Skydiving Age Requirements

We stringently agree with the notion that age is just a number: it simply signifies the revolutions you’ve made around the sun with no bearing on your pursuit of personal accomplishments! However, rules are rules, and there are times when age factors into an individual’s ability to legally participate in certain activities. 

If you’ve found your way here, it’s likely you’re curious about one activity in particular: skydiving!

There are skydiving age requirements in place at the majority of dropzones around the world. 

These skydiving age requirements are established as a means to protect the interests of skydiving facilities and to protect participants who may not have the cognitive ability to be able to truly appreciate the risks they are undertaking.

Let’s jump right in, shall we? Here’s the skinny on skydiving age requirements.

Maximum Skydiving Age

It should be noted that there is no maximum skydiving age. Although, many skydiving facilities will require that the individual be in good health and have the flexibility, range of motion, and strength to enter the aircraft, exit the aircraft, remain stable in freefall, and to lift their legs for landing. If the individual wishing to make a skydive is over 70 years old, many skydiving dropzones will also require written notice from a physician attesting to the health of the individual. 

In case you thought you might be too old to jump, take a gander at the two individuals below who hold the Guinness World Records for oldest tandem skydivers!

The oldest male tandem skydiver currently on record is Alfred “Al” Blaschke of the United States who made his second (yes, second!) tandem skydive at the age of 103 years and 180 days.

The oldest female and oldest tandem skydiver overall is one Rut Linnéa Ingegärd Larrson of Sweden, who made her first skydive at the young age of 103 years and 259 days.

It would certainly hold true for both of these centenarians that age is just a number!

What is the Minimum Skydiving Age Requirement?

The minimum skydiving age will vary by country. 

Within the United States, the minimum skydiving age is determined by whether the dropzone is a group member of the United States Parachute Association (USPA) and is also dependent upon equipment manufacturer restrictions. Dropzones that are USPA group members are not permitted to allow individuals under the age of 18 to participate in skydiving activities. Likewise, many gear manufacturers in the US have a minimum age requirement of 18 years old for use. 

Minimum Skydiving Age By Country

As mentioned, the minimum skydiving age requirement varies by country. Review the table below to see the minimum age requirement to skydive in several countries. Please note, this list is not exhaustive. Rather, it reflects the minimum skydiving age requirements established by parachuting associations and federations amongst a selection of countries.

Why Do Minimum Skydiving Age Requirements Vary by Country?

Skydiving age requirements vary across the world depending upon the litigiousness of the country. Countries where lawsuits are common tend to err toward skydiving age requirements which mirror the age of majority – meaning the age at which an individual is legally considered an adult with control over their actions and decisions. 

In countries that are less about lawsuits, it is more likely to see individuals under 18 participating in skydiving.

Can You Skydive Under 18 with Parental Consent?

As seen in the table above, many countries allow individuals under the age of 18 to participate in skydiving. Note, though, that Australia, Canada, South Africa, Norway, and the UK all require parental consent for individuals under 18 who wish to skydive. 

With regard to the United States, USPA group member dropzones do not allow individuals under the age of 18 to skydive regardless of parental consent. Dropzones that are not USPA group members may allow individuals under the age of 18 to participate in skydiving – it’s a determination made by the dropzone owner. 

If You Have a Terminal Illness, Can You Skydive Under the Age of 18?

Yes, in both the United States and other countries, individuals with a terminal illness can often participate in skydiving. Specific to the United States, the following paragraph comes from the Skydiver’s Information Manual (SIM), Section 2-1.D, Item 3:

“A waiver for tandem jumps may be issued to terminally ill persons under the age of 18 with manufacturer approval. The organizer of such jumps must submit a USPA Waiver Request form to the director of safety and training and the chairman of safety and training committee for approval prior to such jumps.”

In general, regardless of country, these types of tandem skydives require ample logistic considerations and planning.

– – – 

Skydiving is a fantastic pastime for individuals of nearly all ages, but the age at which you can skydive will depend upon the country you choose to jump in.

Do you meet the minimum skydiving age requirement for your country? If you’re old enough to take flight, use the DZ locator to find a dropzone near you!