Parachuting

Various disciplines

Precision of landing

Older discipline of parachuting, the P.A. remains the most visual discipline for the public. Test of address, the technique of piloting of the veil is an essential condition with the realization of the performance. The weather capacity of analysis of the conditions and decision makings which result from this, give a singular tactical dimension to each jump. The characteristic of the veils of P.A. is primarily characterized by the thickness of their profile which ensures of and the astonishing precision stability conditions of piloting. The electronic target has to reach is hardly larger than a part of 2 euros…!! The objective is to pose the foot on a stud 2 cm in diameter located at the center of an electronic target placed on a foam receptacle. In competition, with each jump, the judges measure the difference between the center of the target and the first place that the parachutist with touched. For the score of the competitors, one carries out the sum of the distances obtained with the various jumps, the objective being obviously to have the weakest possible score. When the Parachutiste poses his foot in full heart of the target, one calls that a “square”. The jumps are carried out since an altitude of 1 000 Meter S approximately. Practiced individually or by team, the precision of landing profits from the circuit of national competitions and international more packed, all disciplines of sporting parachuting confused. In 2006 it is not less than 4 tests of Coupe de France and a championship of France open to all the categories of ages, more than one ten competitions of clubs, regional or inter-leagues, an international circuit with 5 stages of Cut of Europe where take part nearly 40 teams in each stage, to many trophés international organized in Europe and on the other continents, a Championship of the World junior, a championship of the military world, a championship of the World.

Fly

Discipline slips par excellence, this Test, where the speed of execution prevails guarantees extreme feelings to you. After having reached more 300km/h in a few seconds of freefall, the realization of a sequence of six compulsory figures calls upon all your physical qualities of balance, coordination, and explosiveness. Timed with the 100/ème of second, the service is also evaluated compared to the quality of execution of the sequence of the figures, as in many artistic disciplines. The figures to be realized are two alternated turns, a back salto, again two alternate turns and one 2nd salto back. The judges measure time spent to make these six figures in “adding” seconds of penalty to the competitor if they are not carried out properly (the figures are faced an axis reference and on a horizontal level, any variation of these axes involves a penalty). The jumps are carried out since an altitude of 2.200 Mètre S approximately. Excellent French in this discipline where they hold the world records. Combination “slick” (like that used for the kilometer launched in ski), helmet and profiled parachute, the high level acrobat is equipped with a material of jump resulting from last technologies. The stunt-flying is the only individual discipline practiced in competition of parachuting. It is associated with that of the precision of landing within the framework of the championships of the world, and a classification “combined” to crown the best athletes in the 2 disciplines.

Relative flight - VR

Each team of 4 or 8 Parachutiste S must carry out a maximum of time a series of drawn compulsory figures on the fate before each competition. The time limits to carry out these figures are of 35 seconds for the teams of 4, and 50 seconds for the teams of 8.

In order to allow the judges to enter the number of figures carried out, each team has a video-man , which carries on its helmet a numeric camera. This team-member comes to be added to the 4 or 8 performers, and formed integral part of the team.

If the judges cannot correctly see the figures on the video, the team is penalized, the point in question being entered like NJ (nonsubject to a legal decision). Each simple figure (free), brings back a point, each figure complex (block) brings back 2 points, the NJ do not bring back points.

Veil contact

This discipline is during relative flight, but with the open Parachute. The Parachutist S, released with 2000 Meter S, open their veils and build figures, while clinging by the feet to the veils of the fellow-members.

The Veil Contact comprises tests of:

sequence to 4: sequence imposed of 4 or 5 drawn figures on the fate. During these evolutions, the Parachutiste S will be able to have to fly into individual, in binomial or trinomial. The cycle will have to be carried out a maximum of time, in a working time limited of 2 minutes 30 seconds.
rotations to 4: realization of a stacking with 4, then the team-member of the top is detached to join the base of the formation. The maximum of rotations must be carried out in a working time of 1 minute 30 seconds. Each figure with 4 mark a point.
8 formation: consist in realizing as quickly as possible, a figure with 8 team-members. This figure is drawn with the fate at the beginning of competition. The stop watch starts with the first which leaves the plane and stops when the last is hung.

