Parachuting: Adventure in the sky
By Primastuti Handayani and Thalia Kamarga
BOGOR, West Java (JP): Centuries ago, our predecessors dreamed of being able to fly like birds. Now, because of modern technology people can travel by airplane.
Flying in an aircraft is not the same as flying without the help of any machine. Nor is it as challenging or exciting.
Parachuting is an alternative to other air sports. You will feel alone up there, feeling free like a bird in the sky.
People may imagine that being a skydiver is the toughest thing in the world. Well, that is not true. As long as you are healthy and have the nerve, you can fly.
"By jumping a maximum of 10 times, people will be able to fly," Bambang Samudra, a member of the Aves Club, Bandung, told The Jakarta Post.
"Usually, after jumping only eight times while accompanied by instructors, people are capable of jumping solo," he added.
Bambang said that the training nowadays is much easier compared to the 1980s, when he was trained by military officers.
"It was tougher. Those who wanting to join the club had to undergo physical and psychological tests," he said.
Before anyone is allowed to do a safety jump alone, they have to undergo a series of classroom drills and ground training.
"We'll provide lessons about airships, the exits, safety and emergency procedures. These must be well memorized," Bambang said.
Modern science and technology also enables learners the latest parachuting training method, which is Accelerated Free Fall.
"Two instructors will take a student hand in hand and teach him about balancing in air. The instructors will correct all movements on the spot," Bambang said.
The latest parachutes are equipped with automatic safety devices. The device automatically opens a parachute if it is not manually done several seconds after jumping out of the plane, if the person's jump speed is more than eight feet per second, if the main parachute does not open properly or if the person's altitude is less than 1,000 feet.
Bambang said that there are several categories in parachuting: skydiving formation, canopy formation, accuracy landing and freestyle.
"The easiest and quickest thing to learn is accuracy landing. We only need to jump from 3,000 feet and land. The problem shows up when we try to land on a target that is only 3 centimeters big," he said.
"Accuracy landing needs a bigger parachute with a bigger gliding ratio. It will curve slower, because we're heading towards a tiny target, and it is more stable," he said.
Formations
Bambang said that after parachuting several times people can learn a few maneuvers, like skydiving or canopy formations.
"Canopy formations need a smaller but stronger parachute, because the formation needs fast maneuver," he said.
"Skydiving formation needs the smallest and lightest parachute because we emphasize on the formation," he informed.
More than 200 people have joined the Aves Club, which was established on July 28, 1969. Unfortunately only 50 percent are active. Thirty of them are athletes, mostly college students.
"There are various things that motivate people to try parachuting. The most common reason is that they just want to try. Sometimes people try parachuting just to get attention," Bambang said.
"Through natural selection, we'll know which people are really serious about the sport," he added.
Jobs and distance are the major reasons that some members are inactive.
In line with Federation Aeronautique Internationale rules, the Aves does not allow anyone under 17 years old to jump.
"Years ago we admitted 14-year-old students, but now there is a new international regulation we abide by it," Bambang said.
The Aves Club provides parachuting lessons for Rp 5 million (US$2,110) at the Lido Lake Resort, which is owned by Adnan Mokodompit. Mokodompit is one of the club's founders. The others are senior journalist and the country's most senior skydiver Trisno Yuwono, former chairman of the club Johnnie Saleh, and director of state-owned PT Migas, Arifin Panigoro.
"It is better for students to take lessons, at least for 10 jumps, than to take a tandem jump," Bahar, also a member of the club, said. The club charges $150 for tandem jumps.
"The club does not charge a member's fee. We, the seniors, established a business company to finance the club's activities," Bambang said.
Indonesia has several private clubs. People can take lessons at Garuda or 165 Skydivers, both in Jakarta, Manguni in Manado, North Sulawesi, and Katulistiwa in West Java.
The directorate general of customs and excise also has clubs throughout the country.
Aves, which won the Independence Cup skydiving formation championships in Cibubur, East Jakarta, in 1993, and the Asia Pacific accuracy landing championships in Australia in 1981, is the only parachuting club with its own plane, a Cessna 185 which can carry five people.
"It is a risky sport. Some people die and some get injured, but, with improvements through advanced technology, we hope many younger people become interested in parachuting," Bambang expressed his hope.
"It's not true that we're not scared. Of course we get scared. But our fright makes us control ourselves," he added.