{"id":20925,"date":"2019-10-29T12:10:27","date_gmt":"2019-10-29T12:10:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=20925"},"modified":"2022-03-17T12:21:39","modified_gmt":"2022-03-17T12:21:39","slug":"wingsuit-accidents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wingsuit-accidents\/","title":{"rendered":"Wingsuit Accidents"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The <strong>World\u2019s Most Popular Wingsuit Errors<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Matt Gerdes describes some common wingsuit mistakes and how to prevent them\u2026<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Increased complexity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wingsuits add massive amounts of potential to a skydive. We are able to\nfly vastly further, at much higher horizontal speeds, than on any other type of\njump. We can fly a vertical head-down trajectory at 200 mph, or we can flatten out\nand go for over five miles\u2026 or we can do both on a single jump! The <em>cost &nbsp;<\/em>of this amazing <em>benefit<\/em>, is\nincreased risk and complexity. Increased risk and added complexity mean that we\nneed more training and education to maintain the same level of safety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>MISTAKES WE SEE OFTEN<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Here is a list of where things commonly go wrong for complacent or undertrained wingsuit pilots\u2026&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Hitting the aircraft<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Multiple fatalities have resulted from tail strikes, and recently there\nwas a tragic aircraft\/wingsuit collision. Hitting the plane is easier to do\nthan many people think. Prevention requires effort and pre-planning.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Prevention: <\/strong>Communicate with the pilot, and <strong>be 100% certain that all parties involved understand where the plane is descending<\/strong>. Aircraft settings are critical to exit safety: power should be cut, deck angle should be level, and airspeed should be reasonable. Ultimately, it is up to the wingsuit pilot to exit or not exit after verifying the aircraft settings and aircraft descent pattern. Communication is key &#8211; do not assume the aircraft settings are correct, or that the airplane pilot knows where you are going to fly your pattern. And watch this <a aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/257712556\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">video<\/a>&#8230; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Jump Run For Wingsuits (Read Article at Link Below)\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/257712556?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"500\" height=\"260\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Flying under jump run<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the first and best opportunity to have a serious collision on a multi-way jump. When exiting the aircraft (we prefer the term \u201centering the relative wind\u201d), there are multiple chances to lose stability: the jumper can present to the airflow asymmetrically, can tag a part of themselves or their rig on the door, can stall and lose control authority of their suit, or otherwise go unstable. In all of those cases, the likely trajectory is a narrow cone directly below the aircraft. If the base, lead, or previous wingsuit pilot exits the plane and flies along jump run, they are completely exposed to other wingsuiters above them who may have an unstable exit. Many fatalities and accidents have occurred as a result of this, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sws.brazil.3\/videos\/1845940278884950\/?__tn__=%2CdC-y.g-R&amp;eid=ARCqLMD57l7Fhel3lXiBWcoSk0BXLhk4JG2L95u20fjiKipZPmMyG_L-Ag9si2nnHKfvy3zSgI_O5ClY&amp;hc_ref=ARSftaOGzjy1Lz6aQMpII5-ZEEx7x4I_BEtiw9wuVd8BQPhzwnsRHp2LxSoBk8uKKJU&amp;fref=nf\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here is one example<\/a> (below)<\/p>\n\n\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/video.php?height=473&#038;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsws.brazil.3%2Fvideos%2F1845940278884950%2F&#038;show_text=false&#038;width=860&#038;t=0\" width=\"860\" height=\"473\" style=\"border:none;overflow:hidden\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowFullScreen=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Prevention: <\/strong>The base or lead should ALWAYS fly <em>at least<\/em> 30-45 degrees off of\njump run, away from the plane. This holds true whether it is a two-way or a\ntwenty-way jump! The base (lead) should continue on an angle away from the\nplane, maintaining an awareness of their entire group that is following, and of\nthe planned route of flight.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Stalling above the formation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Approaching a formation or flying a slot vertically above someone else\nis always dangerous, particularly at lower airspeeds. Stalling into your\nfriends from above can be worse than jumping out of a second story window and\nhead-butting them.