Sky surfing

Invented by Laurent Bouquet and Patrick de Gayardon, who popularized it in the Nineties, the sky surfing is practiced using a special surfing, equipped with a handle of release (device allowing to get rid of surfing in the event of problem or quite simply to land). The sky surfing is also practiced in competition. The role of the partner vidéoman is dominating, the images being used for they also to allot the note of the judgment. The teams of France were particularly distinguished within the framework from the international meetings. Marc Groleau and David Dobsky: Bronze medal with the Championships of the World 2006 in Gera Blandine Perroud and Cyril Lancry: Gold medal with the Championships of the World 2004 in Boituva, Money Championships Medal of the World 2006 in Gera. Melanie Brouase and Roughcast Dédric: Bronze medal with the World cup 2007 in Stupino in Russia.

Freestyle

True “dance of the sky”, the freestyle is a sequence of artistic figures resulting from gymnastics and trampoline. Based on compulsory figures such as the tended salto or on free figures, the choreography of the jump leaves room to the creativity of the parachutist. The evolutions are filmed by a cameraman in freefall, the images are used as support for the judgment which takes into account the esthetic aspect and the quality of the images.

Free Fly

This practice of leisure consists in carrying out figures other than flat (head in top, upside down, in the angle, etc). This practice is more and more appraisal by the practitioners in the search of new feelings and new reference marks in 3 dimensions:
One thus distinguishes several type of jumps, among which:
- Atmonauti (or jump of Atmonaute): Angle invented by an Italian couple: Gigliola Borgnis and Marco Tiezzi. They were the first to develop the jumps in the angle where the Atmonautes are taken along in group, mainly on the back to build figures in drift. The atmonaute considerably developed the concept of flight in the angle which is one of the types of jump of freefly most developed in this moment.
- Jump of Trace (or Jump in the angle): a leader is appointed before the jump. It is him which will be used as reference to the other participants. Generally stealing in drift, on the belly, it is him which will decide direction, angle of the fall compared to the ground and thus the speed on trajectory of the jump. It will be able to carry out turns during the jump. The other participants will be able " gripper". The leader will be able to change in the course of saut.
- Jump of Flock: ancestor of the trace, the jump of flock share of a group in position Upside down, seized up or in the vicinity; an appointed leader moves back, the others must follow it while preserving their position the ones compared to the autres.
- Jump of Tracking: one of the oldest discipline of the freefly; a rabbit leaves the plane on the back. The other participants of the jump must fly in the vicinity. This type of jump is replaced more and more by the jumps of trace, more actifs.
- Jump Upside down: A group of parachutists is indicated on the ground. Each one repeats its position before taking seat on the aircraft. The parachutists will fall while being held by the hands according to several figures (flower, star). The goal is to fall all the upside down. The legs are used to maintain the position and has to carry out of micro displacements to stabilize the collective figure. The figure could be stopped to change figure, the parachutist will release himself in the course of jump to take again other places or to give another form to the formation. During these transitions, all the parachutists must keep the head with very the niveau.
- Jump of Head in sitted top or Fall: The parachutists are upright in the relative wind. They make use mainly of the arms and the basin to maintain the position. Arms being occupied maintaining the position, the " gripps" are more difficult. Generally these jumps are done in " libre" , the goal being that the parachutists preserve a proximity from approximately 2 at 5m the ones the others and fall all on the same level. Omar Alhegelan, Saoudi of origin, living with Eloy, AZ (the USA) have to contribute to develop the Chute sitted, in particular through the competitions of free style and free fly. He in particular invented displacements and the figures derived from this position.

Free Fly, officially recognized with the International aeronautical Federation since 2000, is the subject of competitions. In competition, a team of Free Fly is made up of 3 Parachutiste S: 2 performers and a vidéoman.

Vertical Relative Work - VRW

Born last, this practice with crossed Relative Flight and of Free Fly, consists in either flat carrying out figures in formation of the type VR but in the vertical. This recent practice, not yet recognized officially by the International Aeronautical Federation, is currently popularized with the the United States.

Wing Follows

Imagined and realized by Patrick de Gayardon, the goal of this discipline in full rise is to pass from a movement of fall, with a movement of vol.

For that, the Parachutiste S use flexible combinations, in the shape of wing, to transform their body into a kind of wing of plane.

These combinations inflate air as soon as the Parachutiste leaves the plane, generating a Portance then making it possible the Parachutiste to reduce his falling speed, by converting it of horizontal speed. Vertical speeds can then become null, even positive during a few moments.

