Tandem Skydive FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Skydiving is an everyday thing for us (because we have the best job on planet earth), but we recognize everything’s new for you. Here are the questions we hear most often – reach out if you have others! We want you to get the most out of your skydiving experience.

General FAQs

Tandem Requirements

Jump Day Questions

Skydiving Safety

We’re located at 500 Airport Road, Salisbury, NC, right off I-85.

Driving distances:

Concord, NC – about 25 minutes
Charlotte, NC – about 45 minutes
High Point, NC – about 55 minutes
Greensboro, NC – about 1 hour
Winston-Salem, NC – about 1 hour

Our season runs February through mid-December. Tandem operations are available Monday through Sunday, weather permitting. You may call the dropzone or check availability through the “book now” feature on the website.

“Normal” skydiving height is between 10,000 feet and 14,000 feet. At Piedmont Skydiving, we offer two skydiving exit altitudes: 10,000 feet and 17,500 feet.

Our standard skydive option from 10,000 feet yields about 35 seconds of highly-coveted freefall.
Our high altitude skydive option from 17,500 feet yields about 80 life-changing seconds of freefall! Get it!!

We recommend booking in advance, especially on weekends during peak skydiving season (i.e. late spring, summer, and early fall). We happily accommodate walk-ins when we can – give us a call for same-day availability.

We use Burble, a secure, online booking system that lets you choose your date, time, type of skydive (standard vs high altitude), and media package. Easy peasy!

It’s up to you – you can pay in full at the time of booking or pay a $50 deposit with the balance due at check in on jump day. All payments are final and non-refundable.

Our plane accommodates two tandem pairs up on a load, so you can share the experience with someone special … or someone who’s just awesome. (The actual number on your load may depend on instructor availability.)

Yes – there’s no better bonding experience! Group discounts kick in for groups of 4 or more people. Check out our Rates page for details.

May be combined with the student, first responder, OR active duty military discount.

Yes! We offer discounts to college and university students, first responders, and active duty military members. Bring your ID.

One discount per person per visit – meaning, you cannot redeem the student and first responder discount during one visit, for example. May be combined with the group discount, however. Discount(s) applied at check in.

A first responder is someone with specialized skills who is among the first on scene during an emergency. At Piedmont Skydiving, we categorize first responders as:

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics
Firefighters (career, volunteer, federal service)
Fire medical officers
Fire department commissioners and lieutenants
Law enforcement officers (federal, state, local, tribal)
School resource officers
Sheriff’s deputies
State troopers

No, we do not allow outside video equipment on the plane or the skydive. You are more than welcome to take as many photos as you would like on the ground before and after your skydive. We offer media packages so you can get photos and footage of your actual jump.

No, media packages must be purchased individually. Due to the safety requirements of tandem skydiving, each tandem pair will be around 1/4 mile away from the next. At this distance it is impossible to film both tandem pairs with one camera.

We offer gift certificates for standard tandem skydives, high altitude skydives, media packages, and also gift cards in the amount of $25, $50 and $100 toward any of our offerings.

Gift certificates (other than Black Friday/holiday gift certificates) are redeemable for the full value of the experience for up to one year from the date of purchase. After that, the cash value may be applied towards a regularly priced experience for four more years. Gift certificates are redeemable by any skydiver who meets our standard skydiving requirements. Gift certificates are delivered via email instantly. Check out our Gifts page for details.

Deposits and payments are non-refundable. In order to keep your deposit, you must call the dropzone at least 96 hours (4 DAYS) in advance of your reservation time to reschedule your jump. Cancellations and no-shows forfeit your deposit.

In the event that your skydive is rescheduled by Piedmont Skydiving – due to weather, for example – you will have up to one calendar year to reschedule.

Deposits and payments are non-refundable. For large groups (6+) to keep deposits, you must give us 5 days notice to change the reservation. Failure to do so will result in the loss of the deposit per change. Please understand that our instructors have been scheduled to accommodate your reservation. Cancellations and no-shows forfeit your deposit.

In the event that your skydive is rescheduled by Piedmont Skydiving – due to weather, for example – you will have up to one calendar year to reschedule.

The best weather for skydiving is clear and calm. Per Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restrictions, clouds, rain, and wind may necessitate delays in jump operations.

