I recently sat down with our pilot, Dave, to better understand what the pilots are expecting of us, and to get some tips and things you can do to make everyone’s life a little safer and a little easier.

Becoming a skydiving instructor… The thought alone has so many different meanings, emotions, reasons. The list can go on and on. 

You’re standing in front of an open hangar that comfortably fits three Cessna Caravan jump planes, looking out across vast lands of corn and soybean, the skies are big and blue with towering clouds the size of skyscrapers. To your left there’s a quaint RV park with a community garden, to your right a bustling restaurant and a sand volleyball court and you find your foot tapping away to catchy music playing out of the speakers. You’re in Rochelle, Illinois where the population count is barely surpassing 9,000 and you’re thinking to yourself: How did I get here? (Cue The Talking Heads) 

There are many reasons why you might be considering traveling to jump at a new DZ. Perhaps like us, you’re dealing with winter weather in a spot that just isn’t all that conducive to jumping out of an airplane. A nice cool breeze is great, but being able to feel your hands on deployment is always a big plus, right? So perhaps you’ve decided you’re up for a destination kind of experience. Or, maybe you’re searching for new avenues to pursue in the sport and the best coaches have yet to reach your DZ. Regardless of why you’re looking to expand the skies you fly, there are a few things to think about before heading off.

You’ve done it. You’re a licensed skydiver. You’ve spent the last season (or perhaps even two) working your way through the growing pains involved with starting out in the sport. You’ve either been jumping rental gear and racking up pretty impressive spending habits each weekend, or you’ve cobbled together a decent fitting container, a workable main, reserve, and an AAD with some life left in it. You’re a lifer now, and you know it.