Frequently Asked Questions

WHO DO I CALL TO SIGN UP?
To sign up for a class or to schedule a tandem jump, call us at (316) 776-1700 (note the local Wichita Kansas phone number!). You will talk to a real person most of the time. We are generally available to take your call seven days a week and all daylong. At times, you will get voice mail if we are unavailable or on the other line, please leave a message and we will do our best to return your call in a timely manner.

Beware the middleman!
In the recent months many websites have popped up offering skydiving gift certificates and attempting to book reservations for skydiving. They appear to be representing a skydiving center in your local area and make claims that they have the highest skydiving safety record, use the best equipment, have been serving the local area for a long time, offer the least expensive skydive, and have the closest jumping location to metropolitan areas. However, these websites are actually nothing more than a middle man or skydiving reservation agency which costs you money. Be leary of their many misrepresentations!
(More Info...)

ARE RESERVATIONS AND DEPOSITS REQUIRED?

TANDEM:
Yes, a $50 NON REFUNDABLE deposit is required to schedule a tandem skydive. This deposit is not refundable without exception and is only transferable to a different date if weather does not permit the skydive. You will lose your deposit if you do not show up at your scheduled date and time, are not 18 years of age or older, or weigh over 230 lbs.  Your deposit is transferable to a different person, however. If you are not sure you want to jump, or if you are not certain you can make a particular date and time slot, you may want to jump without putting a deposit down. You can do this by simply showing up during business hours and waiting for a slot to open, or by calling ahead the day of to see if and when we can fit you in.

IAD/SOLO:
We do require reservations through the winter months (December/February), and may require a deposit in order to insure that an instructor will be available to train the solo first jump course.

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DO YOU ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS?
Yes! We accept MasterCard and Visa.

DO YOU HAVE GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE?
Yes, we offer gift certificates! Note that gift certificates are not returnable! If the person you’re purchasing the gift for doesn’t want to skydive or can’t for some reason, you may be “stuck”. Our gift certificates are transferable, but again not returnable. We’re always happy to sell gift certificates, but if there’s any doubt at all you might want to consider making up your own certificate, and just coming along to pay for the skydive when your special person makes their jump.
Call 316-776-1700 to purchase a gift certificate.

WHERE DO I GO TO JUMP?
Air Capital Drop Zone is located at Cook Field a privately owned airport. The low volume of air traffic, wide open landing areas, and beautiful countryside make Cook Field an ideal spot for jumping. Moreover, we are located only twenty minutes from downtown Wichita Kansas. Cook Field is located east of Derby Kansas at 7015 South 143rd Street East. (Map Link)

AGE REQUIREMENTS: MY DAUGHTER OR SON IS 17. CAN THEY SKYDIVE WITH MY CONSENT?
No, you must be at least 18 years of age. Everyone who skydives signs a Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk Agreement (waiver), this is the industry standard. The legal age of contract in the state of Kansas is 18, those under the age of 18 can not enter into a legally binding contract. The courts have set precedent that only you have the ability to sign away your right to sue, therefore there is no parental consent option. For those who are under age, give us a call on your 18th birthday (or a week or two before to schedule)!

EVERYONE who skydives with us MUST PRESENT IDENTIFICATION showing his or her photo and birth date.

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WHAT DICTATES THE WEIGHT LIMITS?
All skydiving gear is “Approved” under a type certificate or Technical Standard Order (C-23 series) with the Federal Aviation Administration. Most Single-harness (harness for one person) systems and all of our student skydiving systems have a TSO certification maximum weight of 254 lbs., a 225 lb skydiver geared up ready to skydive will weigh somewhere between 250 and 254 lbs.

The TSO maximum weight for our Tandem Parachute Systems are 525 lbs. With the weight of the tandem instructor, and gear, we can take a tandem student up to 230 lbs and still be within the 525 lb total maximum weight.

WHY DO YOU CHARGE MORE FOR HEAVY TANDEM STUDENTS?
Tandem instructors set their own weight limits. If you look around at other drop zones, you will find maximum weight limits for tandem students at most ranging from 200 up to 230lbs. It is more physically demanding on the instructor to take students in excess of 200lb, the upcharge you will pay for a tandem skydive goes directly to the Instructor who jumps with you.

WHICH IS BETTER, TANDEM OR IAD?
We offer two training methods, one is not necessarily better than the other. Which method you decide on depends more on your motivation, and what you’re interested in getting out of your skydiving experience. By far the most popular method of first skydive training today is Tandem, but if you’re interested in pursuing your skydiving license you will need to take our Instructor Assisted Deployment first jump course. The majority of people who jump will make only one skydive in their life, of those a few want to have “done it by themselves”; again in that case the IAD FJC may be the method for you. Read through the Tandem and IAD pages for a detailed description of the two training options.
Tandem: short instruction, 30 second free fall, you jump with an instructor, relatively high performance canopy ride.
IAD: 4 to 5 hour instruction, no free fall on your first few jumps, solo, large docile canopy, train toward becoming a licensed skydiver.

