Like many other sports, skydiving appears to have its own language. Here is a guide to the jargon that you might hear around the DZ..!

A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. R. S. T. U. V. W. Z.

A

AAD
Automatic Activation Device. A back up device which initiates the deployment sequence of the reserve parachute in certain emergency situations. Common types include; Cypres, FXC 12000, Astra, Argus, Vigil.

A/C
Abbreviation for aircraft

Accuracy
A competition discipline, where the skydiver tries to land on, or as close as possible to a specified target

AFF
Accelerated Free Fall - A quick and very efficient method of learning to skydive. You jump from about 12,000 ft on the first jump with 2 instructors. You would normally be qualified to jump solo in as few as 8 jumps

AGL
Above ground level

Airspeed
The speed of a flying object through the air, commonly used in reference to aircraft or canopies.

Alti
Altimeter- A barometer device which indicates height above the ground

AOD
Old name for AAD

APA
Army Parachute Association, affiliated to the BPA, based at Netheravon

ATC
Air Traffic Control

B

Backslide
To move backwards in freefall relative to a neutral reference, Usually unintentional and undesirable, usually caused by a bad body position.

BASE
The core around which a formation skydive is built. Can be a single person or a group of people, depending on the number of skydivers involved.

Base Jump
A jump made from a fixed object rather than an aircraft. BASE is an acronym for Buildings, Antennas, Spans and Earth

Bag Lock
A malfunction of a freefall system where lines have deployed but the canopy is still trapped in the bag

BCPA
British Collegiate Parachute Association- A group run by and for college students, associated with the BPA. Runs regional and annual competitions for BPA members still undertaking education

Belly Flying
Freefalling in a belly to earth position i.e. formation skydiving

BI
Basic Instructor

Blade Running
Swooping under canopy through a series of wind blades along the ground

BOC
Bottom of container

Boogie
A gathering of parachutists, whether National or International, normally associated with organised jumping, using large aircraft

Booties
Jumpsuit 'feet' which hook over the front of the shoe

BPA
British Parachute Association- The governing body of sport for parachutists within the BPA, run by an elected Council of 15 sport parachutists, with a number of full-time employees fulfilling the administration tasks

Brakes
Used to slow down and steer the canopy, located on the risers of square canopies

Break-off
The time jumpers stop playing in freefall and find safe clear sky to open their parachutes

Bridle
A line attachment from the pilot chute to the top skin of canopy

Bum Spot
An error of judgment by the jumpmaster, in which you have been dispatched at a point at which you will probably find it impossible to get back to the PLA

Bungie
Rubber band used for stowing lines

Burble
The area of turbulence behind an object going through the air, whether a person in freefall or a canopy in flight.

C

CAA
Civil Aviation Authority - The body responsible for air standards, safety and operations in UK airspace

Call
The time remaining before you board the aircraft. For example a twenty minute call means you will board the aircraft in twenty minutes.

Category
A stage of progression from 1-8, with a specific set of guidelines for achievement, laid down by the STC. Followed by all students undertaking training at BPA Affiliated Parachute Clubs. Category 1-8 jumpers are classified as student parachutists

CCI
Club (or Centre) Chief Instructor - Advanced instructor (or Advanced Instructor/Examiner) nominated as the person in charge of a parachute operation

CF
Canopy Formations- Formation Work with 2 or more square canopies. Used to be known as CRW (Canopy Relative Work).

CF1
Canopy Formation qualification, Grade 1

Classics
Style and accuracy

Closing Loop
The small loop that holds the flaps of the container closed once the pin has been guided through the loop.

Comps Committee
A committee of the BPA which runs competitions

Container
The harness and pack parachutes are contained in

Crabbing
Point canopy across wind line (the wind pushes the canopy sideways)

Creeper
A board with wheels on that jumpers use to practice their skydive

CReW
Canopy Relative Work, old term for CF

CSI
Category System Instructor

Cut
Command given to the pilot to slow the aircraft speed for exit

Cutaway
Jettison of the main canopy usually after a malfunction

Cypres
A Type of AAD. Made by Airtech of Germany, this is the most common type of AAD and the first modern design to be widely adopted by expert skydivers.

D

DC
Dead Centre - Top score in accuracy competitions

De arch
To flatten out your arched body position in freefall to slow your fall rate.

