What to Know About Skydiving Altitudes

If you’re planning on making a tandem jump, you may be wondering what height you skydive from, and there are multiple answers. Drop zones throughout the world exit their airplanes from different skydiving altitudes. Within the industry, there is a wide range of altitude offerings from 7,000 feet right up to 18,000 feet. The size and power of the airplane will determine the jump altitude. So what’s the typical skydiving height in the USA?

For most drop zones in the United States, the average altitude for skydiving is 10,000 feet. That’s because most drop zones operate a small, efficient, single-engine aircraft called a Cessna 182 which is powerful enough to take you to 10,000 feet. From 10,000 feet, a tandem jumper can expect to be in freefall for around 40 seconds, followed by four to five minutes under the parachute before landing.

How High Are Skydiving Jumps?

In the recreational world of skydiving, jumping is most often conducted between the altitudes of 10,000 and 13,500 feet. Skydiving from above 15,000 feet requires the use of oxygen, which is why most skydiving operators jump from under that altitude.

How Altitude Affects Your Skydiving Experience

If a licensed skydiver were given a choice to jump from between 10,000 feet and 13,500 feet, the majority of experienced jumpers would take the higher option. Skydiving from a higher altitude allows for more time in free fall, and flying for as long as possible is what skydivers love most. A 10,000-foot jump allows for approximately 45 seconds of free fall, whereas a 13,500-foot skydive is around 60 seconds. For a first time tandem jump, you’ll discover that those seconds go by really fast!

Is It Possible To Jump From Above 15,000 Feet?

Skydiving above 15,000 feet is not uncommon in the professional skydiving world. Highly experienced skydivers performing large formation skydives may exit the plane from an altitude of 19,000 feet. Mount Everest has the highest skydiving height where skydive jumps take place in the stunning Himalayas from 23,000 feet. The critical consideration for these higher altitude jumps is the use of oxygen. At higher altitudes, the air becomes thinner, and if a skydiver doesn’t get enough oxygen, they can suffer from the effects of hypoxia.

What Is Hypoxia?

Hypoxia is a condition in which the body or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply at the tissue level. Becoming hypoxic can lead to altitude sickness, which can result in potentially fatal complications: high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and high altitude cerebral edema (HACE). Obviously, these extreme high altitude jumps require professional jumpers, specialty aircraft, and supplemental oxygen.

What Is The Skydiving Altitude At Skydive Newport?

At Skydive Newport, we jump from an altitude of 10,000 feet, giving you 45 seconds of free fall and a peaceful four to five minutes under the canopy while overlooking the beautiful Newport, Rhode Island coastline. If you are ready to fly, give us a call to book your tandem jump today!