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Prevention:<\/strong> Don\u2019t do it. Know what it means to be \u201con level\u201d in the context of wake\nturbulence, and if you feel yourself flying on the verge of stall, move out of\nthe formation. Stall configurations mean a loss of suit control because without\nadequate airspeed, our inputs are useless. Very low airspeed flight is\ndangerous!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"679\" src=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/8101_Gus_Oside-4661-squirrel-dan-dupuis-1024x679.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21221\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/8101_Gus_Oside-4661-squirrel-dan-dupuis-1024x679.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/8101_Gus_Oside-4661-squirrel-dan-dupuis-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/8101_Gus_Oside-4661-squirrel-dan-dupuis-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/8101_Gus_Oside-4661-squirrel-dan-dupuis.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>NOTE: The images in this article are not of bad behaviour, they are just eye candy to break up the text! \ud83d\ude09&nbsp; <br>Photo by Dan Dupuis <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Not being \u201cOn Level\u201d&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOn Level\u201d\u2026 &nbsp;oh, what fun to\ninterpret!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In skydiving, being \u201con level\u201d does not mean that we are all on a plane, parallel with the horizon. On Level means that we aren\u2019t burbling our friends, or flying in our friend\u2019s burble. The \u201clevel\u201d changes with the angle of the jump. In the case of a stacked formation, being on level means that the pilot above you must be staggered forward in the formation, sometimes by a lot (this varies with the glide angle and speed of the formation). Generally, if someone is stacked above you, then they should be far enough ahead of you that their belly button is directly above your head, and the formation is \u201cleaning forward\u201d ahead of the base. This is the single most important factor in building a successful stacked formation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"939\" height=\"522\" src=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/being-on-level-vertical-stacked-formation-WS-squirrel-Amber-forte.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20929\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/being-on-level-vertical-stacked-formation-WS-squirrel-Amber-forte.png 939w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/being-on-level-vertical-stacked-formation-WS-squirrel-Amber-forte-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/being-on-level-vertical-stacked-formation-WS-squirrel-Amber-forte-768x427.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 939px) 100vw, 939px\" \/><figcaption>What it means to be on level, in a vertical stacked formation. Image by Amber Forte<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are not on level, then you are in the burble (wake turbulence).\nIf you are several rows high in a stacked formation, and you allow yourself to\ndrift back into the wake turbulence, and then lose control of your suit or fall\nout of your slot and hit someone else, a cascading domino-effect of collisions\nis the most likely result. This is how people get hurt. Know what is necessary\nto stay on level, to stay in your slot, and what it means to lose control of\nyour suit at the top of a stacked formation &#8211; <strong>you have real responsibilities\nin every formation!<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"939\" height=\"570\" src=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/danger-zones-vertical-stacked-formation-WS-squirrel-Amber-forte.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20930\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/danger-zones-vertical-stacked-formation-WS-squirrel-Amber-forte.png 939w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/danger-zones-vertical-stacked-formation-WS-squirrel-Amber-forte-300x182.png 300w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/danger-zones-vertical-stacked-formation-WS-squirrel-Amber-forte-768x466.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 939px) 100vw, 939px\" \/><figcaption>Zones to avoid when flying in, or approaching, a vertical formation. Image by Amber Forte<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Transitioning above your friends<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is a no-no, in all cases except where the maneuver is carefully\ntrained and currently mastered. Just as bad as transitioning above your\nfriends, is transitioning next to them at an improper angle and allowing\nyourself to fall off-axis, corking into them from the side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Prevention:<\/strong> Transition to the side of and below the formation, with no one beneath you, and in a manner that makes a loss of control a non-risk to the rest of the formation, i.e. similar airspeed, and on level.