Is skydiving safe?
Skydiving is an inherently dangerous activity. At Midwest Freefall, your safety is our first priority. Our professional staff strives to make your experience both thrilling and safe.
Is there a weight restriction?
Yes, there is a weight restriction. Maximum weight is 230 lbs. Your weight should be proportionate to your height, and you must be in reasonably good physical condition. For reasons of safety, we reserve the right to make the final decision regarding your fitness to make a tandem skydive.
Is there an age restriction to make a skydive?
You must be at least 18 years of age to jump. Sorry, no exceptions regardless of parental consent. Photo ID is required.
Are reservations required to make a skydive?
Reservations are recommended as there is not a guarantee that we can accommodate walk-ups. Easily book online or call us directly at (586) 752-5867.
What should I wear?
CLOTHING – Wear comfortable clothing but nothing too baggy. If ground temperatures are chilly / cold, wear layered clothing so that you are comfortable on the ground. Jeans are acceptable.
FOOTWEAR – Please wear athletic shoes (this is preferred over boots). No flip-flops / open toed shoes.
How long will my first jump take?
Plan to be at the DZ half of the day; we will do our best to serve you quickly, but sometimes factors beyond our control can cause delay.
What altitude do you jump from?
Our standard exit altitude is between 13,000 and 14,000 feet.
How fast do you freefall?
Average freefall speeds for tandem skydivers is 120mph. The heavier the individual, the faster the freefall. The descent rate under parachute is about 1,000 feet per minute.
What do I need to bring?
Please be sure to bring a valid government-issued, photo ID. Drivers license or passports are ideal.
Wear comfortable clothing and athletic shoes. Bring your sunglasses and perhaps a folding chair to sit in the observation area to watch all of our skydivers in freefall and under parachute! Bring your friends to watch or to jump with you!
Should I eat before I jump?
Eating before your skydive is very important. Low blood sugar levels will result in your feeling nauseated during your skydive (especially under parachute) which will lessen the experience. It is important that you eat normally and stay hydrated (especially during the summer months).
Should I arrive earlier than my scheduled time?
Your booking time is your arrival time. Guests are welcome to come a little early to get a start on paperwork but not a requirement.
What is the landing like?
Most landings are quite soft, with many people able to perform a stand-up landing. A lot of factors play into this such as combined body weights, wind conditions, physical conditions, and humidity. Generally, we ask tandem students to lift their legs up straight in front of them, allowing us to land sliding on our butts. This is the safest method for both you and your instructor.
Can my friends and family come out and watch?
Absolutely! We welcome anyone to visit our skydiving center. Ask us questions! We're happy to share information!
Should I tip my instructor or videographer, what is standard procedure?
Tipping is never expected, but always appreciated.
What does Midwest Freefall consider to be bad weather?
Heavy Clouds – The FAA does not permit skydivers to jump through clouds. If cloud conditions are overcast - not allowing jumpers / instructors to see the ground from the jump altitude - then skydiving is discontinued. The exception to this is if the cloud cover is above an altitude of 11,000 feet.
Rain – Jumping in the rain can be an unpleasant experience as the rain hitting your face at 120mph can be painful. We do not operate when it's raining for your safety.
Wind – We will not jump if winds are gusting more than 5mph at any time. Additionally, high ground winds or excessive upper-altitude winds can prevent us from safely jumping.
If I have a GoPro camera or a similar small camera, am I permitted to bring this with me on my jump?
No outside cameras are permitted on your skydive due to safety reasons. There are no exceptions. The United States Parachute Association mandates that skydivers have a minimum of 200 jumps prior to taking a camera into freefall.
What if the parachute does not open?
Although it is very, VERY unlikely that your main parachute will fail to open properly, it can occur and this is a common question. On every jump, we are equipped with a main and a reserve parachute as a backup. In addition, all of our reserve parachutes are equipped with an Automatic Parachute Deployment system (commonly referred to as a Cypres or AAD). This unit will automatically deploy the reserve parachute should the jumpers be unable to.
If there are two of us, can we hire one videographer to capture both of our jumps?
Each tandem pair exits the aircraft with about 5 to 10 seconds of separation between jumpers to ensure that parachutes will not be deploying in close proximity to each other. Because of this separation, it is not possible for a videographer to fly from one tandem group to another.
Can I bring my dog to the skydiving center?
Unfortunately, dogs and dropzones don’t mix. No matter how well-behaved the dog, an active airfield with a skydiving operation isn’t a safe place at all for pups. But don’t worry, they’ll enjoy the video later!
Do you have a restaurant and bar to purchase food?
Snacks and drinks can be purchased on-site, but we do not have an on-site restaurant or bar. Please note: The consumption of alcoholic beverages are not permitted prior to your skydive.
