Terms, Abbreviations & Colloquialisms
Skydiving Glossary
Speak The Same Language!
Sport skydiving is chock full of technical terms, abbreviations, and often comical turns of phrase. We’ve compiled a list of skydiving terminology that you will inevitably hear at the dropzone. Knowing what everyone’s talking about not only helps you to feel at home, but it also ensures that critical safety-related info isn’t lost in translation.
Abbreviations
AAD
[Automatic Activation Device] An altitude-sensing device used to automatically activate the parachute opening sequence. "AAD" most commonly used in reference to sport reserve parachutes; also used in other non-sport scenarios such as ejection seats, etc.
AFF
[Accelerated FreeFall] A solo skydiving training program for students where the skills development rate is accelerated over that of the previously-popular static line program.
BSRs
[Basic Safety Requirements] Rules enforced by the USPA.
CFS
[Canopy Formation Skydiving] A skydiving discipline whereby jumpers *under canopy* fly their parachutes together to form various formations. Also known as CRW.
CRW
[Canopy Relative Work] Sometimes referred to as CReW, pronounced “crew.” Also known as Canopy Formation Skydiving (see CFS).
DZ
[Dropzone] A place where parachuting operations take place. This may be a designated area or, frequently, a commercial business which supplies aircraft, instruction, gear sales and services.
DZO
[Dropzone Owner] The person or people who own the skydiving center.
FAA
[Federal Aviation Administration] The largest transportation agency of the US government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters.
FJC
[First Jump Course] A multi-hour ground school class designed to deliver all theoretical and practical training necessary to perform the first AFF jump.
FS
[Formation Skydiving] A skydiving discipline whereby two or more jumpers fly relative to each other *in freefall* in order to form various formations. Also known as Relative Work, or RW.
JM
[Jump Master] A jumper trained and certified to supervise students and/or novices during their jump.
RW
[Relative Work] Also known as Formation Skydiving (see FS).
S&TA
[Safety & Training Advisor] Appointed by USPA Regional Directors to oversee each dropzone. S&TAs provide advice and training; help to strategize and plan extraordinary jumps; verify rating renewal requirements, and proctor license tests.
TLOs
[Targeted Learning Objectives] Curricular requirements that must be met before you progress to the next AFF level.
USPA
[United States Parachute Association] The USPA, a non-profit and voluntary group, governs US skydiving. It works with the FAA to set and enforce safety standards, standardize training, offer education, and provide member benefits.
VFS
[Vertical Formation Skydiving] A skydiving discipline within Freeflying whereby two or more jumpers fly relative to each other *in freefall* in a head up or head down orientation.
XRW
[Cross Relative Work] A skydiving discipline whereby jumpers *in freefall* fly big wingsuits alongside skydivers *under canopy* flying relatively small, agile parachutes. The goal is for the canopy pilot to “settle” on top of the wingsuiter’s back or belly.
Lingo
Angle Flying
A movement skydiving discipline whereby two or more jumpers fly relative to each other *in freefall* and travel across the sky. Angle flying can occur at various degrees of pitch and in different orientations.
Arch
Standard skydiving position; offers the most stability. A correct arch calls for a belly-to-earth orientation with hips slightly pushed forward, chin up and eyes forward to the horizon. Hands are by the ears; ankles a bit wider than shoulder width apart.
Back Flying
To fly with your back toward the earth rather than your belly.
Belly Flying
To fly with your belly toward the earth; the most stable skydiving position. Also known as belly-to-earth orientation.
Boogie
A gathering of jumpers for the purposes of jumping and socializing. Typically, boogies will have large aircraft, unusual aircraft (balloons, helicopters), special events (record attempts), or some sort of competition as a focal point to attract jumpers from widely diverse regions.
Canopy
Also known as a parachute.
Canopy Piloting
A skydiving discipline whereby jumpers exit the aircraft at a lower altitude and deploy their parachutes within 3 to 5 seconds. On approach to the ground, canopy pilots accelerate by inducing sharp turns with manual inputs. Canopy pilots use small, agile parachutes. Competitive canopy piloting focuses on accuracy, speed, and distance. Also known as swooping.
Flare
To pull down on both of the canopy’s steering toggles in order to lower descent rate and forward speed just prior to landing. The forward speed is traded-off for lift. A flare performed too late has no effect; a flare performed too early can result in a stall in which the canopy loses forward speed and drops straight down. A correctly performed flare results in a soft landing.
Freeflying
A combination of skydiving disciplines that utilize orientations other than belly-to-earth, i.e. back flying, sit flying, and head down.
Head Down
To fly in an orientation with your head pointed toward the ground.
Head Up
To fly in an orientation with your feet pointed toward the ground and your head to the sky.
Hook Turn
A high-speed turn with either the steering toggles or the front risers performed at very low altitude in order to build up speed before landing. (See Turf Surf.)
Main
The primary parachute.
Mixed Formation Skydiving
A form of the Freeflying discipline whereby groups of individuals build sequences of formations in alternate orientations.
Opening shock
The force experienced by the jumper due to the sudden deceleration from terminal velocity due to the deployment of a parachute.
Reserve
The secondary, or backup, parachute.
Round
A class of parachutes designed to simply decelerate a body in a fluid medium. This is the classic parachute originally used by the airborne military.
Sit Flying
To fly in an upright orientation similar to sitting in a chair.
Square
A class of parachutes designed to inflate and take the shape of an airfoil. These are more accurately rectangular in shape and are semi-rigid wings.
Swooping
A high-speed style of landing; also known as a Turf Surf. The jumper builds up speed (see Hook Turn) and flares moments before touchdown, resulting in a spectacular landing in which the jumper skims inches above the ground (or water) at 30-40mph, for up to 100 yards. (Or, if the jumper flares too late, resulting in a spectacular landing in which the jumper impacts the ground, leading to medical bills, orthopedic surgery, and/or death.) Attempt at your own risk!
Whuffo
Colloquialism; a person who is not a skydiver (from the often-asked phrase “Whuffo you jump out of them airplanes?”).
Wingsuiting
A movement skydiving discipline whereby jumpers *in freefall* travel across the sky. Angle flying can occur at various degrees of pitch and in different orientations. Wingsuiters wear a special jumpsuit that features material stretched between the wrist and hip and between the legs.