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Ws-Matt-G-Mike-steen-by-Andy-farrington-FI-sqrl-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21222\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Ws-Matt-G-Mike-steen-by-Andy-farrington-FI-sqrl-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Ws-Matt-G-Mike-steen-by-Andy-farrington-FI-sqrl-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Ws-Matt-G-Mike-steen-by-Andy-farrington-FI-sqrl-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Matt G transitioning over Mike Steen. It\u2019s ok if you\u2019re dialed\u2026 and important to know when this is truly the case. Photo by Andy Farrington<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Losing control in a formation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is most common when someone feels that \u201cthe speed is wrong\u201d. Often,\nthe speed is uncomfortably slow, or fast, or the angle feels unattainable. That\nis no excuse to lose control of your suit. If the speed is wrong and you can\u2019t\nhack it, then move out to the side and follow the formation from a close, but\nsafe, distance. Do not leave the formation &#8211; see below.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Prevention:<\/strong> If the speed is too slow, or too fast, follow the lead at a safe distance for the duration of the jump. Do not force your way in and risk losing control. Do not go off and do your own thing. Stick with the planned line of flight. If you find it difficult to approach, then approach incrementally and always leave room to clear yourself out to the side of the formation if your approach does not go as planned.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"860\" height=\"484\" src=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/ws-squirrel-by-Dan-Dupuis-FI.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20936\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/ws-squirrel-by-Dan-Dupuis-FI.jpg 860w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/ws-squirrel-by-Dan-Dupuis-FI-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/ws-squirrel-by-Dan-Dupuis-FI-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/ws-squirrel-by-Dan-Dupuis-FI-400x225.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 860px) 100vw, 860px\" \/><figcaption>Everyone in control, but two pilots at left need to move forward to be \u201con level\u201d<br>Photo by Dan Dupuis.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Ditching the Formation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The only way that we can plan a group skydive that flies a predetermined\nlane for safety, and has a predictable break-off, is if everyone stays in the\ngroup. When you bail from the formation, you become a hazard to the rest of the\ngroup. Now, we don\u2019t know where you are flying, where you are going to open\nyour parachute, or what heading you might adopt for your deployment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Prevention<\/strong>: if you get behind, follow the \u201csmoke trail\u201d of the formation, and\nexecute break off at the proper altitude. If you fall out of the formation,\nfind it and watch it from the side, following the smoke trail.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Next_Level_Perris-8318-Ws-deployment-by-Dan-Dupuis-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21224\" width=\"878\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Next_Level_Perris-8318-Ws-deployment-by-Dan-Dupuis-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Next_Level_Perris-8318-Ws-deployment-by-Dan-Dupuis-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Next_Level_Perris-8318-Ws-deployment-by-Dan-Dupuis-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Next_Level_Perris-8318-Ws-deployment-by-Dan-Dupuis.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><figcaption>This photo shows the more horizontal chain &amp; sequence that is inherent with wingsuit deployments. Photo by Dan Dupuis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Flaring at deployment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Flaring is fun, and it\u2019s fun to practice!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cAnd hey, we just broke off, so there is no one around me!\u201d<\/em> Unfortunately, we\ncan\u2019t know that, and oftentimes there is someone behind or above. We can\u2019t see\nthrough the back of our skulls, and a rapid change in vertical speed is a\ncommon cause of accidents and near-misses.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Prevention:<\/strong> If you are breaking off from a formation and you do not have a clear\nvisual on every member of your group, do not flare aggressively. If you flare\ninto someone flying above you, the collision speed can be deadly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Prevention:<\/strong> If there are multiple wingsuit groups in the plane, the lines of flight and opening areas should be designated in a manner that creates constant, and growing, vertical and horizontal separation without the possibility of lines crossing, from exit to opening. See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/2018-08-08-ws-progression-3-the-skydive\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this article<\/a> for more on that.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Groups interacting&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If there is more than one group on the plane, and two groups end up near\neach other in freefall, the consequences can be severe.