We constantly and carefully monitor the weather to determine if conditions are favorable for skydiving. As we say in our industry, it’s better to be on the ground wishing we were in the sky, than in the sky wishing we were on the ground! Safety takes priority, period.

If you’re concerned about the weather, please call us before heading out to the dropzone.

Piedmont Skydiving is super family friendly – bring your whole cheer section! If your ground crew includes children, please make sure that there’s someone to watch them while you’re skydiving. Spectators are welcome to arrive 30 or so minutes after your scheduled time. That way, they’ll skip the paperwork and training and still see the exciting stuff.

Note that shade and seating is minimal and there’s no vending onsite. Encourage them to bring chairs and pack a picnic (no alcohol permitted).

There is a little snack stand operated by one of our staff members, but you can bring snacks and drinks – just remember, no alcohol is not permitted on airport property at any time! Let us know if you need recommendations for nearby restaurants or grocery stores.

Sorry, dogs and dropzones don’t mix. No matter how well your pup plays with others, an active airfield with a skydiving operation isn’t a safe place for dogs.

Absolutely! We’d love to help you make your skydiving experience extra-level amazing. Please connect with us to discuss what you have in mind and we’ll do our best to make it happen!

You must be at least 18 years old to skydive at any USPA (United States Parachute Association) Member Dropzone. This rule is hard and fast; no exceptions. Be sure to bring your valid, government-issued photo ID with you to the dropzone.

There’s no maximum age limit to skydive. The oldest skydiver currently on record was 103 when he made his most recent jump!

Our maximum weight limit for tandem skydiving is 225 lbs. This limit is enforced for safety and comfort and is not intended to be discriminatory. Please call us if you are over our weight limit; depending on body proportions and staff availability, we may be able to accommodate you.

You must be in reasonably good health and physical condition to skydive. Skydiving is an extreme sport; it can be physically and physiologically demanding. We know a whole lot about skydiving – not medical stuff. Talk with your doctor if you have any concerns about making a tandem skydive – a written note from your physician may be required for certain conditions.

There are a lot of moving parts to skydiving. You need to be alert, demonstrate good judgment, and be able to quickly interpret and follow instructions.

Certain conditions – including pregnancy, serious heart problems, uncontrolled epilepsy, or recent surgeries – may prevent you from jumping. If you’re unsure, consult your doctor first. We may require a doctor’s note before training. Call us to discuss specifics.

Make sure your instructor knows about any conditions that may affect your skydive.

Everyone is different. Some people with disabilities skydive with easy accommodations. For others, it’s not feasible. Contact us to discuss your specific needs and we’ll make it happen if we can. Safety first, always.

To account for pressure changes, you must wait at least 24 hours after SCUBA diving before you can skydive.

Arrive at the time of your reservation – no need to get here early.

Be prepared to spend up to half a day with us. Weather, groups of jumpers, and traffic at the airport can impact timing.

From wheels up to touch down, it takes 25 to 30 minutes to skydive. The plane ride is between 20 and 25 minutes to get to exit altitude. From 12,500 feet you will freefall for about 40 seconds, and from 17,500 feet you’ll freefall for about 80 (glorious) seconds.

Once the instructor deploys the parachute, you’ll have between 4 and 7 minutes to take in views of Charlotte, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Lake Norman, Badin Lake, and even the Blue Ridge mountains on a clear day!

Bring your valid, government-issued photo ID with you. No ID, no jump; not kidding. A positive attitude and patience are essential, too! You’re welcome to bring snacks, drinks (no alcohol), sunblock, bug spray, and lawn chairs.

Dress like you’re going to work out – athletic clothing that’s comfortable and snug. Keep in mind that it will be slightly colder during freefall due to the elevation. Layers are smart. Wear closed-toe shoes that lace up. Tie your hair back.

No heels, sandals, boots, or shoes that have hook laces
Loose jewelry and accessories will be lost to the wind
Remove anything that may be a snag hazard

We provide skydiving goggles that fit over glasses. If you have contacts or glasses with a smaller frame, choose to wear those on jump day.

Eat a good meal around 30 minutes before your reservation time; nothing heavy or greasy. Bring some snacks in case weather keeps you at the dropzone longer than anticipated. Leave enough time for the food to digest, but not so much time that you’re starving once it’s time to skydive. You don’t want anything to take your focus away from the experience!

