Do I need to run the checklist even for routine jumps I know well?

Especially for those. Familiarity is the primary risk factor for omissions: the brain tends to 'complete' checks mentally without actually performing them physically. The checklist exists precisely to interrupt that automatism, regardless of experience level.

Can the buddy check replace my personal checklist?

No. The buddy check is complementary: another skydiver inspects the outside of your rig, but cannot verify whether your AAD is on and correctly calibrated, whether you've slept, or whether you know the jump plan. The two checks cover different areas and both need to be done.

What do I do if I realize on the plane that I skipped a check?

It depends on the check. If it involves something critical — an open buckle, a handle out of position, an AAD that isn't on — notify the Jump Director on board immediately and assess with them whether it can be corrected in flight or whether you need to return to the ground. Never exit the aircraft with an unresolved doubt about a critical piece of equipment.

Does the AAD replace the manual emergency procedure?

No. The AAD is a backup system that activates reserve deployment below a certain altitude and airspeed when the skydiver is incapacitated. It is not designed to replace the manual procedure — cutaway followed by reserve deployment — which remains the primary response to any malfunction. Treating the AAD as your main plan is a conceptual and procedural error.

How many jumps before I can stop using a written checklist?

There is no threshold. Many skydivers with thousands of jumps continue to use a structured physical or mental checklist. Experience reduces the time it takes to run through the checks — not the need to run through them. If you feel the checklist has become unnecessary, that is probably a good moment to read through it again more carefully.

Pre-jump checklist for skydiving: the 14 essential checks

The pre-jump checklist in skydiving covers at least 14 systematic checks spanning equipment, weather conditions, jump plan, and the skydiver's physical and mental state. Running through them in a fixed sequence — not from free recall — reduces the risk of human error, which USPA data identifies as one of the leading causes of preventable accidents. The checklist is not a formality: it is a technical safety procedure.

🤖 AI-assistedGiulia CassaniSicurezza & emergenze· 1,800 jumps· 8 min read

You have fifty jumps in your logbook. You know the feeling of walking toward the plane with the rig on your back, your mind already in the air. That is precisely the most dangerous moment of your day at the drop zone — not because you're about to jump, but because familiarity breeds automatism, and automatism breeds omissions. International analyses of skydiving accidents show that a significant proportion of preventable incidents involve low-experience skydivers who skipped a check they considered 'obvious.' This article is not a list to memorize: it is a protocol to follow in a fixed sequence, every time, without exceptions.

Why a checklist and not memory

The problem with free recall is structural: it works well when you're rested, focused, and in a neutral environment. It works poorly when you're excited, distracted by a conversation at manifest, short on sleep, or thinking about the formation exit you've planned with your group. That's exactly what a checklist is for: it offloads the verification from working memory and transfers it to an external, verifiable procedure. Airline pilots use one for every flight, regardless of their hours of experience. In skydiving, the checklist culture is less formalized — but no less necessary.

One clarification before we proceed: this checklist does not replace the buddy check (the mutual gear check with another skydiver) or instructor supervision in the early stages after licensing. It is a personal tool, to be integrated with your drop zone's procedures and with the current ENAC regulations. If you have any doubts about an element of your rig, your rigger or a qualified instructor is always the right point of reference.

Block 1 — Equipment (checks 1–7)

This block is performed at the packing table or in a quiet area, before putting on the rig. The goal is to assess the condition of the equipment with fresh eyes, before it's on your body.

Check 1 — Reserve repack date. The reserve must be inspected and repacked by a certified rigger within the timeframe required by current ENAC regulations: confirm the exact deadline with your rigger or skydiving school. Check the seal and the date on the container. If you have any doubt, do not board the aircraft — this is a rule with no exceptions.

Check 2 — AAD powered on and correctly configured. Your automatic activation device — whether a Cypres, Vigil, M2, or MARS — must be switched on before you put on the rig, not after. Verify that the display shows the correct mode for the type of jump you're doing (Expert, Student, and Tandem modes have different activation thresholds). Always follow the calibration procedure specified by your AAD manufacturer and your drop zone's instructions, which account for local altitude. Many drop zones have a standard procedure for this: ask if you're not familiar with it.

Check 3 — Container pin and closing loop. The pin that secures the reserve container must be fully seated in the closing loop. The loop must show no signs of wear, cuts, or fraying. A deteriorated loop can cause an inadvertent reserve deployment or, conversely, resistance when you need it to open. This is a quick check — but a critical one.

Check 4 — RSL connected (if applicable). If your rig is equipped with a Reserve Static Line (RSL) or a MARD system (such as a Skyhook), verify that it is correctly connected. The RSL is the system that, in the event of a main canopy cutaway, assists in opening the reserve. It is not required on all rigs, but if yours has one, it must be functional — or deliberately disconnected for a specific reason (certain disciplines require this).

Check 5 — Main pilot chute. Verify that the main canopy's pilot chute is correctly stowed in its pocket (BOC — Bottom of Container, or side pocket depending on the rig). The closing Velcro must be clean and functional. A pilot chute that deploys prematurely in the aircraft is a manageable emergency — but an avoidable one.

Check 6 — Handles: cutaway and reserve. Both emergency handles — the main canopy cutaway handle and the reserve ripcord — must be seated in their pockets, clearly visible and accessible. Check in front of a mirror or ask someone to verify. A handle that is partially out of its pocket can be pulled inadvertently; a handle that is poorly seated may resist at exactly the wrong moment.

