Do you need a medical certificate for a tandem jump?

No. An experience tandem jump does not require an ENAC Class 2 medical certificate. A self-declaration of good health signed on the day of the jump is all that's needed. If the passenger has any specific physical conditions, it's still a good idea to contact the school in advance.

What happens if the weather is bad on the day of the jump?

Weather conditions can prevent the jump from taking place. Most schools offer free rescheduling in the event of bad weather, but policies vary — checking the terms before purchasing the voucher is part of the due diligence you should do.

Is there a weight limit for a tandem jump?

Yes. Schools apply weight limits for technical reasons related to the equipment. The threshold varies by school, generally around 100–110 kg, but the exact figure should be confirmed with your chosen facility before purchasing the voucher.

Can a tandem voucher be extended if it expires?

It depends on the school. Some offer paid extensions, others don't. This is one of the first questions to ask before buying, especially if you're giving the gift out of season — for example, at Christmas for a summer jump.

Are photos and video included in the tandem price?

Not always. Some schools include a basic package; others sell documentation separately. The important thing is to book it in advance — a camera flyer is not available on request on the day of the jump.

What altitude do you exit from on a tandem jump?

The typical exit altitude in Italy is around 4,000 meters, but this can vary depending on the school and the aircraft available. Checking directly with your chosen facility is the most reliable way to get the exact figure.

Tandem Jump as a Gift: Vouchers, Booking, and What to Know First

To give a tandem jump as a gift, you can purchase a voucher directly from an ENAC-certified skydiving school, or book a specific date. The voucher is the most flexible option, but it comes with an expiry date — always check the terms before buying. A direct booking is less flexible but removes any uncertainty about availability.

🤖 AI-assistedLuca SvecchiaDirettore editoriale· 2,400 jumps· 26 Apr 2026· 6 min read

Gifting a tandem jump is one of the most popular gift ideas in Italy, but between vouchers with expiry dates, seasonal availability, and photo-video packages, there are real decisions to make before you buy. This article walks you through what to do, what to ask the school, and how to avoid the most common situations that turn an exciting gift into a logistical headache.

Voucher or Direct Booking: Which Should You Choose?

Most ENAC-certified skydiving schools offer two options: a gift voucher — a document or certificate the recipient uses to book on their own — or a direct booking for a fixed date. These are two different products with opposite advantages.

The voucher is the most common choice when you're gifting someone whose schedule you don't know. The recipient contacts the school, picks a date that works for them, and shows up on the agreed day. The upside is flexibility. The downside is that it requires an extra step: the recipient has to take action, and in some cases they never do, letting the voucher expire unused.

A direct booking for a specific date only makes sense if you're certain the recipient is available and you want to remove all uncertainty. It's less flexible: if the date doesn't work or the weather doesn't cooperate, you're into the territory of changes and cancellations, with policies that vary from school to school.

Voucher Expiry Dates: The Detail Everyone Ignores

Every voucher has an expiry date. The terms vary from school to school, so it's important to check them before you buy. Some schools offer extensions for a fee, others don't. Some will still honor an expired voucher with a penalty, others simply treat it as void.

Before buying, it's worth asking directly: what's the expiry date? Can it be extended? Under what conditions? If you're giving the gift at Christmas with the intention of jumping in summer, making sure the expiry covers that window is the first thing to check. It's not a minor detail — it's the difference between a gift that gets used and one that ends up forgotten in a drawer.

Seasonality: When Do People Actually Jump?

Skydiving in Italy is highly seasonal. Most schools operate at full capacity from April through October, with peak demand on summer weekends. In winter, some drop zones scale back operations or close entirely, while others stay open with reduced availability.

This has two practical implications for gift-givers. First: if you buy a voucher in December with a six-month expiry, you're giving a window that only covers the start of the season — and April and May weekends book up well in advance. Second: summer weekends at popular schools fill up weeks ahead of time. Anyone who waits until the last minute to book risks finding no available dates for weeks.

The practical advice: give the voucher with enough lead time before the season, and let the recipient know that booking early makes a real difference. That's not a footnote — it's part of the gift.