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Prevention:<\/strong> If there are multiple wingsuit groups in the plane, the lines of flight\nand opening areas should be designated in a manner that creates constant, and\ngrowing, vertical and horizontal separation without the possibility of lines\ncrossing, from exit to opening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Next_Level_Perris-9383-Dan-dupuis-Ws-SQrl-FI-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Next_Level_Perris-9383-Dan-dupuis-Ws-SQrl-FI-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Next_Level_Perris-9383-Dan-dupuis-Ws-SQrl-FI-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Next_Level_Perris-9383-Dan-dupuis-Ws-SQrl-FI-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Next_Level_Perris-9383-Dan-dupuis-Ws-SQrl-FI.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Photo by Dan Dupuis\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Collisions with parachutes, pulling low, and having too much fun under\ncanopy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most DZ\u2019s around the world do not appreciate the site of wingsuit pilots\nbuzzing a student or tandem while backflying or carving around in a two way\nafter a formation break-off.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Secondly, most DZ\u2019s don\u2019t like to see wingsuiters (even when flying very\ndocile parachutes) pulling at 1,800 feet and then doing CRW all the way to the\nground. If you know what you\u2019re doing and the DZ is ok with it, then sure, fly\nformation or stall your 7-cell canopy. But otherwise, take it easy on these\nphases of the jump.&nbsp;High traffic airspace, pull altitudes, and canopy\nflight patterns are all sensitive areas and not ideal phases of the jump to\nplay around in.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Full disclosure:<\/em><\/strong> We do play around under canopy sometimes, but we\nendeavor to do it in an area of the airport that we know is free of traffic,\nand at a high enough altitude to be reasonable.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Prevention:<\/strong> When you are approaching the DZ and your breakoff altitude, you will usually be nearing other parachutes from your load. This is not the best time to go to your back and party with your friends at low altitude just before deployment in the most crowded airspace on the jump. Pull above 3,000 feet, minimum. Fly a predictable pattern and clear any canopy-playtime with the DZSO \/ S&amp;TA first.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cutting Away&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wingsuit cutaways are a serious emergency. As stated in the first\nparagraph, you can \u201cdo more\u201d in a wingsuit than you can without one. The cost\nof added possibilities is added complexity, and parachute deployment is where\nthis is most apparent.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Prevention<\/strong>: Know everything there is to know about the proper equipment, airspeed, body configuration, symmetry, and AoA that is needed to transition from wingsuit to parachute flight safely. <a aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/some-thoughts-on-ws-openings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Start with this article and video.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Landing way the f*ck off&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I once heard a story about an experienced wingsuit organizer who went to an invitational wingsuit event, and led every jump on his back. <em><strong>He landed off the DZ 17 out of 22 jumps during the event.<\/strong> <\/em>I have a low opinion of that person.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Prevention: <\/strong>No coach or organizer is perfect, but we should all consciously strive for perfection when we are leading groups. We should all make great efforts to not just land on the DZ, but to land in a specific part of the landing area on each and every jump. Wingsuits should not <em>decrease <\/em>the chances of us landing on the DZ, they should <em>INCREASE <\/em>the chances of us landing on the DZ. Even if the spot is bad, and the wind is strong, we can <strong>always <\/strong>make it back if you know where you are when you get out of the plane &#8211; all we have to do is plan it, and pay attention. Know the winds aloft, know the winds at opening altitude. Know where you need to fly in order to avoid other groups, and be upwind of your pre-planned opening area. If the visibility conditions are not conducive to navigating back to the DZ easily, ride the plane down.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"sfsi_plus_widget sfsi_plus_shortcode_container\"><div id=\"sfsi_plus_wDiv\"><\/div><div class=\"sfsiplus_norm_row sfsi_plus_wDiv\"  style=\"width:195px;text-align:left;position:absolute;\"><div style='width:60px;height:auto;margin-left:2.5px;margin-right:2.5px;margin-bottom:25px;transform: none !important;' class='sfsi_premium_wicons shuffeldiv sfsi_premium_tooltip_align_automatic ' ><div style='line-height:0;' class='sfsiplus_inerCnt' data-othericoneffect=''><a class=' sficn  sciconfront ' data-effect=''   href='https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wingsuit-accidents\/'  style='opacity:1;height: 60px;width: 60px;' ><img nopin=nopin alt='' title='' 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