Aerohio Skydiving

Compare Before You Dare!!!

Sometimes choosing a drop zone can be confusing. It's hard to decipher what you hear from different people. Seldom is the cheapest training program the best deal and all too often new jumpers get less than they pay for. We have designed a checklist to help you determine what the best deal really is for you. Print the checklist below and use it when comparing skydiving facilities and then decide for yourself.

AerOhio Skydiving Center is owned and operated by jumpers! We are affiliated with the United States Parachute Association because we are able to maintain compliance, and in fact exceed the Basic Safety Recommendations that are the standard for the skydiving industry.

Who are you REALLY Jumping with?	AerOhio
Group Member of United States Parachute Assn. (USPA)	X
Airport is private and dedicated only to skydiving	X
Hazard free landing areas with hundreds of acres of open land	X
2000 square feet of outdoor shaded packing and practice area	X
Established since 1954 (originally Akron Skydivers Club)	X
Drop Zone Amenities	AerOhio
1000 square feet of carpeted indoor packing	X
4000 square feet of other outdoor practice space	X
Shaded spectator area with picnic tables	X
Fenced play-area for kids	X
Shaded aircraft boarding area	X
Computerized Bar-Code Manifesting	X
Air Conditioned Classrooms and Student Prep Rooms	X
Packers on weekends	X
Bunk house	X
Free camping and excellent bonfire pit	X
Full Time Professional Staff = More Staff means Less Waiting and Better Training! The United States Parachute Association is the only agency in the US that is recognized to issue instructor ratings. Because of a nationwide staff shortage, many skydiving centers have trouble obtaining qualified help, that is not the case at AerOhio. Always ask to see your instructor’s license and be sure that it has been issued by the USPA.
	AerOhio
13 USPA licensed Accelerated Freefall (AFF) Instructors	X
9 USPA licensed Tandem Instructors	X
21 USPA licensed Freefall Coaches	X
4 Skydive University Coaches	X
3 Freefly coaches	X
Staff licenses and ratings available onsite for public inspection	X
2 FAA Master Riggers	X
AFF Designated Evaluator on staff	X
USPA Coach’s Course director on staff	X
Organized & efficient Manifest staff	X
Gear sales on site with all major manufacturers represented	X
1 day turnaround on reserve parachute inspections and repacks	X
Aircraft - AerOhio has a Cessna 182. It is flown by well trained professional pilots.
	AerOhio
4 place Cessna 182 airplane to fly on slower days	X
Highly trained pilots who exceed FAA requirements	X
FAA approved maintenance programs for aircraft	X
All FAA inspections passed with no discrepancies	X
Training Programs Our program exceeds the USPA’s latest student training requirements. There are no gaps or lack of supervision for our students. Every jump is conducted with a highly qualified USPA licensed instructor. Video is included on upper level student jumps for FREE!
	AerOhio
FREE VIDEO on upper level AFF jumps (Level 4 & up)	X
Tandem Training available for your first jump	X
Accelerated Freefall available for your first jump	X
Static Line available for your first jump	X
Programs to transition students who trained with other methods	X
Modern training program includes all 25 jumps for USPA license	X
Includes introduction to high performance canopy pilot training	X
Program includes introduction to Free-flying with FREE video	X
Skydive University for advanced training with FREE video	X
Advanced Freefly Training available with FREE video	X
Advanced Canopy Pilot Training available with FREE video	X
Equipment Below market prices often reflect the use of outdated parachute systems. AerOhio is the only drop zone in the Great Lakes Region to offer true state of the art equipment on all of our tandem, student and rental equipment. There is no newer or better technology in parachute equipment than that which is being used at AerOhio. Make no mistake about it - Better equipment means increased safety.
	AerOhio
All student equipment manufactured after 1997, new student containers in 2003!	X
All rigs equipped with the ‘Cypres’ Automatic Activation Device	X
All rigs equipped with modern ram air square reserve parachutes	X
All main parachutes are ‘ZP’ ram air parachutes using latest design	X
All students are furnished with visual altimeters on every jump	X
Advanced students furnished with audible altimeters	X
Video AerOhio is home to John Winkler’s Down to Earth Photography. John is the region’s most experienced freefall videographer. He started jumping with an 8 mm film camera on his head back when many of today’s jumpers were in diapers. His staff of highly trained professionals represent the best in the business.
	AerOhio
First Jump Video and Stills carry a money back guarantee	X
All digital video systems	X
Original tapes and film archived for one year (in case of loss)	X
Professionally edited and produced video tapes	X