Photos and Video: Decide on the Package Before, Not After

Documenting the jump — photos and video — is one area where schools vary considerably. Generally there are three options: an outside camera flyer (a dedicated skydiver who jumps alongside the tandem pair and films from the outside), a camera mounted on the Tandem Master's helmet, or both.

Prices differ significantly between schools. Some include a basic package in the tandem price; others sell it separately. The critical point is this: documentation needs to be booked in advance, not on the day of the jump. If the recipient shows up without having booked a camera flyer, that option simply won't be there — it's not a service you can arrange on the spot.

If you want to include documentation as part of the gift, the cleanest approach is to add it to the voucher at the time of purchase, or to clearly communicate to the recipient that they need to request it when they book. Leaving this to chance means risking that the moment goes completely undocumented.

What to Ask the School Before You Buy

Not all schools that offer tandem jumps are equal. In Italy, skydiving schools that conduct licensed training activities must be ENAC-certified, and Tandem Masters must hold the specific ENAC qualification. Even for an experience-only tandem jump (not part of a licensing program), the facility must operate in compliance with ENAC regulations and the Tandem Master must hold the specific ENAC qualification — verifying these requirements is the first indicator of a center's credibility.

Useful questions to ask before buying: Is the school ENAC-certified? What is the voucher's expiry date and what are the extension terms? Does the voucher cover only the jump, or does it include documentation? What is the policy in case of bad weather (free rescheduling or penalties)? What is the exit altitude? Are there weight limits or physical requirements?

That last point deserves attention: schools apply weight limits that vary from facility to facility — checking with your chosen school before purchasing is essential. They may also require that the passenger have no particular physical conditions. No formal medical certificate is required for a tandem jump — a self-declaration of good health signed on the day of the jump is sufficient — but if the recipient has any specific health conditions, it's worth checking with the school beforehand.

How to Present the Gift

A printed or digital voucher with the school's details, the exit altitude, the duration of the experience, and instructions on how to book is already a complete gift. Some schools provide dedicated graphic materials; others hand over a simple sheet with a code. Either way, adding a handwritten note with practical instructions — when to call, how to book, what to bring on the day — makes the gift much more actionable.

On the day of the jump, the passenger will need to bring a valid ID, comfortable clothing, and closed-toe shoes. No technical gear is needed — all equipment is provided by the school. The full experience, including the briefing, gearing up, the flight to altitude, and landing, typically takes between two and four hours depending on wait times and jump rotation — it's not a twenty-minute affair.

In Summary

Gifting a tandem jump works well if you do three things: choose an ENAC-certified skydiving school, check the voucher's expiry date and terms before buying, and either include or clearly communicate the photo-video package. Seasonality and limited weekend availability in summer make booking early an integral part of the gift, not something to leave up to the recipient. With this information in hand, the jump has every chance of going exactly as planned.

FAQ

Do you need a medical certificate for a tandem jump?: No. An experience tandem jump does not require an ENAC Class 2 medical certificate. A self-declaration of good health signed on the day of the jump is all that's needed. If the passenger has any specific physical conditions, it's still a good idea to contact the school in advance.
What happens if the weather is bad on the day of the jump?: Weather conditions can prevent the jump from taking place. Most schools offer free rescheduling in the event of bad weather, but policies vary — checking the terms before purchasing the voucher is part of the due diligence you should do.
Is there a weight limit for a tandem jump?: Yes. Schools apply weight limits for technical reasons related to the equipment. The threshold varies by school, generally around 100–110 kg, but the exact figure should be confirmed with your chosen facility before purchasing the voucher.
Can a tandem voucher be extended if it expires?: It depends on the school. Some offer paid extensions, others don't. This is one of the first questions to ask before buying, especially if you're giving the gift out of season — for example, at Christmas for a summer jump.
Are photos and video included in the tandem price?: Not always. Some schools include a basic package; others sell documentation separately. The important thing is to book it in advance — a camera flyer is not available on request on the day of the jump.
What altitude do you exit from on a tandem jump?: The typical exit altitude in Italy is around 4,000 meters, but this can vary depending on the school and the aircraft available. Checking directly with your chosen facility is the most reliable way to get the exact figure.