Loïc Jean Albert is a figure impossible to circumvent of this discipline, thanks to its work of development and its talent, it made it possible this discipline to enormously progress, and especially to popularize itself, just like had done it Patrick de Gayardon at his time. Loïc thus arrived, thanks to the prototype which it develops, to fly over a slope covered with snow with less than 3 Mètre S of Height close to Verbier in Suisse.
Les last prototypes make it possible to reach a smoothness of 4 (4 km horizontal for 1 vertical km of traversed).

Swooping

Very recent discipline, once the sail (parachute) opened, the swooping (or flare) consists to take a very important vertical speed by means of a low turn, and to transform it of horizontal speed to slip on the ground (grass, sand but especially water level). Very spectacular, this discipline requires a perfect knowledge of the characteristics of the veil to avoid the impact with the ground.

This discipline is a great success and has already its circuit of competition, but remains prohibited in France by the FP because of the accident risks.

The Jump Base

Consite to be jumped since fixed objects. As Swooping, this discipline is not taken into account by the French federation of parachuting. See Base jump and Paralpinisme for more details.

Progression

In France, two methods of training are proposed to the pupils civil parachutists:

formation known as traditional : very progressive, it starts with jumps in automatic opening at an altitude of 1000 or 1200 meters, follow-ups of “handles witness” (jumps during which the pupil makes the gesture draw on the handle from opening from his parachute, but where this one is actually opened by the strap of automatic opening which connects it to the plane, which guarantees the opening of the aerofoil even if the gesture of the pupil is incorrect). After two consecutive jumps successful out of pilot handle, the pupil is authorized to jump in manual opening, and more and more high, until gradually reaching the altitude of 4000 meters.

the CAP (Progression Accompanied in Fall): the pupil jumps in freefall as of the first jump, since 4000 meters of altitude. For the first jump, the pupil is accompanied by two monitors, which monitor and correct its position during the jump. The five following jumps are accompanied by only one monitor, the objective being to manage to jump in solo to the 7th jump.

The formation CAP is much faster and gets much more feelings as of the beginning, but it also has a price more raised. The jumps carried out in traditional formation are less expensive (because one jumps of less higher than in CAP, and because the monitor deals with several pupils), but one needs a greater number of it to reach autonomy.

In both cases, one needs fifteen jumps in any event falls about it to obtain patent A. the jumps in automatic opening (OA) are not entered because the freefall is regarded as too short.

Each method has its partisans, but the end result remains the same one of course: to arrive at autonomy in freefall.

Federal patents

They are the official patents of the French federation of parachuting.

Patent has

Aptitude to control the freefall flat and to evolve/move in safety under veil. Sanction the aptitude of the pupil overall to be behaved in safety within a school of parachuting. For obtaining, it is also necessary to add up a minimum number of 15 jumps in fall. With this patent, it is possible to make individual jumps without assistance of monitors, but the practice within an approved school is obligatory. It is the patent necessary to be able to jump on a center autonomous school in way.

Patent B

Aptitude for the freefall. Sequence of figures (barrels, loops before and back, rotations). For obtaining, it is also necessary to add up a minimum number of 30 jumps in fall, and to satisfy an examination written (QCM) bearing on the basis of of the dropping, meteorology and control under veil. The patent B gives then access to 4 qualifications corresponding to the principal disciplines:

B1 : Precision of landing and stunt-flying;
B2 : Relative flight (essential for jumps of group);
B3 : Veil contact;
B4 : Free Fly.

Patent C

Aptitude for the jumps except center of activity, the jumps of demonstration and air demonstration and with the special jumps (montgolfier, etc). Obtaining the patent C requires:

the success of a theoretical examination (QCM) bearing on the dropping, meteorology, meteorology, control under veil and the freefall;
the success of an examination practices dropping ;
the success of a jump of precision to the landing ;
to have carried out 200 jumps ;
the detention of one of the patents B1/B2/B3/B4 .

In the case of a jump except center of activity, the practitioner holder of the patent C must justify 50 jumps during the last 12 months.

See too

External bonds

French federation of Parachuting (FP)
Canadian Association of Sporting Parachuting (CSPA-ACPS)
P@r@2000 - virtual Book on the parachute of 800 pages

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