How Old Do You Have to Be to Skydive?

Key Takeaways

 

Minimum Age: You must be 18 years old to skydive in the United States at a USPA member dropzone, for both tandem and solo jumps. The requirement comes from the United States Parachute Association (USPA) and tandem equipment manufacturers, and you’ll need a valid, government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport, on the day of your jump.

Parental Consent: Minors cannot skydive at a USPA member dropzone, even with a parent’s permission, because they cannot sign the required binding liability waiver.

Maximum Age: There is no upper age limit for skydiving. For adults, age itself isn’t the deciding factor; general health, basic mobility, and the ability to lift your legs for landing are more important considerations.

Table of Contents
Why is the Skydiving Age Limit 18?
Can You Skydive at 16 or 17 with Parental Consent?
Are There Any Exceptions?
How the Skydiving Age Limit has Changed Over Time
Is There a Maximum Age Limit for Skydiving?
What’s the Minimum Skydiving Age in Other Countries?
Under 18? Try Indoor Skydiving
Ready to Skydive in Oklahoma?

You must be at least 18 years old to skydive in the United States at a USPA member dropzone, for both tandem and solo skydiving.

The United States Parachute Association (USPA) is the national governing organization for skydiving in the U.S. Dropzones that belong to the USPA agree to operate according to its Basic Safety Requirements, which establish standards for skydiving operations and training.

That means turning 18 is the point at which you can sign up for a tandem skydive or begin training to jump on your own. Bring a valid, government-issued, photo ID – like a driver’s license or passport – with you on jump day as proof of age. There is no maximum age set by the USPA.

Why is the Skydiving Age Limit 18?

The 18-year minimum comes from a combination of USPA requirements, tandem equipment manufacturers, and the legal requirements involved in making a skydive. A common misconception is that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sets the minimum age for tandem skydiving, but that’s not accurate.

These are the three factors that determine the current skydiving age requirement:

1. USPA Basic Safety Requirements (BSRs): USPA member dropzones follow the organization’s Basic Safety Requirements, which establish the standards for participating in the sport.
2. Tandem equipment manufacturers: Tandem skydiving equipment manufacturers in the United States set 18 as the minimum age for using their systems. 
3. Legal capacity: Skydiving requires participants to sign a binding liability waiver. Minors generally cannot execute that agreement on their own, so parental permission does not substitute for the participant meeting the age requirement.

Can You Skydive at 16 or 17 with Parental Consent?

No. At a USPA member dropzone, being under 18 means you cannot make a skydive, even if a parent or legal guardian gives permission.

Some non-USPA dropzones may choose to accommodate 16- or 17-year-old jumpers where local rules and equipment requirements allow it. 

Oklahoma Skydiving Center is a USPA member dropzone, so we require all skydivers to be 18 or older. If you’re 17 and counting down the days until your birthday, you don’t have much longer to wait!

Are There Any Exceptions?

Rare exceptions can exist for certain circumstances, including Make-A-Wish requests involving terminal illness. These situations require a formal USPA waiver request as well as approval from the relevant tandem equipment manufacturer.

Those circumstances are handled individually, on a case-by-case basis, and do not provide a general exception for minors who simply want to make a skydive before turning 18.

How the Skydiving Age Limit has Changed Over Time

The minimum age for skydiving in the United States has changed considerably over the years. According to the USPA’s history of its age requirements:

• 1967 and earlier: The minimum age was 21.
• 1970: The requirement changed to the age of legal majority in each state, which ranged from 17 to 21.
• 2003: USPA standardized the minimum at 18, while still allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to participate with parental consent.
• 2011: USPA added a Basic Safety Requirement requiring tandem jumps to follow the minimum age established by the equipment manufacturer. The U.S. tandem manufacturers’ minimum age was 18.
• 2014: USPA removed the parental-consent provision, making 18 the absolute minimum at USPA member dropzones.

So while 18 may seem like a longstanding rule, the current requirement is actually the result of several changes over the history of the sport.

Is There a Maximum Age Limit for Skydiving?

How old is too old to skydive? There isn’t a specific age at which someone automatically becomes too old to skydive. Lots of people complete tandem jumps into their 100s. In fact, the oldest skydiver currently on record is Al Blaschke, who was nearly 107 years old when he made his most recent tandem jump!

For an older jumper, the important questions are about their physical ability to participate. Basic mobility and the ability to lift the legs for landing are particularly important. If an existing medical condition raises questions about whether someone should jump, they should discuss it with their doctor before booking.

So, can a 60-year-old or 70-year-old go skydiving? The answer is yes, as long as they meet the physical requirements for the jump.

What’s the Minimum Skydiving Age in Other Countries?

Skydiving minimum ages vary considerably around the world. There isn’t one universal international standard. Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada commonly allow 16-year-olds to skydive when the appropriate consent is provided, although requirements vary. Some countries permit younger participants.

Minimum ages can depend on the country’s aviation regulations, national skydiving organization, equipment requirements, and individual dropzone policies.

If you’re traveling specifically to make a skydive, check the requirements directly with the dropzone and the relevant national skydiving association before making plans.

Under 18? Try Indoor Skydiving

If you’re not old enough to make a traditional skydive yet, indoor skydiving can give you a real freefall experience without leaving an airplane.

Wind tunnels use a powerful column of air to create the sensation of falling, allowing flyers to practice body position, movement, and control in a controlled indoor environment. Many facilities welcome children as young as age 3!

There is one major difference: while indoor skydiving recreates the freefall portion, there’s no parachute ride afterward. Still, it’s a legitimate way to experience the feeling of flight and get familiar with body movement before making a real skydive.

Ready to Skydive in Oklahoma?

If you’re 18 or older and ready to experience skydiving in The Sooner State, Oklahoma Skydiving Center is a USPA member dropzone located in Cushing, Oklahoma.

Bring a valid, government-issued, photo ID, choose your jump, and get ready to experience the freedom of human flight! Blue skies!