Indoor skydiving

Includes: Parachuting, bodyflying, vertical windtunnel, airkix, Indoors, Adventurous activities, Height

Age:
7+
Height
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Air acrobatics

Experience the weightlessness of skydiving – without having to jump out of a plane!

Overview

Indoor parachuting involves the use of vertical wind tunnels, that let girls experience the sensation of flight and skydiving without planes or parachutes.

This is a particularly good activity for thrill seekers who are still a little wary of heights – and is offered by a number of centres across the UK. 

Indoor skydiving is an adventurous activity and should follow the adventurous activity policy and procedures. 

Approved: 5 May 2021
Version: 1.0
Content owner: Adventure team

Planning checklist

If you're working with an external provider or external instructors to run this activity outside the unit meeting space, follow these extra steps. 

  • Arrange for a home contact. Leave any route or other relevant details with your home contact and complete a home contact agreement form. Let them know if you make any changes to your plans.
  • Tell your local commissioner.
  • Tell the activity provider about the ability and experience of the participants and any disabilities, access needs or health conditions that need to be considered when running the activity.
  • Choose a reputable and licensed activity provider (where applicable).
  • Check the qualified adults hold the correct qualification to be able to run the activity (see the information below).
  • Get copies of the instructor qualifications and public liability insurance of the activity provider before you book.
  • Ask for a copy of the providers' safety guidelines and risk assessment.
  • Make sure you have the correct ratio of participants (girls and volunteers) to qualified adults (those running the activity). This is different to the ratio of leaders to girls.
  • Check with the venue that they have the correct equipment and, if needed, specialist clothing that will meet the requirements for your group.
  • Source any specialist equipment or clothing needed to run the activity not provided by the venue, and make sure this is in good condition and fit for purpose.
  • Check that any equipment is suitably insured by the provider and agree what happens to the equipment if it gets damaged.

Some venues might ask for a disclaimer or waiver to be signed for each person taking part in the activity. This is something which parents/carers must sign on behalf of their child. You can do this along with the consent form. Parents and carers should be given sufficient information from the provider along with the waiver so they can make an informed decision to sign it or not. Leaders can only sign disclaimers and waivers for their own personal participation.

The instructor must have completed in-house training for the wind tunnels being used or hold the following qualification: 

  • Basic wind tunnel Instructor (Class A) or equivalent.

We advise that the equipment is provided by the professional body running the activity.

  • There are many providers of this activity within the UK. In order to identify that a particular company is reputable please ensure they have adequate public liability insurance (£5 million minimum) and trained instructors. 
  • It’s important to ensure that all activities are led by a trained instructor.
  • All participants must wear protective equipment including helmets.
  • We advise that the equipment is provided by the professional body running the activity.

The ratios below are given as a maximum and ratios must be considered as part of the risk assessment, this may lessen due to any medical conditions, lack of water confidence, poor swimming ability or other factors. 

Leadership team ratios 

As this activity will take place outside of your usual meeting place the Leadership team adult: girl ratio is mandatory.  

  • Rainbows: Not a Rainbow activity
  • Brownies: 1:8  
  • Guides: 1:12 
  • Rangers: 1 Girlguiding leader 

Qualified adult/participant ratio 

The qualified adult should determine what size of group is safe. There must be enough qualified adults to ensure the safety of all participants.

This will be determined by any limitations placed on their qualification or permit, or by the rules of their operating organisation as well as the risk assessment. It should taken into consideration the location, weather and experience of both the qualified adult and other participants. This risk assessment should be assessed by the leader and any concerns raised to the qualified adult.