USPA promoted Steve Hubbard to director of the competition and records department, which is responsible for the USPA National Championships, the U.S. Parachute Team, competitive events and skydiving records.

By Gary Patmor | D-720

"Over 18 years, through profound changes in skydiving equipment, procedures, and methods of instruction, Jim has worked hard to produce the dramatic decline in serious accidents in our sport."

While her skydiving accomplishments were incredible, it was her humanity and her love of friends and family that made her such an icon in the skydiving world.

In a sport that requires correctly functioning equipment for your survival, how much do you really know about your skydiving gear? Each year, fatal and non-fatal accidents stem from issues with skydiving equipment. The vast majority of these could have been avoided had the jumpers simply known more about their gear or performed basic gear checks to discover the problem before boarding or exiting the airplane. 

Tony Bourke uses humor and colorful language to get across his points during a Safety Day presentation at Skydive Oregon in Molalla. 

 Photo by Mark Leglise | C-44062 

On June 1, USPA began the process that culminates in its members electing the 2019-2021 USPA Board of Directors. All USPA members in good standing who are at least age 18 on or before August 1, 2018, are eligible to run for one of the 14 Regional Director or eight National Director seats.