It’s a question that comes up from time to time; why do tandem students not have to wear helmets but their instructors, and other skydivers, do?
In short, there is no safety requirement for helmets on tandem students in the UK. Your instructor is primarily wearing theirs as it holds their audible altimeters and protects their head from any potential knocks, which are highly unlikely but would be problematic given they are responsible for the operation of the parachute system.
If you’ve elected to have your tandem skydive filmed and photographed, your camera flyer will also be wearing a helmet which allows them to attached usually three cameras to their head to capture your experience.
All other skydivers are required to wear a helmet for their skydive, which includes anyone learning to jump solo right through to the most experienced jumpers.
Can I wear a helmet for my tandem skydive?
As noted already, there is no need for tandem students to wear a helmet for their skydive so no, we won’t offer you one.
The only time when you might want to have one is in colder weather conditions, in which case we offer you one of our softer ‘frap hats’ to wear to keep your head and ears warm. We’ve even jazzed ours up with some fun bobble hats, or you can opt for a faux-fur lined version.
Can I wear a headscarf or turban for my tandem skydive?
Yes you can. We have lots of people jump with us wearing headwear such as headscarves and turbans and we are happy to talk you through how other people have found best to secure them, you can wear one of our hats over the top if it feels more secure, whatever you’re most comfortable with.
Why do skydivers have different helmets?
The helmets you’ll see around you in the plane will come in a range of shapes, styles and colours, depending on the skydiver’s experience and preferences.
Those people learning to skydive through our AFF or category systems routes will be wearing what’s called an ‘open face’ helmet, meaning their face is exposed to the wind and it’s easier for them to hear us when we talk to them in the plane, on the ground or via the radio while they’re flying their parachute. You might spot the students with radios in their helmets, which are fitted to a pocked on the side.
Once qualified, skydivers continue to wear open face helmets until they have achieved at least their British Skydiving B licence, which allows them to wear what’s called a ‘full face helmet’ – meaning they have a visor which covers their whole face.
There are different manufacturers of skydiving helmets, each with a different style and skydivers will choose their preferred option. They also come in a wide range of colours and you’ll usually see them modified with fun stickers.
What will I wear for my tandem jump?
You can learn more about what to wear on your jump here. In short, you need to wear comfortable clothing and trainers; if it’s a little colder, we recommend lots of thin layers and if you want to, you can wear one of our jumpsuits. We’ll provide goggles, which can fit over glasses if needed, and gloves to keep your hands warm, if you’d like.
Ready to try it for yourself? Book a tandem skydive now at https://www.skydivelangar.co.uk/book-now/