Date: 30.06.2004
Manual
Revision: 0
DEMON US
Page: 13
Performance Variable e.K. Am Tower 16, D-54634 Bitburg
Swoop Landings
At most drop zones there are some jumpers who like to do high-approach-speed (swoop) landings.
These landings look impressive, traveling long distances inches off the ground and then going
backup before landing. The problem is that these landings can be very dangerous for the jumper
and anyone else around the jumper.
Many of these swoop landings are started by a low turn. If timed incorrectly the jumper can hit the
ground hard enough to be fatal. Many jumpers have been hurt by having another turn into them.
To minimize the danger involved in skydiving you should avoid all turns close to the ground and turns
that could bring you close to another jumper in the air. PV
recommends that all jumpers limit their
turns to only minor course corrections below 500’. If you insist on performing a swoop landing make
sure you are alone in the air. Do not attempt a swoop landing if there are other jumpers in the air or
the landing area.
The following advice is not intended to recommend that you try swoop landings, rather, it is only in-
cluded because we recognize that some people will try to do swoop landings, even though PV
rec-
ommends not to. We have included this section to minimize the risk to those who are going to at-
tempt swoop landings.
Do not try any swoop landings until you are very familiar with your canopy and the landing area.
Even people who are very skilled occasionally hurt themselves. Start out slowly. You do not need
any more speed than full glide when first learning. Never try a swoop landing unless the weather
conditions are suitable. As you become more familiar with your canopy, you may want to start using
a faster approach. If so, increase your speed in small increments over many jumps. Most people get
hurt by trying too much too soon.
Try several practice approaches while at high altitude going through everything up to landing. Do not
attempt a high-speed landing until you are sure you can deal with the high initial sink rate.
The best weather for practicing is a smooth, calm, low wind day when the canopy will be relatively
stable and responding only to pilot control. It is important to avoid any possibility of the canopy being
influenced by changes in wind direction or speed.
The idea in a swoop landing is to skim your feet across the ground or make the canopy go back up.
There is a very small section of the control range of the canopy where this is possible. If you pull the
toggle down just a little beyond what is necessary to skim across the ground, the canopy may climb.
However, just a little more toggle may cause the canopy to do a high-speed stall.