Check 7 — Altimeter. Verify that your altimeter is zeroed to the drop zone's elevation, not sea level. If you use an audible altimeter, confirm that it is powered on, charged, and set to the correct alert altitudes for the jump you're about to make. A dead or incorrectly zeroed altimeter is not an inconvenience: it is a direct risk.

Block 2 — Harness on (checks 8–10)

This block is performed after putting on the rig, before heading out to the aircraft.

Check 8 — Chest strap and leg strap buckles. All buckles must be closed and locked. The chest strap regulates the width of the harness across the shoulders; the leg straps determine stability during canopy opening. An opening with a leg strap undone can cause a violent rotation and injuries to the back or groin. This is not a theoretical risk: it is documented.

Check 9 — Excess webbing tucked away. The free ends of the chest and leg straps must be routed through their keepers. A dangling strap can snag on something inside the aircraft, interfere with the emergency handles, or wrap around the lines during deployment.

Check 10 — Buddy check. Ask another skydiver to inspect your rig from the outside. The buddy check complements your self-check — it does not replace it. A second pair of eyes catches what your own gaze has normalized. In well-run drop zones this is standard practice; if yours isn't there yet, be the one to promote it.

Block 3 — External conditions (checks 11–13)

Check 11 — Weather: surface wind and upper winds. Verify the surface wind speed and direction and, where available, the upper-wind profile. The limits for newly licensed skydivers are set out in current ENAC regulations and your drop zone's procedures: do not exceed them unilaterally because it 'looks acceptable.' Wind conditions change throughout the day — a check done at 9 a.m. does not apply to a 3 p.m. jump. Pay particular attention to dust devils in summer: they are unpredictable and can collapse a canopy on final approach.

Check 12 — Jump plan: opening altitude, landing area, emergency plan. Before boarding the aircraft, you must know: at what altitude you're opening, where you'll land if you experience significant drift, and what you'll do if you exit off-spot. For group jumps, the plan also includes the break-off: at what altitude you separate, in which direction, and who opens first. These details are worked out on the ground — not in freefall.

Check 13 — Drop zone traffic and communications. Are you aware of other jumps currently in progress? Is there canopy traffic over the landing area? Has the Jump Director given clearance? At busy drop zones, airspace management is critical. Do not assume someone else is monitoring the situation: situational awareness is an individual responsibility.

Block 4 — Personal state (check 14)

Check 14 — IMSAFE. This acronym comes from aviation and applies directly to skydiving: Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol (alcohol in the preceding hours — check the limits set by ENAC regulations and your drop zone's procedures), Fatigue, Emotion (significantly altered emotional state). If any of these factors is meaningfully present, the jump should be postponed. This is not weakness: it is risk management. A real-world example, anonymized: a skydiver with around 120 jumps performed a routine jump after a sleepless night due to personal issues. During canopy opening, faced with a manageable partial malfunction, they hesitated for several seconds before applying the correct procedure. They resolved it — but the hesitation was directly linked to their state of fatigue. The lesson is not dramatic: it is technical. Physical and mental condition is a variable in the system, not an optional one.

How to use this checklist in practice

The most common mistake is reading a checklist once and then running through it from memory in subsequent sessions. This defeats the purpose entirely. Print or save this list and use it physically for the first thirty jumps after adopting it. Then honestly assess whether you have truly internalized the sequence or whether you're just going through the motions. If you have any doubt, go back to the physical list.

Some drop zones have their own checklists, integrated into their operating procedures. If yours does, that one takes priority: it is calibrated to local specifics — altitude, traffic, aircraft type, and regional emergency procedures. This list is a general reference, not a regulation. The regulation is the current ENAC framework and the procedures of your ENAC-certified skydiving school.

In summary

Fourteen checks, four blocks, fixed sequence. This is not bureaucracy: it is how you turn safety from an intention into a practice. With fifty jumps in your logbook, you are still in the phase where every jump builds habits. The habits you build now — good or bad — will stay with you for thousands of jumps. Investing three minutes in a systematic checklist is the most cost-effective technical decision you can make.

FAQ

Do I need to run the checklist even for routine jumps I know well?: Especially for those. Familiarity is the primary risk factor for omissions: the brain tends to 'complete' checks mentally without actually performing them physically. The checklist exists precisely to interrupt that automatism, regardless of experience level.
Can the buddy check replace my personal checklist?: No. The buddy check is complementary: another skydiver inspects the outside of your rig, but cannot verify whether your AAD is on and correctly calibrated, whether you've slept, or whether you know the jump plan. The two checks cover different areas and both need to be done.
What do I do if I realize on the plane that I skipped a check?: It depends on the check. If it involves something critical — an open buckle, a handle out of position, an AAD that isn't on — notify the Jump Director on board immediately and assess with them whether it can be corrected in flight or whether you need to return to the ground. Never exit the aircraft with an unresolved doubt about a critical piece of equipment.
Does the AAD replace the manual emergency procedure?: No. The AAD is a backup system that activates reserve deployment below a certain altitude and airspeed when the skydiver is incapacitated. It is not designed to replace the manual procedure — cutaway followed by reserve deployment — which remains the primary response to any malfunction. Treating the AAD as your main plan is a conceptual and procedural error.
How many jumps before I can stop using a written checklist?: There is no threshold. Many skydivers with thousands of jumps continue to use a structured physical or mental checklist. Experience reduces the time it takes to run through the checks — not the need to run through them. If you feel the checklist has become unnecessary, that is probably a good moment to read through it again more carefully.