Make sure that you’re well-hydrated before your first skydive, and that you use the restroom before you get on the plane! Once you take off from the dropzone, it’ll be 30 or so minutes until your feet are back on the ground, so plan accordingly!

Drinking alcohol the night before or the day of a skydive is a terrible idea; trust us. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and United States Parachute Association (USPA) both require a minimum of 8 hours after drinking to skydive, but recommend a full 24 hours.

We strictly enforce this at Piedmont Skydiving. We will not allow you to jump if you’re intoxicated or impaired in any way. This is not only for your safety but for the safety of our instructors and the other skydivers as well.

Plus, skydiving hungover (or drunk) can be an easy way to lose your lunch and leave your instructor with a very smelly rest of the day.

Yes – but that’s part of it! Being nervous about jumping from an airplane is totally normal. Most first-timers report that they felt the most apprehensive during the airplane ride, but that once your feet are out the door, that nervousness will dissolve into pure exhilaration and joy.

Most people anticipate that skydiving freefall will feel like falling, or like a rollercoaster drop, but it doesn’t! You feel like you’re floating on a column of air. This is because you’re not jumping into “dead air” from 0 miles per hour – you’re already going 100+ miles an hour in the plane and then speed up to a maximum speed of about 120 miles per hour.

Nope! We use large, docile parachutes and only engage highly-experienced instructors. As long as you lift your legs so your instructor can facilitate the landing, it should be less jarring than jumping from a chair.

Tipping your skydiving instructor is a personal decision – tips aren’t expected but they are sincerely appreciated! A tip is a great way of communicating your satisfaction with your jump and making your hard-working instructor smile.

Skydiving is classified as an extreme sport for good reason – there is serious risk involved in jumping out of an airplane in operation. Skydiving is not “safe” and you should be wary of those who suggest it’s safe.

That said, skydiving is a heavily-regulated industry that’s overseen by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the United States Parachute Association (USPA). Please see the USPA’s annual report – How safe is skydiving? – for safety statistics, including information about skydiving injuries and fatalities.

As illustrated in the report, the safety statistics of tandem skydiving are impressive. Jumping with a highly-trained professional has proven to be the best, most safety-driven way for first timers to experience skydiving.

Yes, Piedmont Skydiving is a proud USPA Member Dropzone. This distinction recognizes our commitment to skydiving safety, including engaging only USPA rated tandem instructors and utilizing and maintaining top-tier skydiving equipment.

At Piedmont Skydiving, we strictly adhere to all Federal Aviation Administration requirements for parachute safety, which includes jumping with two parachutes – a main and secondary (reserve) parachute. We ensure that all reserve parachutes are inspected every 180 days by an FAA-certified parachute rigger, whether they’ve been used or not.

Additionally:

Automatic Activation Device (AAD): All of our parachutes are equipped with a computerized AAD. This device is designed to automatically activate the parachute by a predetermined altitude in the event that the skydiver is unable to do so for any reason.

USPA Tandem Instructors: All of our tandem skydiving instructors have undergone rigorous training and national USPA certification.

Our instructors at Piedmont Skydiving professionals who are all USPA-licensed and FAA-certified Tandem Skydiving Instructors. (Plus, they’re super friendly and welcoming.)

To become a tandem skydiving instructor, you need to be a member of the USPA and:

Log a minimum of 500 jumps
Log a minimum of 3 hours of freefall
Complete coursework to achieve Tandem Instructor rating
Have at least 3 years in the sport

Per FAA guidelines, our main parachutes are packed by trained, professional packers and our reserve parachutes are inspected and packed by FAA-certified riggers every 180 days.

The air gets significantly thinner above 15,000 feet. Per FAA regulations, supplemental oxygen is required above 15,000 feet to prevent hypoxia – a condition where your body doesn’t get enough oxygen, which can lead to impaired judgment, slowed reaction time, dizziness, or even loss of consciousness.

There’s nothing on this planet more exhilarating than skydiving. Experience the freedom of human flight!

Book Your Skydive

Tandem Skydive FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

General FAQs

Tandem Requirements

Jump Day Questions

Skydiving Safety

General Questions

Tandem Skydiving Requirements

Jump Day Questions

Skydiving Safety Questions

Ready to unleash your inner wild child?