Skydivers Safety Check List

Equipment

Packing, maintenance & checks

• Lines straight with no twists
• All lines Centred
• Brakes properly stowed
• Slider against the stops & in correct position
• Line stows proper length
• Stow bands correct size & condition, all the same
• Correct line length between risers & bag as recommended by container manufacturer
• Closing loop proper length and in good condition
• Pilot chute bridle routed correctly
• Pilot chute cocked
• Pilot chute folded and stowed as per owner's manual

Maintenence

Harness / container checks

• No broken or frayed stitching & fabric
• Velcro in good condition
• Tuck tabs in good condition
• Clean release cables
• Un-frayed closing loops
• Pilot chute pouch (elastic tight, spandex in good condition)
• Ripcord secure (velcro)
• Puds secure
• All Safety Directives complied with

Main parachute checks

• Pilot chute handle (secure)
• No rips or tears (pilot chute)
• Pin secure (on bridle)
• Cocking cord in good shape (collapseable pilot chute)
• Bag grommets secure and undamaged
• Bridle attachment point secure
• No rips, tears or broken stitching (canopy)
• No broken stitching or damage (all lines)
• Slider grommets not worn, broken or unseated
• Slider material in good shape
• Slider clear of line burns and broken stitching
• Connecter links & bumpers in good condition
• Soft links not worn - correctly assembled

Steering System Checks

• Toggles secure (knotted or finger trapped)
• Velcro in good condition (if used)
• Keeper ring not corroded
• Wear on stitching and fabric
• Excess line keepers secure (elastic or fabric)

Pre-Boarding Gear Checks

3 - Ring System

• Only one ring through another
• Riser loop through smallest ring only
• Loop in good condition
• Loop through riser, then through grommet on housing
• Cables through housing & loop - stowed in channel
• No corrosion on rings
• 3 Rings rotate freely

Harness

• No twists in webbing
• Correctly routed webbing through hardware
• Snaps correctly closed
• Excess webbing retained in keepers
• Handles secure
• Hardware free from corrosion
• Webbing not concave through wear
• Wear indicator not broken

Reserve

• Closing loop in good shape
• Reserve pin in correct position
• Seal in place (if fitted) Seal at top of pin clear of grommet
• Ripcord cable free in housing
• RSL attached and routed correctly if fitted
• AAD turned on
• Packing card in date
• Wear indicator not broken

Main

• Closing loop in good shape
• Pin seated correctly
• Pilot chute secure
• Handle accessible
• Bridle routed correctly
• Pilot chute cocked (check window)

Accessories

• Altimeter set to zero
• Audible altimeter turned on
• Goggles in place (unbroken)
• Gloves (if worn)
• Headware
• AAD on

Boarding

• Approach aircraft from behind
• Don equipment and get checks prior to boarding
• Protect handles when boarding
• Protect handles when others board
• Board in opposite order of exit

Takeoff

• Don headgear and fasten strap
• Use restraints if available

Aircraft Emergencies

• Follow the pilots instructions
• Don't panic
• Don headgear
• Don't move around unless pilot instructs you to do so
• If landing, ensure restraints are securely fastened
• Assume crash position
• Once landed, move away from aircraft if able

The Exit

• Plan the spot and exit order prior to boarding aircraft
• If in groups, exit aircraft so all can make it to the dropzone
• Leave adequate separation between groups

Freefall, Deployment & Canopy Control

Break-off

• Plan break-off prior to boarding aircraft
• If circumstances dictate, add to break-off altitude

Tracking

• At break-off, turn and track from the centre of the formation
• If below formation, track when others do
• Track in a straight line
• Wave off and check above before throwing pilot chute

Deployment

• Look for others close by during deployment
• Place hands on rear risers during deployment
• Once open, check for other canopies
• If any conflict arises, steer with rear risers
• If head-on collision imminent, steer right

Under Canopy

• On inflation, use rear risers to steer clear of canopies
• Once open & clear of traffic, do a control check
• Collapse slider and release brakes
• Look before turning
• Don't spiral down through other canopies
• Lower canopies have right of way
• Follow landing pattern

On Landing

• Avoid obstacles on the ground, fixed or moving
• Ensure lots of free space in front of where you want to land
• Keep an eye on the right and left for converging canopies for the entire landing

Emergencies

Total Malfunctions

• Arch
• Look at cut away handle
• Reach for cut away handle
• Look at reserve ripcord handle
• Pull cut away handle while still looking at reserve ripcord handle
• Reach for reserve ripcord handle
• Pull reserve ripcord handle (clear cable housing)
• Check canopy

Partial Malfunctions

• Arch
• Look at cut away handle
• Reach for cut away handle
• Look at reserve ripcord handle
• Reach for reserve ripcord handle
• Pull cut away handle while still looking at reserve ripcord handle
• Pull reserve ripcord handle (clear cable housing)
• Check canopy

2 Canopies Out

• Downplane or side-by-side, release main canopy
• Biplane -- steer with dominant canopy in front -- don't release brakes on other canopy
• If entangled, try to clear & control
• Don't flare if landing two canopies
• Do a PLF

Canopy Collisions

• If collision unavoidable, try to avoid body contact
• Spread arms and legs to avoid going between lines
• Protect handles
• Consider using hook knife, if accessible
• Communicate with other jumper before cutting lines or activating release system