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HOW LONG WILL MY TRAINING AND JUMP TAKE?
The amount of time required for your training and first jump depends on the training method you have selected. If you are doing a tandem jump, plan to spend four to six hours. If you are doing the Instructor Assisted Deployment (solo) method, we suggest that you plan to spend the day at the drop zone. We believe you will find that clearing your schedule of other obligations will allow you to focus on your first jump with-out unneeded worries or distractions. If you will be unable to be at the drop zone all day, please let your instructor or jump master know your time constraints as early as possible.

HOW DO I QUALIFY FOR MY FIRST SKYDIVING LICENSE?
From the United States Parachute Association (USPA)
A License
1. Persons holding a USPA A license may jump without supervision, pack their own main parachute, engage in basic group jumps, perform water jumps, and must have:
a. completed 25 jumps
b. completed all requirements listed on the USPA A License Proficiency Card
c. completed five group freefall skydives involving at least two participants
d. received the signature and official stamp on the A License Proficiency Card or USPA A License Progression Card (ISP)

DO YOU OFFER GROUP RATES?
Yes! For groups of 5 to 9 we give a $5 per person discount. For groups of 10 you save $10 per person. Your group can jump a combination of Tandem and/or Solo.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
Wear a good pair of tennis shoes (do not wear boots) and casual clothing appropriate for the temperature. If the weather is cool, we suggest that you bring a sweatshirt to wear under your jumpsuit. We recommend that you leave your jewelry at home. Not only is there a risk that jewelry may be lost during your skydive, but rings, necklaces, and bracelets can become snagged on the aircraft during exit, leading to injury. We supply all the equipment needed to make your jump.

I'M AFRAID I'LL GET AIRSICK...SHOULD I EAT BEFORE MY JUMP?
Yes! Not eating can make you feel even more airsick. Instead, just eat a smaller meal before you jump.

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WHAT WILL THE SKYDIVE FEEL LIKE?
The sensation of freefall is more like flying than falling, and the parachute flight is quiet and inspiring.

ISN’T LANDING LIKE JUMPING OFF A TWO STORY BUILDING?
No! If that were the case, there would be no skydiving because everyone would have broken legs! In the early days of sport parachuting, landings were sometimes quite hard. The new ram-air parachutes of today allow landings that feel equivalent to hopping off a step 1-2 feet.

WILL I BE SCARED?
Maybe, and maybe not. You will definitely feel a surge of excitement and anticipation before the jump - this is a normal part of the experience. During the jump itself, you'll probably feel a thrill such as you've never experienced - enjoy it!

WHAT KIND OF PARACHUTE WILL WE USE?
The parachutes used are specifically designed, large "ram-airs". A ram-air is a high technology "square" parachute, as opposed to the old style round parachutes.

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WHAT HAPPENS IF THE PARACHUTE DOESN’T OPEN?
In the very unlikely event that the main parachute doesn't open properly, there is a reserve parachute, which is inspected and packed by a licensed FAA parachute rigger. All of our reserve parachutes are equipped with the most reliable and modern AADs (Automatic Activation Device) available, the CYPRES. Air Capital Drop Zone utilizes this system for your enhanced safety. This is a BACK-UP system only.

CAN SOMEONE TAKE VIDEO OR PICTURES OF MY SKYDIVE?
Yes! You are welcome to bring your own camera and a friend to take video or pictures of your jump from the ground. In addition, we offer two ways to have your jump recorded for posterity: the traditional "outside" video and still package and a new "inside" video view with a hand cam.  Check out more here... If you would like video and/or still 35mm to capture your skydive on tape or film, please let us know at the time you schedule your jump.

WHAT TYPE OF VIDEO CAN I EXPECT?
An 8 - 12 minute video of your skydive on DVD, edited and set to music. We expect to film you at various times from when you receive your training to after your landing. However, because of the number of variables the only part that we guarantee is the freefall phase. Bonus footage may include climbing into the aircraft, takeoff, the climb to altitude, exit, under canopy and landing.

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WHAT KIND OF STILL PHOTOS CAN I EXPECT?
Your digital still photos will be burned to a CD. You have rights and can use the stills for a variety of applications including email, computer screen savers, social network sites, greeting cards, calendars, etc.

CAN THE CAMERAPERSON FILM MORE THAN ONE PERSON?
No. The time/distance gap between exits preclude a camera person being able to film more than one student.

WHAT IF THE WEATHER IS BAD?
Neither we, nor the weatherman, are 100% accurate at predicting the weather in Kansas. Please show up for your scheduled appointment, and a decision can be made at that time. If for some reason we need to cancel, we'll give you a call.

WHAT'S THE HISTORY OF SPORT SKYDIVING?
Martin Myrtle, our Drop Zone Owner wrote a article on the subject titled "The Evolution of Sport Skydiving" you can read it here.

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