Parachuting and skydiving are methods of descending from altitude to the ground using gravity and a parachute. The activity consists of three primary phases: free‑fall, parachute deployment, and landing. During free‑fall, the jumper accelerates toward terminal velocity until the parachute is deployed; thereafter the canopy provides drag to slow the descent and allow a controlled landing.
History
The first recorded parachute descent was performed on 22 October 1797 by French aeronaut André‑Jacques Garnerin, who jumped from a hot‑air balloon over Paris using a silk parachute. Early developments continued throughout the 19th and early 20 century, leading to the modern ram‑air “parafoil” designs used today.
Disciplines and Sport
Parachuting is practiced both recreationally and competitively and is recognized as an extreme sport because of the inherent risks. The United States Parachute Association (USPA) lists several sport disciplines, including:
- Formation skydiving
- Freeflying (including freestyle and skysurfing)
- Night jumps
- Water landings
- Canopy formation
- High‑altitude jumps
- Camera flying
- Wingsuit flying
- Canopy piloting
- Movement jumps (tracking, angle flying)
- Speed skydiving
In 2024, USPA members reported 3.88 million jumps in the United States, with nine civilian fatalities and a 5.6 % injury rate, most injuries involving ankle trauma from landings.
Military and Specialized Use
Modern armed forces employ parachuting to insert airborne troops, equipment, and supplies. Special‑operations units frequently use free‑fall techniques for covert insertion. In the United States, forest‑firefighters known as “smokejumpers” use parachutes to reach remote fire sites quickly. Historically, parachutes were also used for emergency escape from distressed aircraft, a practice most common during World Wars I and II; today, ejection seats with integrated parachutes are the primary method of aircraft escape.
Safety
Injuries typically result from unsafe maneuvers or judgment errors during canopy flight, leading to high‑speed impacts. Proper training, equipment maintenance, and adherence to safety protocols are essential for reducing risk.
Governance
The sport is overseen internationally by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). Parachuting is not currently part of the Olympic programme, though it has featured in the World Games (1997–2017).