Skydiving: How High?

Are you ready to make the big leap but wondering just how high you’ll be flying? Great question! Generally speaking, skydiving altitudes vary based on the type of aircraft the skydiving facility utilizes. Typically, this altitude will range from 10,000 to 14,000 feet. Although, if the aircraft is equipped with the proper fittings and an O2 system, it is possible to complete high altitude tandem skydiving above 15,000 feet. 

Before we elaborate on high altitude tandem skydiving, let’s take a look at the type of aircraft used for skydiving and its impact on skydiving altitude.

Aircraft Types

The compact yet mighty Cessna 182 is arguably one of the most common skydiving aircraft types, particularly at smaller skydiving facilities. Readily known as the industry workhorse, the Cessna 182 holds up to four passengers and takes jumpers to an altitude of 10,000 feet in about 30 minutes. As a smaller, single-engine aircraft, exceeding altitudes of 10,000 feet with the Cessna 182 begins to take an unsustainable amount of time and fuel. It is for this reason that tandem skydiving from the Cessna 182 will occur from between 8,500 and 10,000 feet.

There are engine conversions, like the Garrett conversion or the Blackhawk conversion, which can give the larger, single-engined, Cessna Caravans ample added power. With these aircraft conversions, up to 18 jumpers – passenger number dependent upon the model of the aircraft — can make it to a jump altitude of 13,500 to 14,000 feet in an impressive 10 to 20 minutes! Because of the cost of these conversions, these types of aircraft are likely to be found at mid- to large-size skydiving facilities that have a higher volume of business.

Another type of aircraft that is used by larger skydiving businesses for jump operations is a twin-engined, turbine aircraft. One example is the De Havilland Twin Otter. This type of aircraft can seat up to 22 passengers and take them to a jump altitude of 14,500 feet in 15 to 20 minutes. Likewise, the especially swift twin-engined turbine Beechcraft King Air can get 14 passengers to a jump altitude of 14,000 feet in under 10 minutes. 

HALO : High Altitude Low Opening Skydiving

High altitude skydiving comes in a few forms. Typically utilized by the military for operations and training, HALO jumps are a stealthy means of insertion into hostile territory. HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) jumps are conducted from an incredible height of 15,000 to 35,000 feet. After exiting, jumpers wait until around 3,000 feet to deploy their parachutes, though depending upon the mission they may be required to deploy even lower. The primary reason for HALO skydiving is to minimize the amount of time military jumpers spend under canopy, thus minimizing the amount of time they have the potential to be spotted by enemy forces. Additionally, this form of military insertion allows the aircraft to maintain an altitude that is beyond the range of most surface-to-air missiles. 

It should also be noted that at these altitudes, the oxygen density of the air is dangerously low. In fact, extended time spent at these altitudes can result in a serious condition called hypoxia. For this reason, supplemental oxygen is required for any skydive (civilian or military) made above 15,000 feet.

HALO Jumps For Civilians

In recent years, HALO jumps have made their way into the civilian sector. But rather than being a means of insertion into hostile territory, it’s become a fun way to experience extended freefall! While the freefall portion of a typical skydive from 10,000 to 14,000 feet ranges from about 30-60 seconds, the freefall time of most high altitude skydives (typically completed from about 18,000 ft) is 90 seconds!

Dropzones Offering High Altitude Skydiving

If the idea of extra freefall time tickles your fancy, you might be wondering where you can make a high altitude skydive? As we mentioned before, offering high altitude skydiving requires that the aircraft be equipped with an integrated O2 system in order to provide supplemental oxygen to jumpers. (The US Federal Aviation Administration rule is FAR 91.211 for general aviation, and section 2-1 N in the Skydiver Information Manual , if you’re curious!)

Outfitting the aircraft with the proper equipment for high altitude skydiving is fairly expensive, and so the number of locations where you can participate in high altitude skydiving is somewhat limited.

Although this list is not exhaustive, it does identify many of the primary dropzones within the United States which offer high altitude tandem skydiving.

Will the typical skydiving altitude do? Certainly! While having the extra freefall time a high altitude tandem skydive affords is nice, it’s not necessary to thoroughly enjoy the wonderful world of skydiving. 

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