Tandem skydive with disability - Skydiving with special considerations

Many dream of experiencing the feeling of free fall and the unique view from several kilometres high. That’s why we often get the question: Can you skydive with a disability?

The short answer is that in many cases it can be possible – but it depends on the nature of the disability and whether the jump can be carried out safely for both the passenger and the instructor.

At Dropzone Denmark, we see great interest in tandem skydives for people with physical or mental disabilities, and we always do our best to find a solution when it is realistic and justifiable. Many skydives can be completed with adjustments, but it requires thorough planning and clear expectations.

A skydive involves some basic requirements, and when you have a disability, there are additional factors that are important to be aware of.

A tandem skydive means that you jump together with a professional instructor, who manages the entire jump from start to finish. The instructor handles the equipment, parachute opening, control, and landing, so you as a passenger can focus on the experience.

This makes tandem jumps the most obvious option if you want a skydive with a disability, because you do not have to perform technical maneuvers in free fall yourself.

But even though the instructor takes responsibility, there are still some practical and physical things that can play an important role – especially when it comes to landing, body control, and communication along the way.

Preparation and landing – the most important point

The most important thing regarding a tandem jump with a disability is the ability to lift the legs during landing.

In a standard tandem landing, the passenger must lift their legs in front of them so that the instructor can land first and absorb the impact. This reduces the risk of the passenger's legs hitting the ground and taking the load. It is important that the legs come up to 90 degrees, using the hands to hold the legs up, and you must be able to maintain that position for at least a minute.

If you cannot lift your legs yourself

If you are unable to lift your legs yourself, there is a special solution where the legs are gathered and secured in a specially adapted harness. This way, the instructor can lift the legs for the passenger during landing.

This can make the jump possible for individuals with reduced mobility or paralysis, but it is important to know that this solution can feel more restrictive and claustrophobic for the tandem passenger. Therefore, one must be mentally prepared for the equipment to feel different from a standard tandem jump.

Upper body, tension and arm control

In addition to the legs, the upper body also plays a role during a skydive. If a person has physical challenges in the upper body – for example, a tendency for tension, cramps or uncontrolled movements – it can affect the stability and safety of the jump.

In free fall, one lies in a specific body position, and the instructor is behind the tandem passanger. If the arms move unexpectedly, it can in some cases create an imbalance or make it harder to perform the skydive correctly.

Therefore, it may be necessary to secure the arms, so the body remains stable. It may feel restrictive, but in some situations, it is precisely that adjustment that makes a tandem skydive possible for the disabled.

The instructor's assessment on the day and weather conditions

It is important to know that a skydive can never be guaranteed with 100% certainty in advance. Although we often have a really good dialogue over the phone or via email, and even though everything initially seems possible, it will always be the instructor on the day who makes the final decision. The instructor is responsible for both your safety and their own and therefore assesses the situation based on an overall perspective – how you feel, what considerations may need to be taken, and what the conditions are on that specific day.

It is not about excluding anyone, but about ensuring that the experience is as safe and secure as possible for everyone.

At the same time, the weather matters a lot when it comes to tandem jumps with disabilities or special needs. Strong winds can make the landing harder and less controlled, and too much cloud cover can create challenges for safety. However, it is also not always best if there is no wind at all – a light breeze can often provide a softer and more stable landing. Therefore, we pay extra close attention to the weather for these skdives, as the right conditions can make a big difference, especially if special physical considerations need to be taken.

Liability declaration and medical clarification

Before any skydive, a liability declaration must always be completed and signed. Here, one confirms that all known physical and mental challenges have been disclosed in advance. This is an important part of the process, as it provides us with the best possible basis for assessing whether the jump can be carried out safely and securely. Therefore, it is crucial that no relevant information is omitted – the more we know, the better we can plan and take the necessary considerations.

At the same time, it is important to remember that we are trained skydive instructors – not doctors. We can assess whether a skydive is practically and physically possible based on our experience, equipment, and safety procedures. But we cannot make decisions regarding any medical risks beyond the norm. In many cases, it will therefore be necessary to obtain a medical certificate, confirming that there are no health conditions that make a skydive irresponsible.

We strongly recommend that one always speaks with their own doctor and receives clear clarification before planning a jump. In this way, we together ensure that the experience is as safe, responsible, and positive as possible.

Communication during the skydive

If you have challenges with speech or communication, it is important to know that you are in a very noisy plane, where it can be difficult to hear.

Furthermore, the instructor may only speak English in some cases, depending on who is working that day.

The instructor sits behind the passenger, and you look in the same direction, which makes eye contact and nonverbal communication difficult.

Therefore, it is important to be mentally prepared for the fact that communication along the way may be limited, and that you feel comfortable with the procedure before the jump.

FAQ – Skydiving with Disabilities

Here we answer some of the most common questions we have gotten about tandem skydives with disabilities and skydiving with special considerations.

Kontakt os – vi tager gerne en dialog

Hvis du overvejer et tandemspring med handicap, er du meget velkommen til at kontakte os.

Vi tager gerne en ærlig og tryg samtale om mulighederne, så vi sammen kan vurdere, om et faldskærmsudspring kan gennemføres på en sikker måde.

Dropzone Denmark ønsker at gøre faldskærmssporten tilgængelig for så mange som muligt – når rammerne og sikkerheden er på plads.

🪂 Vi glæder os til at høre fra dig.