Is There a Maximum Age for Skydiving?
Time flies! With careers to advance, children to raise, and myriad endeavors eating up days, months, and even years, in the blink of an eye you can find yourself with a long bucket list of dreams and a nagging query: has the opportunity to skydive passed me by? Luckily, there is no real maximum age for skydiving.
Age Requirement For Skydiving
In order to skydive at a United States Parachute Association (USPA) group member dropzone, you need to be at least 18 years of age. However, there is no statute on a maximum skydiving age limit. Though there is technically no maximum age for skydiving, there are a few health requirements that must be met before you can be approved to skydive.
Health Considerations For Skydiving
Before putting someone in the air, whether they be considered a young adult, middle-aged, or a senior citizen, there are several health requirements we take into consideration.
Cardiac Health
Skydiving is thrilling. There is no doubt about it: jumping from an airplane in flight will get your heart thumping and your blood pumping.
To be eligible for a skydive, whether tandem or solo, an individual will need to have a clean bill of health. Certain heart conditions, the need for supplemental oxygen, or the use of specific medications may preclude an individual from making a skydive. We want to share the joy of skydiving with everyone we can, but we cannot do it at the expense of the safety of the tandem student or of the tandem instructor.
It is important to note that the thinner air at altitude can also put additional stress on the heart, and so, it is imperative that an individual be in good cardiac health and have normal range blood pressure before jumping.
Mobility and Flexibility
In order to complete a skydive, you will first need to board the aircraft. Skydiving aircraft are not like commercial planes. Rather than walking down a jetway, you will need to board the aircraft through a set of metal stairs that are placed against the open door. An individual will need to be able to climb these stairs and, depending on height, crouch while entering the airplane door.
Furthermore, during the freefall portion of the skydive, the student will need to be able to maintain the skydiving arch to ensure a stable freefall. This act physically requires flexibility throughout the torso/core and back.
Lastly, most landings will require the tandem student to lift their legs 90 degrees in order to “slide in.” To avoid issues on landing, an individual must have the strength to successfully lift their legs to a seated position.
Previous Shoulder Injuries
For those with healthy shoulders, the tug of freefall on the arms is negligible. However, if you have had prior shoulder injuries or dislocations, you run a greater risk of injury while skydiving. If you have had prior issues with your shoulders, you will need to consult with your physician before skydiving.
Mental Acuity
A tandem skydive is not like a roller coaster ride.
Skydiving requires the active participation of the tandem student. While on a skydive, you will need to take directions from your instructor throughout the entire experience.
What’s more, willing consent is required for skydiving. Individuals need to be fully aware of the risks they are taking by skydiving.
Oldest Person to Skydive
At Skydive Tecumseh, we are pleased to have taken individuals with ages ranging from 18 to 98 skydiving, and across the world, many bona fide centenarians have taken flight!
Currently, the oldest person to skydive is Rut Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson of Sweden. On May 29, 2022, at the age of 103 years and 259 days old (!!), Rut beat the previous Guinness World Record for the oldest person to skydive held by Alfred “Al” Blaschke, a young 103 years and 181 days at his last jump!
Like they say…
Age is just a number!
If you’re unsure if you meet the skydiving criteria listed above, please contact us. Our primary concern is always safety and, if in doubt, we may request that you consult with your doctor before skydiving. That being said, if you’re 18 years of age or older, and ready and able to go skydiving, give us a call! We’d love to get you in the air!
The post Is There a Maximum Age for Skydiving? appeared first on Skydive Tecumseh.