Debrief
Post skydive analysis

Delay
The period of time in freefall

Demo
A parachute jump performed as a demonstration at an event (Also known as a display)

Dirt Dive
The curious looking dance that skydivers use to practice their FS positions, prior to emplaning

Dive
One of the methods of exiting the aircraft and can be short for skydive

DO
Development Officer - BPA employee responsible for implementing polices of the Development committee

Dock
Take up a grip on a freefall formation or the linking of one canopy to another

Downplane
CF formation with 2 jumpers linking legs and flying their canopies straight down

Downwind
Pointing the canopy in the direction the wind is blowing

DP
Dummy-pull (also known as DRCP). Training stage, as part of preparation for Free-fall used while still on static line

Drag Mat
Individual packing mat that container rests on during packing

Dump
Deploy Canopy

Dytter
Audible altitude warning device worn next to the ear

DZ
Drop Zone - A notified portion of airspace within which skydives / parachute descents are made.

E

EP
Exit Point - Point over the ground determined as the release point from the aircraft, such that freefall drift, throw-forward and other factors cause you to arrive at the opening point at the correct height.

End Cell
The cell on the end of a canopy.

Exit
Leave the aircraft and enter freefall.

Exit Weight
The total weight of the jumper and all equipment and clothing

F

FAA
Federal Aviation Administration - US equivalent of the CAA, who set standards for many items of parachute equipment

FAI
Federation Aeronautique Internationale - International Governing Body for all air sports, based in Switzerland. (See RAeC)

Factory Diver
Type of full face helmet

FAI Licence
A ladder of qualification, starting at `A' and ending in `D'

Fall Rate
The speed at which a skydiver falls

FF 1 & 2
Freeflying Qualification, grade 1 and 2

Flare
To pull down both brakes to turn forward speed into lift for landing

Flat Line
Continuous warning tone from audible altimeter (Time Out) at 1500 ft meaning act now

Flat Flyer
FS jumper

Floater
Exit position where the jumper holds on outside the aircraft

Formation
Two or more jumpers linked in freefall

FREEFLY
A freefall discipline of any orientation other than flat flying

Freestyle
A freefall discipline performing aerial gymnastics

Free Bag
Bag the reserve canopy is packed into, inside reserve container

FS
Formation Skydiving. Used to be called RW (Relative Work). The building of formations by a number of people in freefall, for fun, or for competition.

FS1
Formation Skydiving, grade 1

F111
Fairly porous fabric used on some types of canopies

G

GATW
Acronym often used in student logbooks, meaning "Good All The Way"

Glide Ratio
Ratio of forward movement to descent rate under canopy

GPS
Global Positioning System - Navigation system used by aircraft which confirms ground position

Grips
Handle on a jumpsuit used for FS

Groundrush
The illusion of the ground appearing to accelerate towards you

H

Hacky
Popular skydiving game using a bean filled bag (Hacky Sack)

Half Series
A succession of manoeuvres, two alternate turns and a back-loop

Harness
Webbing assembly which is part of the container system

Holding
Facing canopy into the wind

Hook Knife
Small knife with protected blade carried in case of line entanglements

Hook Turn
A radical manoeuvre with a square parachute close to the ground, resulting in a rapid rate of descent, followed by extra lift in the flare (when executed correctly). Executed poorly, injury often follows

Hop & Pop
Slang for a very short freefall delay

I

IC1
Individual canopy qualification, grade 1

IPC
International Parachute Commission, a sub section of the FAI.

IS1
Individual style qualification, grade 1

J

JM
Jumpmaster- An experienced Skydiver, or Instructor, responsible to the CCI and pilot for the parachutists on each lift

JSPC
Joint Services Parachute Centre. 4 Centres around the world, formed to give skydiving opportunities to servicemen

K

Kill Line
Line through bridle which collapses pilot chute after canopy opens to reduce drag

L

Launch
Two or more jumpers exiting the aircraft together (stable)

M

Main
Primary parachute

Mal
Malfunction - A failure in some part of the parachuting system, causing you to carry out your emergency procedures

Manifest
List of all on board the aircraft

Manifestor
The person responsible to the CCI for allocating jumpers to aircraft, and keeping the legally required records

N

Nationals
National championships (annual event) organised by the BPA

NCSO
National Coach and Safety Officer - An employee of the BPA responsible to Council for the safe conduct of parachuting in the UK, and the training of Instructors

New Age
The disciplines of Freeflying, Freestyle and Skysurfing

O

OP
Opening Point- The point over the ground at which the parachutist should open their canopies such that taking into account wind drift, they will land on the target. OP and EP will be the same for a SL jumper

