Everything you must know for your first skydive
Your first skydive is a unique experience. Words alone cannot describe the free-fall nor the parachute flight. There are 3 different types of skydives that our Skydiving School offers to those who want to try skydiving for the first time.
Most people choose to make their first skydive jump attached to a specialized parachute equipment designed for two people with a certified and experienced instructor who will train you and takes care of opening the parachute at the right altitude. Tandem skydiving requires a short ground school and is geared towards introducing you to free-fall. Tandem skydiving is the easiest for those who want to experience skydiving for the first time. After your first tandem jump you can move on to additional tandem training skydives and transition to the accelerated free fall method (AFF) with one instructor after receiving training on the use of the equipment.
The accelerated free-fall training method requires that you first received a day-long ground school on the use and function of the skydiving equipment so that you can use your own parachute. You will exit the aircraft at about 10000 feet above ground along with two instructors who will train you during the free-fall. You will deploy and land the parachute yourself. This type of training is much more demanding since the trainee is asked to use by himself the equipment on his first jump.
The static line training method requires that you first received a day-long ground school on the use and function of the skydiving equipment so that you can use your own parachute. You will exit the aircraft at about 3500 feet above ground and your parachute will deploy automatically by means of the static line. You will land the parachute yourself. With static line training there is no free-fall during the first two jumps. This type of training is much more demanding since the trainee is asked to use by himself the equipment on his first jump.
Skydive Thessaloniki is operating on a permanent basis at Chortero Airport, Sidirokastro of the Serres prefecture. The Skydiving School is under the auspices of the Aerosports Training Center of Greece, which is a not-for-profit Aeroclub based on Chortero. Skydive Thessaloniki is cooperating with the Aeroclub of Serres, the Municipality of Sintiki and local authorities in order to promote sport parachuting. The Skydiving School is licensed by the Greek Aerosports Association with the approval of the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority.
The aim of the Skydiving School is to train new parachutists who have zero prior experience as well as to provide lifelong training to skydivers with varying levels of experience. Even if you have no prior experience, you can make your first skydive tandem jump tied to an instructor who will train you during your fee fall jump.
The Skydiving School adheres to the standards and regulations of the Greek Aerosports Association, the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority and the United States Parachute Association. The Skydiving School operates as an integral part of the Aerosports Training Center of Greece with the goal of advancing skydiving through its members. The Aerosports Training Center of Greece is recognized as an aerosports club by the Greek General Secretariat of Sports.
Free fall and parachuting depend on the right aircraft. At Skydive Thessaloniki the aircraft used for parachuting is a Cessna 182 with a registration of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), where the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority also belongs. The Cessna 182 is the most widespread aircraft for parachuting because it allows skydivers an easy exit independent of the training method used. Our aircraft is under the supervision of a Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization certified by EASA so that it adheres to the highest stands of maintenance. For the same reason aircraft maintenance is performed by a Part 145 Maintenance Organization certified by EASA.
We are the only skydiving Aeroclub in Northern Greece that follows these standands with respect to the aircraft. Do not settle with anything less or with uncertainties when it comes to the maintenance of the aircraft you will choose to utilize for your skydives.
For skydiving our Aeroclub uses parachutes that are made in the USA. For free falling tandem strapped to an instructor you will be using SIMGA parachutes by United Parachute Technologies, which is the latest and more advanced system available. Further training will be performed with USA made parachute systems as well. All our parachutes are maintained according to European and United States regulations by a parachute rigger certified by the United States Federal Aviation Administration.
Our parachute equipment uses the latest technology of microprocessor controlled altitude monitoring during free fall and initiates the reserve parachute deployment when certain speed-altitude criteria are met. Do not settle by choosing lower grade mechanical units.
Our Aeroclub has at your disposal jumpsuits for free fall, altimeters, helmets and anything else a novice or more experienced skydiver may need.
The instructors of the Skydiving School at Skydive Thessaloniki are all certified by the United States Parachute Association (USPA) and endorsed by the Greek Aerosports Federation. Our instructors are all rated for the specific training methods used at our Skydiving School.
The Director of our Skydiving School is a university professor, has more than 24 years of skydiving experience, more than 3000 free fall jumps and more than 10 years of participation at Skydive Baltimore in the USA.
Skydiving and training at Skydive Thessaloniki is done within the scope of the Skydiving School of the Aerosports Training Center of Greece with the following costs for each jump:
The above costs also cover ground training before the jump.
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Call +30 (2310) 243111 to talk with us and figure out when your training can begin.
Your physical condition is important. For skydiving you must be in good physical condition so that you can participate in athletic activities.
You must be at least 18 years old to skydive. There is no upper age limit.
You must have a valid ID card or a passport with you.
Wear gym clothing and sneakers. You must come at Chortero airport half an hour before the scheduled time. The process until your first jump make take some time. We suggest that you come to the airport for a picnic so that you can really enjoy what you are about to do. Talk with our instructors and members of our Aeroclub so that you have the best possible experience. Weather can be a limiting factor in skydiving and there may be delays for safety reasons. In the interest of your safety, our instructors have the first and last word with respect to when and who is skydiving. Skydivers in training under the AFF and Static Line methods must have a recent medical certificate, which states that they are fit for taking part in athletics.
You must not have been involved in scuba diving activities for at least 24 hours prior to your skydive. You must not have consumed alcohol during the last 12 hours prior to your skydive.
You must bring a recent medical certificate, a current USPA membership and your logbook signed. Your skydives will take place as part of the Skydiving School.
Feel free to ask us whatever yu need to know
Tel: +30 2310-243111
Aerosports Training Center of Greece
P.O. Box 50150, GR-54013, Thessaloniki