Opening Shock
The force felt due to sudden deceleration as the canopy opens

P

Paraski
Combination ski / accuracy event

Pilot Chute
A small parachute used to create drag and pull the main parachute out into the air

Pin
1) Basic FS manoeuvre in which one jumper formates with another in freefall 2) Closing device for main and reserve parachutes

PLA
The area where it is intended skydivers / parachutist will land. Sometimes (mistakenly called DZ)

PLF
Parachute Landing Fall - The controlled collapse and roll which absorbs the landing impact, usually under a round parachute, but may save you under a fast moving square parachute

Point
In FS or CF, each successfully completed formation scores one point. The formations themselves are often referred to in this way

Porosity
The amount of air that will pass through a given area of canopy material

POPS
Parachutists Over Phorty Society; an association for the more mature skydiver

Pro-Track
A type of altitude warning device which gives additional freefall speed and distance information

PRO-Pack
One way of packing a square canopy. PRO stands for "Proper Ram-air Orientation"

Pull
Deploy main parachute (also dump)

Pull Out
Method of deployment where the pilot chute is packed inside the container, the owner pulls out the pin and the pilot chute

Pull-up Cord
Short length of line or binding tape used to close a parachute container

R

RAeC
Royal Aero Club of Great Britain- The UK representatives on and of the FAI

RAFSPA
Royal Air Force Sport Parachuting Association, based at Weston on the Green

RAPS
Ram-Air Progression System - A program for beginners using square parachutes from jump 1

Regionals
Regional championships

Rig
A set of equipment, comprising main, reserve and container(s).

Rigger
A person qualified who can maintain and repair parachute systems, and manufacture component parts.

Riser
Webbing strip running from your harness to the lines of your canopy

Round
A classic parachute

RSL
Reserve Static Line - A back up device that opens the reserve on releasing the main

Running
Facing canopy down wind

Run-in
Final line that the aircraft flies to reach the pre determined spot for jumpers to leave. Also called jump run

RW
Relative work- See FS

S

Skydive U
Skydive University- a world wide training system for formation skydiving

Skysurf
Skydiving on a surfboard

Sit Fly
Freefalling in a sit position

Slider
Device to slow down the deployment of ram air parachutes by sliding down the suspension lines

S/L
Static Line - a deployment system for beginners (except AFF and tandem)

Snivel
Abnormally slow canopy opening

Speed
A competition where jumpers build a formation as quickly as possible

Spot
Technically, the release point- The point you should exit the aircraft to reach the target

SS1/2
Skysurfing qualification, grade 1 and 2

Stall
When toggles are pulled down further than full brakes, causing the canopy to lose forward speed and collapse

Star
A basic FS formation, with 3 or more skydivers linked in a circle by their arms

Stack
A group of canopies in the sky vertically above each other

Stand Up
Vertical freefall position, feet to earth, crucifix style. Also a type of landing

STC
Safety and Training Committee (of the BPA). A sub-committee of Council, made up by CCI's who make appropriate decisions on safety and training

Streamer
When the main canopy has left the bag but not inflated at all. Also sometimes a slang name for a WDI

Style
The execution of a specific set of freefall manoeuvres in the shortest possible time

Swoop
A high speed landing

T

Tandem
An introduction to skydiving by a Tandem Instructor, in which the student is strapped to the Instructors front, and conducts a free-fall descent from altitude, and a long canopy ride under a very large parachute, remaining attached throughout!!

Three Ring Release
Release mechanism for main canopy, attaches the risers to the harness

Throw Away
Type of hand deployment where the pilot chute is packed externally in a spandex pocket

Time Out
Audible altitude warning device

Toggles
Steering loops on risers

Total
Malfunction where there is nothing out of the container

Track
To move fast horizontally in freefall often to achieve separation from other jumpers

TO
Technical Officer- An employee of the BPA responsible to Council for technical and overall
running of the association

TSO
Technical Safety Order - These are American FAA safety standards, but for the guidelines for much of parachute design

U

USPA
United States Parachute Association

V

VGATW
Very Good All the Way

W

WARP
Worldwide Advanced Relative Work Progression - A programme of FS tuition once Category 8 has been achieved in which individual instruction is provided by an FS Coach

WDI
The Wind Drift Indicator- a paper streamer used to predict canopy drift, and hence the OP. Also known as a Woody or a streamer

Wind Line
A line through the target in the wind direction

Z

ZP
Zero-Porosity - Non permeable fabric used in modern very high performance canopies

Zoo
A jump that didn't go quite as planned!